Search Results (36)

The global supply chain of wood products plays a key role in sustainable development and climate resilience, but remains fragmented in the academic and technical literature. This systematic review aims to synthesize research published between 2000 and 2025 on wood products’ production, transformation, trade, governance, and sustainability. A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases and repositories, including Scopus, FAOSTAT, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, SciELO, CAPES, EMBRAPA, and AGNIC. A total of 784 records were identified and, after applying eligibility and deduplication criteria, 119 documents were included in the final synthesis. The results reveal key thematic trends, including the dynamics of international timber trade, certification and traceability systems, logistical challenges, digitalization, and integration of forest policies. Key gaps include limited inclusion of smallholders, low technology adoption in the Global South, and fragmented governance mechanisms. The results suggest that improving sustainability in global timber supply chains requires coordinated policy frameworks, technological investment, and inclusive market systems. This review contributes a consolidated overview and offers insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the forestry sector. Full article

Food safety and traceability in dairy processing plants are essential for public health and industry sustainability. This study provides an empirical assessment of food safety and traceability practices among artisanal and semi-automated dairy processors in Fier, Albania, which is the country’s leading milk-producing region. Based on structured interviews with 18 dairy processors, we examined practices related to supplier management, quality control, facility conditions, staff hygiene, and equipment sanitation. The results reveal significant gaps in milk supplier inspections, biochemical testing, and traceability systems. The majority of processors lack barcode systems, regulated contracts with farmers, and formalized product tracking mechanisms, decreasing the chances of market formalization. Moreover, none of the dairies in this study have ISO certification, which restricts access to international markets. This paper also compares food safety practices between semi-automated and artisanal processors, with the former having slightly better compliance in certain key areas such as milk supply monitoring and biochemical testing. However, both groups face major challenges in complying with food safety standards due to weak regulatory enforcement, limited financial resources, and insufficient training. Implementing stricter food safety measures and modern traceability systems is not only a regulatory necessity but a strategic step toward improving public health, market access, and the long-term sustainability of Albania’s dairy sector. Full article

Background/Objectives: Orthopedics is a medical specialty that is experiencing a significant increase in the volume of interventions due to an ageing population. By activating remote care pathways, orthopedic surgeons can contribute to improving environmental sustainability. The aim of this research is to develop assessment tools for remote care pathways in orthopedic surgery, inspired by advanced practices of international hospitals. Methods: The research methods consisted in identifying the key areas that make up the remote care pathways in orthopedic surgery and designing appropriate indicators to assess their sustainability. Their levels of achievement were designed by collecting from the literature the most advanced practices reported by hospitals worldwide. The practical validation of the developed model was performed at an orthopedic hospital. Results: Based on the recommendation of the College of Surgeons, we have identified four key areas: remote consultations in orthopedics, incentives for staff travel options, involvement of surgical patients, and minor surgical interventions. In each of these areas, we have designed an indicator, for which we have described the levels of achievement on a scale from 1 to 5. The indicators are also rated for their importance on a scale of 1 to 5, according to the extent to which they influence the achievement of the sustainability objectives. The practical implementation of the developed model at an orthopedic hospital has shown its suitability for the purpose of the research and its compatibility with the certifications held by the hospital. We computed the sustainability indicator in each area as the product between the achievement level and the importance of the indicator. The sum of the four indicators provides the global sustainability indicator. The fulfillment degree of the requirements related to remote care pathways in orthopedic surgery is obtained by reporting the actual value of the global sustainability indicator to the maximum value, which in the explored situation is 61.42%. To have high efficiency for improvement measures we have used the Eisenhower matrix. It is evidenced that the highest priority must be given to the indicator incentives for staff travel options. Conclusions: Implementation of the system in healthcare facilities promotes continuous improvement of remote care pathways in orthopedic surgery, improves environmental sustainability, and thereby contributes to reducing climate change. Full article

