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The production of CaO for lime-based plaster and render generates 1.2 t CO 2 /t CaO, consumes 1.78 t CaCO 3 /t CaO. This research paper examines the environmental and economic performance of upcycling paper mill sludge (PMS) and carbide lime (CL) as replacements for hydrated lime (HL) in lime-based plasters production. For this, a new Cradle-to-Gate industrial-scale inventory is designed, upscaling recent lab-scale innovations, investigating PMS and CL treatment processes, followed by a Cradle-to-Grave scenario analysis. The results show that incorporating CL in the plaster yields better environmental and economic outcomes compared to PMS. The intermediate treatment for CL is cost-effective and has low carbon emissions. The upcycling of CL eliminates 100% of CO 2 emissions, while PMS reduces emissions by 11%. The production of the traditional binder HL is more expensive than upcycling PMS (+69%) and CL (+65%), with carbon taxes accounting for 35%, 44% and 15% of production costs, respectively. The effect of an equilibrated carbon price to ensure fair market competition, considering the natural carbonation of lime (carbon credit) is discussed, and the cost assessment reveals a 47% and 54% reduction for upcycled plasters using PMS and CL, respectively, compared to traditional HL. [Display omitted] • Availability, properties, and treatments of secondary lime resources. • Industrial-scale inventory for upcycling carbide lime (CL) & paper sludge (PS). • Cradle-to-Grave assessment: CL reduces CO 2 most, trailed by PS and hydrated lime. • Key factors for Cradle-to-Grave impact: lime kiln heat consumption (PS) and drying operation (CL). • Cost analysis of carbon taxes and credits across the material's life-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable and integrated management of resources is a crucial approach to achieving sustainable regional development in the face of limited land and increasingly scarce water resources. This paper proposes a multidimensional optimization model to jointly optimize land use patterns and water resource allocation under the conditions of maximizing economic benefits and minimizing social differences, ecological loads, environmental pollution, and carbon emissions. The optimization model is solved using the affiliation function method and then combined with random forest (RF) and cellular automata (CA) models to further obtain the optimal spatial layout of land use. This paper takes the Mid-Yangtze River City Cluster as an example and optimizes the land use pattern and water allocation in the region in 2020 and 2030. The results of the study show that the optimized water and land resource allocation scheme performs better than the status quo in all dimensions. The optimized economic benefits, social effects, ecological effects, environmental effects, and overall sustainability in 2020 are increased by 45.97%, 22.89%, 10.07%, 24.65%, and 42.73%, respectively. By 2030, overall sustainability reaches 0.69. The developed modeling framework helps to elucidate the internal linkages between land use and water allocation, and it provides decision-makers with diversified approaches to land and water resource management and adjustment for different cities in different periods, which promotes the sustainable development of urban agglomerations. [Display omitted] • The intrinsic relationship between different land use types and water demand is addressed. • A sustainable approach to integrated management of land and water resources is proposed. • The synergistic optimization of the economy, society, ecology and the environment is developed. • The spatial patterns of land use for the balanced development of urban agglomerations are promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to introduce a new sustainable business excellence model, called Knowledge Management Excellence Model 21 (KMEM21), a theoretical framework that combines Knowledge Management and Business Excellence Models (BEMs), proposing an approach applicable to organizations to directly contribute towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper through a qualitative-exploratory methodology makes an analysis and benchmarking, emphasizes the integration of Knowledge Management and three specific Business Excellence Models (Management Excellence Model (MEG) from Brazil, Baldrige Excellence Framework, and EFQM). This integration uncovers relationships between organizational concepts associated with Knowledge Management and BEMs, which contributes to new insights in the literature regarding these concepts' interplay. BEMs are presented as tools that can catalyze the power of Knowledge Management towards achieving SDGs. However, it's noted that the existing BEMs might not be adequate, as the goal extends beyond organizational improvement and excellence to encompass sustainable development aligned with SDGs. The article suggests that specific organizational concepts, identified through a literature review and aligned with Knowledge Management and BEMs, can be selected as indicators associated with the constructed KMEM21 and the SDGs. These indicators are intended to form a bridge between the new model and the SDGs. However, given the comprehensive nature of the theory, model development, application, result acquisition, and analysis, the article's primary contribution will be in its focus on elaborating the instrument and technique, demonstrating the creation of a theoretical framework for the SDGs. Future works will showcase the application of the proposed KMEM21 method in five Brazilian organizations, members of Global Compact, to compare the achieved objectives and the results obtained with the organizations' performance and their sustainability reports. [Display omitted] • There is a visible relationship between knowledge management and business excellence models, aided by shared organizational concepts. • Achieving the SDGs in organizations can be done by using the traits incorporated into knowledge management and business excellence models. • The Knowledge Management Excellence Model 21 represents an original approach, acting as a new sustainable business excellence model. • A comprehensive model can be constructed using a methodology that incorporates an instrument, a technique, and a method. • KMEM21 presents a strategic path that aligns with business excellence principles and the sustainable development objectives, offering a framework for organizational success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Anthropocene era, characterized by sustainability and environmental challenges, the Metaverse emerges as a virtual alternative with the potential to reduce the ecological footprint while enhancing human experiences. However, the development of Metaverse encounter unprecedented technical, social, and ethical challenges. Bioinspired technologies, referring to those developed with inspiration from the biological world, have demonstrated successful applications across various fields and show potential in addressing challenges within the Metaverse. This paper explores the integration of bioinspired technologies with the Metaverse, focusing on its social and ethical implications. It proposes a conceptual model for a bioinspired Metaverse, elucidating how bioinspired technologies may shape the evolution of the Metaverse through four dimensions: Enhancement of User Interaction, Promotion of Digital Inclusivity, Advancement of Sustainable Development, and Guidance of Ethical Considerations. This paper makes a significant contribution by adopting an innovative context - the bioinspired Metaverse - that facilitates a deeper reexamination of the relationship among technology, nature, and human society through interdisciplinary discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to the strategic planning of the supply chain for lime cultivation. The uncertainty associated with lime production due to factors such as transportation, crime, and water availability, among others, represents different challenges. To address these challenges, the authors propose the use of machine learning tools coupled with deterministic optimization to obtain optimal solutions for the supply chain for future years. This paper highlights the use of justice schemes to ensure an equitable distribution of lime production between farmers and learning machines to quantify the insecurity impact on lime production in Michoacan. The problem can be solved using a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model that focuses on maximizing economic benefits, minimizing the use of irrigation water in crops, and minimizing Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO 2eq) emissions within the supply chain. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively address the challenges facing the lime production supply chain, resulting in an optimized and equitable lime production and distribution between farmers using the Social Welfare Justice scheme. Scenario A presents a utopian viewpoint with maximum benefits and minimum CO 2eq generated emissions, corresponding to $ 4.08 × 109 and 1.94 × 106 tons of CO 2eq , respectively. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in supply chain management, specifically in the optimization of supply chain processes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textiles and apparel industry is a major contributor to economic development while at the same time being one of the most polluting industries due to its lengthy supply chain and resource intensive production operations. To address these sustainability challenges, digitalization is seen as one of the potential solutions. Using the lens of sustainability and digitalization in Supply Chain Management (SCM), this paper analyses the sustainability and digitalization status of Dutch textile and apparel firms. We used a mixed methodology of quantitative text mining of 94 Dutch textile and apparel firms as well as qualitative thematic and coding analysis of experts' views and opinions on sustainability and digitalization in the Dutch textiles and apparel industry. Quantitative analysis of website data shows that Dutch textile and apparel firms predominantly communicate the environmental, to a lesser extent social, and least of all economic sustainability factors. Keyword analysis also shows that the use of technological keyword indicators is less prominent, while certain technologies such as IoT, sensors and blockchain correlate mostly to environmental sustainability factors. Moreover, qualitative analysis reveals that to address sustainability via digitalization, it is important to link sustainability goals to Key Performance Indicators, which requires data for traceability. We recommend firms to: (1) re-evaluate their business models and assess the extent traceability can be incorporated in their sustainability strategy; (2) enhance stakeholder collaboration within and outside the supply chain to utilize traceability; and (3) proactively use traceability information to improve transparency and accountability to meet legal requirements and address greenwashing. This study contributes to literature by showing the importance of traceability for (a) linking sustainability and digitalization in SCM, b) achieving the ultimate goals of transparency and accountability, and c) predicting demand and supply to address overproduction and waste in the textiles and apparel sector. • This study analyses the sustainability and digitalization status of Dutch textile and apparel firms. • Firms predominantly communicate environmental, followed by social and least of all economics sustainability, in their websites. • To