Search Results (104)

The article will focus on the concept of eco-hotel, ecotourism, the criteria for the creation of an eco-hotel and, subsequently, the certifications valid in Europe specifically in the Visegrád Group countries. The analysis of the Visegrád Group (V4) countries focuses on the ecolabel and comparison of certified and non-certified hotels. With the increasing number of ecolabels on the market, many hotels are trying to adapt to this growing trend. However, it is very important to expose the misleading advertising in the field of “being eco”. Tourists are often misled by the so-called “greenwashing”, which is an increasingly big problem. This negative phenomenon needs to be eliminated, and hoteliers should be motivated to create an environmentally friendly environment in the context of sustainable tourism development. Full article

Wine tourism is an emerging form of special interest tourism that combines wine tasting, vineyard tours, and cultural experiences. In Greece, where viticultural traditions are deeply rooted, wine tourism remains at an early developmental stage but shows increasing interest. This study investigates the level of development and sustainable practices in Greek wineries engaged in wine tourism. Primary data were collected via a structured questionnaire distributed to wineries across Greece. The results reveal a growing entrepreneurial interest in wine tourism, with significant variation in infrastructure and visitor engagement. Sustainable practices are partially adopted, with environmental education and eco-certifications still limited. This study highlights the potential of wine tourism as a catalyst for local economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability, proposing policy recommendations to strengthen its strategic role in Greece. Full article

The mulberry-dyke fishpond system represents China’s traditional circular agricultural heritage yet faces challenges of “circularity without economic viability” and preservation under modernization pressures. Taking the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System site of Digang in Huzhou as a case study, this paper reveals fundamental shifts in its value structure through local research and interviews. Key findings include the following: (1) Significant decline in traditional economic value: Annual income from mulberry-dyke fishpond systems is extremely low, far below the per-mu yield of modern intensive aquaculture in the area. This has led to producer withdrawal and the disintegration of the base-pond structure. (2) Ecological and social values increasingly emerge and partially marketize: The system’s ecological service value is substantial and policy-recognized, with markets responding through a 100% premium on eco-fish prices. Concurrently, heritage-based cultural tourism integration generates significant new value—for instance, Digang village’s 2023 tourism revenue reached 140 million. However, these prominent non-market values still lack stable, adequate realization pathways. The core argument of this study is that the decline in mulberry-dyke fishpond systems stems from an imbalance in value structures rather than the disappearance of value. Their revitalization hinges on institutional innovation that transforms ecological and social value into sustainable market incentives. To this end, this paper proposes a systematic revitalization framework encompassing a concession system (incorporating community interest alignment and risk management clauses), regional brand certification, carbon sink value realization, and mechanisms for deep community participation. This approach aims to provide a Chinese solution for the sustainable development of similar agricultural cultural heritage sites, offering both theoretical insights and practical value. Full article

To address the information-processing burden faced by consumers in green consumption markets due to complex carbon footprint labels, opaque certification standards, and vague descriptions of environmental benefits, this study proposes a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-based precision recommendation mechanism for green products. The mechanism aims to enhance cognitive fluency and promote low-carbon purchase decisions. An experimental system, termed Eco-GenRec, is developed by integrating large language models (LLMs), multimodal generation, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) techniques to enable personalized presentation of green product information. Based on inferred user cognitive styles, the system transforms product information into chart-based representations for analytical users or emotionally framed scenario narratives for intuitive users. This study is conducted on a web-based simulated shopping platform and employs a fully randomized design. A total of 1000 participants are randomly assigned to either a standardized information display group (control group) or an Eco-GenRec-generated display group (experimental group). Participants are drawn from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and cover a wide age range. The sample exhibits substantial demographic diversity, which enhances the representativeness of the findings. Cognitive fluency and low-carbon purchase conversion rates are measured as the primary outcomes. The results show that the Eco-GenRec group achieves a significantly higher cognitive fluency score (M = 5.68, SD = 0.89) than the control group (M = 4.60, SD = 1.01). This represents an increase of 23.4% (t = 18.34, p < 0.001, effect size d = 1.17). In addition, the low-carbon purchase conversion rate in the experimental group (36.3%) is significantly higher than that in the control group (17.6%). The absolute increase of 18.7% is statistically significant (χ² = 70.28, p < 0.001, effect size Cramér’s V = 0.265). Under conditions of high cognitive-style matching, the conversion rate improvement reaches 27.2%. Mechanism analysis shows that cognitive fluency mediates the relationship between GenAI-based recommendations and purchase intention. By transforming abstract environmental parameters into intuitive and easily interpretable content, artificial intelligence reduces information-processing burden and activates positive affect and trust among consumers. Overall, this study empirically validates the effectiveness of GenAI in green product recommendation. It provides a practical pathway for addressing the “comprehension barrier” in green consumption and extends the theoretical boundaries of research on cognitive fluency and low-carbon decision-making. Full article