This study examines the quality and availability of daylight in childcare facilities, focusing on compliance with Polish Technical Conditions (TCs) and comparing them with international certification systems such as BREEAM, LEED, and WELL. Polish regulations regarding sunlight exposure require revisions to support the sustainable development of buildings, impacting children’s well-being, their health, and the building’s energy efficiency. Daylight’s significance for children’s health and development underpins the investigation, highlighting its impact on the circadian rhythm, cognitive abilities, and well-being. The research utilized computational simulations with Rhinoceros 7 and Ladybug and Honeybee plugins to model a preschool room’s daylight performance under various window configurations and orientations. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted, focusing on parameters such as Daylight Factor (DF), Daylight Autonomy (DA), and Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI). The findings revealed that while the TCs’ requirements ensure minimum daylight access, they result in nonoptimal lighting quality as defined by international standards. Almost half of the surveyed rooms in the case with a WFR of one-eighth did not meet the condition for having acceptable daylight levels, as defined in the study. In the same study, only about one-third of the analyzed variants achieved the threshold for good daylight quality. At a WFR of one-eighth, no room variant reached the level considered to indicate excellent daylight quality. The results show the need for revised regulations incorporating comprehensive metrics like Climate-Based Daylight Modeling (CBDM). This study suggests that integrating advanced methods of assessing daylight quality could significantly improve daylight conditions in childcare environments. This research is a starting point for discussing the need to modernize the Polish Technical Conditions (TC) to support the sustainable development of childcare facilities in Poland. Full article

Teachers’ professional learning often includes online components. This study examined how a case of 37 teachers utilized a specific online asynchronous professional learning platform designed to support teachers’ growth in learning to teach statistics and data science in secondary schools in the United States. The platform’s features and learning materials were designed based on effective online learning designs, supports for self-guided learning, and research on the teaching and learning of statistics and data science. We paid particular attention to the features we designed into the platform to support self-regulation and personalizing the experiences to meet their preferred learning goals such as allowing for free choice of learning materials, flexibility of when and how long to engage, providing personal recommendations based on user input, internal systems to track progress, and generating certificates of completion. In this study, we used a case study with both quantitative and qualitative data to examine whether teachers had gains in meeting learning goals related to their development in teaching statistics and data science, had sustained engagement, and found the features for personalization supportive for their learning. Results showed, overall, positive growth towards meeting learning goals and making small changes towards improved classroom practice. Most teachers were generally engaged in sustained ways across the study period, though we found six different patterns of completion that highlight ways in which teachers’ goal-directed and self-regulated learning occurred within the busy schedules of educators. Several personalized features, especially the recommendations and tracking system, were highly utilized and perceived as supportive of teachers’ learning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Selenium is indispensable for human health, yet vast regions worldwide grapple with selenium-deficient soils, rendering dietary intake a critical avenue for supplementation. This narrative review aims to systematically examine and compare domestic and international regulations and standards related to selenium enrichment, providing insights to enhance regulatory frameworks and standardization within the selenium-enrichment industry. Methods: From June to September 2024, we conducted a comprehensive search of official websites belonging to international organizations (e.g., Codex Alimentarius Commission, European Union) and governmental agencies of countries such as China and the United States. Keywords, like “selenium enrichment”, “selenium standards”, and “selenium detection methods”, were employed to identify pertinent regulations, standards, and guidelines encompassing intake benchmarks, detection methodologies, product specifications, technical guidelines for production, labeling requirements, and certification management norms. Results: Our analysis reveals several challenges within the current selenium-enriched regulatory and standardization systems, including inconsistent product determination criteria and limit settings, incomplete technical guidelines for selenium-enriched agricultural production, and a lack of unified regulations for labeling selenium-enriched agricultural products. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for harmonization of standards and enhanced regulatory oversight. To address these issues, we recommend bolstering safety risk assessments for selenium-enriched agricultural products, establishing and refining a comprehensive standard system for selenium-enriched agriculture, and intensifying quality and safety supervision. This study offers a valuable reference for policymakers and stakeholders to promote the sustainable development of the selenium-enrichment industry. Full article

