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The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Herd size expansion, combined with the reduced availability of people to work on farms, has led to an increased focus on techniques that can improve dairy farm social sustainability. Effective work organization is one such entity, which could influence farm social sustainability, and focuses on having a productive, flexible, and standardized farm workload. The objective of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to better workplaces for the farmer using a survey of representative pasture-based dairy farms in Ireland. Potential contributing factors to better workplaces for farmers were identified, namely farm and farmer characteristics, working day structure, farmer attitudes, farm facilities, labor-efficient practices, and human resource management practices. A survey was completed by 313 Irish dairy farmers between November 20 and January 3, 2019, to capture relevant information. One proxy indicator was selected to represent productivity, flexibility, and standardization within the workplace, and each of the 313 farms were categorized into quartiles based on their ranking for these 3 indicators (1 = most effective quartile to 4 = least effective quartile). The average farmer that completed the survey was 51 yr old, milked 125 cows, reported to work 69.6 h/wk, took 10.3 d of holidays per year, and had a finish time of 19:52 (h:min) in the spring. The quartile of farms with the most effective farmer workplace reported reduced hours worked per week (58.6 vs. 82.6 h/wk), more holiday days (16.6 vs. 5.1 d) and weekends off (8.3 vs. 2.4) per year, and earlier finish times (18:41 vs. 21:14 [h:min] in the spring) compared with the least effective quartile. Similarly, the most effective farms reported better facilities and greater implementation of labor-efficient and human resource management practices compared with the least effective farms. The most effective quartile for farmer workplace effectiveness was more positive about the industry's potential to offer an effective work-life balance, would be more likely to encourage young people to pursue careers in dairy, and had more positive attitudes toward attracting and retaining workers compared with the least effective quartile. This study highlighted the range of factors contributing to more effective workplaces for farmers, indicating scope for improvement on many farms and challenges across all farms when compared with other industries in the case of some indicators (e.g., time off). The results can support the continued extension of concepts regarding work organization to assist farms in alleviating social sustainability challenges, highlighting the differentiating factors between the most and least effective farmer workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting the staggered implementation of board gender quotas in Europe, this study examines their effect on firms' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. I find that firms' environmental and social performance increases subsequent to the quotas and the rise of women's representation on the board. I explore the mechanisms at play and show that the effect is driven by more ESG committees, improved innovation, resource use, and human rights considerations. The positive quota effect on environmental and social outcomes is strongest for less publicly exposed firms. My cross-sectional results suggest that the quota effect is partly crowded out by the positive sustainability effect of public pressure. Taken together, my results point towards positive spillover effects of a governance regulation on other sustainability dimensions. Further, they provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind these effects, relevant to policymakers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is necessary for experts to evaluate their conservation proposals by examining how non-professionals perceive them. • Luminance changes better support recognizing new elements than textural distinctions. • Eye-tracker responds better to scientific needs than to design needs of architects and conservators. • Consultation based on simpler methods of research should be conducted prior to the use of an eye-tracker. Eye trackers are more and more often employed by scientists willing to learn more about how cultural heritage is perceived. However, designers very seldom make use of this technology, primarily perhaps due to its expensive and time-consuming nature. By choosing not to employ eye trackers they limit themselves to their own ideas and choices, at the same time forfeiting all the potential advantages of social consultations with non-professionals. One can easily imagine that their work and its effects would only benefit should a way be found to make eye-tracking tests more logistically and financially feasible or if another measure was established that would make it possible to learn the visual reactions of regular people. This paper focuses on perception of anastylosis. There are numerous types of damaged structures that get reassembled and multiple ways of doing that. While most doctrinal documents assert that the original object and the added elements should be easily distinguishable, the two solutions, most often chosen by designers is to make the cavity fillings differ in either texture or luminance from the original material. It is obvious that this results in a large range of solutions to choose from – from shallow indentations in the stone surface to deep ones, from stone just a shade brighter than the original to a distinct cream-white one. Since it is impossible to test all the possible variations using eye trackers, the authors of this paper tried a different approach. Eleven different virtual images were prepared of the same reassembled ionic column. They varied in the level of modifications applied to either the texture or the luminance of the cavity fillings. The entire set of eleven stimuli was then shown to a group of professionals in the field of architecture and/or conservation of monuments. They were asked to choose the best stimuli, that is those that facilitate the differentiation of the old and new parts of the structure by non-professionals. Thus, reduced set of three stimuli was then used in an eye-tracking tests involving over 100 participants. The eye-tracking data, combined with the results of previous research on the perception of anastylosis allowed