From the first spontaneous fermentations of early civilizations to the precision of modern biotechnology, natural starter cultures have remained at the heart of fermented food and beverage production. Composed of complex microbial communities of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, these starters transform raw materials into products with distinctive sensory qualities, extended shelf life, and enhanced nutritional value. Their high microbial diversity underpins both their functional resilience and their cultural significance, yet also introduces variability and safety challenges. This review traces the historical development of natural starters, surveys their global applications across cereals, legumes, dairy, vegetables, beverages, seafood, and meats, and contrasts them with commercial starter cultures designed for consistency, scalability, and safety. Within the context of organic food production, natural starters offer opportunities to align fermentation with principles of sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and minimal processing, but regulatory frameworks—currently focused largely on yeasts—pose both challenges and opportunities for broader certification. Emerging innovations, including omics-driven strain selection, synthetic biology, valorization of agro-industrial byproducts, and automation, offer new pathways to improve safety, stability, and functionality without eroding the authenticity of natural starter cultures. By bridging traditional artisanal knowledge with advanced science and sustainable practices, natural starters can play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of organic and eco-conscious fermented products. Full article

The purpose of this study was to determine the motivation to buy eco-friendly products via machine learning techniques. With this in mind, a dataset was collected between November and December 2024 from 245 organic consumers in Maramureș County, Romania, via a questionnaire. Consumers’ main motivations to buy eco-friendly products were considered according to three categories: Health Care, Environmental Protection, and Superior Quality. In the analysis of the dataset, among the four feature selection techniques used, Random Forest was determined to be the best with the highest accuracy value. At the beginning of the study, 16 variables were thought to be important categorical factors for consumers’ eco-friendly product-buying motivations, with 5 of these being found to be the most effective with the Random Forest technique. Then, the SHAP method was applied to identify the contribution of driving factors to the buying motivation for eco-friendly products. All analyses were conducted with Python software. The results of the SHAP method indicated that while all factors perform well, consumers considering themselves as eco-friendly is the most important factor for the Environmental Protection category when buying eco-friendly products, while the most important criterion of the original certification category was found to be the Health Care category. The most effective factor for Superior Quality was determined as the high-price category, which is the main barrier to purchasing eco-friendly products. Full article