This paper addresses the need to contextualize sustainability standards and supply chain management in dairy value chains in East Africa, where milk perishability and limited cold storage significantly impact the industry. The study highlights the importance of localizing these standards, given the greater dependence on local supply chains following the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on milk standards literature and various interventions aimed at promoting systemic change, this review analyses the capacity of marginalized stakeholders in East Africa’s dairy value chains to meet sustainability standards, focusing particularly on the social dimensions of these standards. The findings indicate that compliance with sustainability and safety standards is predominantly restricted to formal dairy networks, which process less than 20 percent of milk produced in the region. Most milk sales occur through informal or unorganized markets, which face significant barriers to meeting international sustainability benchmarks. The review advocates for the alignment of international sustainability standards with the unique conditions of the informal markets dominating East Africa’s dairy sector. It suggests enhancing stakeholder capabilities and addressing regulatory barriers as necessary steps for improving compliance with these standards. The co-operative model is highlighted as a promising approach to integrating farmers and marginalized value chain actors into the formal sector, thereby facilitating incremental adoption of sustainability standards. The paper identifies strategic entry points for organizing and upgrading the supply chain, including capacity building, certification, and catalyzing farmer groups to compliance and productivity. Full article

This paper aims to compare the sustainability assessment methods of DGNB and G-SEED, the two domestic green building rating systems, focusing on indoor environmental evaluation and reviewing recent laws, certifications systems, and guidelines from Germany and South Korea. According to existing studies, Korea’s green building certification has similar evaluation items, environmental (62.6%), social aspects (25.4%), and economic aspects (3.0%) compared with DGNB. Continuing research comparing DGNB and G-SEED, this paper will present an insight into the DGNB and G-SEED green building rating systems’ aspects and motives; furthermore, we intend to equate the sustainability assessment methods of the DGNB and G-SEED certification systems, in order to improve certification systems by comparing and finding solutions to differences, thereby making international systems more adaptable to each country. This analysis will unify property categorization systems and will promote green building and sustainable development globally. Findings: Regarding similarities and differences, the certification criteria for air, thermal, visual/light, and acoustic quality are based on domestic laws in both countries. DGNB and G-SEED are similar in terms of the requirements but differ in methods and domestic laws. Some findings regarding differences are that DGNB requires low VOC-emitting products, while G-SEED focuses on natural ventilation. Thermal comfort is measured through design-phase simulation in DGNB, while G-SEED lighting is evaluated on the basis of saving light energy. Finally, in G-SEED, acoustic quality is measured via indoor soundproofing performance, while DGNB takes room size into account. Full article

Forest ecological products are closely related to ecological balance, and an in-depth understanding of the development dynamics of these products is crucial to the realization of sustainable development that integrates ecological, economic, and social benefits. Based on the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, this study conducted a comprehensive econometric analysis of the number of articles, journals, research institutions, author collaborations, research hotspots, and research trends of forest ecological products globally during the period of 2003–2023 with the help of CiteSpace software (Philadelphia, PA, USA). The study’s results revealed the following insights: (1) The research on forest ecological products in recent years showed a general upward trend, but the research interest in foreign countries was higher than that in China. (2) The literature within the WOS database primarily focused on the field of ecology, whereas the literature in the CNKI database predominantly emphasized the field of forestry. (3) In both databases, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the organization with the highest number of articles. Globally, Chinese institutions had the largest proportion of articles issued. The high percentage of articles issued by specialized agricultural and forestry schools in China showed clear domain relevance. (4) In both databases, author collaborations were relatively decentralized, and no significant core group of authors had been formed. (5) The research hotspots in foreign countries focused on the ecological regulation of forest ecological products, while the research hotspots in China focused on the realization of the economic value of forest ecological products. (6) “Machine learning”, “river basin”, and “health” are the future research frontiers in foreign countries, while “ecological function” and “forest ecosystem service” are the future research frontiers in China. The results of both databases indicate that the sustainability of forest ecological products is a research trend for the coming period. Finally, the outlook for future research on forest eco-products is presented in four aspects: promoting the establishment of a unified international standard certification system for forest eco-products, developing diversified products, strengthening the function of policy support and guidance, and establishing national partnerships. Full article

