Search Results (576)

Food waste in households means that there is a need to recognize the possibilities of balancing activities in the field of obtaining and managing food products. Activities in this area may concern giving away surplus food to others, purchasing local and organic products, limiting shopping activity. Generation Z, which was included in this research, uses new media, including mobile applications, to a greater extent than other generations. The main objective of the research is to recognize and present the food-sustainable behaviors and attitudes of Generation Z consumers. The study used the analysis of source data, which was the basis for formulating four hypotheses. They were verified in empirical studies conducted using the CAWI method. The collected material was analyzed using, among others, the proprietary index of environmentally and socially sustainable behaviors (ESRBI), the Mann-Whitney test. The studies showed that respondents assessed their food behaviors as irresponsible, with women’s assessment being higher than men’s. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the use of food saving applications and the value of the ESRBI index and individual sustainable behaviors. Respondents positively assessed the initiatives of local authorities and housing cooperatives in the area of creating places for sharing food and organizing community gardens. Full article

Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) represents both a resource opportunity and an environmental challenge in waste-to-energy systems. This comprehensive review examines MSWIBA’s physicochemical properties, heavy metal behavior, and applications in construction materials, alongside metal recovery techniques and risk mitigation strategies. The research introduces an integrated management framework combining property assessment with coordinated stream processing to reconcile resource recovery with environmental safety. Future studies should focus on advanced analytical methods, hybrid processes, long-term immobilization mechanisms, and life cycle assessment. These innovations aim to transform MSWIBA into a sustainable resource, supporting circular economy principles and low-carbon development. Full article

Rapid electronic waste (e-waste) accumulation poses a critical challenge for urban sustainability in emerging economies. However, few studies have examined what motivates households to actively participate in formal disposal systems, particularly in contexts where infrastructure remains limited. This study investigates the determinants of e-waste recycling intention and behavior in Surabaya, Indonesia. A total of 168 active recyclers are surveyed and analyzed using structural equation modeling and importance–performance mapping. The findings reveal that awareness of environmental consequences significantly influences both recycling intention and actual behavior. Interestingly, while the perceived cost of recycling significantly shapes residents’ intention to participate, it does not translate into a significant effect on their actual recycling behavior. Similarly, the convenience of recycling services shows no significant influence on either intention or behavior. Mediation analysis confirms that environmental awareness indirectly shapes recycling behavior through its effect on intention. These findings suggest that, among early adopters of formal e-waste recycling in a developing-country context, cognitive drivers such as awareness outweigh structural barriers like cost and convenience in shaping long-term recycling engagement. For policymakers, this underscores the importance of highlighting awareness of e-waste impacts and the benefits of proper recycling, alongside efforts to remove physical and financial barriers for broader segments of the population. Full article

Background: Food literacy (FL) comprises the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed for food production, selection, preparation, intake, and waste management. This study examined whether socio-ecological correlates of FL differ across settlement contexts in China. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data from Chinese adults (N = 1145) were analyzed across four settlement tiers: tier-1 metropolitan cities (R1), provincial/secondary cities (R2), smaller prefecture-level cities (R3), and county/rural areas (R4). General linear models estimated associations between socio-ecological predictors and overall FL after adjustment for sociodemographics, health behaviors, chronic disease, and BMI. Significant interactions were probed using HC3-robust simple slopes and pairwise slope contrasts. Robustness checks included domain-specific measurement invariance, variance inflation factor (VIF) diagnostics, and a regional sensitivity analysis. Results: The fully adjusted model explained substantial variance in FL (R² = 0.629). Awareness showed the strongest association with FL, followed by family support, injunctive norms, and social norms. Moderation was modest and predictor-specific: dining preferences and family support were positively associated with FL across all regions, with the strongest effects in county/rural areas. Although the omnibus interaction for injunctive norms was statistically significant, follow-up slope contrasts were not, indicating limited substantive regional heterogeneity. Component analyses indicated that preference-related heterogeneity was concentrated in food intake and food choices/selection, whereas family-support heterogeneity was most pronounced for waste disposal. Domain-level invariance analyses supported broad cross-regional comparability of the FL structure, VIFs were all below 5, and the regional distribution of valid and invalid responses did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Socio-ecological correlates of FL were broadly robust across China, with limited context-specific variation driven mainly by stronger household-support effects in county/rural settings. These findings support region-sensitive FL strategies that strengthen household-based support while leveraging normative influences across regions. Full article