Tourism enterprises are increasingly pressured to align competitiveness with sustainability, yet limited evidence exists from Central and Eastern Europe. This study investigates the role of eco-friendly orientation as a determinant of customer satisfaction and perceived competitiveness in the Visegrad Four (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary). Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 478 enterprises, including hotels, guesthouses, spas, agritourist facilities, and travel agencies. Data were collected between January and June 2025 using a standardized questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and ANOVA. The findings demonstrate that enterprises adopting more extensive environmental practices report significantly higher customer satisfaction (r = 0.43, p < 0.01) and perceived competitiveness (r = 0.38, p < 0.01). Factor analysis identified three key dimensions of environmental orientation: ecological operations, ecological innovations, and ecological marketing. Regression analysis highlighted ecological marketing, particularly the adoption of certifications and eco-labels, as the strongest predictor of competitiveness. ANOVA revealed significant cross-country differences, with Slovak and Czech enterprises outperforming Polish and Hungarian counterparts. The results suggest that ecological initiatives are essential for long-term competitiveness, providing both strategic guidance for managers and policy implications for fostering supportive regulatory and financial frameworks across the region. This study makes a novel contribution by offering one of the first large-scale empirical analyses of the link between sustainability and competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe, a region where such research is still scarce. Theoretically, it extends the application of Ecological Modernization Theory to the tourism sector, while practically it provides actionable recommendations for managers and policymakers on integrating eco-certification and ecological marketing into their strategies. These insights underline the dual role of environmental orientation as a driver of both customer satisfaction and competitive advantage. Full article

The port of Gaženica, managed by the Port Authority of Zadar, is open to public traffic of special economic interest to the Republic of Croatia. Situated outside Zadar’s city centre, with convenient access to the airport and A1 highway, this port presents significant opportunities for Zadar County’s economic growth. While also serving as a cargo and fishing port, as the second-largest passenger port in Croatia, the port of Gaženica prioritises the development of cruise ship traffic. The expansion of intermodal traffic is being facilitated through the development of a multipurpose terminal to accommodate general, roll-on/roll-off, and containerised cargo (full and empty containers). The rising number of passenger ships—particularly cruise ships—along with the increasing passenger, vehicle, and cargo traffic, poses a significant risk of pollution due to dust, noise, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants. Considering these risks, the use of alternative energy sources, decarbonisation of maritime transport, the separation of waste by type, and the proper handling and disposal of ship waste are of utmost importance. The aim of this study is to present and analyse the green transition process of the port of Gaženica through the results that have been achieved or are yet to be achieved through the implementation of green projects by the Port Authority of Zadar. For this purpose, a mixed-methods approach combining project analysis and the qualitative analysis of emissions data is used. It is important to highlight that the method of interviews with relevant representatives of institutions involved in the project was also used to gain insight into financial and infrastructural challenges, the accessibility of certain data, and potential improvements in implementation. The research results indicate that the port of Gaženica has completed four green projects, while another four are currently being implemented, with their completion expected by 2026. The research concludes that it is necessary to strengthen environmental awareness regarding proper waste disposal among all stakeholders in maritime transport, including the local community, businesses, and local authorities. The results demonstrate a need to focus on certification with the aim of strengthening the green transition process through involvement in the EcoPorts and Green Award certification schemes. It is also necessary to actively improve the public availability of data from the base station in the port of Gaženica to inform the public about environmental impacts in real time (24/7) while facilitating data collection for statistical reporting purposes. Full article

The awareness of tourism’s environmental impact has increased interest in sustainable alternatives such as green hotels, yet tourists often fail to translate pro-environmental attitudes into action, reflecting the attitude–behavior gap. This study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by incorporating Environmental Knowledge and Climate Change-Related Risk Perceptions (CC-RRPs) as background factors and testing their effects on Green Hotel Purchase Intentions (GHPIs) among Spanish travelers. Data from 1442 respondents were analyzed using covariance-based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with bootstrapped mediation testing. Results show that In-Group Norms are the strongest predictor of GHPIs, followed by Eco-Hotel Attitudes, while Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) has a weaker but significant effect. Environmental Knowledge predicts all three mediators, and CC-RRPs predict Attitudes and Norms but not PBC. Crucially, both antecedents affect GHPIs only indirectly, supporting a mediation-based framework. These findings clarify the distinct roles of Environmental Knowledge as a cognitive antecedent and CC-RRPs as cognitive–affective evaluations that motivate attitudes and norms, while also highlighting the centrality of social influence in a Southern European context. Beyond theoretical contributions, the results underscore the importance of trust and authenticity: addressing greenwashing through transparent communication and credible certification frameworks is essential to ensure sustainable hospitality choices. Full article