the authors to formulate several conclusions. It turned out that the images selected by the professionals were far from those that would potentially stimulate and help non-professionals the most. However, the obtained information allowed formulating a few basic guidelines as to the use of differences in texture and luminance in anastylosis. It also made it possible to find a financially and logistically feasible alternative to the demanding eye-tracking tests when it comes to introducing social consultations into the designing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review aims to thoroughly examine the relationship between Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and project management in construction projects. The construction industry is known for its high accident rates among workers, and it is important to understand the factors that contribute to these accidents to develop effective OHS management practices. The review highlights the significance of legal compliance in OHS management and the challenges and opportunities presented by the integration of OHS laws in construction project management. One of the main factors that contribute to high accident rates among construction workers is inadequate training and a lack of proper safety equipment. The review also identifies common types of accidents and their factors on construction sites, such as falls from heights, electrical hazards, and heavy machinery accidents. Additionally, it suggests measures for improving OHS management practices, such as regular safety inspections and training programs, implementing safety policies and procedures, and providing proper personal protective equipment to workers. Overall, the research indicates that OHS is an essential aspect of construction project management, and effective OHS management can improve project performance by reducing accidents and injuries, improving worker morale and productivity, and enhancing the project's reputation. The review provides insights on how to develop, implement and continuously improve OHS management practices in construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing industry relies heavily on human labour, making the health and safety of operators paramount. Emerging technologies such as Human-Cyber-Physical Systems (HCPS) and Machine Learning (ML) have the potential to transform the approach to these critical issues. In fact, such technologies enable the creation of virtual replicas of tangible systems, providing innovative solutions for assessing operator safety. In this context, this work presents a digital humanization methodology designed to comprehensively evaluate the health and safety risks associated with operator involvement in production processes. Using cutting-edge sensors, advanced machine learning algorithms, and scenario simulations, such methodology generates real-time virtual representations of the physical condition and behaviour of the operator. These representations allow the risk characterization by estimating magnitude, priority, and occurrence, thereby facilitating early detection and preventive measures against potential hazards. A case study is considered to demonstrate the practical application of the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social sustainability (SS) within the supply chain has emerged as a critically important and increasingly pertinent topic in today's global business environment. Sustainability has been conceptualized within the framework of the triple bottom line, encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions. However, in the current landscape, social sustainability has risen to the forefront, given that the economic and environmental aspects have largely been evaluated and addressed. The concept of social sustainability in supply chain (SSSC) is undergoing a significant evolution, transitioning from a narrow perspective that predominantly centered on individual companies to a more inclusive and integrated approach that encompasses all participants along the supply chain. This recognizes the significance of involving suppliers, sub-suppliers, and other stakeholders in the supply chain. Through a case study of a manufacturing supply chain, we analyse multifaceted factors that significantly influence working conditions and the overall well-being of individuals involved. This analysis serves as a means to enhance overall company performance. This article suggests a new approach to define SSSC, based on the principle that the strategies to improve sustainability are effective only if they impact positively (or at least not negatively) on all the actors in the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social sustainability focuses on building a sustainable workplace that prioritizes the occupational health, safety, and overall well-being of workers. It is considered one of the three fundamental pillars of sustainability. Human centric cyber physical production system (CPPS) emphasizes the central role of humans in the smart manufacturing process that has become an essential requirement to enhance social sustainability. This paper proposes a human centric CPPS framework for enhanced social sustainability. The social needs/requirements are identified and categorized into various types. Similarly, functional and design requirements are categorized into different elements and sub-elements of CPPS. The findings are used to create a QFD (Quality Function Deployment) matrix that integrates social requirements with the functional and design requirements of modular CPPS elements. The present work will be significant in enhancing the management capabilities and performance of traditional manufacturing systems, while also meeting diverse social needs and requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The employment of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing has paved the way to interlinked machinery, shop floor flexibility and personalised production. However, despite the amplified level of productivity and efficiency, such advances may also take a toll on the operators' skills and well-being. Over and above, worker diversification culminates in the novel ideology of Industry 5.0; where a triad is established between sustainability, human-centricity, and resilience within manufacturing. This broadens the horizon for worker diversification, especially for people with disabilities who may be estranged from the manufacturing shop floor due to an absence of