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The forest sector is vital in Europe, providing economic and social benefits to communities. However, this sector is also responsible for some environmental impacts, and it is crucial to ensure that these impacts do not outweigh the benefits described. For this reason, this paper proposes an environmental and economic assessment of three forest wood products – uncoated woodfree paper, natural cork stoppers, and particle boards. The life cycles of these products were modeled using foreground data and a life cycle assessment was conducted to determine the environmental impacts associated with these three life cycles. For the economic assessment, the net present value method was adopted. From the results, it is possible to conclude that the utilization of 1 ha of forest land for 100 years to plant Eucalyptus globulus used in the production of uncoated woodfree paper generates the least environmental impact per euro. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the reliability of the results achieved given the uncertainty associated with the data used to model the three life cycles. The same critical impact categories and the same critical life cycle stage (raw materials' extraction) were identified for the three systems under study. Given these similarities, an effort must be made by the forest sector to reduce the impacts of these categories and this life cycle stage. To assist on this task, a set of generic and industry-specific recommendations is provided for companies operating in the forest sector. • An environmental and economic assessment of three forest wood products is performed. • The life cycle assessment methodology and the net present value method are used. • The production of uncoated woodfree paper generates the least environmental impact per euro of NPV. • Using sensitivity analysis, the results were found to be reliable. • Recommendations for different stakeholders in the forest sector are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, energy communities initiatives have gained traction in Europe as a means to achieve energy transition goals, allowing citizen involvement in energy production, consumption, and distribution. Following the 2018 European directive RED II, these projects have rapidly increased across the continent, showcasing their potential for creating sustainable local energy systems. While studies highlight economic, environmental, and social benefits, barriers such as regulatory challenges, finance access, and low public awareness remain. This paper presents the results of a systematic literature review that explores the state-of-the-art of the academic research on energy communities. The study adopts a systematic approach to examine the body of literature on the topic to provide a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon on the basis of rigorous and replicable research criteria. The reviewed material consists of 140 articles collected through the Scopus database, evaluated using specific structural dimensions to group the literature into analytical categories. The analysis of scientific papers published between 2018 and 2022 shows a growing attention towards Renewable Energy Communities, particularly those based on solar energy for electricity production, often combined with storage systems and heat pumps, whereas attention towards energy communities based on thermal energy production is still limited. Furthermore, most scholars focused on analysing specific territorial contexts; comparisons between different regions allows to highlight common features and elements characterizing each model. It emerged that the development of energy communities depends mainly on regulatory, financial, and managerial barriers that require an adequate institutional and legal framework capable of promoting their diffusion. Most studies address the topic from an economic perspective, often in association with incentivizing community models. However, a social perspective should be included by introducing the concept of energy sharing and methodologies for its distribution among all members of the community. The scientific community is called upon to continue investigating and supporting the development of community energy initiatives by providing evidence-based recommendations to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and local communities. This can help to overcome existing barriers and facilitate the diffusion of energy communities models, contributing to the achievement of sustainable and inclusive energy transition goals. • Systematic literature review exploring academic research on energy communities in Europe. • Structural dimensions and related analytical categories as framework to review 140 journal articles. • Most studies concern ECs based on renewable energy sources, with solar power being the predominant source. • Most employed technologies are related to the production of electricity from photovoltaic with batteries and heat pumps. • Most studied focus on Renewable Energy Community, while Citizens Energy Community are less considered in academic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pulp industry plays an important role in the structure of European economy and society. Paper pulp manufacture, the industrial utilization of plant biomass, is increasing every year. In Spain, Eucalyptus is the dominant raw material and the Kraft cooking and total chlorine free (TCF) bleaching processes lead the procedures of Eucalyptus paper pulp production. This paper aims to identify and quantify the environmental impacts associated to Eucalyptus TCF pulp manufacture by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as an analytical tool. The system has been defined using a cradle-to-gate perspective, that is to say from forest activities to the exit gate of the pulp mill. The production of chemicals consumed in the cooking and bleaching stages as well as the on-site energy production system is the elements that contribute the most to all impact categories analyzed (more than 50% of total contributions), except for the eutrophication potential where forest activities and waste treatment play an important roles (about 52% of total). Specific actions associated to the recovery boiler, lime kiln and digestion stage could considerably reduce the environmental impact and improve the environmental performance of the Spanish paper pulp industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract The increasing global demand for food and the environmental effects of reactive nitrogen losses in the food production chain, increase the need for efficient use of nitrogen (N). Of N harvested in agricultural plant products, 80% is used to feed livestock. Because the largest atmospheric loss of reactive nitrogen from livestock production systems is ammonia (NH 3), the focus of this paper is on N lost as NH 3 during the production of animal protein. The focus of this paper is to understand the key factors explaining differences in Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of animal production among various European countries. Therefore we developed a conceptual framework to describe the NUE defined as the amount of animal-protein N per N in feed and NH 3 N losses in the production of milk, beef, pork, chicken meat and eggs in The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Denmark. The framework describes how manure management and animal-related parameters (feed, metabolism) relate to NH 3 emissions and NUE. The results showed that the animal product with the lowest NUE had the largest NH 3 emissions and vice versa, which agrees with the reciprocal relationship between NUE and NH 3 within the conceptual framework. Across animal products for the countries considered, about 20% of the N in feed is lost as NH 3. The significant smallest proportion (12%) of NH 3 N per unit of N feed is from chicken production. The proportions for other products are 17%, 19%, 20% and 22% for milk, pork, eggs and beef respectively. These differences were not significantly different due to the differences among countries. For all countries, NUE was lowest for beef and highest for chicken. The production of 1 kg N in beef required about 5 kg N in feed, of which 1 kg N was lost as NH 3 N. For the production of 1 kg N in chicken meat, 2 kg N in feed was required and 0.2 kg was lost as NH 3. The production of 1 kg N in milk required 4 kg N in feed with 0.6 kg NH 3 N loss, the same as pork and eggs, but those needed 3 and 3.5 kg N in feed per kg N in product respectively. Except for beef, the differences among these European countries were mainly caused by differences in manure management practices and their emission factors, rather than by animal-related factors including feed and digestibility influencing the excreted amount of ammoniacal N (TAN). For beef, both aspects caused important differences. Based on the results, we encourage the expression of N losses as per N in feed or per N in product, in addition to per animal place, when comparing production efficiency and NUE. We consider that disaggregating emission factors into a diet/animal effect and a manure management effect would improve the basis for comparing national NH 3 emission inventories. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A theoretical framework describes NH 3 N loss and NUE related to animal protein production instead of to raw product. • Animal protein in chicken meat had the highest NUE and the lowest NH3 N losses; the reverse was true for beef. • Differences in NUE and NH3 N losses between countries are mainly explained by manure management. • For beef production differences in manure management and TAN production are both relevant. • Presenting additional metrics than N-lost per animal place would enable a more informed comparison of production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological developments make perovskite solar cells (PSCs) particularly suitable for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications on vertical building envelopes, but the relatively short lifespan of PSCs requires frequent replacement, thereby generating substantial waste. Careful consideration of circularity credentials of this novel technology is therefore essential prior to the extensive implementation of vertical PSCs in building envelopes. This paper provides a circular economy approach for the implementation of PSCs in vertical envelopes and assesses its economic feasibility by life cycle cost analysis in Europe. The process of recycling PSC is developed. The economic performance of PSC envelopes is provided and compared to that of the conventional rigid BIPV system. Uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis of economic indicators are then performed to identify the influential parameters. The findings indicate that the PSC envelope has a significant potential for circular BIPV components and that PSCs applied on vertical envelope are economically viable. • LCCA of vertical PSC envelopes with recycling strategy is analyzed