Search Results (465)

Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae)-based dietary supplements are commonplace, but cyanobacteria-enhanced foods, such as spirulina crackers, are just appearing on New Zealand supermarket shelves. While much research has been devoted to consumer attitudes towards macro-algae-based products, little research has been devoted to micro-algae-based or cyanobacteria-enhanced consumer products. The current study, following the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation to Behaviour theory, examines likely consumer drivers of favouring or disfavouring spirulina crackers. These drivers include food neophilia, food neophobia, perception of sustainability and health-related product attributes, involvement with algae and an exploratory driver, snacking behaviour. Fully supported drivers (related to increased favour and decreased disfavour) included food neophilia and perception of sustainability and health-related product attributes. Algae involvement was only related to increased favour, and food neophobia was not supported. Surprisingly, snacking behaviour was related to increased disfavour of spirulina crackers. Both theoretical and managerial implications are offered. Full article

Background: Human activity is recognised as a major contributor to changes in Earth’s climate, land surface, oceans, ecosystems, and biodiversity. These alterations are largely due to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, mass pollution, and land degradation. In light of these environmental challenges, examining the psychological determinants of pro-environmental behaviour has become increasingly important. Study’s Aim: To provide a comprehensive model evaluating the structural relationships among biospheric values, green self-identity, green self-efficacy, and eco-anxiety to investigate the underlying mechanisms relating to the adoption of various pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). Methods: An online self-report questionnaire was completed by 510 Italian participants (aged 18–55, M = 35.18, SD = 12.58) between November and December 2023. Data analysis was performed using R statistical software, employing Structural Equation Modelling. Results: The results indicate that eco-anxiety, green self-efficacy, and green self-identity are significant positive predictors of PEBs. Furthermore, green self-identity significantly influences eco-anxiety and green self-efficacy, while biospheric values are a major trigger for both green self-efficacy and green self-identity, but not for eco-anxiety. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while eco-anxiety can be an adaptive motivator for PEBs, biospheric values foster a green self-identity and self-efficacy, which in turn drive pro-environmental actions. The study concludes that encouraging biospheric values and strong green self-identity is crucial for promoting sustainable behaviours. Full article

Amid global environmental changes, urbanisation erodes nature connectedness, an important driver of pro-environmental behaviours and human well-being, exacerbating human-made risks like biodiversity loss and climate change. This study introduces a novel hybrid agent-based model (ABM), calibrated with historical urbanisation data, to explore how urbanisation, opportunity and orientation to engage with nature, and intergenerational transmission have shaped nature connectedness over time. The model simulates historical trends (1800–2020) against target data, with projections extending to 2125. The ABM revealed a significant nature connectedness decline with excellent fit to the target data, derived from nature word use in cultural products. Although a lifetime ‘extinction of experience’ mechanism refined the fit, intergenerational transmission emerged as the dominant driver—supporting a socio-ecological tipping point in human–nature disconnection. Even with transformative interventions like dramatic urban greening and enhanced nature engagement, projections suggest a persistent disconnection from nature through to 2050, highlighting locked-in risks to environmental stewardship. After 2050, the most transformative interventions trigger a self-sustaining recovery, highlighting the need for sustained, systemic policies that embed nature connectedness into urban planning and education. Full article

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly adopted in urban settings to restore ecological functions and enhance biodiversity. This study evaluates the effects of NbS interventions on bird, insect, and plant communities in the Cavalum Valley urban green area, Penafiel (northern Portugal). Over a three-year period, systematic field surveys assessed changes in species richness, abundance, and ecological indicators following actions such as riparian restoration, afforestation, habitat diversification, and invasive species removal. Results revealed a marked increase in bird overall abundance from 538 to 941 individuals and in average pollinator population size from 9.25 to 12.20. Plant diversity also improved, with a rise in native and RELAPE-listed species (5.23%). Functional group analyses underscored the importance of vegetative structure in supporting varied foraging and nesting behaviours. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrated NbS in enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience in urban landscapes while reinforcing the need for long-term monitoring to guide adaptive management and conservation planning. Future work could evaluate ecological resilience thresholds and community participation in citizen science monitoring. Full article