accessibility, stigma, and other lingering challenges. In pursuit of comprehending these hurdles in the form of themes, a set of interviews were conducted with designers and engineers from a range of manufacturing companies, followed by a Reflexive Thematic Analysis Exercise. Three umbrella themes and eight sub-themes revealed an apparent level of friction between manufacturing engineers and the potential of recruiting operators with disabilities, a lack of design knowledge in creating inclusive workstations, and an absence of social sustainability with respect to disability employment in manufacturing. Accordingly, two major areas for future work by engineers, designers and academics are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 has supported and changed the way companies operate over the last decade. Today, the increasing focus on sustainability in all its pillars is initiating a critical process and revision about the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A new scenario characterized by human-centricity, resilience and social sustainability, named Industry 5.0, is emerging. In this transition process, new and old enabling technologies are appearing, among them the Metaverse. Although its actual functions are not yet fully investigated, from different perspective this tool could adequately support the definition of Industry 5.0 by creating a symbiotic ecosystem between companies, workers and consumers. Against this backdrop, the aim of this paper is to investigate, through a systematic literature review, the role of the Metaverse in the approach to sustainability in order to understand in which way this technology can be useful for the transition. The results may support policy makers, managers and practitioners in understanding the role of Metaverse in sustainability and in the new wave of Industrial Revolution. Limits and future research steps are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on social sustainability within manufacturing industries by measuring workplace well-being. Firstly, the study focused on what the scientific literature says about the main variables and aspects that impact on employee well-being and deepen the productivity and efficiency of industries. To better understand the problems and address the best solution to improve the company environment, the paper analyses more than 20 innovative startups operating in the field of well-being and Human Resource Management. After having defined the impactful and meaningful variables, it was structured a particular case study on a manufacturing field, regarding a Calabrian SME. Using Business Intelligence tools and applying machine learning techniques, comes to light an overall result of company well-being and the value of the main areas. In addition, different company cluster analyses are conducted. Moreover, it shows a correlation network between variables highlighting the most affecting ones on well-being. Thanks to the information obtained, a strategic investment can be made to enhance people's well-being and to make companies more productive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has gained increasing prominence in global discourse, with particular emphasis on environmental and economic aspects. However, an equally critical dimension often overlooked is social sustainability, which pertains to the ethical and social impacts of supply chain practices. Understanding the complex interconnections and implications between customers and suppliers is pivotal to fostering sustainable business practices and cultivating long-term relationships within supply chains. This scientific paper delves into the multifaceted realm of social sustainability in supply chains, specifically focusing on the intricate relationships between customers and suppliers. By analyzing the reciprocal dynamics of this dyadic relationship, we aim to shed light on how their actions, decisions, and behaviors reverberate throughout the entire supply chain, shaping its overall social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transition will reshape the power sector, and hydrogen is a key energy carrier that could contribute to energy security. The inclusion of sustainability criteria is crucial for the adequate design/deployment of resilient hydrogen networks. While cost and environmental metrics are commonly included in hydrogen models, social aspects are rarely considered. This paper aims to identify the social criteria related to the hydrogen economy by using a systematic hybrid literature review. The main contribution is the identification of twelve social aspects which are described, ranked, and discussed. "Accessibility", "Information", "H 2 markets", and "Acceptability" are now emerging as the main themes of hydrogen-related social research. Identified gaps are e.g., lack of the definition of the value of H 2 for society, insufficient research for "socio-political" aspects (e.g., geopolitics, wellbeing), scarce application of social lifecycle assessment, and the low amount of works with a focus on social practices and cultural issues. [Display omitted] • Twelve social aspects related to the hydrogen economy have been identified. • A systematic hybrid literature review (bibliometric and structured) was used. • Useful for sustainability modellers, researchers, policymakers, stakeholders, etc. • Accessibility, Information, H 2 markets, and Acceptability are popular topics. • Gaps, challenges, and perspectives are identified by a multidisciplinary team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inappropriate cattle handling poses a reputational threat to the dairy industry. To enhance social sustainability, handling practices must resonate with societal values about animal care. However, it has yet to be determined to what extent industry and public stakeholders differ in their perception of common cattle handling situations. We administered an online survey to samples of dairy industry (IND) and public (PUB) stakeholders to examine how they perceive a variety of cow-handling scenarios ranging from positive to negative in terms of effects on animal welfare. Participants were presented with 12 brief videos depicting a range of realistic cow-handling situations and responded to measures designed to assess their attitudes and beliefs about each scenario, their perception of the emotional response of the cows depicted in each scenario, as well as their own personal emotional response. Preexisting beliefs about cow