address sustainability via digitalization, it is important to link sustainability goals to Key Performance Indicators. • Traceability data can improve transparency and accountability, as well as predictability of demand and supply in the chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While existing literature acknowledges the development of digital capabilities as essential for enterprises to achieve digital transformation, it falls short in offering comprehensive theoretical insights into the dynamic evolution of these capabilities, especially in the field of environmental and sustainability issues. This paper addresses this gap by employing an exploratory single-case study methodology to investigate the intricate process through which an ecological restoration enterprise in China updates its digital strategy, facilitating the dynamic evolution of its digital capabilities from a resource orchestration theory perspective. Our findings reveal a sequential evolution from digital strategy renewal to resource orchestration and, ultimately, the advancement of digital capabilities. Specifically, the enterprise engages in a co-adjustment and co-creation process, aligning its resources with a digital strategy refresh and fostering the emergence of digital integration and innovation capabilities through effective resource management. This includes the accumulation and divesting of resources as part of the construction process, alongside the enrichment and bundling of resources. This research bridges the gap in the current literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms that drive the evolution of digital capabilities, and it offers a theoretical framework that integrates strategic renewal with resource orchestration for environmental and socio-economic sustainable development. Furthermore, the insights gained provide vital managerial implications for the governance, corporate social responsibility and policy of industrial digitalization towards global environmental practice and sustainable development goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has the potential to address sustainability challenges in the agri-food industry. This scoping review analyzes 72 papers and finds that blockchain technology can enhance economic, environmental, and social sustainability. By reducing transaction costs, improving transparency, and empowering consumers, it contributes to economic sustainability. Environmental sustainability is enhanced through carbon emissions reduction, waste management, and better environmental impact monitoring. Social sustainability is promoted through food safety, consumer trust, and financial inclusion for small farmers. However, unexplored avenues like obstacle identification, localized solutions, consumer trust factors, crisis resilience, environmental implications, and fair market access require further research. The transformative potential of blockchain in the agri-food industry requires interdisciplinary collaboration to fully harness its benefits for a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015, scientists have attempted to utilize them for sustainability assessments. This paper aims to synthesize the existing approaches in order to make recommendations for future utilization. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on innovations as the assessment object and including scientific papers as well as gray literature. Of the initially identified 603 documents, 30 articles contained precise descriptions of approaches utilizing the SDGs for the sustainability assessment of innovations. These approaches were analyzed in three sequential steps: categorization of the operational choices of SDG-based sustainability assessments, discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of these operational choices, and finally deriving recommendations for future utilization. We identified two main approaches: (1) integrating the SDGs into the sustainability assessment methodology or (2) subsequently assigning the assessment results to the SDGs. For the first approach, the SDGs were most frequently used as assessment criteria, but were also used to derive benchmarks or select indicators. In the second approach, assessment results were linked to goals, targets or indicators. The majority but not all articles clearly stated that all 17 SDGs were considered. The most frequently mentioned motivation for SDG utilization was to provide a holistic definition of sustainable development, followed by providing a precise description of sustainable development and international recognition. Only the integration of all 17 SDGs into the sustainability assessment conveys all three of these motivations. Hence, this approach is recommended for maximizing the utilization of SDGs when assessing the sustainability of an innovation. Subsequently assigning the assessment results to the SDGs is suggested as an alternative approach if the scientist's time and resources are limited. Since this approach predefines the SDGs that can be linked through the sustainability assessment methodology utilized, the holistic character of the SDGs is forfeited. More generally, the diversity of approaches found in the literature can be explained by several individual limitations and prerequisites. It is therefore recommended that authors document their research motivation transparently and justify the operational choices they made to fulfil it. This study contributes to the scientific community by (a) providing an overview of possible approaches for utilizing the SDGs in sustainability assessments of innovations and (b) providing recommendations for utilization based on a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages. [Display omitted] • Sustainability assessments of innovations utilizing SDGs were systematically reviewed. • Operational choices in SDG utilization were categorized. • More than 10 (sub-)categories of SDG utilization were identified. • Most frequent reason for utilizing SDGs is their holistic nature. • Holistic nature is transferred only by integrating all 17 SDGs into the assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational assessment of the regional sustainable development level is an important prerequisite for formulating development strategies and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, little literature provides nuanced understanding for national sustainable development from the perspective of county sustainability. Such studies can provide more accurate regional heterogeneity characteristics and policy decision support. Thus, this paper applies the entropy weight method and Chinese county data from 2000 to 2017 to reassess the sustainability of Chinese counties. The results show that China's county sustainability (Sustainable Development Index, SDI) is slowly improving. County sustainability performance is poorer in ethnic minority agglomerations, poor counties, old revolutionary counties, and central and western regions, better in county-level cities and eastern regions. The decomposition results show that economic sustainability and environmental sustainability are the main supporters of SDI growth, and livelihood sustainability is in urgent need of improvement. The regional inequality of SDI in Chinese counties gradually decreases, and inter-group differences are the main contributors to regional inequality in SDI. This paper provides support for China to develop county-level sustainable development measures and practice the SDGs. The findings could be useful for policymakers. [Display omitted] • Based on the entropy weight method and the Chinese county data, the sustainable development levels of 1533 counties in China from 2000 to 2017 are estimated. • Analyses of spatial-temporal dynamic heterogeneity, Linear decomposition, and Dagum decomposition are conducted to study the features of sustainable development in Chinese counties. •The influence of natural features and national concern preferences on county sustainable development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the sustainability of large-scale infrastructure construction is the foundation and trend of urban sustainable development and environmental protection. This paper proposes a perception and evaluation method based on Dynamic Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (D-FCM) to address the dynamics, uncertainties, and implementation difficulties of sustainability evaluation in large-scale infrastructure construction. Using Hebbian rules to learn the experience and knowledge of experts, a dynamic evolution correlation matrix about evaluation indicators is obtained, and a D-FCM dynamic system model is established to obtain the sustainability evaluation results of large-scale infrastructure construction. The comprehensive sustainable evaluation value (K) of the selected subway project case is 0.934, which belongs to the V level in the sustainable level classification standard and has a good trend in sustainable development. Social public participation (S1), light pollution prevention (H1), wastewater discharge compliance rate (H2), soil pollution prevention (H3), and soil and water conservation and utilization (Z2) are the most significant and sensitive indicators for the sustainable development of large-scale infrastructure construction. Based on the interaction of influencing factors in the D-FCM model, an economically efficient control measures and decision-making plan can be proposed to improve the sustainability of large-scale infrastructure construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibres are in great demand as a clean and green material as reinforcement in sustainable and environment-friendly biodegradable composites. The study aimed to extract palm grass leaf fibres through water retting, a cleaner and greener approach compared with the use of 5–10% NaOH. The physicochemical characterisation was done by SEM, optical microscopy, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, bundle strength, moisture content and standard biochemical tests for cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and ash. New natural fibres extracted from Curculigo capitulata by water retting showed a smooth surface of uniaxial fibres under SEM and optical microscope compared to eroded surfaces of chemically extracted fibres. Both the fibres extracted by water retting and with 5% NaOH showed nearly similar crystallinity index (84–85%) and size (2.44nm), whereas the former contained 64% cellulose with bundle strength 154MPa compared to 72% and 219.11MPa with the latter. While using 10% (NaOH) showed cellulose 82.29 ± 0.63%, crystallinity index 87.43%, and bundle strength 256.46 ± 15.81MPa. Approximately similar lignin content (20.30 ± 0.91–21.66 ± 1.18%) and mass degradation (%) were obtained in water-retted and 5%–7.5% NaOH extracted fibres. FT-IR spectra showed the characteristic bands at 3421cm−1 for O–H stretching and 2917cm−1 for alkyl C–H stretching in cellulose; at 1630cm1 for C C stretching in lignin. All the extracted fibres showed industrial potential similar to successful natural fibres for fine rope, yarn, handmade paper, and fabrics aiming for a circular bioeconomy. [Display omitted] • New natural fibres were extracted for the first time from Palm grass leaves (Curculigo capitulata), a bio-waste by biological and chemical methods • A sustainable cleaner and greener biological retting resulted smooth surface of uniaxial fibres • Physicochemical characterization was done with SEM, FT-IR, TGA, contents of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and bundle strength • New natural fibres showed similarity with commercial natural fibres used in biodegradable