Land degradation, food and tenure insecurity are significant problems in the northern highlands of Ethiopia, particularly in the region known as the country’s famine corridor. Addressing these twine issues in the region has become a focal point for both local and international organizations, underscoring the significance of preventive measures. Since 2000, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has been implementing sustainable land management and certification programs. This study aims on households involved in these programs, specifically in Dessie Zuria and Kutaber Woredas, South Wello Zone (SWZ). The primary objectives of the research were to assess households’ current food security status, identify factors influencing their food security, and classify coping and survival strategies employed by households during food shortages. Primary and secondary sources have been used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data were collected from surveyed households and analyzed USING SPSS software version 26, whereas qualitative data were transcribed, grouped, and interpreted in line with the aim of the research. Three food security models, namely the Household Food Balance Model, Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning, and Household Dietary Diversity Score, were employed to evaluate food security. Consequently, a significant percentage of the surveyed households, amounting to 88.3%, 35.6%, and 93.8%, were found to experience food insecurity according to the respective models. Rainfall shortages and variability, crop pests and diseases, shrinking farm plots, and land degradation are among the identified food security determinants. During dearth periods, households deploy a variety of coping and survival strategies. To mitigate food insecurity stemming from both natural and socio-economic factors, the research suggests several recommendations. These include advocating for tenure policy reforms by the GoE, and the local governments should promote the adoption of efficient land management practices, instituting a land certification system based on cadasters, encouraging family planning, boosting investments in education and literacy, raising awareness and providing training in climate-smart agriculture techniques, educating communities on optimal grain utilization, saving, trade, and storage methods, facilitating opportunities for income generation through off-farm and non-farm activities, and offering support for crop and livestock diversification. Full article

The illegal logging trade (ILT) is considered one of the major causes of global deforestation and ecological unsustainability. To prevent the price-suppressing damage caused by ILT to the local wood market and global ecological environment, the Chinese government and non-governmental organizations have taken many actions to deal with it. This study used wood trade data to analyze the current status of ILT in China, summarized the efforts and shortcomings of ILT response actions taken by China, and discussed the possible strategies and sustainable development prospects for combating ILT in China’s future. After studying China’s situation in the field of ILT and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of China’s measures to deal with ILT, this study found that the volume of ILT gradually increased in China from 2013 to 2020, which might also be one of the reasons for the slowdown in global ecological sustainability. The Chinese government and non-governmental organizations have taken many actions to deal with ILT through legislation, industry supervision, and international cooperation; to date, these response actions have achieved some positive results. Therefore, on this basis, this study proposed that China needs to further limit and manage ILT to achieve sustainable development of forest resources in the future. Strengthening the legislation, especially the restriction of ILT clauses, as a mandatory policy is the most important means to solve the ILT problem, which can provide the legal basis and a reference for other actions. Using economic means to encourage the import of legal wood is also a viable action to crowd out the trade of illegal wood. It is also necessary to promote an international certification system for wood and the standardization and systematization of logging is also a good way to mitigate ILT. Improving the management of wood being imported into China will fill a critical gap at the global scale in dealing with ILT and have positive impacts on combating global ILT. Full article

Neighborhood sustainability assessment systems support the planning of sustainable and resilient cities. This research analyses, compares, and evaluates three neighborhood sustainability assessment systems (NSA) of (i) the German Sustainable Building Council for Urban Districts (DGNB–UD), (ii) the USA Leadership in energy and environmental design for Neighborhood Development (LEED–ND), and (iii) the Indian Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment for Large Developments (GRIHA–LD). The theoretical background, certification types, process, and evaluation methods of the three NSAs are discussed. The qualitative and quantitative comparative analysis and evaluation methods of the NSAs included identifying and assessing ten weighted essential urban sustainability themes. Indicators under each theme were identified and compared in the NSAs. The comparison showed the importance of particular themes based on assigned weights. LEED–ND focuses on “transportation” and “site planning”, while DGNB–UD addresses all dimensions of sustainability in a balanced manner. GRIHA–LD has limitations concerning social, economic, and governance concerns. The research results define differences and similarities in international neighborhood sustainability assessment and illustrate the quality and quantity differences of sustainability and resilience aspects addressed by the three existing NSA systems as a starting basis for the future improvement of existing and development of new land sustainability and resilience assessment systems. Full article