in Europe. • Recycling strategy of PSC is explored before diffusion to overcome PSC's short lifespan. • PSC price is the most influential factor for the deviation of LCOE. • PSC envelope has potential to achieve profitability in most regions of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary Regulation that defines the European Environmental Management System (EMS). Today the EMAS is undergoing a revision process, in order to fit the scheme to organizations and stakeholders’ requirements and increase its diffusion. Italy accounts for roughly 1,000 of the 4,000 certified European organizations and, especially during the last five years, a growing number of organizations have not renewed the certification. Thus, the aim of the survey is to investigate why many Italian organizations have dropped out of EMAS, and to identify which enabling measures would be more effective in order to encourage organizations to move back to the certification. The target of the questionnaire were the 339 Italian organizations that did not renew their EMAS registration between 2010 and 2015, and respondents were 99. In the first part of the paper, we present the general findings, while in the second one, certified Public Administrations and private-owned organizations are compared in order to delineate significant differences between the two groups. Concerning motivations for not renewing EMAS, implementation costs were the key reasons for both groups. Conversely, considering the possible enabling measures, while private-owned organizations demand long term tax benefits, Public Administrations prefer a greater consideration of EMAS in public funding. This paper systematically addresses this phenomenon through a survey, contributing to reduce the existing gap in literature and providing a useful input to decision-makers who are overseeing the EMAS revision process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behaviour, practices and culture constitute a powerful human factor in the energy system; in particular the interactions between technologies, practices and norms lock individuals in to certain patterns of (often inefficient) energy use. Consequently, behaviour change has gained traction amongst policymakers as a key area of intervention given the impact energy-related behaviours have on climate change. Given the increasing emphasis within policy perspectives in the European Union, it is surprising that a gap in understanding of the success factors of behaviour change initiatives remains. This paper addresses this gap by identifying and characterising behaviour change initiatives across five European countries (the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain). The paper provides insights into the success factors and commonly encountered barriers to behaviour change initiatives. Initiatives are classified into 6 broad categories (community-based interventions; information and awareness based interventions; eco-districts; show-case events; energy switching; and smart-technology focused interventions). The results suggest that there are significant knowledge gaps between what is known to work to engage individuals in behavioural change and what is currently being applied in practice. An over-reliance on education and awareness-raising projects is evident, illustrating that such projects do not sufficiently aim for sustained behavioural changes. A dearth of projects incorporating fiscal measures, regulations or legislation to drive behaviour change reflects reluctance on behalf of decision-makers to engage widely with diverse approaches to foster lifestyle change. This paper contributes understandings of the different models and delivery tools employed to change energy-related behaviours; insights into the critical success factors that underpin best practice and the barriers to action; and a ‘what works in practice’ overview of the meaningful approaches to change behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the immense pressure of environmental pollution, economic growth and energy usage, green growth is recognized as the fundamental development strategy in Europe. This paper assesses environmental efficiency (ENE) of 54 industries from 28 European countries across the three sectors of an economy over the 2000–2014 period using a non-radial directional distance function (DDF). The aim of this study is to shed light and provide a deeper understanding of the different levels of technological heterogeneity that exist among industries by incorporating the metafrontier approach under distinct sector and country-specific production frontiers. The results reveal that industries present higher levels of environmental efficiency within their sectors while manufacturing industries achieve the lowest progress in environmental efficiency. Thus, it is critical to introduce and implement sector-oriented policies rather than common guidelines for all European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, the analysis of Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) shows a significant energy efficiency potential (up to 25%). Optimistically, plant managers assess their plant efficiency once or twice per year. Consequently, the time gap between an inefficiency and its detection produces avoidable operational costs. Although the installation of multiple on-line sensors can provide detailed energy information, for a human operator it is unrealistic to analyse the produced data in a satisfactory time-scale. This paper proposes a cooperative tool for energy saving that remotely accesses and evaluates WWTP databases to produce daily energy assessment reports. The novelty of this decision support tool lies in the original combination of: key performance indicators, daily benchmarking, expert knowledge, scenario analysis, fuzzy logic and shared knowledge. In this paper, the Shared Knowledge Decision Support System (SK-DSS) concept is presented and the methodology demonstrated and validated on the energy consumption of biological aeration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the main determinants of the economic acceptability of four Green Technologies (GTs): alternative fuel vehicles, energy savings in residential buildings, smart meters and renewable electricity, using a meta-analysis on a sample of 35 selected papers, which provided 245 primary data. This approach allows detecting relationships across heterogeneous studies, avoiding the subjectivity of qualitative surveys. We implement a new two-step procedure. First, we compute a measure of the implicit price for a kilogram of CO2 avoided (PCO2), homogenizing the usable information for the GTs considered. Second, we conduct a meta-regression using the computed PCO2 values to estimate the socio-economic determinants' impact. In general, our results show a wide degree of acceptability for GTs which is stronger among European citizens. In particular, it emerges that, on average, the estimated PCO2 is positive for the GTs considered, and additional positive effects exist when respondents are confronted with an explicit reference to quantitative targets in terms of CO2 abatement, a clear proposal for payment timing, and a specific renewable electricity mix. These results indicate that information and transparency are crucial to spur GTs deployment. Therefore, to support GTs’ market penetration, public and private institutional stakeholders, have to provide “ad hoc” information to the end users, setting a clear and suitable system of prices to increase the economic value end users place on GTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is defined as purchasing which reduces environmental impacts across product or service life cycles. Standardization, as another demand-side measure, complements GPP by shaping standards, which when strategically applied in tenders can drive market demand for environmental products and services and stimulate eco-innovation. However, the uptake of GPP, use of standards, and consideration of innovation in public procurement is limited, and analyses often only consider two of the three. To broaden conceptualizations of innovation in GPP, this paper conducts a review and synthesis of relevant literature to examine roles for standards and standardization in GPP according to innovation life cycle stages, from R&D through to commercialization and diffusion. It develops a conceptual space for product and service innovations according to the purchase of off-the-shelf products or services, incremental adaptations through the public procurement of innovation, and radical innovations using pre-commercial procurement and innovation partnerships. Roles for particular types of standards are examined as inputs to these different mechanisms. Focusing on pre-commercial procurement, standardization is then situated according to distinct stages in the R&D process. Four case studies from literature are applied to support this framework. This paper creates a foundation for integrated understanding of the functions of standards - and applicability of standardization - in demand-side product and process development and market penetration for environmental improvement. Its framework may be used as a conceptual space for public procurers across Europe to better visualize characteristics of products and services when making tender design decisions based on functionality and rewarding performance. Further study should also consider procurer capabilities for sourcing and revealing knowledge to improve procurement outcomes, as ultimately capturing the benefits from GPP hinges upon its ability to be conducted in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the nexus between greenhouse gas, financial development, energy consumption, trade and urbanization in 34 upper middle income countries from Asia, Europe, Africa and America (South and North) by using panel data from 2001 to 2014. Vector error correction model explored different results for different regions such as the causality of greenhouse gas for Europe and America; financial development for Asia; trade openness for Asia, Europe and America; and urbanization for Africa and America. The causality of greenhouse gas emission was bi-directional with urbanization in America and trade in Europe. The bi-directional causality of trade was observed with financial development in Asia and urbanization in Africa. The generalized method of moment and fully modified ordinary least square explored a direct association of per capita greenhouse gas emission with financial development in Europe; energy consumption in all panels, and renewable energy in Africa and America. But, the relationship of per capita emission was reciprocal with financial development in Asia, Africa and America; renewable energy in Europe; trade in Europe, Africa and America; and urbanization in Asia, Europe and America. The relationship of variables changes from region to region and country to country. A country-based reciprocal effect on per capita greenhouse gas was observed for financial development, renewable energy, trade