The adoption of biogas technology in smallholder livestock systems is increasingly recognized as a dual solution for rural energy transition and livestock waste management; however, actual implementation remains limited due to low community readiness, particularly driven by knowledge gaps and resource constraints. This study examines the determinants of community readiness for biogas adoption in rural Indonesia, addressing the limited attention of prior studies to readiness factors at the household level. A cross-sectional survey of 98 smallholder cattle farmers was conducted using structured questionnaires, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to identify key determinants of readiness. The results indicate generally positive perceptions toward biogas, with knowledge, prior waste processing experience, perception scores, education level, and herd size significantly influencing readiness (p < 0.05). While awareness of biogas benefits and willingness to process manure emerged as key drivers, limited technical knowledge and time and cost constraints remained major barriers, suggesting an awareness–adoption gap. These findings align with behavioral adoption frameworks, highlighting the roles of knowledge, perceived benefits, and enabling conditions in shaping adoption readiness. Policy interventions emphasizing capacity-building, financial incentives, and adaptable biogas technologies are therefore essential to support rural adoption. Full article

This study explores the potential of biomimetic reasoning to inform early-stage design thinking, with a focus on enhancing the consideration of material utilization and textile waste. While sustainability efforts within the field of textiles are often focused on recycling and end-of-life management strategies, it is important to recognize that a substantial proportion of final waste-related outcomes are determined during the conceptual design stage and the initial prototyping iterations. This study investigates the potential of organizational principles derived from natural systems to inform the definition of problems, the generation of ideas, and early conceptual prototyping. This is achieved by the introduction of ecological constraints and material life-cycle awareness in conjunction with user-centered requirements. To address the conceptual gap between biological forms and manufacturing, biomimicry is approached as a mode of systemic reasoning, utilizing topological skeletonization as a tool for logic extraction rather than formal imitation, with emphasis placed on continuity, modularity, and adaptive organization. This computational proof-of-concept employs a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) framework, utilizing biological venation as a topological guide to demonstrate how distinct organizational logics influence pattern configuration while incorporating manufacturing-inspired constraints (such as path continuity and density) as optimization penalties. The findings are exploratory in nature and are confined to the computational domain; while the study utilizes proxy indicators to simulate potential textile behaviors, it acknowledges the lack of direct experimental validation of physical fabrication as a current limitation. By framing waste as an outcome of upstream design choices, this paper contributes a methodological perspective. This perspective places biomimetic design thinking as a reflective tool within sustainable and regenerative design practice. It also supports earlier engagement with ecological considerations in textile development. Full article

In recent years, plastic recycling has emerged as a critical concern in environmental protection and waste management. Among the various techniques for repurposing plastic waste into valuable products, extrusion of filaments for 3D printing has proven to be a highly effective method. A thorough understanding of the crystallization behavior of recycled plastics used in 3D printing is essential, as it significantly influences their final performance. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the crystallization behavior and crystallinity of recycled semi-crystalline polymers, with particular emphasis on recycled commodity plastics such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), recycled polypropylene (rPP), and recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE). Recent research published between 2015 and 2025 was systematically synthesized and provides information on sources of plastic waste, additives employed, and recycling processes involved, with the findings summarized in a table that highlights their effects on polymer crystallinity. Furthermore, the key factors impacting the crystallinity of 3D-printed recycled plastics were examined, including the influence of additives, multiple processing cycles, printing parameters, and thermal treatments. Research gaps and the challenges faced during the printing process were also identified and discussed. By consolidating recent findings, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the crystallization behavior of recycled plastics in 3D printing, thereby providing guidance for future research and developing strategies to optimize the performance of these materials. Full article

In the framework of plastic circularity, managing end-of-life plastics containing flame-retardant (FR) additives represents a significant challenge. Although FRs are essential for enhancing fire safety in polymeric materials, many FR-containing products are never exposed to fire during their service life. As a result, substantial amounts of still-active FR remain in plastic waste streams. Since mechanical recycling is currently the most widely implemented strategy for plastic waste management, it is crucial to evaluate whether this process affects the flammability and combustion behavior of FR plastics. In this study, polypropylene (PP) containing 21 wt.% intumescent FR (IFR) was reprocessed up to five times to simulate mechanical recycling. After each cycle, the materials were systematically characterized in terms of rheological, morphological, combustion, and mechanical behavior. Although the agglomeration of IFR particles was observed after multiple cycles, the materials maintained stable processability and thermal stability. Importantly, the charring efficiency of the IFR system was preserved, resulting in consistent flammability performance; furthermore, all reprocessed samples achieved UL 94 V-0 classification and exhibited comparable limited oxygen index values. Mechanical properties were likewise largely maintained. Overall, these findings demonstrate that mechanical recycling represents a viable end-of-life strategy for this PP/IFR system, supporting its compatibility with circular material flow. Full article

