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In Canada, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to remain high despite the federal government's commitment to reduce GHG emissions. Environmental policy across Canadian provinces has largely lacked consistency with some provinces implementing targeted policy such as carbon taxes while others have strongly resisted the federal government's attempts to encourage such policy. This study examines the impact of environmental policy on GHG gas emissions across Canadian provinces with policy uniquely measured by public and business sector spending on environmental protection as well as notable province-specific policies. An extended STIRPAT model is specified with the inclusion of proxies for environmental policy using panel data from Canada's ten provinces from 1995 to 2019. The cointegration and the error correction modelling approaches are employed to estimate the non-stationary panel data. A pooled mean group estimation is applied to provide short run and long run coefficients. The findings indicate that although per capita GDP is the main driver of GHG emissions in Canada, environmental policy has a significant mitigating effect, as shown by the negative association between emissions and private and public sector spending on environmental protection in the long run. Furthermore, provinces with targeted policies, such as Ontario's coal phase-out and British Columbia's carbon tax, experienced significant emissions reductions. The theoretical implication is the successful addition of policy variables to the STIRPAT model, providing the model a new application for future research. [Display omitted] • Assess the impact of environmental protection policies on per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. • Utilize public and private expenditures on environmental protection, along with provincial policies. • Extend the STIRPAT model to incorporate environmental protection policies in an empirical model. • Demonstrate a significant negative relationship between environmental protection policies and GHG emissions. • Offer insights with implications for global environmental sustainability efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sweet sorghum is one of the best renewable non-grain energy crops for ethanol production due to its high sugar content, short growing period and good tolerance to natural conditions. However, insufficient studies have been conducted on the spatial distribution of sweet sorghum-based bioethanol production potential. This study presents a method, i.e., a land surface process model (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate GIS-based (GEPIC) model) coupled with a life cycle analysis (LCA), to simulate the spatial distribution of potential bioethanol production, energy efficiency and environmental impacts throughout the whole life cycle of sweet sorghum-based ethanol. The results showed that approximately 49.65 million ha of marginal land in China were suitable for sweet sorghum planting, and more than 13.57 million tons of sweet sorghum could be yielded. Based on sweet sorghum, 847.81 thousand tons of ethanol could be produced. A potential net energy gain of 115 billion MJ which is equivalent to 2.38 million tons of 90-octane gasoline would be achieved if all marginal lands could be used. The results of the environmental impact assessment showed that the total environmental effect index was 0.25 million (population equivalents). The global warming potential was the most significant environmental impact category. Guizhou Province can be given priority for sweet sorghum-based bioethanol development in China. Highlights • A method, GEPIC model coupled with a life cycle analysis (LCA), was applied. • The marginal land suitable for sweet sorghum cultivation in China was calculated. • Spatial distribution of bioethanol production, life cycle energy efficiency and environmental impacts were analyzed. • Global warming potential was the most significant environmental impact. • Priorities could be given to Guizhou Province for sweet sorghum-based bioethanol development in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Environment protection is important for the survival of residents, and the government must improve its governance model on environmental cost prediction methods to address the increasing level of environmental pollution. Therefore, a science-based investment scheme is of great significance. To improve the accuracy and effectiveness of environmental governance cost prediction method, it is important to consider the completeness of the indicators and their degree of contributions-both of which need to be studied further. Considering the influence of a decision-maker's subjectivity on an investment scheme, this paper proposes a prediction method accommodating the risk preferences of different decision-makers. The proposed method is based on the synthesis of evidential reasoning approach. An objective empowerment is carried out according to the standard deviation method of correlation coefficient to highlight the importance degree of different indicators. At the same time, to improve the practical usage of the synthetic cost prediction method, the future cost is predicted by combining the genetic programming models under different risk coefficients, namely, the risk preference, the risk neutrality, and the risk aversion. Finally, a case study involving environmental governance cost prediction of 29 provinces of China is presented. A comparison of the cost predictions and the actual value of different risk coefficients for the different methods are given to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Highlights • Considering different importance and complete information of indicators. • Considering the influence of decision-maker's subjectivity on cost prediction. • Combining the genetic programming models with different risk coefficients. • Providing a case study of environmental governance cost prediction of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Swedish generational goal is a unique initiative governing all Swedish environmental policy, aiming at solving all major domestic environmental problems for the next generation without increasing environmental damage abroad. Without a good understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Swedish consumption, the formulation of efficient and well targeted policy initiatives to reach the generational goal is difficult. We have analysed the impacts of Swedish consumption in detail, investigating the impacts of different final consumers and different consumption clusters as well as the geographical location of where GHGs are emitted to satisfy Swedish demand. We use environmentally extended multi-regional input-output (EEMRIO) analysis and the database EXIOBASE3 to compute