treatment on US dairy farms and demographic data, including self-reported dairy consumption, were also collected and analyzed. Before viewing the videos, 52.9% of PUB (vs. 79.0% of IND) believed cows were treated well while 27.2% (vs. 9.0% of IND) believed cows were treated badly. Within IND, believing cows were treated badly was more common among nonwhites, those with greater formal education, more liberal politics, or from urban or suburban environments. In PUB, female and younger participants were more likely to believe cows were treated badly before viewing the videos. In both samples, participants with more positive preexisting beliefs about dairy cow treatment in the US reported consuming dairy products more frequently. In both PUB and IND, scenarios which were rated more positively for attitudes or for the cows' or respondents' emotional experiences were also perceived as more common. Within a given cow-handling scenario, qualitative attitudes (i.e., a positive, negative, or neutral valence) did not differ between the samples. In both samples, at the participant level, overall attitudes toward cow-handling scenarios were highly correlated with both their personal emotional response to the scenario and their perception of the cows' emotional responses. Although the participants' overall personal emotional responses did not differ between the samples, IND rated cows as experiencing more negative emotions overall. The consensus between industry and public stakeholders around dairy cow-handling practices observed in this study could provide a common starting point for addressing other, more contentious animal welfare issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation can be a key mechanism to address some of society's greatest challenges, or it can contribute to them. There is extensive conceptual academic literature focused on how policy can be used to create more positive societal and environmental impacts through innovation, however, little empirical evidence exists to understand to what extent innovation policy in particular embeds the principles of social and environmental sustainability into its discourse. We begin to address this lack of evidence by using a critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics approach to explore how UK Innovation Policy embeds the concepts of societal and environmental impact, and how it balances these at times conflicting paradigms into policy documents. We find that although there is some inclusion of key environmental and societal words these are predominately secondary to economic themes, signalling a 'business as usual' approach to innovation policy. • We provide a comprehensive definition of sustainable innovation policy building on types of alternative innovation. • Our methodology contributes a novel way to assess the underlying sustainability paradigms in policy documents. • Social and environmental paradigms are underrepresented in innovation policy and are dominated by the economic paradigm. • We make recommendations for ways in which policymakers can integrate sustainable innovation policy principles further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, Big Data (BD) technology is considered by institutions, enterprises and governments a primary key to addressing sustainability challenges. The business ecosystem is becoming more and more complicated, due to large and strong interactions between the directly involved stakeholders such as suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and customers on one hand, and the indirect stakeholders such as the environment and society on the other hand. Thus, moving toward corporate sustainability requires an accurate understanding of these business partners' impacts on each other. Indeed, enterprises must incorporate the three sustain-ability dimensions to assess a product, a service, or process performance on environmental, economic, and social aspects. To this end, this paper presents a big data analytics (BDA) based methodology to analyze the social sustainability impacts of enterprises. Besides, a real-life case study from the database proposed by the impact-weighted account project (IWAP) team at Harvard business school, is used to validate the methodology. The obtained results show the added value of using BDA technology to achieve enterprises' social Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda launched by the United Nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry is facing an increased focus on sustainability and climate neutrality, causing property developers to implement new requirements into the procurement documents, which are also driven by the national agenda. This study explores the current state of sustainability practice among Swedish property developers and identifies the main obstacles to expand further the implementation of the sustainability criteria. How the property developers define and implement sustainability requirements has been assessed through qualitative semi-structured interviews, focusing on sustainability certification systems, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and social sustainability. The results show usage of sustainability certification systems for marketing purposes and high awareness and practice of LCA, even though the accuracy of LCA was questioned. This study also identified guideline gaps for circular economy and social sustainability measurements, which could relate to low initiatives from the certification systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability has emerged in the last 30 years or so as an essential concept, spreading to almost every sphere of human endeavours. Public transportation (PT) for instance is one sector where sustainability is given much importance. Studies on sustainable transportation have therefore become widespread especially on topics of economic and environmental sustainability. However, achieving sustainable transportation requires more than these. It is also essential to adequately integrate social sustainability in every sustainable transport policy. In contributing to this discourse therefore, this work benefitted from a questionnaire survey conducted on the Ankara metro line that runs from Koru to OSB-Torekent as a case in point to investigate the plight of a certain category of PT users referred to in this work as the ' disadvantaged group ' (DG) which includes persons with disability, older adults, expectant and/or nursing mothers in accessing seats on