openness and urbanization for different countries. This paper provides an insight to policy makers to re-structure the financial system, energy usage pattern, trade and urbanization in accordance with the cleaning of environment at country and regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of literature argues that management control is essential in supporting an organization to become more sustainable. Nevertheless, skepticism has been raised about the existence of management controls in the context of sustainability in corporate practice and especially about their role in promoting sustainability within the organizations. Based on the management control framework of Malmi and Brown (2008), this paper explores empirically the extent to which large companies have developed a package of formal and informal management control mechanisms and theorizes on the observed sustainability control patterns. The results show that all researched companies deploy sustainability management controls. The paper identifies two distinct approaches in management control for sustainability: a focus on either formal or informal approaches. The insights and recommendations provided in this paper help organizations in translating their aspirations into their organization. The results also highlight the need for research to better understand the situations in which formal and informal management control for sustainability are or could be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of the European food sector to the total amount of greenhouse gases emissions is equal to one fifth. Footprint indicators together with Life Cycle Assessment have emerged to be useful tools to analyze and report environmental performance. In this paper the environmental impact of aged vinegar produced from Grechetto and Sagrantino grapes varieties is analyzed. Life Cycle Assessment of wine is performed to calibrate the model. Impact assessment is studied evaluating: carbon footprint, ecological footprint, water footprint, acidification, eutrophication, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidation. The new approach proposed in this paper leads to the obtainment of a complete analysis of the impact of aged vinegar, which can help a small farm choose more sustainable production methods, also optimizing logistics. This is the scientific added value of the work. The results show that aged vinegar has a carbon footprint comprised between 1.94 and 2.54 kg CO 2 /l. The Ecological footprint of aged vinegar varies between 9.83 and 13.23 g m 2 /kg. The Water Footprint of aged vinegar varies between 1332 and 1892 l/l. The water scarcity weighted water footprint methods available in the software SimaPro 8 give different results depending on their assumptions. These can be useful for comparative studies between different products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2018 European bioeconomy strategy sets a new vision for Europe's sustainable development: a transition to regenerative resource usage that embraces circular principles. Similarly, various member states have developed national bioeconomy strategies. To be effective, such strategies require methodologically sound monitoring tools that support the alignment of national and urban policies. Indeed, cities are central to the bioeconomy, mobilizing ever increasing amounts of biogenic materials. To better understand the suitability of national bioeconomy strategies for guiding urban circular bioeconomy transitions, this paper examines the composition, features, and topical coverage of national bioeconomy indicator sets with a threefold analysis: (1) assessment of the integration of circularity principles in the sets and their alignment with existing policy frameworks; (2) appraisal of quality and the fulfillment of the sets' functional purposes; (3) evaluation of the breadth and depth of tackled issues. Of the 27 EU member states, only nine have a dedicated bioeconomy strategy, of which four propose an indicator set. While there is a general lack of sophisticated monitoring, the tools proposed after the publication of the 2018 bioeconomy strategy (Germany and Italy) follow indicator development standards rigorously. They include circularity in their notion of bioeconomy and combine indicators for a comprehensive, substantial, informative and politically relevant analysis. These characteristics strongly improve the potential for alignment and coherence with urban-level bioeconomy monitoring efforts. Although national measuring tools are not intended to cover all urban needs, the findings of this paper give insight into their remaining gaps and highlight improvement pathways for an efficient EU-wide circular bioeconomy transition. [Display omitted] • Most EU national bioeconomy strategies lack sophisticated indicator sets. • National bioeconomy strategies should favor alignment with other policy levels. • Thoroughly developed indicator sets allow targeted answers to environmental change. • Recent strategies follow indicator development standards more rigorously. • Recent indicator sets enable monitoring of urban circular bioeconomy transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a systematic literature review of how market-based instruments can influence the development of sustainable innovation. Our analysis of empirical papers published in selected peer-reviewed journals from 1992 to 2021 shows that contextual factors such as geography and industrial sector impact whether market-based instruments successfully stimulate firms to adopt sustainable innovation. Interestingly, while most of our selected papers on East Asia report positive effects of market-based instruments, about half of the papers on Europe report negative or non-significant effects. Moreover, we appear to uncover a link between the research method they use for analysis and the observed effectiveness of market-based instruments. We reflect on the limitations and bias in current methodological approaches and discuss explanations for our findings, implications for policymakers, and avenues for future research. • We review the effect of market-based instruments on sustainable innovation. • Results from 76 empirical papers show mixed effects. • The observed effect appears to depend on geography and the research method applied. • Instruments appear more effective in East Asia than in Europe. • Reported effectiveness is higher in studies using patent data versus surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change impacts in one country can lead to impacts in distant locations, for example, via internationally traded crops. Previous work has highlighted a need to include cross-border climate change impacts in climate risk assessments, to describe the exposure and transmission of cross-border climate risk across actors, and understand options for managing this risk. In a case study of the Brazil-Europe soy supply chain, this paper aims to explore how stakeholders perceive past and future shocks, how climate change impacts affect stakeholders differently, and how they might respond. Soy is a key internationally traded commodity and Europe relies on imports for the majority of its soy consumption, used widely in livestock feed. Via 96 semi-structured expert interviews, we found different stakeholder groups are vulnerable to different types of weather shocks, experience different price and supply consequences, and have different capacities to respond. While some responses can reduce risk of impacts across the supply chain (e.g. new soy cultivars, improving transport infrastructure), we also identified examples where responses exacerbate risk for other stakeholders (e.g. export bans, changing demand). A holistic cross-border approach to analysing risk in the soy supply chain can help avoid maladaptation and offer opportunities for more collaborative adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is one response to the challenges faced by agriculture due to climate change. As with other sustainability transitions, technological innovation is highlighted as playing a critical role, however, the adoption and diffusion of technological innovations in OECD countries is slow. The aim of this paper is to identify key socio-economic barriers, in terms of supply and demand, that inhibit the adoption and diffusion of CSA technological innovations in Europe. To achieve this aim, a theoretical framework is constructed based on a literature review of socio-economic barriers effecting adoption and diffusion. This framework is explored with data from semi-structured interviews with CSA technology providers and members of agricultural supply chains, such as farmers associations and consumer goods producers (the end-users of the technology). Data was collected on the barriers they experienced, with interviews conducted in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Italy. This data was thematically coded and categorised to identify key barrier typologies. The results demonstrate that barriers exist on both the demand (user) and supply (technology provider) sides. The paper provides recommendations for increasing the adoption and diffusion of CSA technological innovations, as well as implications for the CSA and innovation literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive is one of the most relevant environmental regulations in Europe. It affects approximately 50,000 installations belonging to the most polluting industrial sectors. Several scholars have studied the effects of the Directive at the firm level, investigating its effects on environmental performance and competitiveness. Despite this, few studies have focused on experiences related to the transference of the Directive's principles to countries beyond the borders of the European Union. This paper describes a case study that assessed the transposition of the European Union Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control scheme to Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia by means of a method designed for this purpose, which provides the guidelines for analysing and benchmarking policy and legislative frameworks in these Mediterranean Partner Countries by supplying information on the European integrated system for Pollution Prevention and Control. The paper outlines the methodological approach adopted in the two-year international 7th Framework Programme project, Boosting Best Available Techniques in the Mediterranean Partner Countries , pointing out various policy scenarios suitable for implementing the key principles of this scheme in Southern Mediterranean countries. The evaluation of these scenarios establishes the steps to take in order to gradually approach the adoption of the most relevant aspects of the European Union's Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control system and the adoption of the Best Available Techniques in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When new energy efficient products are struggling with their commercialisation and diffusion into widespread applications you would typically expect policy-makers and green lead-users to guide the way. This paper examines the case of the hot water circulator pump industry in Europe, where parts of the industry envisioned and worked for a voluntary energy label, bringing technological innovation, new business and energy savings of approx. 