This systematic review examines the role of rural tourism in promoting sustainable development, focusing on its interaction with forest ecosystems and the essential ecosystem services they provide. A comprehensive literature search across Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar identified 142 peer-reviewed articles, analyzed through qualitative synthesis and bibliometric mapping. The review highlights four thematic clusters in rural tourism research: impacts on rural areas, destination management, resident perspectives and cultural sustainability, and emerging themes like place attachment. It emphasizes the reliance of rural tourism on ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting, especially those linked to forest ecosystems. Examples from Monteverde, Costa Rica, and Tuscany, Italy, illustrate the role of rural tourism in supporting biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, and sustainable agriculture. However, uncontrolled tourism in forested regions can lead to deforestation and ecosystem degradation, as seen in the Lake District, Masai Mara, and Rajasthan. The review stresses the need for sustainable practices to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism, advocating for an integrated sustainability framework that balances economic, environmental, and governance aspects. Best practices include eco-friendly infrastructure, community participation, and environmental education. The potential of emerging technologies, such as eco-certification systems and smart tourism, is explored to reduce the environmental footprint of tourism. The review calls for stronger policy integration, equitable benefit-sharing, capacity building, and longitudinal research to ensure resilient rural tourism that harmonizes ecosystem conservation with socio-economic development. In conclusion, the integration of sustainable practices and community involvement is crucial for aligning rural tourism with forest ecosystem conservation. Full article

The recurrent influx of invasive Sargassum horneri along the coasts of South Korea poses significant ecological and economic challenges, including habitat disruption, aquaculture damage, and shoreline pollution. This study investigates a sustainable valorization pathway by converting SH into functional biochar through slow pyrolysis and utilizing the product as a core material for eco-friendly marine buoys. Biochars were produced at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 700 °C and characterized for elemental composition, FT-IR spectra, leachability (CODcr), and biodegradability. Higher pyrolysis temperatures resulted in lower H/C and O/C molar ratios, indicating enhanced aromaticity and hydrophobicity. The biochar produced at 700 °C (SFBW-700) exhibited the highest structural and environmental stability, with minimal leachability and resistance to microbial degradation. A composite buoy was fabricated by mixing SFBW-700 with natural binders (beeswax and rosin), forming solid specimens without synthetic polymers or foaming agents. The optimized composition (biochar:beeswax:rosin = 85:10:5) showed excellent performance in density, buoyancy, and impact resistance, while fully meeting the Korean eco-friendly buoy certification criteria. This work presents a circular and scalable approach to mitigating marine macroalgal blooms and replacing plastic-based marine infrastructure with biochar-based eco-friendly composite alternatives. The findings suggest strong potential for the deployment of SH-derived biochar in marine engineering applications. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainably produced food has intensified interest in fermented milk products, such as yoghurt, which combine nutritional value with environmental and ethical considerations. However, the authenticity of sustainability claims in this sector remains contested, raising concerns about consumer trust and regulatory clarity. This review examines the role of certification and labelling in verifying and communicating the sustainability of fermented milk products. The analysis covers regulatory frameworks, consumer perceptions, and the potential of digital tools to improve transparency. Findings highlight inconsistencies in defining key terms such as organic, probiotic, and carbon-neutral, which hinder certification harmonization. Complex labels and allergen declarations can reduce clarity and trust, while overlapping or vague eco-labels risk contributing to consumer confusion and skepticism. Despite this, credible certifications still enhance purchase intent. Modern technologies, including blockchain traceability, interactive QR codes, and digital product passports, offer new ways to reinforce trust, though implementation costs and regulatory gaps remain barriers. This review concludes that effective sustainability communication must integrate robust certification schemes with simplified, transparent messaging. Harmonized standards, improved label design, and consumer education are essential to support informed choices and foster trust in sustainable dairy. Full article