PT vehicles such as the metro trains. The natural dispositions of people in the DG put them at a disadvantage in competing for seats with other users, hence a lack of equitable access for this group is observed in this regard. Even though various studies have identified seating to be a major influence on user satisfaction on PT and therefore enhancing social sustainability, the lack of equitable access for the DG portends to work against achieving sustainable transportation. Priority in seating for this category of users can be said to be given importance as evident in the placement of visual signages and some public announcements in and around public transport facilities and vehicles in Turkish cities. However, empirical evidence suggests that these notices are largely unheeded. Inspired by equity as a subcategory of social sustainability, the work therefore investigated the general attitudes of people in inhibiting the advancement of equitable access for people disadvantaged by their circumstances. From this, policy recommendations in ensuring equitable access by the DG have been provided. • The work is inspired by equity as a subcategory of social sustainability in investigating the general attitudes of people that impede advancement of equitable access for people disadvantaged by their circumstances. • Prioritised seating arrangement for people who are transportation disadvantaged is widely recognised by majority of respondents as deserving of enforcement. • Consistent public education to conscientize the people on the need to prioritise this group of people over themselves in seating on PT's is essential if the implementation of prioritised seating on PT's is to be successful. • Though legislation seems to be supported by majority of respondents, it may not be needed at this point since other ways of whipping up people's consciousness in this regard can achieve the same result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa (beans) is one of the highest-value crops globally, yet some producer countries still follow ancient ancestral-style production practices, particularly in Latin America. Most of the production system is in the hands of small-scale producers, who have faced significant obstacles to trading their products with large multinationals due to a power imbalance in the negotiation, generating a gap between the social, environmental, and economic outcomes. Several initiatives have been developed to promote social and sustainable practices, especially regarding social factors in some industries. However, producers still face issues concerning their sustainability due to ongoing economic challenges. This study aims to identify the mechanisms of integrating these ancestral producers into the cocoa value chain and the sustainability challenges this production system faces. This study attempts to upgrade trade opportunities, focusing on Productores Kichwas : an association of cacao producers in Ecuador's Amazon region. Our research relies on primary sources, and we based our case study on questionnaires and interviews supplemented with secondary sources (official documents and assessments). We applied a value chain analysis proposed by Gereffi and other researchers to process the data. This analysis allowed us to identify factors that impede commercialisation: a scarcity of physical capital and financial backing, partly due to an inability to access credit, and poor access to international markets. These factors restrict the producers' ability to make game-changing upgrades and limit their ability to exploit their real potential, including their natural (chakra) production system and social (communal organisation) capital. Thus, an intermediary's role is essential to handle the aspects of cacao production that the community organisation cannot manage. • Agrarian reforms managed to introduce some changes regarding who is participating in cocoa production, moving the focus from large to small producers. But this has happened without allowing peasant farmers to achieve economic freedom. • The lack of financial and physical capital limits a successful process of upgrading the associations of cocoa producers. • The small cacao producers have failed to implement sustainable improvements because they continue to be controlled by the influencers who have traditionally retained power. • Despite promoting value-chain upgrading in the producer association, they remain vulnerable to intermediate tactics, exporters, large processing companies and international distributors (who control the markets and manage their suppliers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interaction is a crucial aspect of social sustainability, aiming to improve quality of life. However, the emergence of gated communities in Egypt has shifted priorities, prioritizing isolation over social interaction. This paper examines the impact of social interaction in gated communities in the West of the Greater Cairo Region from a social sustainability perspective. This study conducted a literature review on definitions and concepts of social sustainability and social interaction. We launched an online survey to measure social interaction in our case studies. We analyzed data retrieved from the survey to assess the correlation between social interaction and sustainability indicators. The results demonstrate that social interaction neutrally affects social sustainability indicators and users' satisfaction. The survey findings indicate that users of gated communities rarely consider social interaction, which reflects their satisfaction with the isolation in the gated communities. As such, residents of gated communities should reconsider the shared spaces within these communities to improve social interaction and enhance social sustainability. This could lead to improved quality of life for people living in gated communities. Furthermore, improved social interaction within gated communities could also help to reduce social isolation and loneliness, which are associated with a range of physical and mental health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rurality is often viewed as presenting challenges to community sustainability, well-being, and equity. To address the unique challenges of rural areas, policies and practices have been designed specifically for application in places designated as "rural". Yet what is "rural"? Some recent measures of rurality have gone beyond a dichotomous rural-urban divide conceptualization