85% for each new circulator pump. The case study explores the complexities of innovation processes where technology, market, actors and policy co-evolve over time to transform an existing socio-technical regime. The paper highlights the importance of policies to reduce barriers towards innovation and energy efficiency and shows that it is not always policy-makers that establish the crucial policies that change the innovation dynamics for the benefit of the environment and the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of mixed municipal waste changes due to the increase of separation rate, urbanization and other factors. The future changes in the legislation and technology development influences the way the waste is being treated. Thus the method, location and capacity of processing sites are unknown. The realization of future projects can be supported by the developing of transportation infrastructure. Such a feature may be represented by a robust transfer station grid, which can be designed to handle all possible future realizations and technological solutions (establishment of waste treatment facilities). The paper presents an approach utilising a mathematical model for the design of transfer stations. It is formulated as a multi-objective two-stage mixed-integer stochastic programming problem, where the trade-off between the environmental aspect and the economic viability is considered. The model is tested through a case study for the Czech Republic, where the waste treatment of over 6,000 municipalities is analysed. The solutions for different preferences are assessed throughout the principle called out-of-sample stability with 10,000 scenarios. The optimal decision consists of the robust transfer station grid with selected locations and their respective capacity. The particular solution with respect to the potential trade-off suggests to save 1.148 mil of travelled kilometres with only 0.77 mil EUR. The output in the form of decision support can serve possible stakeholders from the field of waste management to plan more sustainable projects. • A transfer station grid designed to handle future realizations and developments. • The efficiency of waste transport was analysed for more than 6000 municipalities. • A trade-off between environmental aspects and the economic viability was considered. • A solution suggests to save travelled 1.148 mil km with only extra 0.77 mil EUR. • Introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biscuits are a major product category in the global confectionary sector. Despite this, their environmental impacts are poorly characterised. Therefore, this paper sets out to evaluate the life cycle environmental sustainability of the following widely-consumed types of biscuit, both at the product and sectoral levels: crackers, low fat/sugar, semi-sweet, chocolate-coated and sandwich biscuits with chocolate or vanilla cream. The results obtained through life cycle assessment demonstrate that, in addition to being healthier, low fat/sugar biscuits have the lowest impacts across most of the 18 categories considered. Chocolate-coated biscuits are environmentally the least sustainable. The most significant life cycle stage for all types is the raw materials production, causing 41%–61% of the total impacts, with flour, sugar and palm oil being the key hotspots. Replacing palm with rapeseed oil would improve five impacts but worsen another five, including a 34% increase in agricultural land occupation and marine eutrophication. Therefore, the cultivation and production of palm oil, rather than its replacement, should be targeted for improvements. The second most crucial stage is manufacturing, contributing up to 54% of the impacts, followed by transport with up to 35%. Reducing energy consumption by 25% in manufacturing would reduce primary energy demand by 8%–12%, fossil fuel depletion by 9%–12% and global warming potential by 6%–9%. The latter would increase by 55% if land use change related to cocoa was involved, despite a very small amount of cocoa in the biscuits (∼1%). The analysis at a sectoral level in the UK, the leading consumer of biscuits in Europe, reveals that biscuits contribute 7.4% of primary energy demand and 0.5% of greenhouse gas emissions of the whole UK food sector. These results can help guide manufacturers in mitigating the hotspots in the supply chain and consumers in selecting environmentally more sustainable biscuits. • The environmental sustainability of six types of biscuit is evaluated for the first time. • Low fat/sugar biscuits have the lowest impacts and chocolate-coated the highest. • Global warming potential of chocolate biscuits is 55% higher with land use change. • Flour, sugar and palm oil are the key hotpots, followed by biscuits manufacturing. • Biscuits contribute 7.4% of energy demand and 0.5% of GWP of the UK food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-of-life vehicles (ELV) represent a relevant waste source in Europe, even if ELV recycling is a priority of the European Union waste legislation and Environment Action Programmes (EAPs). End-of-Life Tires (ELTs) constitute a relevant portion of ELV waste. Textile fibre, which is a relevant portion of the ELT material, is considered as a special waste (European Waste Catalogue – EWC code 19.12.08). The main problem related to textile fibre is its contamination with rubber which does not allow to obtain a pure product economically and qualitatively useable. The aim of this paper is to illustrate an innovative technology for ELT fibre's recycling, which allows to transform textile fibre into a useful secondary raw material for different applications. In particular, the use of ELT fibre as additive for bituminous conglomerates has been investigated. The different processes have been analysed from an environmental point of view, applying the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. It came up there is an impact reduction in case the ELT fibre is reused as additive for bituminous conglomerates, instead of disposing it (through incineration). Moreover, the financial and economic sustainability of the related technological process has been evaluated to check whether the process is sustainable in the long term. Starting from the results of the Life Cycle Assessment, economic performance indicators have been calculated, by applying the European Commission methodology for cost-benefit analysis. According to the present cost-benefit analysis, in the medium and long term the system is financially viable, and the high economic profitability makes the process economically sustainable. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis as well as a risk assessment have been carried out in order to identify critical variables, evaluate risks and define risk mitigation measures. According to the sensitivity analysis performed, the project is not highly risky since even in the worst scenario the possible loss is moderate. Based on the results of this analysis, it can be concluded that this ELT fibre's recycling system can be replicated across Europe, conveniently fostered by national policies (such as subsidies, value added tax etc.). • A crucial technological add-on to existing installations is illustrated. • The aim is to transform ELT textile fibre into a useful secondary raw material for different applications. • ELT fibre's reuse presents a reduced environmental impact in comparison to the fibre's incineration. • The high economic profitability makes this recycling system economically sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Energy transitions are at the top of global agendas in response to the growing challenges of climate change and international conflict, with the EU positioning itself as playing a pivotal role in addressing climate risks and sustainability imperatives. European energy transition policies identify 'smart consumption' as a key element of these efforts, which have previously been explored from a predominantly technical perspective thus often failing to identify or address fundamental interlinkages with social systems and consequences. This paper aims to contribute to interdisciplinary energy research by analysing a forward looking 'Horizon Scan' research agenda for smart consumption, driven by the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Reflecting on an extensive systematic Delphi Method exercise surveying over 70 SSH scholars from various institutional settings across Europe, we highlight what SSH scholars see as future directions for smart consumption research. Building from seven thematic areas (under which are grouped 100 SSH research questions), the study identifies three key 'shifts' this new smart research agenda represents, when compared to previous agendas: (1) From technological inevitability to political choice , highlighting the need for a wider political critique, with the potential to open up discussions of the instrumentalisation of smart research; (2) From narrow representation to diverse inclusion , moving beyond the shortcomings of current discourses for engaging marginalised communities; and (3) From individual consumers to interconnected citizens , reframing smart consumption to offer a broader model of social change and governance. Social Sciences and Humanities scholarship is essential to address these shifts in meaningful (rather than tokenistic) ways. This agenda and the shifts it embodies represent key tools to enable better interdisciplinary working between SSH and teams from the technical and natural sciences. • Smart agenda deliberatively produced by 70+ Social Sciences and Humanities scholars. • 100 questions organised under seven SSH themes, which cut across technologies. • Prior smart research agendas focus on technical goals and traditional institutions. • We propose three shifts: political choice, diverse inclusion, connected citizens. • Questions support non-tokenistic inclusion of social aspects in technology projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Emerging from a study in the European aerospace industry, this paper identifies a gap in the way value-related information is communicated to designers of hardware in the preliminary stages of Product Service System (PSS) design. To fit this gap a Lifecycle Value Representation Approach, named LiVReA, that uses color-coded 3D CAD models to enable value information to be translated into visual features, is presented. Such approach aims at enhancing designers' awareness of the value contribution of an early design concept on the overall PSS offer by complementing requirements-based information with criteria reflecting the fulfillment of customers and system value. The paper details the development of the approach, its underlying rationale, the