Farmers face an increasing administrative burden as agricultural policies and certification systems of trade partners ask for more sustainability reporting. Several indicator frameworks have been developed to measure sustainability, but they often lack empirical operationalization and are not always measured at the farm level. The research gap we address in this paper is the empirical link between the data needs for sustainability reporting and the developments in data management at the farm level. Family farms do not collect much data for internal management, but external demand for sustainability data can partly be fulfilled by reorganizing data management in the farm office. The Farm Financial Accounts (FFAs) and Farm Management Information Systems (FMISs) are the main data sources in the farm office. They originate from the same source of note-taking by farmers but became separated when formalized and computerized. Nearly all European farms have a bank account and must keep financial accounts (e.g., for Value-Added Tax or income tax) that can be audited. Financial accounts are not designed for environmental accounting or calculating sustainability metrics but provide a wealth of information to make assessments on these subjects. FMISs are much less frequently used but collect more technical and fine-grained data at crop or enterprise level for different fields. FMISs are also strong in integrating sensor and satellite data. Integrating data availability and workflows of FFAs and FMISs makes sustainability reporting less cumbersome regarding data entry and adds valuable data to environmental accounts. This paper applies a design science approach to design an artifact, a dashboard for sustainability reporting based on the integration of information flows from farm financial accounting systems and farm management information systems. The design developed in this paper illustrates that if invoices were digitized, most data-gathering needed for external sustainability reporting would automatically be done when the invoices is paid by a bank transfer. Data on the use of inputs and production could be added with procedures as in current FMISs, but with less data entry, fewer risks of differences in outcomes, and possibilities of cross-checking the results. Full article

Advanced remote sensing technologies have undoubtedly revolutionized palm oil industry management by bringing business and environmental benefits on a single platform. It is evident from the ongoing trend that remote sensing using satellite and aerial data is able to provide precise and quick information for huge palm oil plantation areas using high-resolution image processing, which is also recognized by the certification agencies, i.e., the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification). A substantial improvement in the palm oil industry could be attained by utilizing the latest Geo-information tools and technologies equipped with AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms and image processing, which could help to identify illegal deforestation, tree count, tree height, and the early detection of diseased leaves. This paper reviews some of the latest technologies equipped with remote sensing, AI, and image processing for managing the palm oil plantation. This manuscript also highlights how the distress in the current palm oil industry could be handled by mentioning some of the improvised monitoring systems for palm oil plantation that could in turn increase the yield of palm oil. It is evident from the proposed review that the accuracy of AI algorithms for palm oil detection depends on various factors such as the quality of the training data, the design of the neural network, and the type of detection task. In general, AI models have achieved high accuracy in detecting palm oil tree images, with some studies reporting accuracy levels up to 91%. However, it is important to note that accuracy can still be affected by factors such as variations in lighting conditions and image resolution. Nonetheless, with any AI model, the accuracy of algorithms for palm oil tree detection can be improved by collecting more diverse training data and fine-tuning the model. Full article

The fact that people spend a major part of their lifetime indoors, together with the lethal COVID-19 pandemic which caused people to spend even more time inside buildings, has drawn attention to the significance of achieving Agenda 2030 SD goal number three: good health and well-being, in reference to the indoor environment. The research subject is the health and well-being of building users explored through the sustainable (passive) design principles having an impact on the comfort and quality of the indoor environment. It is set within a regenerative sustainability framework encompassing the physiological, biophilic, psychological and social aspects of comfort. The Comfort Assessment Model’s categories, to some extent, rely on the first author’s doctoral thesis, with further modifications regarding the passive design criteria and indicators. A comparative analysis of the model with international sustainability certification (rating) systems has been performed, proving the significance of introducing more passive design comfort (health) related criteria into sustainability assessment models. In addition, a focus group of expert architects contributed to the research conclusions by responding to a questionnaire addressing the issues of sustainability, comfort and passive design, in terms of the health and well-being of building users, which confirmed the relevance of applied passive design measures for providing comfort indoors and fulfilling sustainable development goals. Full article