Agricultural waste management is a strategic priority for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a circular bioeconomy. The thermochemical conversion of residual biomass into biochar offers a dual solution: waste recovery and the production of high-value functional materials. This narrative review summarizes the relationships among the composition of agricultural biomass, the conversion process parameters, and the structural properties of biochar, highlighting advanced modification strategies: controlled pyrolysis, physical and chemical activation, surface functionalization, and hybrid composite formation. Fundamental adsorption mechanisms, redox processes, and photocatalytic behavior are discussed, with a focus on applications in water treatment (heavy metals, dyes, emerging contaminants). The article proposes an integrative structure–property–performance framework and explores emerging concepts such as sequential use and post-use valorization of saturated biochar. Challenges related to reproducibility, industrial scaling, life cycle assessment, and carbon accounting are analyzed. Finally, a SWOT analysis is presented that highlights the potential of modified biochar as a strategic material in the circular economy. Full article

This study investigated waste segregation awareness and behavior, developed awareness-promoting activities, and evaluated their effectiveness among lower secondary school students in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. The research was conducted in three phases: Phase I involved baseline data collection using interviews and structured observations. Phase II focused on developing awareness-promoting activities, including training workshops, printed public relations materials, video-based learning, and game-based waste segregation. Phase III evaluated the effectiveness of interventions using a pre-test–post-test design. The research instruments included awareness and behavior questionnaires, behavior observation forms, and records of segregated solid waste quantities. The results showed significant increases in awareness and waste segregation behavior scores after the intervention across all activity types (all p < 0.001). The mean awareness scores increased from 10.27 to 12.74 (p < 0.01), and mean waste segregation behavior scores increased from 11.82 to 13.64 (p < 0.001). However, after adjustment for pre-intervention scores and school, no significant differences were observed among activity types. Higher awareness levels were positively associated with improved waste segregation behavior, as reflected by changes in waste quantity and composition. These findings indicate that awareness-promoting activities can effectively enhance source-based waste management practices and may be applied in similar municipal and educational contexts. Full article

The fracture behavior of Beishan granite is a critical scientific basis for evaluating and ensuring the long-term safety of geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste under extreme thermal–mechanical conditions. With increasing emphasis on climate-resilient infrastructure, understanding the mechanical response of deep geological materials under cyclic loading and simulating long-term environmental conditions are essential for sustainable engineering management. Previous studies have predominantly concentrated on the fracture characteristics under static loading tests, with limited research conducted on the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission (AE) during cyclic loading and the morphology of fractures post-failure. Contributing to the field of resilient infrastructure, this paper presents static and cyclic loading tests using MTS815 equipment on Beishan deep granite (CCNBD type). To determine the rock fracture toughness of mode I and fracture roughness, static loading and cyclic loading tests were conducted using MTS815 equipment with Beishan deep granite (CCNBD type) as the subject of study. AE and 3D laser scanning were employed to acquire the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission (AE) during loading and the morphology of fracture surfaces after failure in the specimens. The results revealed that CCNBD specimens demonstrated pronounced brittle tensile failure under static and cyclic loading conditions. The rock fracture toughness obtained in static tests was 1.180 MPa·m^1/2, whereas under cyclic loading, it was 1.153 MPa·m^1/2. In comparison to static loading, cyclic loading led to a greater accumulation of microcracks inside the specimens, resulting in a 9.8% increase in the length of the fracture process zone. A 57.5% increase in section roughness (fractal dimension) was observed after the failure of the specimen in comparison to static loading. Full article