results of preliminary validation activities and the potential for industrial application in the light of the currently available PSS representation tools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbon accounting has evolved rapidly over the past twenty years and now encompasses a wide range of activities with significant financial implications. This paper examines how competence in carbon accounting is being defined and claimed by different actors and communities. Specifically, it focuses on the role of the accountancy profession in carbon accounting, charting its engagement over time and its relationship with other communities involved in carbon accounting. The paper builds on recent work showing that multiple framings and activities are associated with carbon accounting, leading to conflicting views on what it means, how it should be done, and who should be involved. It draws on the concepts of epistemic communities and boundary-work to help explain the role of professions and the emergence of new institutions that mediate between different communities to achieve policy change. We find that, while accountants have undisputed authority in the field of financial reporting of rights and liabilities created under emissions trading schemes (’financial carbon accounting’), their claims to competence in other aspects of organisational carbon accounting overlap with those made by several other communities. Although the accountancy profession’s interest in organisational carbon accounting can be traced back at least as far as 2001, the introduction of emissions trading in Europe in 2005 coincided with the start of a new, as yet largely un-scrutinised, initiative to extend its claims of relevant expertise, through a variety of methods including the promotion of standards for disclosure of physical and strategic climate-related information. The Climate Disclosure Standards Board provides an example of a boundary organisation that has been established by different communities with an interest in carbon accounting, with mutually beneficial results, which has nevertheless resulted in the production of a new Climate Change Reporting Framework that is heavily aligned towards the existing competence of accountancy professionals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper aims to consider the total cost, including polluting environmental emissions, of imports from China to Europe of five valve components in aluminium, steel and iron. These are compared with locally produced alternatives to investigate whether internalising such external costs affects their price competitiveness. Seaborne trade represents 90% of international trade and is growing faster than the world’s economy, but marine pollution emissions are not reflected in market prices. Chinese aluminium, iron and steel production are about 2.5 times more polluting than their European counterparts, but this is also not reflected in prices. In this paper both types of extra emissions are calculated, valued and added to the cost of the components analysed, for comparison with locally produced alternatives. The locally produced components generally remain uncompetitive with Chinese imports for all likely values of external cost, except for heavy aluminium components under high external cost assumptions. The Chinese iron components analysed are simply too low in cost for European (in this case Spanish) equivalents to be competitive even allowing for environmental costs; while the stainless steel ones are so small and light that transport cost, even including externalities, is not significant. While these specific results are of limited generalizability, they provide insight into an issue of considerable and growing importance. Some suggestions are offered for further research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Environmental-economic perspectives are recently taking growing momentum in the analysis of country-level performances, but few studies take into account the multi-dimensional nature of the phenomenon. The leading measure of pollution still remains only CO2 emission or, at best, CO2 equivalent emission. The few works taking a multi-criteria perspective are mainly related to specific case studies, urban areas, or the localization of renewable power plants. In this paper, we propose a multi-criteria analysis for a macro-perspective assessment of 10 different pollutants in 30 European countries over the period 2008–2015. Methodologically, we propose a new hybrid tool allowing us to merge the consolidated procedure usually employed for environmental evaluation: PROMETHEE, with a more flexible weighing process inspired by Data Envelopment Analysis. The unprecedented use of this tool for developing a macro perspective allows the clustering of European countries according their relative performances without any exogenous assumption about the weights given to the specific pollutants. In addition, the empirical evidence emerging from the analysis provides a comprehensive picture of patterns followed by European economies, which highlights the relative strengths and flaws at country-level for the considered pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European agriculture is a large importer of nutrients in the form of chemical fertilizers. Additionally, countries with livestock-intensive farming face problems with disposal of nutrients in animal manure. The availability of chemical fertilizers has changed farmers' past dependence on manure. Nowadays, despite its nutrient content, manure is sometimes considered as a waste product. However, if the characteristics of manure and other waste streams could be enhanced through processing, it could be transformed into an alternative bio-based fertilizer recycling the nutrients within the farming sector. This would also create opportunities for nutrient exchange between different European regions. However, a key question is what is needed for farmers to accept these products as replacements for their current chemical fertilizer use? In this paper, key attributes determining the acceptance of alternative bio-based fertilizer products are identified. Based on the identified attributes, a discrete choice experiment was designed to reveal farmers' preferences and Willingness-To-Pay for these attributes. Identical experiments were conducted in seven different European countries. The results indicate that farmers from the different countries have common preferences for concentrated products that have certainty in the nitrogen content and at a lower price than chemical fertilizer. Other attributes such as the presence of organic carbon, hygienization of the product and fast release of nutrients were only statistically significant in some countries. The results imply that a bio-based fertilizer similar to chemical fertilizers could be sold at around 65% of the price of mineral fertilizer. Additionally, we show which attributes industry should take into consideration when estimating the demand for new bio-based fertilizer products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Industrial symbiosis (IS) emerged as a self-organizing business strategy among firms that are willing to cooperate to improve their economic and environmental performance. The adoption of such cooperative strategies relates to increasing costs of waste management, most of which are driven by policy and legislative requirements. Development of IS depends on an enabling context of social, informational, technological, economical and political factors. The power to influence this context varies among the agents involved such as the government, businesses or coordinating entities. Governmental intervention, as manifested through policies, could influence a wider range of factors; and we believe this is an area which is under-researched. This paper aims to critically appraise the waste policy interventions from supra-national to sub-national levels of government. A case study methodology has been applied to four European countries i.e. Denmark, the UK, Portugal and Switzerland, in which IS emerged or is being fostered. The findings suggest that there are commonalities in policy instruments that may have led to an IS enabling context. The paper concludes with lessons learnt and recommendations on shaping the policy context for IS development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To achieve the European climate targets and the Paris Agreements, at least 65% of the electricity needs to be generated from renewable energy sources by 2030. This requires a significant increase of distributed energy resources, posing a challenge for distribution system operators to integrate them into existing hierarchical grids. The concept of Local Flexibility Markets has recently gained attention as a market-based tool to tackle this challenge, making use of demand side flexibility. In this paper a Delphi method has been performed, showing that there are still numerous barriers in place preventing a widespread adoption of such markets in Europe. The main obstacles for market participants refer to standardisation issues. Based on that, a hybrid market model has been developed, comprising elements of a Local Flexibility Market and a Local Energy Market. To activate demand side flexibility from local energy transactions, spatio-temporally varying price signals are introduced, reflecting the constraints of the distribution grid. The paper shows, that this novel market approach helps to overcome relevant standardisation issues, but also certain barriers regarding end-users' lifestyles, which is because prices are comprehensible signals that can motivate end-users to participate. Moreover, a set of numerical examples is provided to illustrate the monetary benefits that could be gained by consumers and prosumers in the proposed hybrid market model. The examples show that the major share of the cost savings result from local energy trading, but the hybrid market model is also able to accumulate additional smaller revenues from providing flexibility. Finally, the systematic approach of characterising the market model in this paper offers a valuable framework for other researchers to map their ideas among existing approaches of Local Energy and Flexibility Markets. • A framework for characterising Local Energy and Flexibility Markets is provided. • Main barriers for adopting such markets are related to standardisation issues. • A hybrid market model is proposed, featuring local energy and flexibility trading. • Trades are steered by dynamic price signals, reflecting various flexibility needs. • Numerical examples indicate the expected financial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up the vast majority of businesses in Europe. These enterprises are vitally important for a healthy dynamic market economy. However, the environmental impact of small firms is not known either at national or regional levels. Voluntary self-regulatory initiatives such as the eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) and the international environmental