fabrics and as reinforcement in green composites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the path of industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) needs to be re-examined from a multi-dimensional perspective, this research opens the internal "black box" of China's industrial eco-economic system driven by sustainable development goals (SDGs) and decomposes IEE into industrial production and sustainable development stages. It further divides the industrial production stage into two parallel subsystems of water use efficiency (WUE) and energy efficiency (EE) and derives SDG6 efficiency (SDG 6 E) and SDG7 efficiency (SDG 7 E) in the sustainable development stage respectively. The paper proposes a meta two-stage parallel entropy dynamic DDF-DEA model to re-measure IEE of 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, discusses the relationship between overall efficiency and stage efficiency, and by using the Tobit model explores various types of influencing factors by subregion. The results show that the modified DDF-DEA model can explore China's IEE more accurately under SDGs. China's IEE is more stable from 2015 to 2021, with the efficiency value always fluctuating between 0.59 and 0.64, the overall level is low, and there is more room for improvement. There are significant inter-provincial differences in IEE and efficiency inertia. In more than 75% of the provinces SDG 7 E constrains IEE improvement, while the dynamic evolution of IEE and its subsystem efficiency varies across regions. Environmental regulation is a common factor affecting IEE across the country and in the east, central, and west regions, whereas the level of economic development, openness to the outside world, and urbanization rate are differential factors affecting IEE across the country and in the three major regions. This study offers new perspectives for exploring the path of IEE enhancement and providing empirical references for the collaborative construction of industrial ecological civilization. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability leadership (SL) is a complex and relevant phenomenon that can contribute to several types of organisations during the process of becoming more sustainability-oriented. Over the past few years, a considerable number of publications have increased the level of knowledge in this field; however, on the other hand, it also has generated more complexity, literature dispersity and lack of complete understanding of the possible research avenues on SL. This paper aims to address this by complementing and building on previous qualitative and quantitative studies of SL by unveiling and exploring the landscape of the research field. This study differs from prior research in three main ways: (1) explores how the term SL evolved from the leadership theory, (2) explores the research streams that scholars have been conducting in the field by adopting a robust search string revised by specialists and considering a wide range of terms related to formal and informal leadership, as well as sustainability-related terms and (3) understands how the several leadership theories and styles are connected to sustainable development (SD) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 1,813 well-cited papers published in top journals that directly tackle sustainability leadership were selected. This sample was then used for the bibliometric assessment based on the co-occurrence of terms technique. The results indicate the existence of four main clusters and twelve subclusters, which can be considered research strands. In addition, this study also explores how the selected studies build on several leadership theories in order to understand how leadership aspects can contribute to SD and CSR adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of the sustainable development level is crucial to providing reasonable and effective management recommendations. However, analysis with a single scale can only reflect the sustainable status at a specific level. In this study, a multi-scale analysis of sustainability was conducted via the three-dimensional Ecological Footprint (EF) model in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). Moreover, driving factors of sustainability were analyzed using the Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression model (MGWR). The conclusions include: (1) the development of YRD showed an unsustainable trend from 2014 to 2021, with per capita EF decreasing from 5.769 ha/cap to 5.283 ha/cap. The provincial sustainability is ranked as follows, from being the most sustainable to the least: Anhui Province > Jiangsu Province > Zhejiang Province > Shanghai City. (2) Based on dual indicators of EF depth and size, 41 cities were categorized into nine groups. The dominant type is always Medium size-Low depth (ML) and High size-Low depth (HL) type cities from 2014 to 2021. From the perspective of city scale, the sustainability of five cities weakened, while seven cities showed improvements. (3) Output value of primary industry (OVPI) and population (POP) were always the dominant factors affecting EF, but showed positive and negative correlations respectively. OVPI changes from north-south symmetric type to central symmetric type, while POP changes from central symmetric type to north-south symmetric type. This paper aims to comprehensively assess the sustainable development status from agglomeration-province-city perspectives, and its findings can provide a reference for similar regions with unbalanced development status between ecology and production. • The sustainability of the world-class urban agglomeration was assessed via the three-dimensional ecological footprint model. • More comprehensive and accurate analysis results based on multi-scale analysis. • The four patterns of influencing mechanism are revealed based on the MGWR model. • The combination analysis of dual indicators was adopted to classify the sustainability of 41 cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global businesses are transforming towards capturing more value from services, a business model transition called servitization. Digital servitization can help create and maintain a competitive advantage, as well as offering opportunities to tackle major challenges related to environmental pressures and rapidly changing market conditions. This study aims to bridge the gap between the theory of digital servitization and its implementation in the maritime shipping sector. This paper presents a multi-case study that explores the status, perceived challenges, and enablers for the adoption of digital servitization. Empirical data were collected from interviews with 13 companies and analyzed using the PESTEL and DPSIR frameworks. The results are presented across three categories based on the PESTEL framework: organizational context, global priorities, and sustainability. This study contributes to theory by providing empirical insights from the status of digital servitization in the maritime shipping industry. Also, it identifies challenges and needs that can support the transition towards digital servitization and the development of more sustainable solutions. Future research avenues are suggested to advance digital servitization in other industrial sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability assessment provides essential information to facilitate informed decision-making, enabling the selecting of the best option among various projects. This research paper considers the decision-making problem in the context of marginalised and isolated communities, introducing a groupal model for evaluating the sustainability of small-scale power supply projects. The proposed model incorporates a comprehensive set of five indicators and 25 criteria. The analysis presented in this study prioritises these indicators and criteria, introducing new criteria based on several stakeholders' participation and offering guidance on measuring the identified criteria. Furthermore, the proposal provides fundamental thresholds for evaluating the projects' sustainability and proposes a model based on aggregated indicators to assess the available alternatives. It encompasses all stages of the decision-making process, employing multiple indicators to evaluate the sustainability of power supply projects. The effectiveness of the proposed model was validated in a real case study conducted in a marginalised community facing isolation challenges in La Guajira, Colombia. The evaluation showcased the model's contribution to decision-making processes regarding power supply projects in isolated communities. Finally, the results demonstrated the suitability of this strategy for immediate application, highlighting its potential impact on decision-making for sustainable development within marginalised areas. • The multi-criteria-based decision-making model maximises projects' sustainability. • The model evaluates the projects' sustainability, incorporating innovative criteria. • The model implementation in a study case confirms its efficacy for decision-making. • The study case findings suggest adopting cooperative or community-based governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past seven years, the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is gaining increasing attention in the African context. Consistent with this effort, the present study aims to review the existing literature systematically to document contribution and methodological gaps. Specifically, the review systematically explores, through bibliometric literature and systematic method reviews, authors, countries, cited papers, journals, author's keywords, topic dendrogram, and methodological choices of papers associated with Africa SDGs scholars. The R Studio software is used to analyze 200 papers on SDGs, authored by 606 scholars and published in 102 peer-reviewed leading sources between 2015 and 2022. The results reveal that SDGs literature in Africa is an imminent study area, and there are two main strands of literature advancing SDGs in Africa: (1) business growth, entrepreneurship, and poverty reduction, and (2) renewable energy, tourism, and ICT. Key findings from the analysis of the papers are discussed, and implications for future research directions consisting of research questions, research methods and designs, and SDGs research are provided. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote their public image, a growing number of companies have adopted corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects that benefit various social interests. As such, it is imperative to audit the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of CSR projects for their sustainable development. This paper presents an assessment of three CSR projects undertaken by the energy industry (renewable energy) and commercial sector (plastic waste recycling) in Thailand to transition towards the circular economy (CE) business model. A set of CE indicators were selected from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development: WBCSD 2018 European Commission 2018, and British Standard Institution 2017 and compared with the sustainability indicators listed in the ISO 26000:2010 (referenced in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): G4 Guidelines). These indicators were established to assess the readiness of companies to implement sustainable CSR projects. The assessment results showed that the CSR projects in the case study were conducive to the CE model, as most of the CE concepts evaluated by the performance indicators were already in place. This study aimed to support the implementation of CSR projects that contribute to adopting a CE business model and determine key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and monitor CSR projects in terms of their CE concepts. The sustainability KPIs proposed in this study can serve as a set of guidelines to drive CE strategy adoption and allow for the identification of sustainable CSR projects that can simultaneously offer more value creation and satisfaction for all stakeholders, including society and the companies, while reducing environmental impacts. This paper integrates CSR into a CE approach that results in business sustainability and contributes to Sustainability Development Goal (SDG) targets. [Display omitted] • KPIs were adopted for the comprehensive assessment of CSR projects. • CSR projects of renewable energy and plastic waste were evaluated in their ability to CE concepts. • The KPIs can identify sustainable level and contribute to CE and SDG targets of businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A safe and effective medical waste transport network is beneficial to control the COVID-19 pandemic and at least decelerate the spread of novel coronavirus. Seldom studies concentrated on a two-phase COVID-19 medical waste transport in the presence of multi-type vehicle selection, sustainability, and infection probability, which is the focus of this paper. This paper aims to identify the priority of sustainable objectives and observe the impacts of multi-phase and infection probability on the results. Thus, such a problem is formulated as a mixed-integer programming model to minimise total potential infection risks, minimise total environmental risks, and maximise total economic benefits. Then, a hybrid solution strategy is designed, incorporating a lexicographic optimisation approach and a linear weighted sum method. A real-world case study from Chongqing is used to illustrate this methodology. Results indicate that the solution strategy guides a good COVID-19 medical waste transport scheme within 1 min. The priority of sustainable objectives is society, economy, and environment in the first and second phases because the total Gap of case No.35 is 3.20%. A decentralised decision mode is preferred to design a COVID-19 medical waste transport network at the province level. Whatever the infection probability is, infection risk is the most critical concern in the COVID-19 medical waste clean-up activities. Environmental and economic sustainability performance also should be considered when infection probability is more than a certain threshold. • Two-phase COVID-19 medical waste transport with infection probability is studied. • A mixed-integer programming model to optimise sustainability is formulated. • A hybrid solution strategy is designed to solve the proposed multi-objective model. • The priority of sustainable objectives is society, economy, and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent growth of the space sector, spurred by a surge in private actors, has led to a sharp increase in our ability to address societal challenges through space data. However, this has exacerbated an already critical situation in space: the proliferation of space debris and a critical expansion of space traffic which is leading to high levels of orbital congestion. In parallel, increased levels of spacecraft production and orbital launches are also heightening the environmental footprint of the sector. This might lead to a paradoxical situation whereby the use of space to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) becomes unsustainable from the perspective of both the Earth and space environment. This situation can be described as the 'space sustainability paradox'. This paper presents this concept for the first time and argues that existing policies and remediation actions are not a long-term sustainable solution for tackling this issue and may actually intensify the problem. This places an added importance upon addressing space sustainability in a more coherent, strategic and responsible manner, potentially based on the doughnut economic model of social and planetary boundaries. Doing so may prevent the sector from falling victim to a 'tragedy of the commons' type of scenario and avoid negative trends from becoming the norm. As a result, this would ensure that outer space can continue to be used by future generations to address societal challenges, without priming severe and enduring damage to the Earth and space environment. • Space sustainability is a growing but often misunderstood concept. • Sustainability from and of space are two finely balanced and interrelated issues. • Existing policies/remediation actions are not a long-term solution for sustainability. • A major paradigm shift is needed to enable space sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Circular Economy (CE) has gained attention as a strategy for achieving sustainable development through cleaner production and reducing waste and pollution. At the same time, digital technologies are recognized as crucial sustainability drivers by enabling efficiency, collaboration, and innovation. This research paper explores the factors that support Green Entrepreneurship (GE) and digitalization in the context of CE and Waste Management (WM) in Indian manufacturing "Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises" (MSMEs). Further, the study prioritizes, establishes a contextual relationship, and clusters the GE factors that enable digitalization in the CE and WM of Indian manufacturing MSMEs. To meet research goals, the study uses a mixed-methods approach that includes a literature review, qualitative interviews with MSME managers, and theoretical support (stakeholder theory, resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, met expectation theory, and upper echelons theory) to find the enablers. Further, two-phase "Multi-Criteria Decision Making" (MCDM) tools are utilized. Initially, the quantitative "Best-Worst Method" (BWM) was used for ranking, and then "Total Interpretive Structural Modeling" (TISM) was used to establish a mutual relationship among the enablers. The strength of relationships among the enablers was established based on "dependence power" (DEP) and "driving power" (DRP). The findings through BWM analysis show that among the main category, technology-based enablers, and among sub-categories, top management and organizational coordination are the high-priority enablers/sub-enablers to optimize sustainable action. The findings also suggest that technology infrastructure for cleaner and sustainable manufacturing, knowledge of green entrepreneurs, training, the dynamic capacities of digitalization towards a CE, subsidies, and finance are driving enablers. The research contributes to understanding the enabling factors of GE and digitalization and their interdependencies for CE and sustainable development. [Display omitted] • Green Entrepreneurship and Digitalization drive Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy. • Top management and organizational coordination are crucial for sustainable action. • Infrastructure and knowledge drive digitalization in the Circular Economy. • Digitalization and green entrepreneurship complement the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development requires more investment in sustainable companies and less in unsustainable firms. However, the factors driving sustainable investing are not well understood. To address this gap, this paper uses institutional theory to examine three determinants of sustainable investing: (1) investor commitment to sustainable investing initiatives; (2) normative pressure; and (3) home-country influences. The findings indicate that sustainable investing initiatives do not guarantee more sustainable asset allocation among members. Normative pressure correlates with reduced investment in unsustainable companies. Investors from home-countries with legal systems prioritizing diverse stakeholders, and with governments committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), tend to invest less in unsustainable companies. Conversely, investors from countries with limited SDG progress show higher investment in unsustainable firms, while those from more developed nations invest more in sustainable companies. These results highlight the need for a critical examination of institutional efficacy in promoting sustainable investing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rebound effects exist when improvements achieved through environmental efficiency initiatives are diminished or even overcompensated, as a result of having encouraged other forms of wastefulness or inefficiency. Extant literature focuses attention on industry and national level rebounds, commonly concluding that related effects are significant. However, despite corporate level claims to comprehensive environmental management practices, less is understood about how rebounds at this level can be measured and managed. A key rebound concern is that the financial savings corporations achieve from environmental efficiency initiatives, might be spent in ways which create further (and possibly greater) environmental damage. This paper argues that adequate accounting approaches are needed to inform management about potential rebounds, and to enable pursuit of cleaner production and sustainable development. A conceptual approach is offered to enable accounting for environmental rebounds, at both the corporate and consumer level. The rebound accounting approach proposed here, offers management opportunities for continuous improvement, through mapping environmental achievements against subsequent rebounds, and documenting and measuring on-going responses to those rebounds. • Rebounds occur where environmental initiatives lead to subsequent wastefulness. • Rebounds at the corporate level may be significant. • Effective management accounting solutions are both essential and feasible. • Accounting can provide insight into rebounds at both corporate and consumer level. • An accounting approach is proposed, to map rebounds and consider possible responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of infrastructures in a sustainable manner ensures the preservation of human life. It means that societies should have constant access to clean energy and water resources. The focus on nexus planning and operation including renewable energy sources has covered the requirements for the development of sustainable integrated systems to provide secure energy and water while minimizing carbon footprint. However, the uncertainty of renewable energy resources challenges the operation of such integrated nexuses. In this regard, this paper proposes a risk-constrained operation of a sustainable energy-water nexus with the aim to reduce operational costs as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions amount (t CO2). To supply the energy and water demands, a combination of renewable energy sources and desalination systems are considered. The downside risk constraint is proposed to investigate the impacts of risks of uncertainties associated with renewable energy production and electricity consumption as well as water demands. Electrical and water storage infrastructures are involved to increase the flexibility of scheduling and ensure affordability and sustainability. The problem is modeled as a mixed-integer programming problem resulting in optimal decision-making to manage the energy/water resources and storage systems to provide clean and safe energy and water with the minimum CO2 emission. For the emission sector, the carbon capturing and storing (CCS) technology is proposed to capture the CO2 defusing by the energy sector and resolve the