Swedish consumption-based (CB) GHG emissions over a time period of 20 years. Our study shows that total CB GHG emissions fluctuated but remained rather stable over the years. However, the origin of the emissions changed from within Sweden to outside Sweden's borders. CB emissions within Sweden have decreased substantially through a reduction of direct emissions associated with domestic heating and mobility, whereas GHG emissions outside Sweden have increased, especially in China and in the rest of Asia. We show that manufactured products are responsible for a large share of this development, displaying a strong trend toward future increases. This calls for policy measures targeting consumption, especially of manufactured products such as textiles, clothing and furniture that cause large impacts in other countries. Highlights • Only 35% of Sweden's CB GHG emissions occur in Sweden. • Large emission reductions from domestic heating and road transport. • From 1995 to 2014 GHG emissions from Swedish consumption increased by 18Mt abroad. • Large GHG emission increase in China due to Swedish consumption of clothing. • Non-compliance with the generational goal, due to increasing foreign emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the last decades, the European Union has developed a set of environmental policies whose main objectives have been to protect natural capital and to develop a resource-efficient and green economy. These issues are essential to secure the sustainability in the long-term of the member states. The objective of this paper is to develop the Environmental Performance Assessment Composite Index, in the framework of the 2050 Europe vision, which will be applied to the European Union 28 in the period 2000–2014. It might allow policy makers to obtain information about the strengths and weaknesses of each member state in natural capital, use of sustainable and efficient resources as well as use of more environmentally friendly resources. The results suggest that Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Germany have the better scores in environmental performance assessment. However, Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania have the lowest scores in the composite index. Specific reinforcing actions are proposed for them in order to reduce their environmental impact. Highlights • A composite index of environmental impact assessment is obtained for the EU-28. • It considers the dimension of both sustainable and efficient resources use. • It also aggregates both dimensions of natural resources and resource alternative use. • Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Germany have the best results. • New policies are required in Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of green design and technology in buildings, which can mitigate negative impacts on the environment, has been recognized as a key step towards global sustainable development. In addition to technology development, economic viability plays a pivotal role in stimulating the design, construction and use of green buildings. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent studies on the economic viability of “going green”, including cost-benefit analyses from the perspective of building life cycle and from the perspective of major market participants. While “going green” is more likely to be seen as profitable from the building life cycle perspective, economic viability, from the perspective of developers and occupants, remains unclear due to information, behavior and policy factors. Such discrepancy in the results regarding economic viability is one major reason for the “paradox” of the very gradual diffusion of apparently cost-effective green buildings in most economies. We also propose several key topics that merit future research, including more comprehensive evidence about life-cycle costs and benefits of green buildings, the incorporation of ancillary long-term or intangible benefits in the analysis of economic viability for developers and occupants, an investigation on the dynamics of the adoption of green buildings, and institutional arrangements for stimulating green practices in the building sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internalization of environmental externalities by the economic results of organizations becomes relevant as managers perceive the impacts and risks that degradation of nature exerts on their business. Advances in the evaluation of environmental performance have been made in recent years. However, methods for internalization of externalities by income statements are still scarce. This study presents a Method for the Elaborating of the Statement of Economic and Environmental Results (MESEER). The proposed method is applied to a real petrochemical company. The application of the proposed method allows us to identify that, for the period evaluated, environmental externalities represented a cost equivalent to 12.5% of the consolidated net income of the whole company. The method developed focuses on productive systems, providing managers with a holistic view of their business and broadening the understanding of sustainability in industrial operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real estate development is among the main consumers for green building materials (GBM), and developers play a critical role in the development of GBM. Therefore, green procurement (GP) practice adopted by developers is important to the promotion of GBM products. There are various factors acting as an impetus for developers to adopt GP in the areas of business policy, marketing, supplier selection, and enterprise organization. There are a number of attributes to each of these areas, and some of them are key factors playing essential roles in affecting developers' GP practice. This study examines the green features of GBM, factors affecting GP practice, and green procurement behavior in the context of real estate development. Research data used for analysis are collected through a questionnaire survey to developers, with the receival of 39 effective responses. The one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique is employed in identifying key factors to GP behavior. The study reveals that the key factors include “Marketing benefits”, “Market pressure” and “Internal pressure within organization”, and the typical reasons for developers to adopt GP are “Policy pressure”, “Marketing benefits” and “Business benefits”. The research findings on these key GP factors provide a valuable reference for assisting relevant government departments to formulate effective policies and regulations in order to encourage real estate developers to adopt GP and consequently promote the development of GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a case study of leisure boating along the Swedish West Coast, this