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management faces increasing pressure due to rapid urbanization and the need for low-emission energy systems. This study investigates the thermogravimetric gasification behavior of Chinese MSW under CO₂, mixed air-CO₂, and SrMnO₃ (SMO) oxygen-carrier atmospheres to identify pathways for producing clean and higher-quality syngas. Using TGA-QMS, the gasification stages were monitored qualitatively and quantitatively over the temperature range of 750–1000 °C, while complementary FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, and ICP-OES analyses were employed to characterize the fresh waste and ash samples. Results show that CO₂ gasification is strongly dependent on temperature and concentration, producing CO via Boudouard reaction, resulting in a gas composition of 73% CO and 27% CO₂. An air-CO₂ mixture as a gasification agent shifted conversion toward combustion, producing high CO during oxidation but suppressing gasification, yielding syngas dominated by 90% CO and 10% CO₂. Introducing SMO significantly altered the reaction pathway via lattice-oxygen transfer: 7–56.75 mg SMO produced up to 97% CO and 3% CO₂, without external oxidants, demonstrating superior per-unit oxidizing capacity compared to CO₂. A mild synergistic effect was observed in the mixed CO₂-SMO investigation, where CO formation exceeded that obtained with CO₂ alone but remained lower than that in SMO-only gasification. In general, SMO-enabled oxygen donation provides a promising low-dilution, high-selectivity route for MSW gasification within thermogravimetric regimes. Full article

This study examines prospective teachers’ perceptions of sustainable development (SD) and explores the relationship between the SD scenarios they developed and the actions they performed. Based on 58 scenarios and 128 actions reported by pre-service teachers, the study found that scenarios primarily focused on education, resource conservation, and waste management. While the environmental dimension emphasized protection, economic and social dimensions were largely associated with financial savings and public welfare. In contrast, participants’ actual behaviors were predominantly limited to simple resource conservation, such as turning off lights and saving water. A significant discrepancy emerged: despite the strong emphasis on education-related themes in scenarios, educational actions were notably limited in practice. These results suggest that prospective teachers’ high cognitive awareness of SD is only partially reflected in their practical engagement. The findings highlight a “cognitive–practice gap,” underscoring the need for teacher education programs to prioritize action-oriented competencies. Full article

Industrialization has caused extensive environmental change, including a global surge in plastic production and pollution. This has resulted in the accumulation of microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs; <1 μm) in ecosystems worldwide. MPs originate from both primary sources, such as cosmetics and industrial applications, and secondary sources, through the degradation of larger plastic debris. As a result, MPs and NPs have become ubiquitous contaminants, posing significant toxicological risks to living organisms. These persistent pollutants are diverse polymers that vary in size, shape, and chemical composition, making their impacts on organism physiology complex and difficult to disentangle. Plastic pollution is particularly severe in aquatic environments, where particles accumulate from terrestrial sources such as urban dust, agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and wastewater effluents. Although most research has centered on marine ecosystems, emerging evidence indicates that freshwater environments may contain comparable or even higher concentrations of MPs. Once inside the body, MPs can translocate into tissues and exert toxic effects on multiple organ systems. Collectively, plastic pollution poses not only physiological but also neurological and behavioral risks to aquatic life, with potential consequences for ecosystem stability and trophic interactions. Both MPs and NPs are sufficiently small to cross the blood–brain barrier, raising concerns about their potential impacts on the nervous system by interfering with neuronal function and brain development. Plastic particles can accumulate in neural tissues, inducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruption of neurotransmitter signaling. Such neurotoxic effects are linked to altered locomotion, feeding, predator avoidance, and social behaviors across multiple species. This review examines current evidence on the neurotoxic effects of plastic pollution in aquatic organisms and underscores the urgent need for further research and action to mitigate its impact. In light of escalating plastic production and inadequate waste management, the growing evidence that MPs and NPs disrupt aquatic nervous systems, behavior, and ecosystem stability underscores an urgent need for intensified research, improved mitigation strategies, particularly for nanoplastics, and the accelerated development of truly safe and sustainable alternatives. Full article

This study investigates the effect of goat horn powder (GHP) reinforcement on the hardness, microstructure, and mechanical properties of wood-like polyurethane composites. GHP, a keratin-based animal waste, was incorporated into the polyurethane matrix at weight fractions of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt.%. The mechanical behavior was evaluated through tensile, three-point bending, Charpy impact, and Shore D hardness tests, complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. Results indicate that GHP significantly enhances impact resistance, with 10 wt.% loading achieving a 140% improvement in impact energy compared to the neat matrix. Tensile stress improved by 12.89% at 5 wt.% loading. However, reinforcement levels exceeding 10–15 wt.% led to a decline in tensile and flexural performance due to particle agglomeration and weak interfacial adhesion. Shore D hardness increased systematically with higher GHP content across all ratios. The study demonstrates that GHP is a functional, sustainable reinforcing element that improves toughness and hardness while supporting environmental waste management. Full article