Sustainable tourism requires balancing environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability, yet its effective promotion depends on communication strategies that genuinely capture travelers’ attention. Despite growing emphasis on ecological responsibility in marketing, little is known about how sustainability-related content in tourism advertising is actually perceived. This study addresses this gap by examining visual attention to eco-oriented elements in promotional materials through eye-tracking technology. The research aimed to identify whether ecological certifications, slogans, and related cues attract attention and influence consumer choices, and to assess how these processes are moderated by individual ecological awareness. An experimental design was conducted with 23 young adults (aged 18–22) who viewed three tourism offers differing in their degree of sustainability messaging. Eye movements were recorded with the Gazepoint GP3 HD eye-tracker, focusing on predefined Areas of Interest (AOIs), including ecological certificates, pricing, and imagery. Heatmaps and fixation metrics were complemented by a post-exposure questionnaire. The results indicate that visually dominant components such as destination images and pricing consistently attracted the most attention, while sustainability cues were noticed but rarely prioritized. Participants with higher ecological awareness actively sought and recalled these elements, highlighting the moderating role of intrinsic motivation. The study contributes to both sustainable tourism and neuromarketing research by demonstrating how ecological values interact with perceptual behavior. Practically, it shows that eye-tracking can guide the optimal placement and design of sustainability cues in advertising. The exploratory nature and small, homogeneous sample are acknowledged as limitations, but they provide a valuable foundation for future large-scale studies. Full article

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent green innovations in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for sustainable food analysis. It outlines the principles of green analytical chemistry and examines advances such as eco-friendly solvent systems, miniaturized and energy-efficient instrumentation, and greener sample preparation techniques. Key applications include the analysis of bioactive compounds, detection of contaminants and residues, and support for clean-label and sustainability claims. Furthermore, the review discusses relevant regulatory and certification frameworks, including ISO 14001, ISO 22000, and global food safety initiatives aligned with environmental, social, and governance standards. Persistent challenges, such as cost, limitations in analytical performance, and limited instrument availability, are highlighted, along with the need for reliable metrics to assess the environmental impact and effectiveness of green analytical practices. The review concludes by emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to support the wider adoption of sustainable HPLC practices in food laboratories. Full article

This study investigates the factors influencing green purchase behavior in emerging economies, focusing on Indonesian consumers’ preferences for organic food products. While sustainability awareness is growing globally, limited research has examined how environmental knowledge and trust interact with marketing efforts to shape green purchasing decisions in developing market contexts like Indonesia. The research model incorporates five constructs: environmental knowledge (awareness of ecological issues), green trust (confidence in environmental claims), green marketing mix (eco-oriented strategies for product, price, place, and promotion), green purchase intention (likelihood of buying eco-friendly products), and green purchase behavior (actual sustainable buying decisions). Data from 211 valid respondents were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that environmental knowledge directly influences green trust and the green marketing mix but not green purchase intention or behavior. Instead, it affects behavior indirectly through trust and intention. Contrary to expectations, green trust does not influence the green marketing mix, suggesting it may operate independently of marketing strategies. Similarly, the green marketing mix does not significantly influence green purchase intention or behavior, suggesting that marketing strategies alone may be insufficient in driving sustainable consumer choices. These findings highlight the important role of environmental knowledge in fostering consumer trust and indirectly guiding green purchasing behavior in emerging markets. By promoting sustainable consumption through knowledge and trust, this study offers insights into consumer behavior as a pathway to advancing planetary health. This study advances the Theory of Planned Behavior by integrating green trust and the green marketing mix to explain how trust and economic factors shape green purchasing behavior. Practical implications suggest that businesses should adopt targeted green marketing strategies, such as educational campaigns, eco-labeling, or certifications, to enhance environmental awareness, build consumer trust, and encourage sustainable purchasing decisions. This study contributes to the literature by examining how environmental knowledge indirectly influences green purchase behavior through the mediation of trust and intention within the context of an emerging market. Full article