study explores how two conflicting roles – consumers and environmental citizens – produce and are produced by a highly ambivalent neoliberal discourse. On the one hand, this discourse supports economic growth and increasing consumption, while on the other hand it expects consumers to consider the environmental impacts of their actions and make pro-environmental choices. Through a mixed-method approach based on the application of consumer value theory (CVT) in combination with a motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) model, this study demonstrates how the consumer role is predominantly produced and reproduced through social pressure and market forces as well as emotional and habitual attachment to boat-life and boating. This (re)production of the consumer role conflicts with the environmental citizenship role, as boaters agree that protection is needed while they also put high value on the sea as a place of freedom. The study suggests that there is a need for an environmental policy that recognises how the consumer role is produced and reproduced. Such policy should move beyond the assumption of the sovereignty of the individual and focus more closely on the interaction between humans and the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between neighborhood effects and pro-environmental behavior. Working on 1999–2012 data on separate waste collection in Italian provinces, a spatial econometric analysis is carried out. While a substantial stream of research focuses on recycling behavior determinants, spatial dependence among different inter-regional geographical areas has been less studied. Here, empirical support is provided to the existence of spatial effects and heterogeneous behavior in the Italian context. It is found that waste collecting habits tend to be strongly influenced by proximity effects, either in a positive or negative way. Moreover, the paper tests the nature of such influence in terms of time effects, by evaluating non-contemporary spatial dependence. “Good” (or “bad”) pro-environmental behavior as a persistent dynamic effect is found, with the possibility of both self-sustaining virtuous socio-spatial dynamics and perverse lock in. These results call for a rethinking of environmental policies, and in particular for a stronger focus upon the social dimension of spatial diffusion phenomena in pro-environmental behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions embodied in international trade have grown rapidly as globalization has progressed and potentially threaten the efficacy of unilateral climate treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol. Consumption-based methods have been put forward as a way of overcoming this issue and help design future climate policies. We improve the Long-term Consumption-based Accounting (LCBA) model, with transfer carbon data from 1948 to 2012 by introducing country-specific import intensities and detailed bilateral trade data from UNcomtrade. Comparisons of our new “LCBA2″ model with existing 4 studies show similar consumption based emission patterns both in trend and magnitude, and significant emission changes in many European countries. The results independently confirm previous findings on the efficacy of the Kyoto Protocol. The results indicate transferred emissions have contributed an historic 36 Gt CO 2 of cumulative emissions, have grown rapidly during the past 30 years (up to 8% of total emissions) and are likely to become increasingly influential in the near future as the global economy recovers. We also use the improved model to study other gases (CH 4 , N 2 O and SO 2 ) embodied in trade, and results indicate similar transfer patterns as CO 2 with comparable or even moderately larger magnitudes. Across-method result differences between LCBA2 with 3 other models are analyzed based on using common input datasets. Large emitters show moderate biases (within 10%) and about 75% of countries have differences within 25%, independent of input dataset. The LCBA2 model provides useful estimates of transferred emissions in both across-country and long-term historical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study endeavors to explore the driving forces of process eco-innovation and its effect on company performance by adopting an integrative approach. We focus on process eco-innovation, which pertains to technological and non-technological solutions that result in a reduction of material and energy costs for companies. In this regard, the study sheds light on the drivers and outcomes of process eco-innovation adoption, using data collected from 223 Slovenian companies. The results reveal that certain determinants (i.e., competitive pressure, customer demand, managerial environmental concern, command-and-control instrument, and economic incentive instrument) are conducive to the deployment of process eco-innovation. Empirical evidence reveals competitive pressure as the most influential driving force of process eco-innovation, followed by managerial environmental concern and customer demand. Effectiveness in spurring process eco-innovation is also found to be a command-and-control instrument and an economic incentive instrument, while expected benefits do not spur process eco-innovation. Pertaining to the outcomes of process eco-innovation adoption, we can conclude that it pays to be eco; process eco-innovation is worthwhile in terms of company profitability, growth, and competitive benefits. These findings suggest several courses of action for both policy makers and companies. Hence, we conclude by providing implications for both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While economic and environmental policies and strategies are largely designed at the international, national or regional level, the environmental impacts of these measures are often felt at a more geographically-localized level. In particular, the effects on water resources, especially regarding water pollution and water stress, are usually localized in very specific hotspots. In this work, we acknowledge these facts and attempt to identify the linkages among the 17 regions in Spain (a semi-arid country with significant geographical variations in water availability), the European Union (EU), and the Rest of the World (RW), while also looking at the local effects of those interactions. In particular, we study the grey water footprints (a measure of the assimilation capacity of water resources) of production, at both the regional and business level, with spatially explicit information, and the extension of those footprints throughout the supply chain, while also computing the water footprints of consumption at the regional level. This process is a combination of a detailed computation of grey water footprints from production, from agriculture (from diffuse pollution), and from more