carbon-related issues. To restrict carbon production, both CO2 taxes and cap policies are examined and the results showed that the latter has a considerable effect to incentivize the decision-maker to use CCS technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The business and research community are called upon to take concrete actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We state that Industry 4.0 technologies are the innovative capability that should be supported to move supply chains from their linear model, known for its high energy and resource consumption, to a circular model where technology replaces intermediaries and drives operations towards sustainability and efficiency. The study reflects the impact of integrating Industry 4.0 technologies on each of the processes in the Supply Chain Operations Reference Model (SCOR) to construct the supply chain 4.0 and links the resulting capabilities of this transformation to the potential achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper draws on recent studies and secondary data sources to provide a framework that could help academics and practitioners reduce tensions related to the maturity level of Industry 4.0 technologies and foster concrete implementations to achieve sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment and monitoring of society's progress towards sustainability requires a multidisciplinary approach in which tools, indicators and data are integrated across existing frameworks. In this sense, the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) framework introduced by UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative are two of the most important references used by practitioners to assess sustainability at territorial level, in the first case, and at process, product, or organizational level, in the second case. However, due to the different scopes of SDGs and LCSA, the integration between the two tools has been limited so far and the synergies mostly remained untapped. Building on LCSA literature, and with the aid of text-mining analysis, this manuscript analyzes how linkages between product LCSA and SDGs have been and could be addressed, also highlighting key challenges and needs for connecting LCSA with SDGs in a coherent and operational way. The paper highlights that, although SDGs and LCSA are complementary and could inform and feed each other, as of today there is no harmonized way to set up and analyze the connections between the two and progress still seems far from reaching general consensus. Further research is needed to consistently link LCSA metrics to SDGs goals and thus ensure that improved products sustainability effectively contributes to progress towards more sustainable territories. • LCSA and SDGs are key sustainability assessment frameworks for products and territories. • Linkages between product LCSA and SDGs are analyzed based on literature and text-mining. • Further research is needed to consistently link LCSA metrics to SDGs goals. • Key challenges and needs for connecting LCSA with SDGs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, sustainability concerns gained traction in the scientific literature on cleaner production, as well as in industry and application. In this regard, the circular economy (CE) is intended to contribute to the current ecological transition, providing economic advantages and preserving global society for future generations. CE initiatives have been implemented in recent decades to offset the harmful environmental consequences of supply chain operations. Notably, CE strategies can be applied at different supply chain levels, in product design, manufacturing, transportation, consumption, and disposal. Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the present research examines a case study from the Italian egg industry, highlighting the environmental benefits and social implications of initiatives supporting CE (i.e. the use of recyclable and biodegradable packaging and the adoption of a short supply chain). The implementation of those CE strategies shows a 22% reduction in Kg CO 2 -eq emissions, proposing that circular concepts should be incorporated into sustainable supply chain management. Notably, this paper analyses the environmental implications of the intermediate phases of the egg industry supply chain. Both primary and secondary data have been collected. We collected primary data via direct interviews with companies' managers throughout all the study phases. As a result, despite various external issues affecting the company decisions, the paper shows that incorporating CE strategies may deliver demonstrable environmental benefits for the companies. In addition, other strategies that should be adopted in the long term have also been outlined. Finally, the implications that sustainable behaviours of the companies can entail have been examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to synthetize and critically analyze the linkage between leadership styles and sustainable performance (SP) through application of the rigor of systematic literature reviews. Bibliometric characterization of articles indexed in the Scopus database, network analysis and a manual in-depth review were carried out. The final sample consisted of 47 documents. The most discussed leadership styles were sustainable leadership and transformational leadership. The former was mostly linked with general SP, whereas the latter was linked with environmental performance. In 41 out of the 47 papers, the authors provided empirical research. Upper echelon theory and resource-based view theory have been used in most of previous papers. This study synthesizes how leadership influences SP (directly and indirectly) and reveals that the authors of the analyzed papers did not establish a consensus regarding their empirical evidence. The prospects for future research are shown in terms of research topics, methodology, and variables, as well as, i.a., terminological clarity and a holistic approach to SP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the interaction among innovation, tourism, and climate change has become a point of focus recently. This study examines the impact of innovation and tourism development on the sustainable development of the G7 economies. Panel data from 2000 to 2019 was analyzed for cross-sectional dependency, and a series of panel unit root tests were used to confirm the variables' unit root properties. Pedroni and Kao's tests confirm the cointegration relationship among the variables. The fully modified OLS and dynamic OLS results show that higher economic prosperity and lower environmental pollution are associated with innovation as measured in scientific publications and patents, highlighting the importance of innovation. The results highlight the positive significant impact of tourism arrivals on pollution reduction and economic expansion, which mark the steps for sustainable development. The study finds further evidence that asylum refugees did not positively contribute to economic prosperity, nor were they active in the environmental correction plans of the countries. The level of education provides strong evidence supporting sustainable development by encouraging economic growth and discouraging environmental degradation. Overall, the results recommend raising the level of innovation, tourism development, and higher technical education for the sustainable development of the G7 economies. These findings offer important contributions to firms, policymakers, and UN sustainable development agendas. [Display omitted] • The paper assesses the impact of innovation and tourism on sustainability. • The results show that innovation helps improve environmental quality. • The results reveal that innovation helps foster economic prosperity. • The paper finds that tourism helps in pollution reduction and economic expansion. • The results show that the level of education is important for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the interaction among innovation, tourism, and climate change has become a point of focus recently. This study examines the impact of innovation and tourism development on the sustainable development of the G7 economies. Panel data from 2000 to 2019 was analyzed for cross-sectional dependency, and a series of panel unit root tests were used to confirm the variables' unit root properties. Pedroni and Kao's tests confirm the cointegration relationship among the variables. The fully modified OLS and dynamic OLS results show that higher economic prosperity and lower environmental pollution are associated with innovation as measured in scientific publications and patents, highlighting the importance of innovation. The results highlight the positive significant impact of tourism arrivals on pollution reduction and economic expansion, which mark the steps for sustainable development. The study finds further evidence that asylum refugees did not positively contribute to economic prosperity, nor were they active in the environmental correction plans of the countries. The level of education provides strong evidence supporting sustainable development by encouraging economic growth and discouraging environmental degradation. Overall, the results recommend raising the level of innovation, tourism development, and higher technical education for the sustainable development of the G7 economies. These findings offer important contributions to firms, policymakers, and UN sustainable development agendas. [Display omitted] • The paper assesses the impact of innovation and tourism on sustainability. • The results show that innovation helps improve environmental quality. • The results reveal that innovation helps foster economic prosperity. • The paper finds that tourism helps in pollution reduction and economic expansion. • The results show that the level of education is important for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frugal innovation can help to foster sustainability and address global challenges, like building economic growth, addressing various social needs, and protecting the environment. However, if one wants to measure the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation or enable companies to make empirically informed decisions between frugal and alternative innovation, the question of how to assess these empirical impacts arises. The main objectives of this paper are the identification of approaches and indicators for assessing the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation and the analysis of empirical findings relating to prior assessments. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted, which identified 15 texts, and a qualitative content analysis was employed to evaluate their contents. From these analyses two main approaches for assessment emerged. First, the assessment based on the triple bottom line or the dimensions of sustainability (ecological, social, and economic). Second, assessment against the Sustainability Development Goals. In the identified texts, the sustainability dimensions are preferred over the Sustainable Development Goals for assessing the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation. From the 15 identified texts, 13 use qualitative indicators and two quantitative (conceptual) indicators. To answer the research question of the paper, a set of 47 qualitative indicators relating to integrated dimensions of sustainability for the assessment of the sustainability impacts of frugal innovation is proposed. In addition, this paper presents new insights relating to the empirical evidence of sustainability impacts of frugal innovation. Approximately 60% of 334 empirical findings from 70 different cases related to the Sustainable Development Goals contribute to the five (socially and economically focused) SDGs 8, 3, 10, 12, and 9. After a transformation to the Triple Bottom Line, these findings contribute predominantly to the economic and social dimensions (in each case 45%), and only slightly to the ecological dimension (the remaining 10%). In turn, 164 empirical results from 77 different cases related to the Triple Bottom Line show an almost similar contribution to all three sustainability dimensions with a small lead of the economic dimension. Nonetheless, in the opinion of the author, these findings confirm other studies, that from an empirical perspective, frugal innovation can be described as inherently socially and economically sustainable and ecological sustainability is mostly not the primary focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investments into new energy solution systems, and for example into producing carbon-neutral fuels, are increasing, but tools for the capital investments' feasibility studies are limited. Various contemporaneous attempts to reduce the dependence on fossil energy sources are needed, and a power-to-x (P2X) solution, which is part of the hydrogen economy, can be seen as one opportunity. However, many hydrogen economy solutions have not yet been proven to be economically profitable, but they could be if the investment projects were considered from a broader perspective than from company level and an economic perspective. In previous research, a three-stage economic and technology emphasized feasibility study (FS) framework has been created, and the early results indicate that the P2X investments can meet economic feasibility with over 12% of the investor IRR, and could offer profitable solutions towards a carbon-neutral future. However, the framework did not recognize the full potential of P2X through sustainability, and therefore a new extended version of the framework is needed. The objective of the paper is to create an expanded sustainable feasibility study (SFS) framework from the FS framework to support the P2X investments. As a result, an SFS framework is created, considering the investment projects' feasibility beyond the economic perspective by adding all three dimensions of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. The three stages of the framework are ecosystem profiling, business model description, and profitability modelling. This paper was made by utilizing the design science research (DSR) methodology and a literature review. Sustainable feasibility study (SFS) framework. [Display omitted] • SFS framework considers the investment projects' feasibility beyond economic perspective: incl. dimensions of sustainability. • The three stages of the SFS framework are ecosystem profiling, business model description, and profitability modelling. • P2X investment projects should study the ecosystem to support realizing the benefits of sustainability and circular economy. • P2X investment projects can meet economic feasibility with over 12% of the investor IRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nexus approaches, aiming at the complex connections among the correlative systems, provide an effective method for analyzing coevolution processes. In the context of urbanization, water, energy, and environment (W-E-E) systems are increasingly connected thus can be profiled as a W-E-E nexus. However, research on urban water-energy interactions and their impact on the environment is still in its infancy. In addition, a generic framework for modeling W-E-E nexus that includes dynamic feedbacks between human and natural systems remains elusive. In an attempt to fill this gap, this paper proposes a sensitivity-based framework consisting of four components: the water balance model, the energy balance model, the environmental response model, and the urbanization model. Community sensitivity serves as the missing link, tying together two feedback loops driven by economy and environment respectively. To demonstrate how such a framework could be applied, Wuhan city was selected as a case study and analyzed for its coevolution under three scenarios: extensive development, common development, and sustainable development. The results show that the proposed framework is competent in modeling the W-E-E nexus in Wuhan. The coevolution process is broadly divided into four cyclic stages (expansion, degeneration, convalescence, and stabilization) and environmental recovery consumes decades or more regardless of the development pattern. However, development patterns exert a salient effect on community sensitivity, with +294.4%, +5.5%, and −17.4% for extensive, common, and sustainable development patterns during the simulation period respectively. And only under sustainable development, can Wuhan anticipate achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by the 2060s. It is hoped that this framework will aid our understanding of the fundamental interactions in this complex relationship and allow researchers to improve W-E-E nexus modeling through better capture of the key elements in the feedback loops. • Present a sensitivity-based framework for the water-energy-environment nexus. • Build the missing link that connects 2 key loops driven by economics and environment. • Provide urban development pattern decisions for achieving resource sustainability. • Assess Wuhan's development trajectory over the next 2 centuries quantitatively. • Propose a development pattern to achieve carbon neutrality in Wuhan in 2060s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses thermodynamic modeling of a power generation cycle, cooling, and freshwater with the employment of solar energy. The introduced system has different subsystems; solar dish collector, a re-compression sCO 2 Brayton cycle integrated with a combined Rankine power-ejector refrigeration system and humidification and dehumidification desalination unit driven with a solar dish system. The considered system is analyzed in the context of thermodynamics index and criteria such as irreversibility, freshwater production, energy and exergy efficiencies, and environmental metric. The performance-affecting primary variables are determined through a parametric evaluation of the suggested system. According to the results, the system is capable of producing 83.3 kW of electrical power at the design point and 3.1 kW of cooling as well as 41.54 kg/h of freshwater. A more accurate analysis of exergy destruction shows that solar dish and heat exchanger-4 have the most significant rate of exergy destruction. In addition, parameters such as solar radiation intensity, compressor pressure ratio, and entrainment ratio are parametrically analyzed. The results indicated that increasing entrainment ratio from 0.3 to 0.6, will increase the refrigeration capacity from 2.33 kW to 4.66 kW and the operation of Turbine 2 from 15.96 kW to 18.63 kW. Also, enhancing the solar radiation intensity from 650 W/m2 to 950 W/m2 has different influences the system outputs so that increasing the solar intensity will reduce the performance of the cooling cycle and increase the freshwater produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, which is predicted to be one of the most critical resources for the near future, also plays a vital role in society's sustainable development. Wastewater treatment is a critical part of the circular water management system and offers various technological alternatives. Taking appropriate decision for the technology selection is, therefore, essential for a long-term perspective. A complex yet imperative process is the sustainable selection of the wastewater treatment process. This paper presents the use of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) in the sustainability assessment of wastewater treatment technologies that may be very relevant to the growing sector with many emerging options. A comparison of six wastewater treatment technologies based on four sustainability parameters using three MCDM techniques, namely FSWARA, FMOORA and FTOPSIS is presented in detail. FSWARA is used for weighting criteria and the other two for technology ranking. The detailed step-by-step comparison study is presented and the results were somewhat predictable for the study, and this confirms the reliability of the methodology. This paper's primary objective is to propose a well-defined increscent practice for making sustainable wastewater treatment decisions among state-of-the-art technologies. • Sustainability ranking of wastewater treatment technologies using multi-criteria decision making methods. • Combined Fuzzy SWARA-MOORA and fuzzy SWARA-TOPSIS methods. • While weighing the criteria, most significance is given to environmental factors. • Inclusion of both conventional and non-conventional technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depopulation is a major challenge for many rural inland areas, as is the case in a considerable number of rural municipalities in Galicia (north-western Spain). The pandemic had a considerable impact on internal migration in 2020, but it was far from being anywhere near high enough to reverse the ongoing trend of population decline, highlighting the need for further action. Thus, this paper has a twofold objective: firstly, to propose an index of rural sustainable development for the rural Galician municipalities, and secondly, to identify the factors related to it. In so doing, a composite index stemming from the Benefit of the Doubt methodology has been proposed in the first stage, an index built from four-dimension factors– economic, demographic, social, and environmental. The empirical evidence of this index has been compared with three additional ones (namely, common weights, super-efficiency, and geometric mean and logistic normalization models). In the second stage, the relationship between the composite index and a set of exogenous variables that affect rural development has been analyzed, the data confirming that the rates of female immigration and occupancy in the hospitality sector favors sustainable development, whereas the distance from the provincial capital hinders it. This paper paves the way for an assessment of the potentialities of each territory, and the evidence found allows actions to be supported that generate sustainable progress in rural Galician municipalities and that are useful for tackling this complex problem. • A new rural sustainable development index based on four dimensions is proposed. • Strengths and weaknesses for each Galician rural municipality are identified. • Environmental factors constitute a driver of rural development in Galicia. • Social aspects (i.e., health, education, services) stand out as main weaknesses. • Policies to boost social care and attract childbearing-age inhabitants are paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing pressures of global warming, population growth and epidemic occurrence are causing challenges in meeting the growing requirements for water, energy and food. In particular, the contradiction between the supply and demand for water, food, and energy is exacerbated by inefficient resource utilization and carbon emission increase. Incorporation of the interlinked aspects of water, energy, food and carbon emissions from agricultural systems into one water-food-energy-carbon nexus facilitates integrated resource management. Biochar application to farmland is a potential strategy for carbon management and agricultural productivity improvement. The integration of biochar systems and the water-food-energy-carbon nexus is an efficient and coordinated alternative method for sustainable agricultural