With growing environmental consciousness and projections that green markets will represent 10% of global market value by 2030, a significant gap persists between consumers’ stated environmental concerns and their actual purchasing behaviour for green products. This study investigates how green brand positioning influences consumer purchase intention for green technology products, examining the mediating roles of self-image congruence and functional congruence, and the moderating effects of product involvement level and product optionality. A quantitative survey was conducted with 354 US participants who possess at least a bachelor’s degree and have experience with technology products, using validated scales through structural equation modelling and mediation analysis. The findings demonstrate a significant positive relationship between green brand positioning and purchase intention. Self-image congruence partially mediated this relationship, while functional congruence also served as a significant mediator. The product involvement level positively moderated the mediation effect of self-image congruence, whereas product optionality negatively moderated the mediation effect of functional congruence. Green brand positioning effectively enhances purchase intention when consumers perceive alignment with their environmental self-image and when products maintain a functional equivalence to non-green alternatives. Companies should focus on building environmental self-congruence while ensuring product quality to maximise green marketing effectiveness and bridge the intention–behaviour gap. Full article

Green apps have emerged as ways users can engage with climate action, covering ventures that plant trees as users search for information (e.g., Ecosia) through to apps that facilitate behaviour change (e.g., United Nation’s AWorld). But how much can these apps be trusted to facilitate long-term engagement with climate action? Setting our research within the literature on trust, we combine expert interviews (n = 20) with the academic literature to outline 14 trustworthiness indicators. Each indicator provides a clear statement about what makes a green app more or less trustworthy. The indicators are grouped into six core categories: going beyond the app, meaningful collective action, designing the app, accessibility and inequality, data, and organisation. In doing so, our indicators speak to a range of research from multiple disciplines. At the same time, they provide a toolkit for users, practitioners, and academics to critically and productively engage with green apps. Full article

Agent-based models are increasingly used to study supply chain systems due to their capacity to capture decentralised behaviour, heterogeneity, and emergent dynamics. However, the mere use of agent-based simulation platforms does not necessarily imply that the models fully exploit the agent-based paradigm. Although this concern, namely, the potential misuse of agent-based models, has been frequently raised in the literature, no previous study has precisely quantified how frequently this issue occurs, especially in the supply chain domain. To address this gap, a systematic review of 58 academic contributions was conducted to evaluate the extent to which agent-based models applied to supply chain contexts adhere to the fundamental principles of agent-based simulation. Specifically, the reviewed works were classified into two categories: Green Flag models, representing coherent and appropriate implementations of agent-based models, and Red Flag models, which fail to capture the essential characteristics of agent-based simulation. The classification was based on key discriminating factors such as the type and number of simulated entities or agents, the nature of agent interactions, and the incorporation of system-level dynamics. Further nuance is provided by two subtypes of Green Flag models: those featuring intelligent agents, and those based on responsive or reactive entities, which might generate emergent dynamics. Our results reveal that almost 64% of the analysed agent-based contributions lack key characteristics to justify the use of agent-based models. Hence, the paper also provides conceptual tools to aid in distinguishing between different agent-based approaches. In conclusion, the present work offers both a theoretical framework and a practical evaluation guide to support the development of future models and to foster critical analysis within the field. Full article

Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) has garnered widespread international attention, yet the GHRM practices implementation and the challenges they face in African organisations remain underexplored. Given that the majority of GHRM studies in the African context have been published over the past four years, there is a clear need for a systematic review of the literature on GHRM in this region. This review examines 23 studies to identify which GHRM topics have been explored in the African context and what theories and methodologies have been adopted in these studies. Drawing from the selected literature, a conceptual framework is established to facilitate a more structured understanding of GHRM practices within the African context, which finds that GHRM works as an organisational subsystem embedded within broader institutional, environmental, and socio-economic systems. In the concluding section, this review paper further highlights the key gaps in the existing research and offers recommendations for future studies related to GHRM implementation in African organisations. This review paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge in both the theoretical and practical areas of GHRM, while also contributing to the broader goal of sustainable development in Africa. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable energy and clean water has prompted the exploration of alternative solutions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In this context, hydrogen production through water electrolysis powered by solar energy presents a promising pathway toward a zero-carbon footprint. This study investigates the potential of copper slag, an abundant industrial waste, as a low-cost electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in contact with saline water such as 0.5 M NaCl and seawater, comparing the electrochemical response when in contact with geothermal water from El Tatio (Atacama Desert). The physicochemical characterisation of copper slag was performed using XRD, Raman, and SEM-EDS to determine its surface properties. Electrochemical evaluations were conducted in 0.5 M NaCl and natural seawater using polarisation techniques to assess the corrosion behaviour and catalytic efficiency of the copper slag electrodes. The results indicate that copper slag exhibits high stability and promising HER kinetics, particularly in seawater, where its mesoporous structure facilitates efficient charge transfer processes. The key novelty of this manuscript lies in the direct revalorisation of untreated copper slag as a functional electrode for HER in real seawater and geothermal water, avoiding the use of expensive noble metals and aligning with circular economy principles. This innovative combination of recycled material and natural saline electrolyte enhances both the technical and economic viability of electrolysis, while reducing environmental impact and promoting green hydrogen production in coastal regions with high solar potential. This research contributes to the value of industrial waste, offering a viable pathway for advancing sustainable hydrogen technologies in real-world environments. Full article

This study investigates the mechanisms through which employees’ green behavioural intention (GBI) translates into employee in-role green behaviour (EGB-IR) in the hospitality sector. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Value-Belief Norm (VBN) theory, we propose an extended model that incorporates four contextual mediators —customers’ environmental attitudes (CEAs), coworkers’ green work climate (CGWC), supervisors’ commitment to the environment (SCE), and environmental organisational policy (EOP)—to explain how the relationship between intentions and behaviours is mediated by these social and organisational factors. Data were collected through a self-administered survey of 497 employees from hotels located in the Canary Islands, a recognised coastal tourism destination facing relevant environmental challenges. The proposed relationships were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results confirm that GBI significantly predicts in-role green behaviour (EGB-IR), and all four contextual factors partially mediate this relationship. Among them, EOP and CGWC emerged as the most influential mediators. These findings underscore the importance of aligning individual motivation with supportive workplace environments to foster consistent sustainable practices in hospitality organisations. This research contributes to the growing literature on green behaviours in hospitality by empirically validating a multilevel TPB-VBN-theory-based framework and highlighting key points for hotel managers aiming to strengthen their environmental commitment through employee engagement. Full article

Urban green spaces play a critical role in promoting health, well-being and social inclusion. However, many such spaces remain underutilized by women due to perceived safety risks and inadequate infrastructure. The aim of this study is to understand the level of accessibility of these areas for women of different ages, considering their diverse needs related to physical activity and the sense of safety in public space. This research investigates the behavioural experiences of women in Zielona Góra, Poland, focusing on municipal parks and forests. A mixed-methods approach was applied, including on-site observations, in-depth interviews, online surveys and scenario modelling using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs), involving 204 women aged 15–85. The results show that 48% of respondents avoid green areas due to barriers such as poor lighting, fear of wild animals or unpredictable individuals and insufficient infrastructure. Women preferred afternoon visits and valued the presence of others for increased safety. The five most frequented parks were identified based on accessibility and infrastructure quality. Scenario simulations confirmed that even single targeted interventions could improve perceived safety and increase usage. This study highlights the need for inclusive urban design that addresses the specific experiences and requirements of women in public green spaces. Full article

In the evolving digital marketplace, consumer behaviour is increasingly shaped by green marketing strategies, particularly in the context of sustainable consumption. This study aims to examine the mechanisms through which green content marketing and green affiliate marketing influence green variety-seeking shopping behaviours, with particular attention to the role of green shopping motives and the effectiveness of marketing strategies. As traditional retail methods face limitations, digital marketing channels provide new avenues to engage consumers through personalized and dynamic content. Using the Theory–Context–Characteristics–Methodology (TCCM) framework, this research systematically examines the existing literature to identify key theories, contexts, characteristics, and methodologies relevant to variety-seeking behaviours towards green products. The study explores the psychological and behavioural drivers behind shopping choices, offering insights into why consumers exhibit variety-seeking behaviour when purchasing green products. The results indicate that effective green content and affiliate marketing drive variety-seeking behaviour in green shopping, with consumer motives serving as a key mediating factor. The conceptual model developed in this study provides a structured understanding of how modern marketing strategies shape consumer preferences and engagement with green products. This study offers a future research agenda and practical implications for marketers and retailers. By understanding these influences, businesses can refine their marketing strategies to strengthen green shopping motives, encourage sustainable consumption over traditional consumption, and adapt to the dynamic retail landscape. Full article