general economic activities (from point source pollution), with a multiregional input–output model that encompasses the 17 Spanish Regions, the EU, and the RW. We also identify hotspots and vulnerable areas, linking the grey water footprints from production originating in these areas to final-consumer responsibilities. As an example of the potential of the combined methodology, we design and evaluate the effects on grey water footprints of scenarios of import substitutions in Spain. Our results show strong final demand in regions such as Madrid and Catalonia, and in net exporting regions such as Andalusia, Aragon, Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, and Navarre. Some of these regions contain areas that are clearly vulnerable to nitrates and other pollutants, and parts of these regions, most obviously in Andalusia and Extremadura, suffer water stress, which leads us to question the sustainability of the relationships between the structure of production and trade and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevailing resource use patterns of the global socio-industrial metabolism are unsustainable. An increasing number of people globally require ever more materials (including energy carriers), land and water for rising living standards and lifestyles converging towards western, industrialised patterns. Therefore, these resources will continue becoming both scarcer and depleted, while environmental impacts associated with their consumption, e.g. run-away climate change, will continue to rise. For effective resource policies, drivers for such unsustainable resource use and their effects need to be better understood and mapped. By means of meta-analysis of more than 60 sources of relevant literature, we identified a set of ten driver categories that affect unsustainable resource use, inter alia prevailing consumption and production patterns, use and design of infrastructure and technology, underlying paradigms and world views, resource prices and the level of knowledge and information of resource users. Cumulative effects of the drivers contribute, for instance, up to 30% of phosphorus loss from soil and around 30% of building energy loss globally. Although the data does not allow clear-cut causal attribution of effects, it enables the distinction between direct and indirect drivers. In relation to a multi-dimensional network of drivers causing unsustainable resource use, resource policy should combine policy objectives and instruments into policy mixes to target key drivers and their interrelations. While policy mixes need to respond to context specific driver settings, targeting consumer behaviour emerges as a general driver focus of policy mixes. Combining different instrument types and implementing them in a time-dynamic sequence can mitigate trade-offs between different instruments and in the longer-term increase feasibility of profound behaviour changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of healthcare creates significant environmental impacts, and their mitigation is being attempted in a variety of ways which vary from nation to nation in line with differing policy priorities and resource availability. The environmental performance of hospitals has been enhanced through, for example, green building, waste and energy management, and product design. However, unpredictable occupant behaviour, new research outcomes and evolving best practice requires healthcare to react and respond in an ever challenging and changing environment, and clearly there is no one set of actions appropriate in all jurisdictions. Many authors have pointed up negative environmental impacts caused by healthcare, but these studies have focused on particular aspects of mitigation in isolation, and are for this reason not optimal. Here it is argued that tackling impact mitigation through a whole system approach is likely to be more effective. To illustrate what this approach might entail in practice, an evaluation of a systematic implementation of impact mitigation in Ireland's largest teaching hospital, Cork University Hospital is presented. This approach brings together voluntary initiatives in particular those emanating from governmental and non-governmental organisations, peer supports and the adaptation of programmes designed originally for environmental education purposes. Specific measures and initiatives are described, and analysis of results and planned future actions provides a basis for evaluation of successes achieved in achieving mitigation objectives. A crucial attribute of this approach is that it retains its flexibility and connectivity through time, thereby ensuring continual responsiveness to evolving regulation and best practice in green healthcare. It is demonstrated that implementation in Cork resulted both in mitigation of existing impacts, but also a commitment to continual improvement. For such a systems approach to be widely adopted, the healthcare sector needs both leadership from regulators and stakeholders, and strong supports. In Cork it was found that environmental education programmes, especially action and reward based programmes, as utilised by the campus's academic affiliates in particular University College Cork, were especially effective as a framework to address sustainability challenges and should be developed further. However, within healthcare implementation of environmental initiatives must prioritise patient safety. This approach has now been adopted for delivery across the health services sector in Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many environmental networks form around specific initiatives with prescribed outcome objectives. When the objectives are met, the networks frequently disband. Technological transfer halts and the social capital built up during the initiative fragments, in many cases, disappearing altogether. In an era of globally unsustainable economic activity, encouraging progressive innovation and broadening the scale and scope of knowledge transfer is one strategy for helping to attenuate ecological damage. This paper presents empirical field work which explores the Kalundborg Symbiosis in Denmark – a network of economic actors that has organically come together to implement industrial ecology principles – and documents how this network has managed to foster progressive innovation. The four drivers which emerged as central for fostering collaboration are i) a pragmatic environmental mindset, ii) the existence of opportunities to explore possibilities, iii) mutually beneficial initiatives and iv) the presence of dominant needs which stimulate a proactive search for solutions. The paper also contributes to sustainable public policy and urban planning literature by considering how municipal involvement can foster progressive and sustained development within the Kalundborg Symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emissions from and potential environmental effects of open field burning of corn straw in China in 2011 were investigated to provide policymakers with the information needed in preventing and minimizing the environmental burden resulting from open field burning. Results show that direct CO 2 , NO x , SO 2 , and PM emitted from corn straw open burning accounts for 0.12%, 0.73%, 7.15 × 10 −3 %, and 2.16% of national CO 2 , NO x , SO 2 , and dust emissions in 2011, respectively. Air pollutants and their potential environmental burden were mainly generated from eastern China, which has relatively high income and rural population densities. From an environmental perspective, composting technology, as opposed to technologies of returning to field, feed, biogas, and electricity generation, is the most efficient use of straw as resources because of its ability to substitute artificially synthesized fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy instruments introduced with the aim of promoting environmental sustainability are often designed and evaluated in terms of their impact with regard to facilitating technological change. Most ‘green’ policy instruments that have emerged in recent decades have targeted facilitation of the development and adoption of greener processes, goods and services. Concurrent business models have sought to create and capture value arising from this policy-induced transition to more environmentally sustainable practices. Both such policy instruments and the business models are, however, often evaluated more in terms of their impact on the development and adoption of innovations and less in terms of their impact on behavioural change. This paper provides a critical review of the interplay between green policy instruments and green business models from a behavioural perspective. Instead of looking at policy instruments from a technology-push and demand-pull perspective, this paper samples them in terms of ‘sticks’, ‘carrots’ and ‘sermons’ and then provides a critical review of business models that have emerged in response to these types of policy regimes. The paper finds that most green business models that have emerged in the built environment - in response to sticks - may be characterised as buck-passing, i.e. passing costs to others and skirting around the stick of regulation. Those that emerge in response to carrots as opportunistic carpet-bagging aimed at capturing a temporary gain. Finally, those that emerged in response to sermon-orientated awareness campaigns, show a tendency to diffuse even in the absence of supportive fiscal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor enforcement and effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) on construction and investment projects in China has long been blamed for not preventing environmental pollution and degradation. At the same time, freezing EIA approval of all new projects in an administrative region, introduced in 2006 as a punishment for failing to meet regional environmental quality targets, has been regarded as an innovative administrative instrument used by higher level environmental authorities on local governments. But it also raised controversies. Applying an environmental authoritarianism perspective, this study analyzed the legitimacy and environmental effectiveness of freezing EIA approval procedures by reviewing all 25 national cases and 12 provincial cases of so-called EIA Restrictions Targeting Regions between 1 December 2006 and 31 December 2013. The results show that such an environmental authoritarian measure is to some extent environmentally effective but lacks legality and transparency towards and participation of third parties, and hence falls short in legitimacy. Legal foundations and wider third party participation are essential for the long term effectiveness of this policy and its transfer to other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) technology innovation is strongly related to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management strategies. It does not only effect the amount and speed of WEEE generation through products replacement, but it also exerts overall long-term impacts on the environmental performance of EEE system. Therefore, those impacts should be evaluated quantitatively. A concept framework is developed and applied in the case study of display product technology innovation, and a Multi-Life Cycle Assessment method is proposed to evaluate the environmental impacts of technology innovation on multi-generation systems. The study concludes that constant EEE technology innovation along with frequent product replacement may lead to acute fluctuations of WEEE generation and significant multi-generation products system environmental impacts. Hence, the product-oriented environmental policies, including waste management policies, should take technology innovation into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scale of industry clusters and their significant environmental impact make addressing environmental strategies on the cluster level an intriguing task. Although several studies indicate that upstream processes contribute significantly to the total environmental impact of the system, few studies assess how environmental strategy development can be approached from a life cycle perspective. The aim of this paper was to investigate the practical significance of life cycle-based environmental strategy development using a chemical industry cluster in Sweden as the case study. To assess the environmental impact, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was chosen as the method, with the total annual production of the cluster in 2011 as the functional unit. To cover the whole value chain, the global warming potential for downstream processes was also estimated. The findings were linked to the cluster vision, which aims to reduce environmental impact by 2030. The results indicate that the cluster must focus on the whole value chain when pursuing the aim of producing sustainable products as environmental impact both upstream and downstream of the cluster accounts for a larger share than on-site processes. The assessment also enables distribution of environmental impact among incoming material streams, thus providing the cluster with decision support when introducing renewable and recycled materials. Additionally, the assessment supports strategy comparison and serves as a base case against which strategy opportunities can be evaluated. This study demonstrates that the life cycle approach has interesting potential to support industry cluster companies in their mutual effort to improve environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The achievement of competitive advantages by companies as a result of the enhancement of their environmental