management and a crucial strategy for addressing water, energy and food security issues. Accordingly, this paper proposes an approach for the synergistic regulation of water, land, energy, and carbon emissions in a circular agricultural system by balancing water supply and demand, land allocation, electricity consumption, and economic upgrading principles. A two-stage circular agriculture framework is constructed, with biochar and electricity generated from agricultural residues at the first stage and employed at the second stage. Economic-environmental-energy harmonization is considered in the methodology, and the agrotechnical potential of biochar is quantified via crop yield increase and greenhouse gas emission reduction functions. This approach can assist decision makers in providing the best policy options given certain agricultural resources to achieve the maximum economic performance of the system while minimizing environmental side effects. In this paper, the model framework is applied to the Sanjiang Plain in northeastern China to verify the feasibility of the approach. The results indicate that the external electricity demand is reduced by 87.8% due to the generation of biofuels. Cropland greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 34.09%–67.06% via the application of biochar. This study proposes an optimization method with important implications for the improvement of regional cropland management techniques and development of sustainable circular agriculture. This methodology can be extended to other agriculture-centered regions with limited resources and environmental problems. • Carbon cycle is integrated in agricultural water-food-energy-carbon (AWFEC) nexus. • An AWFEC nexus based model is developed for agricultural resources recycling. • Biochar and electricity are optimized sustainably for circular agriculture. • Analysis of resources recycling on economic-environmental balance is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh food cold supply chains (CSCs) feature high fresh food quality and safety, high energy consumption, and poor economic and environmental sustainability. Sustainable management of fresh food CSCs is critical. However, limited research has addressed the implementation of systematic good practices in sustainable fresh food CSCs in developing countries. Consequently, decision-makers lack empirical evidence to help them understand how companies successfully implement systematic good practices and how those good practices affect sustainability performance. This paper formulates a hybrid analytic hierarchy process-fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (AHP-Fuzzy TOPSIS) decision framework to systematically explore the impact of good practices on the sustainability performance of fresh food CSCs in the context of a developing country such as China. The results of the integrated methodology show that China's CSC industry pays more attention to economic sustainability and that employee training is the most impactful good practice for improving the sustainability performance of fresh food CSCs. • A systematic study of good practice and sustainability performance indicators. • A fresh food CSC sustainability performance assessment framework applied in China. • Order of importance of sustainability performance assessment indicators. • Ranking of good practices to improve fresh food CSC sustainability performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a very important role in national production, and provide more than 60% of the employment opportunities for the society. The benign development of small and medium-sized enterprises determines the sustainability of economic operation. In recent years, small and medium-sized enterprises have faced increasing operational pressure. Due to scale limitations, insufficient funds and weak bargaining power, small and medium-sized enterprises are often at a disadvantage when dealing with suppliers. One the one hand, large suppliers rely on the imbalance of bargaining power to increase the transaction costs of small and medium-sized enterprises; On the other hand, small and medium-sized suppliers with poor reputation may use legal loopholes to commit fraud, which may even threaten the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises in severe cases. However, the existing literature focuses more on the situation of large organizations facing complex and diverse suppliers. Therefore, this paper constructed a supplier selection evaluation framework for small and medium-sized enterprises, and proposed an extended PROMETHEE Ⅱ method to achieve sustainable supplier selection process. First, establish a sustainable supplier selection evaluation framework from the three dimensions of product and service capability, cooperation degree and risk factors; Second, combine the PROMETHEE Ⅱ approach with subjective preference parameters and probability language term set (PLTS) to obtain an extended PROMETHEE Ⅱ approach; Last, use the methodology of this paper to implement sustainable supplier selection for a small and medium-sized enterprise (M company) in China. The practical case and sensitivity analysis showed that the evaluation framework and method proposed in this paper were applicable and effective. Actual cases and sensitivity analysis showed that cost, credit and corporate irregularities were the three most important aspects for small and medium-sized enterprises to evaluate supplier performance. [Display omitted] • Small and medium-sized enterprises face complex and diverse suppliers. • Establish a sustainable supplier selection criteria framework. • Improve the PROMETHEE Ⅱ method by combining probabilistic language term sets. • The study provides decision support for the supplier selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more, the finance and the financial sector are used as a means of achieving social goals. Thus, the main financial market participants are required to change their ESG identity and to act no longer only as a seller of sustainable products, but also as sustainable actors themselves. For this purpose, banks and financial institutions are required to complement financial information with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) statements to provide a wider overview of the value creation process. Despite the banking sector being of utmost importance in the promotion of a transition towards sustainable economic development, the analysis of the attributes of their non-financial disclosure (NFD) has achieved little attention from scholars thus far. This paper aims at investigating the relationships between board composition and some textual attributes of NFDs by testing the incremental information vs. impression management approach in the Italian banking sector for the years 2017–2020, after the introduction of Directive (2014)/95/EU. The final sample is composed of 29 Italian banks. A two-step analysis was conducted. In the first stage, a content analysis was performed to assess the textual attributes of the disclosures, and in the second a multivariate regression model with panel data was run. Empirical findings found a significant impact of board composition and textual attributes on conciseness, completeness, positive tone, and the reading difficulty of NFDs. Results from this study contribute to the literature on disclosure strategies and theories by providing additional knowledge on the role of certain characteristics of corporate governance in explaining some textual attributes of NFDs in the financial sector. Managerial implications are related to the (re-)design of some governance features which are more suitable in providing a more transparent and comparable NFD. Policy implications are related to the development of policies and regulations at the international level that combine high-quality sustainability-related information and the governance features of financial institutions. • Board composition impacts textual attributes of the non-financial disclosures (NFDs) of banks. • The participation of women in the board of Italian banks mirrors less complete, readable, and balanced NFDs. • The increase over time of women on the board enhances bank NFD completeness. • Smaller boards of directors are associated with higher completeness of bank NFDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This VSI focuses on what cross-cutting insights might be gained from research to increase the energy/materials circularity and the contribution of eco-innovation, cleaner consumption, and waste management to produce a logical body of knowledge that may lead to increased resilience and a sustainable Planet. The articles' collection shows development trends of sustainable, cleaner production under the Special Issue: A Resilient and Sustainable World. Some selected d papers have been presented and emerged from the 10th and 11th International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production (IWACP), held in hybrid mode in Italy (Ferrata and Florence). The contribution of the articles in this Special Issue could be divided into efforts toward sustainable and cleaner production, aiming (i) Eco-innovation for cleaner production and circular economy, (ii) Proper monitoring and identification of cleaner production, circular economy, and eco-innovation, (iii) cleaner production, circular economy and eco-innovation targeting social wellbeing and cleaner environment, (iv) cleaner production, circular economy and eco-innovation targeting emission reduction, and (v) cleaner production, circular economy and eco-innovation targeting improved and optimized production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wine is the main economic resource in the 'Area of Jerez', located in the south of Spain. It is one of the most important wine tourism destinations in the world. However, its sustainable production process, so strongly influenced by climatic conditions, can be clearly affected by the phenomenon of global warming. The ageing process of "Sherry wine" takes place in buildings known as 'Cathedral warehouses', an example of Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs). For centuries, they have been used to provide specific ecological conditions for biological ageing without any type of mechanical heating/cooling system. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of climate change on this production model. For this, the annual thermal behavior of a representative winery was monitored during several years. The first energy simulation model of this type of buildings was developed and validated (daily R2 = 99%; hourly R2 = 97%). Finally, the model was simulated by modifying the outdoor climatic conditions (9 years training data sets) for a climate change scenario, applying the 'morphing' method for the transformation of the weather data. The results show that, by the middle of this century, the average outdoor temperature will increase by 2.3 °C (in summer up to 3.6 °C). As a consequence, the temperature in the ageing zone would exceed the comfort limit for 19% of the year, (up to 34% in hot years). For 2080, the prediction is even worse (average value of 27%). As a result, the microorganisms responsible for this unique process could not maintain their activity. This fact will force the sector to face a harsh reconversion through the adoption of new mechanisms and strategies, which endangers the economic sustainability of an entire region dedicated to this practice. Beyond the specific case, the work highlights the need to evaluate the future behavior of NZEBs through simulation. [Display omitted] • Assess the impact of climate change in a Near Zero Energy Building. • "Cathedral warehouses" will lose their usefulness by the middle of this century. • Comfort limits will be exceeded 19% of the year, interrupting biological ageing. • The economic sustainability of an entire region would be endangered. • The need to evaluate the future behavior of Near Zero Energy Building is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems play a very important role in the sustainable development of remanufacturing. Research has often focused on the sustainability of remanufacturing systems from the aspect of general technological activities, for which there is a lack of an in-depth consideration of ecological services. This may lead to an imbalanced development of ecosystems. This paper proposes a full lifecycle-based sustainability evaluation model for remanufacturing ecosystem services (ESs) from the novel perspective of technology-ecology synergy. Firstly, by analyzing the coupling effect of technical activities and ecological services, a technology-ecology synergy in a lifecycle assessment (TES-LCA) computing model is established to quantify the sustainability of remanufacturing ESs. Secondly, the supply and allocation of ESs considering multiple users are proposed and addressed. Thirdly, regional differences in ESs are investigated. The sustainability of ESs is then analyzed and calculated on a multi-spatial scale. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed model is verified by performing a case analysis of the remanufacturing of a spindle of a machine tool that is to be adopted in two regions. The case study results showed that the air quality control service in both two regions is unsustainable; however, the water supply service is sustainable. The proposed model can provide data support for governmental policy makers and businesses to formulate relevant policies to maintain a balanced development of ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Assess the remanufacturing sustainability from the technology-ecology synergy view. • The multi-user allocation accounting strategy of ecosystem services is established. • The regional difference in ecological services is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at creating a sustainability governance framework to assess the public transport companies in developing countries. In contrast to previous research studies, governance criteria, namely transparency and accountability, are involved in the sustainability assessment. Eventually, four dimensions of key performance indicators are suggested: economic, environmental, institutional and social. Each of them describes a completely different perspective of sustainable development. A numerical illustration is provided at the end to evaluate three public transport companies from a developed country to give an overview of the framework implementation using simple additive weighting method. • A sustainability governance indicator-based framework for public transport companies is designed. • This framework may promote for a sustainable transport companies particularly in developing countries. • This framework integrates the main pillars of transport sustainability and governance in one model. • Economic, environmental, social and institutional dimensions are involved through a set of up-to-date SMART indicators. • Transparency and accountability, are namely involved in this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the challenges in monitoring target 12.3 of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) under the SDG 2030 17 significant goals. SDG 12 focuses on ensuring production and consumption patterns are sustainable. Target 12.3 aims to reduce food waste by 50% at the retail and consumption stage and food loss at the production stage, including post-harvest losses, by 2030. With the help of SDG reports, an extensive literature review and expert opinions, 14 challenges were selected and hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) was applied. The first phase obtained the inter-relationship between the challenges using interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The second phase included quantification and ranking of the challenges using fuzzy AHP methodology. Probable strategies to overcome these challenges in emerging economies are discussed and ranked using the VIKOR methodology in the third phase, as no single approach can combat all the obstacles. This is the first to examine the challenges and possibilities of monitoring UN SDG target 12.3 in emerging economies like India. The results indicate that data availability, education in sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns, financing of SDG targets and data use are the main obstacles to monitoring and achieving target 12.3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at creating a sustainability governance framework to assess the public transport companies in developing countries. In contrast to previous research studies, governance criteria, namely transparency and accountability, are involved in the sustainability assessment. Eventually, four dimensions of key performance indicators are suggested: economic, environmental, institutional and social. Each of them describes a completely different perspective of sustainable development. A numerical illustration is provided at the end to evaluate three public transport companies from a developed country to give an overview of the framework implementation using simple additive weighting method. • A sustainability governance indicator-based framework for public transport companies is designed. • This framework may promote for a sustainable transport companies particularly in developing countries. • This framework integrates the main pillars of transport sustainability and governance in one model. • Economic, environmental, social and institutional dimensions are involved through a set of up-to-date SMART indicators. • Transparency and accountability, are namely involved in this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cleaner production, looking beyond greenhouse gas mitigation, has been stressed as that climate change is not the only issue to worry about. However, the related processes have to be as well sustainable from the technology, economic, and social viewpoints. This editorial introduces the articles' collection and overall development trends of sustainable cleaner production under the Special Issue of Sustainable Cleaner Production through Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation. All collected papers have been presented and emerged from the 24th conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (PRES′21), Brno, Czech Republic, in hybrid mode. The contribution of 32 articles in this Special Issue could be divided into efforts toward sustainable cleaner production by focusing on (i) Process Integration and/or Optimisation, (ii) Sustainability Analyses, and (iii) Modelling of Waste Recovery. This editorial appeals to attention on sustainable cleaner production to cope with new challenges and opportunities under the data- and intelligent-era accompanying with global crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the potential of crop type adjustment to improve regional food security, ecological security and net economic benefits is significant for agricultural water management, green production and sustainable development in drylands. Previous studies on the optimization of crop type were mostly concentrated within the region, without considering the impact of interregional food trade on the adjustment of regional crop type. It is difficult to give full play to the advantages of crop type optimization in improving regional food security. This paper introduces the virtual water trade theory into the optimization model of crop type. By quantifying the water footprint, carbon footprint, crop calories and net economic benefits of food crops in Northwest China and Central Asia. On the basis of fully considering farmers' planting willingness in Northwest China and food trade with Central Asian, the relative and absolute comparative advantage index is used as the optimization coefficient of the model. The food security and ecological security of the region, the blue water use efficiency, the green water ratio and the net food efficiency of the provinces (districts) in the region were used as objective functions to construct an open-ended crop type optimization model to optimize the crop type in the region. The results showed that the use of the constructed open crop type optimization model to guide regional food crop type adjustment increased the calories and grey water footprint provided by regional crops by 7.5% and −6.6%, respectively. The provinces in the region have seen varying degrees of improvement in the benefits of blue water use and net economic benefits, particularly in Gansu Province, which have increased by 51.0% and 53.5%, respectively. Due to the effect of crop type adjustment on the regional green water footprint and carbon footprint targets is less than satisfactory. On this basis, effective suggested measures to improve the efficiency of crop green water use and reduce the carbon footprint were proposed. In this study, the combination of relevant measures and grain crop type adjustment can give full play to the role of grain crop type adjustment in alleviating regional water resources and ecological pressure, improving food security, ecological security and sustainable grain production. It is expected to ensure global food security and promote green production and sustainable development of crops. [Display omitted] • Construct optimization model of open planting structure under virtual water trade. • Relative, absolute comparative advantage of 12 units and 5 crops was taken as coefficient. • Crop calories, blue water use benefits and grey water increased by 7.5%, 23.4% and −6.6%. • The study promotes regional food security, water use efficiency and marketing power. • Structural adjustment combined with green water use measures, effect is more obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the recent stream of econometric entrepreneurship research by introducing the environmental orientation of new ventures as a key factor for sustainable development. It empirically assesses whether relationships exist between national shares of green entrepreneurial activity (GEA) and economic, social, and environmental development. Theory and first empirical evidence suggest that – compared to conventional new ventures – new green ventures have a more positive economic and social impact and are less harmful or even beneficial to environmental quality. OLS regressions were estimated to empirically test the impact of GEA rates (share of total entrepreneurial activity) on GDP, the modified HDI, and CO 2 emissions. For this purpose, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data for 11,909 early-stage entrepreneurs was aggregated to the macro-level of 53 countries and merged with further international datasets. The results confirmed that higher shares of GEA are positively related to economic and social development but not to environmental development. Additional tests proved the robustness of the results for different economic development levels, time-lag variations, and different measurements of dependent and independent variables. The identified economic and social importance of GEA warrants intensified policy efforts to support the discovery, creation, and exploitation of green business opportunities. Potential explanations for the counterintuitive non-significant environmental impact are discussed, leading to new research avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]