management system (EMS) standard ISO 14001 seek to provide all businesses with the means to develop systematic approaches to improve environmental performance. All purport to be relevant and applicable to small and medium-sized firms; however, their uptake by SMEs has been patchy at best and down right miserable at worst. This paper sheds some light on the barriers, opportunities and drivers for EMS adoption by the SME sector. Drawing on original research investigating EMAS implementation across the European Union and a major detailed review of 33 studies which explore the sector’s use of EMS, this paper estimates the number of SMEs registered to EMAS and ISO 14001 and identifies a range of issues which influence the adoption of formalised EMS. Despite these problems, the paper suggests SMEs do find real benefits from adopting EMS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While firms' investment in Industry 4.0 and adoption of circular economy practices are seen as indispensable to a sustainable economy, synergies from the interaction of these two received less systematic empirical treatment. These synergies are particularly important in Europe, given that both the digital and the green transitions are Europe's strategic political priorities, and the "twin" transitions are expected to reinforce each other. By investigating the link between Industry 4.0 technologies and circular economy practices for European SMEs, which have an important place in the European economy and are responsible for a significant amount of waste, this study aims to uncover the potential of digital transition in supporting green transition. Using the ReSOLVE framework as the conceptual background, this paper examines the effect of Industry 4.0 technologies on SMEs' circular economy applications among EU countries using firm-level data from SMEs, Start-ups, Scale-ups, and Entrepreneurship (Flash Eurobarometer 486) Survey in 2020. The results of econometric analyses provide evidence of a statistically significant positive effect of Industry 4.0 technologies on circular economy practices. These findings imply that a key policy priority should be to plan to spread Industry 4.0 components to improve and enhance SMEs' circular economy practices. Overall, the results indicate that Industry 4.0 technologies serve not only Europe's digital and industrial strategies but also its environmental strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food packaging maintains the food safety and ensures the quality of food throughout the supply chain. Both are achieved by the protective function of the packaging against negative ambient influences such as mechanical damage, light or water vapour. Material, form and concepts of packaging vary widely, which thus also differentiates the environmental impact for packaging. This paper provides an overview of the current research of European consumer perception and how this correlates with the environmental impact of loose foodstuffs and packaged food. Considered materials are plastic, glass, metal, and paper/cardboard. These perceptions are compared to the objective environmentally friendliness based on the selected assessment criteria carbon footprint, recycling rate, reuse rate and biological degradation/decomposition in Europe. The purpose of this paper is to discover whether there is any link between the consumer perception and the scientific assessed environmental sustainability. Consumers judge packaging material by criteria of circular economy, natural looking material, and design. The environmental impact of paper/cardboard and metal are rated in line with the scientific measure by consumers, whereas plastic packaging is underestimated and glass and biodegradable plastic packaging are highly overestimated. These results indicate that the rating of European consumers and scientific life cycle assessments turn out differently. The differences are mainly linked by theoretical concepts of recyclability, biodegradability, and reuse rate of the packaging. Consumers evaluate food packaging by affective feelings than using cognitive reasoning. Their knowledge about the practical implementation of recyclability, biodegradability and reusability as well as additional environmental impact factors are low. Consequently, consumers' buying behaviour is in most cases less environmentally sustainable than intended. Awareness trainings based on scientific facts, clear product and packaging information based on labelling schemes ("eco-labelling") and nudging for sustainable behaviour can potentially support consumers in their sustainable buying behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brownfields constitute a substantial portion of the land area in post-industrial cities. Many brownfields have been regenerated for various uses, addressing a range of extant problems in urban areas. However, re-use plans for current brownfields are driven by market demand and public sector prioritization and do not always meet the requirements of local residents and visitors. In this paper, we investigate how a range of brownfields re-use options are perceived by residents and visitors to the Landek area in the city of Ostrava (Czech Republic). By analysing the results of the questionnaire survey (n = 180) we found that future brownfields uses such as culture/sport and children's park are the most popular options. We found that gender was a statistically significant predictor of preferred reuse options. Women are strong supporters of the above-mentioned re-use options, while men tend to favour re-use options which promote industry. Remarkably, respondents, in general, lacked concrete ideas concerning alternative re-use options of brownfields, suggesting that professional urban planners can be of assistance in the planning of the future use of brownfield sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the majority of industrial emissions stems from heat generation, the choice of fuel is, next to energy efficiency, one of the tools to influence climate impact (and security of supply) in industrial energy use. At the same time, the choice of fuel is not only a matter of price but of the furnace, it is used in. Top-down models often struggle to include technological explicitness, which is especially important to represent the heterogeneous structure of industrial energy demand. In this paper, an approach to apply a discrete choice model to industrial high temperature energy demand is presented. The model's parameters are estimated based on observed fuel choices. The model exhibits an average coefficient of determination of 0.45 when compared to a constant fuel use from 2002 to 2013 in major countries of the European Union. Results suggest that energy carriers are perceived very differently by industrial consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper performs a multi-national assessment to provide a more comprehensive vision of the potential implementation of Rooftop Greenhouses in retail parks from a theoretical perspective. A geographic information system – life cycle assessment method is used to quantify both the potential and the expected benefits of implementing rooftop greenhouses. We evaluate eight case studies in Europe and South America, paying attention to geographical constrasts (e.g., climate). We also focus on comparing the differences between isolated rooftop greenhouses and integrated rooftop greenhouses by evaluating the implications of a symbiotic metabolism. Results showed that retail parks have a large potential for the implementation of rooftop greenhouses in the short-term (53–98% of the rooftops are technically and economically feasible), being architecture one of the main constraints (i.e., roof material limited the potential to 11% for the Colombian case). Retail parks performed better than industrial parks as urban locations for such projects. The employment of isolated rooftop greenhouses in these areas obtained large values of production (31–234 tonnes of tomato per ha), CO 2 savings (16–112 tonnes of CO 2 eq per ha) and food self-supply (380–21,500 people per ha; 3.5–60% of local tomato demand). When considering an industrial symbiosis approach, integrated rooftop greenhouses (with exchange of energy and CO 2 ) could boost food production and self-supply values (up to 1.8 times) as well as the environmental benefits from local production (up to 2.5 times higher). Integrating the water flow from rainwater harvesting on the building into the crop production would ensure crop's water self-sufficiency, apart from one case (69% of self-sufficiency). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) are voluntary tools with which companies manage the environmental aspects of their operations. In Europe, the most widespread are the ISO 14001:2015 international standard and the one defined by the European Regulation EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). During the last years, while the number of ISO 14001 certified organizations has constantly grown, EMAS registered organizations have been declining. This phenomenon has occurred also in Italy, which accounts for roughly one-fourth of the 4000 European registrations. Only few scholars have explored this phenomenon and the existing relationship between EMAS outcomes and the decision to renew the Registration. Focusing on the Italian context, this paper aims at reducing this gap. The study presents the results of a survey, targeted to Italian EMAS organizations, that through a questionnaire investigates how the Scheme impacts on organizations' operations. Results have been analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Cluster Analysis and Binary Logistic Regressions, with the main goal to evaluate whether EMAS perceived benefits are significant in the decision to maintain the registration. Moreover, it explores the existence of significant linkages between organizations’ characteristics and their willingness to renew EMAS. Findings show a significant predisposition to renew the registration, especially for small-sized organizations. Conversely, there is a negative link between renewal intentions and the possession of ISO 14001 certification. Finally, perceived benefits gained with EMAS implementation are not constantly significant predictors of the willingness to renew the registration. Despite the negative growth trend, the high levels of willingness to renew EMAS expressed by the respondents confirm the tool as a valuable resource and a solid baseline toward the implementation of more sustainable business models. Additionally, positive outcomes of EMAS such as the maximization of material productivity and energy efficiency, the creation of value from waste and the implementation of standardized environmental indicators may support organizations in the transition toward circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development as a concept that aims to enhance the quality of life without affecting environment has been in focus in European policies since the last decade of 20th century. The objectives of EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) are grouped into ten thematic areas, where almost each theme has at least one headline and several operational sustainable development indicators (SDIs). A large number of SDIs is needed to evaluate all EU SDS goals, which imposes the use of multivariate data mining techniques. This paper presents an empirical study carried out to assess the sustainability performance of European countries using the differential multi criteria analysis (DMCA) technique. The PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization MeTHod for Enrichment Evaluations) was applied on 38 headline and operational SDIs defined under the EU SDS. This DMCA was applied to 30 European countries over a 10-year period (2004–2014) with the aim to determine the theme specific, as well as, overall sustainability progress. The DMCA reveals that the majority of European countries have made progress in sustainability in the studied period, where Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Sweden, have enhanced their sustainability performance concerning all themes. There are only two countries, namely Greece and Ireland, which have not made overall progress in this period. Also, above the average progress has been made concerning social inclusion, sustainable transport, and climate change and energy, while in all other themes additional efforts should be made in order to ensure sustainable performance progress in future years. Although the progress in reducing uneven development between EU members has been made, after 2009 a positive trend can be observed only in a limited number of SDS themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction and adoption of green technologies are considered the most cost effective way to reduce environmental pressure without compromising economic competitiveness. The scientific literature has emphasized the crucial role played by diffusion pathways of green technologies along the supply value chain, but empirical quantitative findings on the effectiveness of green technologies in improving environmental performance are scarce. The objective of this paper is to highlight the role of inter-sectoral linkages in shaping the influence played by eco-innovations on sectoral environmental performance. Empirical findings show that both the direct and indirect effects of eco-innovations help reducing environmental stress and that the strength of these impacts varies across the value chain depending on the technology adopted and the type of pollutant under scrutiny. The main implications we can deduce are that, first both corporate and policy governance strategies should specifically address the goal of maximizing environmental gains that can be achieved through the development and adoption of clean technologies along the supply chain, and second both strategies should be coordinated in order to minimize the costs for reducing environmental pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Energy Efficiency Directive requests the application of high quality and cost effective energy audits across Europe. The potential of up to 20% of energy savings shall be realized to follow the strategy of smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. A number of barriers must be tackled to implement the Directive, especially among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). A large number of cost effective energy efficiency measures remains unimplemented because of financial reasons, a lack of information, and limited in-house skills. Information measures, audits, capacity buildings are suggested as potentially effective measures to support implementation of energy efficiency measures. Within the work described in this paper, an auditing approach was developed, focusing on modelling the energy consumption of an SME. The model of the energy consumption is built using simple MS Excel tools, dividing the process into unit operations and attributing annual consumption to these units, from measurements or by calculation. Consumption is linked to drivers of consumption and corresponding losses, thus developing an understanding of the origin of energy consumption, priorities, and the potential for reduction. The approach simultaneously addresses the needs for the identification of measures, capacity building, information and awareness raising. The auditing approach was tested with 280 companies in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. A wide range of energy efficiency measures was identified and implemented, partly consisting of no-cost options, but partly also innovative technical solutions. Over EUR 10 million investments with a simple payback time of less than three years were triggered. 6500 toe per year of primary energy savings were realized, as well as greenhouse gas emission reductions of 13,500 tonnes per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas social license pressure is held as a strong motive for the corporate social performance (CSP) of large enterprises, it is argued in literature that it will not sufficiently motivate small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this view, government regulation is the most effective way to improve the environmental performance of SMEs. Other studies argue that social license pressure is also important for SMEs, because of the strong embeddedness of SMEs in their local communities. A large scale empirical study into the effects of social license pressures and government regulation on the environmental performance of SMEs that could help solve this debate is, however, still lacking. This paper contributes to the scientific literature by using structural equation modeling on a sample of 4929 SMEs from twelve European countries to test both views for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Another contribution to scientific literature is that our model includes direct as well as indirect effects from social license pressures on environmental performance. The indirect effects are mediated by perceived market benefits of CSR. The estimation results show that social license pressures, as perceived by SMEs, significantly affect the environmental performance of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, directly as well as indirectly through mediation by perceived market benefits of CSP. In all cases, the perceived social license pressure provides a stronger stimulus to improving environmental performance than the motive to comply with government regulation. The policy implication is that governments should not rely on direct regulation of environmental performance only, but also aim to improve the transparency of environmental performance by soft regulations that induce SMEs to publish key performance indicators on environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two trends have shaped the European car market over the past decade: electrification and SUVisation. Recently, they have merged in a new product: the electric sport utility vehicle. This paper contrasts the view that regards this innovation as a technological solution to mitigate road transport emissions with a broader view that takes into account the battery requirement and profitability of such type of electric car. This broad view is formalised in a system dynamics model that captures the potential effects of supply side constraints. Four scenarios are simulated. The results show that the levels of CO 2 emissions of new cars are substantially reduced only in the one that assumes lower motorisation. Based on these simulations, the conclusion that the diffusion of electric sport utility vehicles does not necessarily contribute to mitigating car emissions in Europe is drawn. Less reliance on technology fixes, downsizing and reduced motorisation are identified as solutions worth investigating to meet ambitious climate goals. Further research on how vehicle manufacturers distribute batteries is needed. [Display omitted] • A novel system dynamics model of the new electric SUV market was developed. • Battery supply constraints considered as natural boundaries of road transport. • Four scenarios explored to simulate CO 2 emissions from cars in Europe. • Electric SUVs do not necessarily contribute to emissions mitigation. • Downsizing and lower motorisation are worth pursuing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracting pieces of concrete from obsolete buildings and reusing them, as is, in new assemblies is today rarely considered a strategy for improving the sustainability of the construction sector. By delaying the crushing of concrete into aggregates and avoiding the need for fresh cement in new buildings, the circular strategy is however expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and threats to natural ecosystems. In reaction, the authors postulate that (1) built precedents of Piecewise Reuse of Extracted Concrete in new Structures (PRECS) have existed for several decades, (2) a large diversity of proven implementation techniques is readily available but knowledge is fragmented, (3) barriers to a broader adoption can be inferred from the existing documentation and are largely transitional. To support these postulates, this study first builds an original collection of 77 PRECS projects designed between 1967 and 2022 in Europe and the U.S.A. Next, a diachronic analysis determines seven historical trends and three periods since 1967, shedding new light on the development of PRECS and its design possibilities. Supporting and limiting forces for a broader adoption of PRECS are then identified through a synchronic analysis. Recommendations for future research directions are also given. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that the reuse of concrete components is a practice with already a long history and several successful operations in terms of environmental impact and cost, which hence supports the potential of PRECS to become a more widespread strategy of cleaner construction. • Reusing concrete pieces in new structures is a rarely considered sustainability strategy. • An original database of 77 concrete reuse case studies is built and analyzed. • Ecological benefits are confirmed for a wide range of built cases. • Circumstances leading to economic benefits are identified. • Industrial and scientific developments can accelerate the strategy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to green economies has been mediated by concrete cases and experiments in a variety of different industrial and social sectors. What is lacking, is research that would synthesize key findings and “lessons learned” across a variety of cases. In this study, we explore ten cases of green economy of different sectors and approaches from five European countries and identify factors that have had critical importance for the success or failure of the cases. Our paper reveals similarities across small and large scale cases and different approaches for implementing green economy. We identified critical factors related to economic viability, public funding, technological development, impact assessments, public policies and regulation, social capital, leadership and coordination as well as public acceptability and image. According to our results, transition to green economies requires negotiation between potential trade-offs among multiple goals, and interests of various stakeholders. The mutual benefits can be communicated through valid impact assessments and the integration of R&D into the practical implementation. Securing the continuity of funding and leadership is crucial in successful experiments and attention should be paid to fostering social capital among stakeholders. Instead of any single critical factor, the practical implementation of green economy is related to a multiplicity of factors and causalities depending on the context. The challenges with the practical implementation of green economy can only be met with patient, careful and far-sighted planning of green economy initiatives as well as continuous learning from past experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the risk transmissions across the green economy indices of three major regions which include US, Europe and Asia. The econometric analyses are conducted using DCC-GARCH and TVP-VAR connectedness approach to evaluate potential spillover effects within the context of oil and gold. Results indicate that green economy indices of US-Europe exhibit the greatest time-varying correlations among the three pairs during much of 2010–2022 consistent with that of the general equity market. However, co-movements during the COVID-19 pandemic period seem to display a change in pattern for green economy indices. The strength of the co-movements between the US and Europe displayed a declining trend, while that between US and Asia was strengthened, suggesting greater interdependence between these two markets. TVP-VAR connectedness analysis revealed that US and Europe dominate the transmission of the shocks across the years in the green economy, similar to that of the equity markets. However, during the pandemic a pronounced shift occurred in green economies when considering the risk transmissions within the context of commodities: oil and gold. While Asian green economy index was persistently a receiver of risk transmission from oil unlike the other two regions, since pandemic, oil displayed an asymmetric effect and has become the net transmitter of risk in negative returns of the green economies of US and Europe. This may reflect the diversion in environmental policies of the two regions in the recent past, and point to the dominance of energy sector in the green economy. These findings have substantial implications for the development of green economy policies and from an investment perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the risk transmissions across the green economy indices of three major regions which include US, Europe and Asia. The econometric analyses are conducted using DCC-GARCH and TVP-VAR connectedness approach to evaluate potential spillover effects within the context of oil and gold. Results indicate that green economy indices of US-Europe exhibit the greatest time-varying correlations among the three pairs during much of 2010–2022 consistent with that of the general equity market. However, co-movements during the COVID-19 pandemic period seem to display a change in pattern for green economy indices. The strength of the co-movements between the US and Europe displayed a declining trend, while that between US and Asia was strengthened, suggesting greater interdependence between these two markets. TVP-VAR connectedness analysis revealed that US and Europe dominate the transmission of the shocks across the years in the green economy, similar to that of the equity markets. However, during the pandemic a pronounced shift occurred in green economies when considering the risk transmissions within the context of commodities: oil and gold. While Asian green economy index was persistently a receiver of risk transmission from oil unlike the other two regions, since pandemic, oil displayed an asymmetric effect and has become the net transmitter of risk in negative returns of the green economies of US and Europe. This may reflect the diversion in environmental policies of the two regions in the recent past, and point to the dominance of energy sector in the green economy. These findings have substantial implications for the development of green economy policies and from an investment perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent public and governmental concerns regarding increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have drawn the attention to environmental issues in port sector literature. Since eco-efficiency improvements play a crucial role in stimulating clean production in this sector, this paper provides a comparative analysis of the eco-efficiency of twenty-four leading container ports in Europe. The exploration of the most prominent determinants of eco-efficiency and the analysis of the heterogeneity of port behaviours represent additional objectives. Further considerations derive from the assumptions on the selection of indicators that can be involved in the comparative analysis and from the involvement of GHGs in the theoretical model. Data from a sample of 52,697 active firms are considered in this empirical work. The model involves a two-step procedure: the slacks-based measure (SBM) and the response-based procedure for detecting unit segments in partial least squares (REBUS-PLS). The empirical results confirm that significant correlations emerge between the indicators considered and eco-efficiency. The findings validate that unobserved heterogeneity in the port data exists, and that REBUS-PLS allows the predictive capacity of the model to be optimised for European ports. From a policy point of view, the conclusion could offer useful insights to support policy measures targeted at the improvement of clean production. • The paper provides a comparative analysis of the eco-efficiency of twenty-four EU ports. • The paper attempts to explore the most prominent determinants of eco-efficiency. • The research considers a two-step procedure: the SBM and the rREBUS-PLS. • REBUS-PLS is suitable for investigating unobserved heterogeneity in the port data. • An approach based on the NUTS2 levels and NACE codes is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable and responsible production and consumption are at the heart of sustainable development, explicitly mentioned as one of the sustainable development goals (SDG12). Life cycle assessment, with its integrated holistic approach, is considered a reference method for the assessment of the environmental impact of production and consumption. This paper presents a study on the environmental impacts of final consumption in Europe in five areas of consumption: food, mobility, housing, household goods, and appliances. Based on the selection of a set of representative products to meet food, mobility, housing, and other consumers' needs, environmental impacts of products are assessed over their full life cycle: from raw material extraction to production, distribution, use, and end-of-life phase. Life cycle inventories of representative products are multiplied by consumption statistics to assess the impact of an average European citizen in 2010 and 2015. Impacts are assessed considering the sixteen impact categories of the Environmental Footprint method. Results reveal that food is the most relevant area of consumption driving environmental impacts. Use phase is the most important life cycle stage for many impact categories, especially for the areas of consumption housing, mobility, and appliances. For the areas of consumption food and household goods, the most important life cycle phase is related to upstream processes, which corresponds to agricultural activities for food and manufacturing of products components for household goods. Apart from the results, the paper includes a detailed discussion on further methodological improvements and research needs to make use of the Consumer Footprint as an indicator for monitoring SDG 12 and for supporting sustainable production and consumption policies. Image 1 • A method for assessing the Consumer Footprint using life cycle assessment and covering 16 environmental impact categories is proposed. • Impacts of five areas of consumption are assessed: food, mobility, housing, household goods, and appliances. • The indicator allows for assessing impacts of changes in consumption over time. • Food is the area of consumption driving the overall impact for several impact categories. • The indicator may be useful to monitor the Sustainable Development Goal 12 (responsible production and consumption). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing domestic energy use in cities has become a key focus in achieving sustainability goals. Recent and on-going efforts to address excessive residential energy use have taken various forms and have been initiated by a range of different actors. This paper presents evidence from the analysis of a database of 249 recent sustainable energy initiatives that have been implemented at various scales in and across urban areas in Europe. The paper examines common trends and characteristics in the type of initiatives that are promoted, including the problem definition, general approach, and implementation method. A second focus of enquiry centers on the governance mechanisms that underpin these initiatives. Here, attention turns to the main actors responsible for driving initiatives, the frequency and various forms of implementing partnerships, and the funding source through which the selected initiatives are financed. Two major themes emerged from reviewing the data, namely stratification and integration. Stratification or integration was evident across five key areas including problem framing, general approach, engagement mechanisms, governance, and evaluation frameworks. A corresponding typology of initiatives is presented under four categories: Enhancing; Directional; Experimental; and Responsive. Applying the typology to the dataset shows that enhancing initiatives aimed at optimizing technology or individual behavior are most prevalent (56%). Experimental initiatives that deliberate with new ways of living (16%) or responsive initiatives that consider contextual-needs (14%) are less prevalent and are more likely to occur at a smaller scale. Overall, we argue that integration across key areas can increase the success of initiatives that aim to achieve long-term sustainable transformation in household energy use. • Presents analysis of 249 urban sustainable energy initiatives across Europe. • Introduces a typology of initiatives, which is applied to the dataset. • Results show that enhancing initiatives aimed at optimization are most prevalent. • Experimental and responsive initiatives aimed at restructuring are less frequent. • Calls for better integration across 5 key areas to improve long-term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]