of rural communities. However, most measures still emphasize proximity to metropolitan areas and population density as the primary components of rurality. Few studies consider the critical role that services and amenities play in the life of a community. We suggest a new measure based on the concept of sustainable development that integrates measures of environmental, social, and economic resources. We present the Community Assets and Relative Rurality index for census block-groups in the coterminous United States and illustrate how this measure is consistent with existing measures of rurality yet offers additional insight into issues of sustainable rural development. • Index of rurality that accounts for services and amenity infrastructure developed. • CARR index provides block-group resolution rurality measure for coterminous US. • The continuous CARR index generally agrees with US federal definitions of rurality. • CARR offers a nuanced middle-ground when federal classifications disagree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research on sustainability transitions is focused on systemic change and the process of transitions. Insights on how to measure the contribution of innovation to sustainability are limited. • We review five different innovation perspectives and how they are linked to sustainability transitions (organizational innovation management, regional innovation ecosystems, responsible innovation, mission-driven innovation, and social innovation). • We find that the status of measurement becomes weaker as we move from actor-oriented to mode-oriented to process-oriented concepts of innovation, such as social innovation. • We propose a measurement approach for capturing social innovation that connects actor-oriented and procedural elements. • We provide prompts for future research on sustainability transitions and social innovation. Sustainability transitions require shifts in multiple social systems, practices, and institutions. Different innovation perspectives are essential for achieving and understanding transitions. They range from actor-oriented (organizational innovation management, regional innovation ecosystems) to mode-oriented (responsible innovation, mission-driven innovation) to process-oriented (social innovation) perspectives. For sustainability transitions to be governed, we need a better understanding of how the relevant contributions of innovations can be measured. In this article, we review the status of measurement across the different innovation perspectives. We find that measurement status becomes weaker as we move from actor-oriented to process-oriented innovations. To address this shortcoming, we then develop a conceptual approach for measuring social innovation. Thereby, we integrate organizational innovation capacities and regional contexts with the transformational elements of social innovation. We discuss how such an integrated and multi-level approach to measurement enhances our understanding of social innovations and, in particular, their contributions to sustainability transitions. We contribute to the sustainability transitions literature by tying it to different innovation perspectives and by conceptualizing new innovation mechanisms that drive transformations. We add to social innovation theory by specifying its role in change toward sustainability and advancing it to a measurable construct relevant to governance and policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Knowledge and methodological gaps exist concerning less tangible social sustainability dimensions that unfold over time in complex ways. • Structural factors that increase vulnerability in the Ivorian cocoa sector are not yet addressed by policymakers and value chain actors. • Cocoa producers are highly vulnerable to price shocks and production-related risks, ultimately unable to achieve a decent standard of living. • Social sustainability is complex and multifaceted, manifesting across diverse dimensions, levels, and temporal scales. • Methodologies and approaches required to facilitate a nuanced, historical, and contextualized analysis of social sustainability dimensions. Despite efforts by governments, industry, civil society and other key stakeholders to ensure fairer farmer incomes, eradicate child labour, and address causes of cocoa-related deforestation, results on the ground in Côte d'Ivoire are limited. Given the less tangible social dimensions that evade quantitative methods and unfold over time in complex ways, knowledge and methodological gaps remain. Using Comparative Historical Analysis (CHA), this study analyses social sustainability priorities, statuses, and gaps in the Ivorian cocoa sector, providing a contextual reflection of current social outcomes. Findings highlight underlying social structures that (a) show slow progress (e.g., weak infrastructure, disparities in access to basic services, especially in rural areas); (b) amplify (e.g., structural poverty magnified by demographic changes, power held by a few firms); and (c) erode (e.g., institutional decay dynamics). Analysis shows that structural factors that increase vulnerability in the Ivorian cocoa sector are not adequately addressed. Thus, cocoa producers are highly vulnerable to price shocks and production related risks, ultimately unable to achieve a decent standard of living. Addressing research and knowledge gaps while making complex social issues a more explicit part of the policy and practice agenda is crucial for successful long-term multi-sectoral and multi-actor planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of urbanization and the widespread use of CCTV cameras, the processing of surveillance videos has gained importance. This study endeavors to create a city-wide monitoring system utilizing human action recognition that can elevate the social sustainability of citizens. The primary goal is to develop an entire framework to detect unusual events within urban environments, with a specific focus on identifying four aberrant actions: "falling," "violence," "loitering," and "intrusion.". The processing of CCTV images is vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, particularly impacting human detection and tracking when obstructions like body parts occlusion, such as during falling events. To address these challenges, the paper proposes tracking compensation techniques that boost the system's ability to detect anomalies without requiring additional training. The proposed approach