commitment is a vibrant research topic. This paper identifies groups of companies within the automotive industry that are driven by the same patterns in their environmental activity and clarifies the different approaches that act to encourage the environmental orientation of these firms. The purpose of this study was to identify groups of companies within the automotive industry that have different mechanisms driving their environmental proactivity. Using a PLS-FIMIX analysis; we identified three different behaviors of automotive companies that correspond to what we describe as the eco-balanced, the eco-marketers and the eco-blind groups depending on how interact with the market demand and take advantage of eco-innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores various forms of eco-industrial networks in advancing environmental sustainability. Prior research on environmental sustainability primarily identifies industrial actors as autonomous entities or considers the role of networks in advancing environmental sustainability from a rather narrow perspective. However, the networks of ties in which industrial firms are embedded profoundly impacts not only their own performance, but also the natural environment in which they operate. Based on a systematic literature review, we identify four forms of eco-industrial networks that have the potential to advance environmental sustainability: 1) symbiosis networks, 2) sustainable supply networks, 3) environmental issue networks and 4) environmental solution networks. The paper presents important insights on the operational logic for each of these network forms and the dimensions of their network architecture. The main implications of this comparison are that policy-makers and practitioners need to become aware of the various mechanisms through which inter-organisational networks can reduce environmental load. Furthermore, there is a need to build broad coalitions of organisations that are mobilised to address environmental issues. We suggest that network architecture which maximises its members' capability to self-organise while also including a coordinating organisation can be highly suitable for eco-industrial networks. We also suggest some fruitful avenues for future research on eco-industrial networks. In integrating research on eco-industrial networks with existing research on inter-organisational alliances and networks, the paper provides more understanding on the multifaceted role played by various forms of eco-industrial networks in advancing sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The adoption of environmental practices and tools in overall management is an increasing occurrence in local public organisations. These institutions are shifting their management towards sustainability, although local governments are moving faster than other public sector levels regarding the integration of environmental and sustainability aspects in operations and strategies. The main goal of this research was to identify the environmental profile of local public administration using Portuguese municipalities as a case-study. This paper assesses how environmental and sustainability practices and tools have been adopted in this sector based on self-assessment by the local public services. To accomplish this aim, a questionnaire survey was forwarded to all of the municipalities in the country in order to identify and analyse the environmental practices in the local public sector. An aggregate evaluation of the degree of implementation of certain environmental practices was also produced based on an index that was developed based on the data obtained from ten selected environmental practices variables in the national survey. The overall results demonstrate a low adoption level of environmental practices and tools, concluding that new practices and public policies need to be adopted to invert the current trend. Nevertheless, there are positive signs of rising environmental integration and awareness, although many of the processes are in the early stages of implementation or changing. This research can support municipalities in reviewing and analysing their environmental management, assessment and communication practices to improve their environmental performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The explosive expansion in China's exports has brought about many local (domestic) environmental problems. Understanding the magnitude and structure of the pollution emissions embodied in these exports is crucial for developing policies not only for local environmental stewardship and cleaner production, but also for international trade. We introduce a stochastic modification of the customary (economic) input–output model in order to reconstruct information typically absent from a traditional national input–output table but vital for understanding where export-embodied pollution emissions are generated in an open economy. Specifically, our modification enables a better means of “subtracting out” the pollutant emissions that might have been associated with imported intermediate inputs (before their arrival in China). We find, nevertheless, that large proportions of emissions of heavy metals (Cr6+ and Pb) contained in wastewater can be attributed to exports. In 2007, these figures reached more than 40% of their respective total emissions. Total quantities of export-embodied wastewater, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and solid waste have increased dramatically from 1997 to 2007. The relative rates of growth in the percentages of export-embodied pollutants in total industrial emissions, however, were lower than the relative rate of growth in the percentage of exports in China's total GDP over this same decade. Three clusters of sectors play dominant roles in driving China's export embodied emissions: textiles, leather and clothing apparel; electrical and electronic equipment; and the chemical industry. We suggest that promoting the transition in the distribution of export products toward high value-added and low embodied-emission products and services (themselves enhanced by cleaner production methods) should be regarded as a long-term goal of China's trade policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Given the degradation of the environment, balancing economic development with environmental protection is key to a green China. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the impacts of different environmental policies on China's pollution-intensive industries (PIIs). We look at the main types of environmental policies tools of China in areas of legal, economic and informal regulations, and select typical policies of each type for research. Based on the theoretical model about how environmental regulations affect the transfer decision of polluting enterprises, quantitative empirical tests are conducted in this paper to study the influences of environmental regulations on the transfer of PIIs by using provincial panel data from 2003 to 2016. It is found that: (1) All three types of environmental regulations have significant yet heterogeneous impacts on the transfer of PIIs. (2) With an emphasis on the nonlinear impact of environmental regulations on PIIs' transfer, we find that all the three types of environmental regulations exert inverted-N shaped nonlinear influences. The findings indicate that regions with ultra-stringent or excessively loose regulations are not attractive to polluting industries. However, appropriate environmental regulations stimulate enterprises to innovate, enhance market competitiveness, and increase production. (3) Between regions, spatially heterogeneous influences on PII's transfer are also found. Currently, levels of all types of environmental regulations are relatively low in China, which induce an initial negative correlation between policies and polluting enterprises. As a result, governments should continue to improve environmental regulations to promote a state of positive correlation, realizing a win-win result for environmental protection and economic development. ● Environmental regulations (ERs) affect pollution-intensive industries' (PIIs). ● The impact of ERs on PIIs' transfer is nonlinearly inverted-N shape. ● Multiple ERs have heterogeneous impacts on PIIs' transfer. ● Spatially heterogeneous influences of ERs on PIIs' transfer exist. ● Currently, the levels of all types of ERs are relatively low in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Since China became a member of World Trade Organization (WTO), its economy develops at a fast speed. At the same time, the environmental problem becomes more and more serious and increasingly affects economic development. Studying the factors that influence environmental efficiency has become an essential point in dealing with the relationship between economy and environment. Considering the differences in space and economic development among different districts, this paper discusses the quantitative relationship among exports figure, imports figure, GDP per capita, industrialization level, fiscal decentralization and environmental efficiency of each Chinese province by using statistical analysis. Furthermore, this paper discusses differences among each district''s influential factors from the perspective of Spatial Economics and makes combination forecast on the trend of environmental efficiency. It also shows that the environmental efficiency of Chinese provinces is generally at a low level. In addition, as the economic statuses of different provinces vary and the factors that influence environmental efficiency in different provinces also have significant differences, each province should take certain measures to design the environmental protection policy in line with its local circumstance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As the impetus of life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle thinking (LCT) in waste management policy is increasing, decision makers may face conflicting advice on the potential environmental impacts of competing end-of-life treatment options. This paper discusses the problem posed by the Waste Framework Directive, 2008/98/EC, where LCT is required to justify the departure of waste streams from the waste hierarchy. This paper places LCA of waste management systems in the context of applying ‘normal’ science to ‘post-normal’ problems. The current application of LCT in waste policy is reviewed in order to determine the epistemic basis to such applications. Furthermore, several cases are reviewed where controversy has surrounded the a priori purpose of applying LCT; the justification of a clear-cut solution to environmental problems. We show how the excess of objectivity, the social construction of knowledge and the playing out of actors’ games may limit the ability of LCT to offer an authoritative justification for the derogation of waste streams from the waste hierarchy. However, one of the major benefits of LCT lies in its ability to change actors problem perception. Hence, the application of LCT may be better suited to both the identification of areas of environmental impact and the positioning of waste management solutions further up the waste policy agenda. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Life cycle thinking is emphasised in EU policies and legislation. All products have environmental impacts during their production, use and disposal. It is important to ensure that environmental impacts are considered throughout the life-cycle and it will be more and more important for the industry to understand the meaning of the life cycle thinking and to adopt it. The environmental impacts of an industrial disposable cup concept were studied with help of life-cycle assessment method. The objective of the study was to create new knowledge about the life cycle effects of the carton based cup concept. The scope of the study was to compare the effects of material choices and different end-of-life scenarios. The paper focuses on the global warming potential of the cup concept. The carton based products were covered either with polyethene or polylactide. In addition, the environmental impacts of the carton-based cups were compared to the estimated environmental impacts of polymer-based cups. The polymer based cups were made of polyethylene terephthalate. The paper shows that significant improvements can be achieved with help of the choice of materials and optimal end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An analytical framework is developed in this paper in order to explore the diversity of eco-innovations according to several key dimensions (design, user, product service and governance). The framework is used to analyse a set of case studies of eco-innnovation processes. The diversity of the analysed eco-innovations appears to be considerable; each of them involves different kinds of combinations of elements pertaining to those dimensions. Albeit the design dimension is decisive to determine the environmental impacts of the innovation, all dimensions can play a significant role in the management of eco-innovation. Our findings suggest that the capacity of eco-innovations to provide new business opportunities and contribute to the transformation towards a sustainable society depends on the interplay of those dimensions and the engagement of key stakeholders in the innovation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper classifies strategies to reduce environmental impact according to the terms of the I = PAT formula. Policies limiting resource depletion and pollution (Impact) – by heavily taxing resources or rationing them on a country basis – are thus called ‘direct’ or ‘left-side’ strategies. Other policies to achieve the environmental goal of lowering Impact strive to limit Population and Affluence, or to use Technology to lower the ratio of resource inputs to goods-and-services outputs. Next it is shown that lowering any of these ‘right-side’ factors causes or at least enables the other two to rise or ‘rebound’. This has two consequences: 1) Since I = PAT does not express these interdependencies on the right side, it is more accurately written I = f(P,A,T); and 2) Success in lowering any of the right-side factors does not necessarily lower Impact. Rationing or Pigouvian taxation of resources or pollution, on the other hand, necessarily lower impact and are therefore preferable to population, consumption and technological environmental strategies. Finally, lifestyle and technology changes towards more sufficiency and efficiency would follow the caps as consumers and producers work to retain the greatest amount of welfare within the limits given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This article analyses the process of preparing the proposal for a new Finnish National Waste Plan (NWP 2007–2016). The focus of this study is on the use of the alternative concepts of waste prevention or material efficiency and on the shift in discourse from the former to the latter concept. The strengths and weaknesses of these competing concepts were analysed using criteria such as synergy, semantic aspects, legal context and applicability to monitoring. The discourse presented by different stakeholder groups was analysed. The implications of choosing either of the concepts were illustrated. The author concludes that waste prevention can be promoted just as well, or even better from the perspective of improving material efficiency. The concept must be complemented by policy instruments within the chemical policy sector to cover the aspect of qualitative waste prevention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Plant operation is tightly linked with plant topology. Each operation task is executed in one or more structure units, which might be associated with negative environmental impacts. In order to design and manage environmentally conscious plant operation it is essential to provide systematic mechanism to model plant topology with respect to environmental measures. The selection of plant topology to perform certain operation requires understanding and evaluation of life cycle activities. In this research, model-based topology analysis is proposed and used to evaluate different operation scenarios in view of life cycle assessment and applied on a case study thermal power plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chromic acid anodizing processes are currently being replaced in many industrial sectors because of the recognized adverse effect on the environment and health of used hexavalent chromium compounds. The environmental impacts of the existing processes must, however, be quantified in order to constitute a baseline against which the environmental performance of potential alternative options could be compared. The whole life cycle of the process should also be taken into account to ensure that the possible chosen solution for eliminating or lowering chromium (VI) emissions would not drastically damage the overall process performance in other environmental areas. In our study, we used a simplified life cycle assessment methodology that only took into account the key environmental issues of the considered industrial sector. Both the scope and the data needs were reduced by focusing only on significant flows and by using a generic database for steps other than the anodizing one. A precise literature review was carried out to evaluate bath atmospheric emissions. The results of the performed assessment confirmed that the only way to efficiently deal with hexavalent chromium compounds is to substitute the electrolyte used in the bath as the most Cr(VI) emissions are caused by other stages than the main one. Other specific issues, such as water and energy consumptions have, nevertheless, to be studied throughout the whole life cycle of the chemical substitute to monitor performance against CAA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The relationship between economy and environmental impacts has been an essential topic in the discussion on environmental problems for a long time. From the 1990s, this relationship has gained a position in environmental policy as well. De-coupling the use of natural resources from economic growth has been set as one of the policy goals in the sixth Environmental Action Programme by the European Commission. In the scientific discussion, the concept of environmental Kuznets curve deals closely with the de-coupling or de-linking phenomenon. Aggregated material flows, on the other hand, have often been considered as a macro-level proxy of environmental degradation. Different methods or approaches have been designed for “sustainability” or “carrying capacity” evaluation as well. The objective of this article is (i) to discuss the possibilities and limitations of using environmental and economic indicators in the sustainability analysis at the macro level, (ii) to present a theoretical framework for the linking analysis including a classification of the degrees of de-linking/re-linking environmental impacts from/to economic growth, and (iii) to give an empirical example by using indicators of direct material flows as a proxy of environmental degradation and by applying the framework into the European Union and its 15 member countries. The results show that the trend in the European Union is a weak de-linking of material flows from economic growth during the years 1980–2000. In other words, material intensity of the economy has generally decreased due to increased efficiency, but the absolute amount of material use has increased, although at a lower rate of increase than economic growth. On the other hand, there is a quite large variation between different EU member countries. However, absolute decrease in the use of materials cannot be found as a continuous trend between the years 1980 and 2000 in any of the studied EU member countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The number of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the EU is increasing continuously. Around 75 percent of an ELV are recyclable metals. The rest of the car is considered waste and generally goes to a landfill, which is increasingly regarded as a problem. The forecast growth in the number of ELVs calls for regulation that aims to minimise the environmental impact of a car. Using Denmark as an example, this article evaluates the extent to which environmental regulations have been a driving force for change in the car-dismantling trade. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]