Aviation is widely recognised as one of the most carbon-intensive modes of transport and among the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. The use of green hydrogen (H₂) in airside operations can help reduce emissions from air transport. While the pace and scalability of technology development, including H₂-powered and ground support equipment, will be key factors, other financial, regulatory, legal, organisational, behavioural, and societal issues must also be considered. This paper investigates the key opportunities and challenges of using H₂ in the aviation industry through eleven semi-structured interviews and a virtual expert workshop (N = 37) with key aviation industry stakeholders and academia. The results indicate that, currently, decarbonisation of the aviation sector faces several challenges, including socio-technical, techno-economic, and socio-political challenges, with socio-technical challenges being the most prominent barrier. This study shows that decarbonisation will not occur until the UK government is ready to have all the required infrastructure and capacity in place. Governments can play a significant role in directing the necessary ‘push’ and ‘pull’ to develop and promote zero-carbon emission aircraft in the marketplace and ensure safe implementation. Full article

This paper focuses on operational practices that can reduce emissions in port services, especially within nautical operations. By using theoretical and empirical approaches, the research adopts a mixed-method design that integrates desk research, stakeholder surveys, and case study analysis. This study identifies and classifies twelve optimal operational practices through an innovative multidimensional framework, which considers environmental, economic, social, technical, and institutional dimensions. The findings highlight the relevant importance of promoting behavioural changes among port service operators to ensure the effective adoption of sustainable practices. To this end, the study highlights the need to develop specific and targeted training programs. They aim to raise public awareness of environmental issues and improve personnel operational efficiency. Such programs are identified as crucial elements to facilitate the transition towards more sustainable and efficient operating models. This fosters a long-term positive impact on both environmental performance and the entire maritime logistics chain. This research concludes by recommending how ports can incorporate these practices into training programs that promote sustainable behaviour and improve operational decision-making. Full article

Engagement in physical activity (PA) in natural environments is known to promote physical and psychological well-being, yet little is known about how such activity fluctuates across seasons and how it relates to individual characteristics and quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the seasonal variability of PA in nature and examine its associations with sociodemographic factors, nature-related experiences, and overall QoL in a sample of Lithuanian adults. A total of 924 participants (680 women and 244 men) with a mean age of 40.0 ± 12.4 years completed an online survey. The study measures included sociodemographic characteristics, nature proximity, exposure, connectedness, perceived restoration in nature and QoL measured by the WHOQOL. Based on self-reported seasonal behaviour, participants were categorized into three groups: irregular or no PA in natural environments, seasonal variability, and regular year-round PA in natural environments. In the present study, we observed the lowest rates of PA in natural environments in winter and the highest in summer. Comparative analyses revealed that individuals with regular PA in natural environments reported significantly greater financial security, nature exposure and connectedness, proximity to green spaces, and overall QoL compared to less regular PA in nature groups. A multiple regression analysis identified financial security, nature proximity, nature exposure, connectedness, and perceived restoration in nature as significant and positive predictors of QoL. These findings point to the problem of inequity and suggest that inequitable access to PA in natural environments manifests as a higher seasonality of PA in nature. The practical implications of the study highlight the importance of addressing equity and promoting consistent PA in nature throughout seasons. During the dark, wet, and cold periods, it is important to implement targeted interventions that improve access to natural environments for individuals with lower financial security. This could help reduce inequity in physical activity. Promoting access to green spaces and fostering nature connectedness may be particularly valuable strategies in public health interventions aimed at enhancing QoL across diverse populations. Full article