demonstrates a remarkable 21.21% enhancement in detecting falling events, without compromising its handling of other event types. Overall, the system achieves an impressive average F1 score of 93% across diverse event categories. The system's effectiveness is thoroughly assessed through an extensive subway domain case study, shedding light on its robustness and adaptability for potential real-world deployment. This study also delves into transfer learning dynamics based on sample quantity and pre-training with relevant human-of-interest data. • Developed a CCTV event detection system to enhance social sustainability. • Proposed a method for tracking fallen individuals in adverse weather conditions. • Introduced an filtering method to reduce misclassification of non-human objects. • Conducted an adaptation study of the proposed system in the subway domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is undergoing a revolution of data-driven innovation. The rapid uptake of digital technologies in the sector contributes ever larger amounts of data that hold potential for improving decision making for aquatic food system sustainability. Realising the potential of digital tools and new data streams is, however, not inevitable. The current ecosystem of global and production-level digital aquaculture technologies and platforms is highly fragmented with a strong focus on private farm-level data for improving production efficiency, and limited publicly available data that can be used for social and environmental sustainability. Three scenarios for the future development of the aquaculture data ecosystem are possible (1) continued fragmentation; (2) centralisation, and (3) coordination in a federated ecosystem. Recognising a federated ecosystem as having the most potential for contributing to food system sustainability we provide three priority areas for improving data coverage, sharing and integration between and among farm-level and global platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burgeoning unplanned urbanisation and growing environmental risks across global South cities pose core questions to urban sustainability, planning theory and practice. Who are the agents of, and what are the control mechanisms in spatial plan preparation? To what extent are economic, social, and environmental sustainability principles considered and embedded in spatial plans and frameworks? And what are the possibilities for attaining sustainable urban future via spatial planning practice in the context of multi-level governance? Using Ghana as a case study, and critical literature review, interviews, and policy analysis, we contribute to the spatial planning and sustainability narrative in global South cities by evaluating the extent to which sustainability principles are integrated in Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs) and Spatial plans (SPs) in Ghana. We show that whereas sustainability is entangled with spatial planning, integrating sustainability principles in contemporary multi-level governance continues to present a complex challenge in practice. The complexities necessitated the engagement of local and international planning firms to complement the efforts of street-level-bureaucrats (local planning officials) in the preparation of spatial development frameworks and plans. However, such collaborations did not result in comprehensive integration of sustainability principles in spatial plans in practice. Our study indicate that, the economic, social, and environmental principles of sustainability were marginally embedded in local spatial plans of the three-tier spatial planning system of Ghana. We argue that equitable prioritisation of the principles of sustainability are required to strengthen local based spatial planning practice. • Environmental risks in Global South cities raise significant challenges for urban sustainability. • Achieving a sustainable urban future through spatial planning practice within the context of multi-level governance is critical. • We argue for strengthening local-based spatial planning practice through a balanced consideration of sustainability principles. • We emphasise equitable prioritization of economic, social, and environmental sustainability principles in local spatial planning practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines food tourism events in permanent tourist-oriented food venues, focusing on Greek tavernes. Drawing on ethnographic research in Greece since 2010, we explore how tourists' expectations and sensory experiences in food events influence culinary heritage and social sustainability. We employ Urry's "tourist gaze" concept, integrating it with a comprehensive analytical framework addressing tourists' and local attendees' sensory experiences in daily food events at culturally significant institutions like Greek Tavernes. Our study illuminates the dominance of tourists' expectations, preconceived imaginaries, and sensory engagements, revealing potential challenges to sustained cultural traditions and culinary heritage. While the "tourist gaze" may perpetuate static cultural dynamics, we identify "tourist (and resident) taste" as a counter-mechanism. Our findings reveal that Greek tavernes , catering to tourist expectations and evolving local taste preferences, strike a delicate balance, enhancing eventful and multisensorial experiences to preserve and develop culinary heritage and social sustainability. • Expand the concept of food tourism events to encompass events in permanent venues. • Greek tavernes offer insights into tourist sensory experiences in food events. • The "Tourist Gaze" hinders social sustainability by stagnating cultural evolution. • Festive practices prevent culinary degeneration, thereby fostering social sustainability. • Considering tourist sensory experiences facilitates the development of event tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food festival websites often showcase the commitment of events towards a socially relevant issue. However, it is challenging to communicate how events contribute to the well-being of communities. This paper analyses European food festival websites to explore to what extent events' social benefits are represented in their online communication. The research is based on a multimodal discourse concerned with the interaction between visual, textual, and design elements. Findings show that intergenerational connections, awareness of physical and mental health, and the preservation of local food heritage are the most salient discourses related to social sustainability when these are represented on the websites. In most cases, sustainability initiatives to assure access and inclusion of diverse community members stay hidden. Food festival organizers are advised to use inclusive online communication to foster a sense of community, inclusivity, and social equity. • European food festivals' online communication on social sustainability assessed. • A multimodal discourse analysis uncovered the explicit and implicit meanings. • Websites address intergenerationality, physical/mental health and local food. • Community diversity should also be addressed. • Food festivals' organizers should gain local communities' support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attending to the emergent debates on tourism and (in)justice, this study critically examines the role of the Walled Off Hotel, Banksy's tourism-artistic intervention in Palestine, in constructing justice. Utilising the evidence from 15 in-depth empathetic interviews, it explores the ways in which local residents make sense of the Hotel and how they frame and experience (in)justices. While demonstrating how these interpretations are entangled with the broader geographic, social and political context, the paper discusses how different forms of justice circulate in this particular context. The new knowledge generated contributes to our further understanding of achieving justice-through-tourism as an affirmative praxis, while addressing the broader humanitarian, earthly, or otherwise existential crisis. • We examine how justice and social sustainability unfold within the oppressed community. • We unpack the role of Western-initiated artistic intervention in constructing justice. • Perspectives of oppressed communities need to be prioritized in tourism development. • Social sustainability requires political action and social transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging objective to combat urban sprawl has put densification on the political agenda. Simultaneously, the complexity of planning within the existing built environment means that planning increasingly occurs on the project level. Project-based negotiations between planning authorities and landowners, in which agreements between parties are formalized in negotiated land use plans or private law contracts, thus shape the outcomes of densification projects. Considering the potential adverse effects of densification on housing affordability, it is important to understand how this shift towards project-based negotiations affects the ability of planners to secure public benefits such as affordable housing in redevelopment projects. This study uses a neo-institutional framework to analyze the negotiations between landowners and planning authorities and illuminates under which conditions affordable housing is provided. Case studies of six projects in two larger-scale redevelopment areas in the cities of Bern (Switzerland) and Nieuwegein (Netherlands) show this ability is highly dependent on (1) the existence of binding affordable housing targets, (2) landownership by non-profit actors, and (3) the direct involvement of citizens. The cases show a distinction between different types of project negotiations. In the Netherlands, contract-based negotiations can lead to the dilution of affordability targets, while in Switzerland, these targets are implemented more consistently through negotiated land use plans. The findings indicate that a project-based approach to planning may speed up the implementation of densification objectives but comes at the cost of democratic accountability. Instead, to ensure the social sustainability of urban densification projects, the scope of negotiations between planners and developers needs to move beyond cost-benefit considerations to include a broader range of public interests. • Negotiations between landowners and planners in densification projects are studied. • Housing affordability is difficult to guarantee due to powerful landowners. • Binding targets, nonprofit actors, and accountability reinforce affordability. • Binding targets are weaker in Dutch context, due to lack of accountability. • Expanding the scope of negotiations beyond cost-benefit considerations is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to systematically review existing literature on digital technology adoption for socially sustainable supply chain management (SSSCM) and propose a theoretical framework that outlines the central concepts. A content analysis-based systematic literature review approach was adopted to analyze 49 articles published from 2017 to 2024. The findings of this study identify critical antecedents, barriers, practices, enablers, and outcomes of digital technology adoption for SSSCM. The proposed conceptual model based on technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory captures these relationships among the identified factors and provides insights into how they can support the development of a socially sustainable supply chain. Furthermore, this study explores the potential positive and negative effects of technology adoption for SSSCM. It highlights the opportunities and challenges that arise from using digital technology in SSSCM, such as the emergence of Industry 4.0 and the need to ensure the ethical use of technology. This study is the first comprehensive review of the role of digital technology in SSSCM. The suggested framework offers guidance for upcoming research in this field, outlining the key areas that require further investigation. • Technology adoption provides both opportunities and challenges to socially sustainable supply chain management • More empirical evidence is needed on the impact of technology on the social sustainability of supply chains. • Different drivers, enablers and barriers affect the technology adoption in supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freight transportation activities having an impact on the freight logistics process. The environmental and social sustainability-related processes are poorly managed compared to the economic process. The quality of environmental and social sustainability (EnSoS) practices ought to be enhanced by measuring current sustainability practices, and at the same time, obstacles to sustainability have to be identified. Some of the previous work try to develop a sustainability framework, but less attention is paid to develop the EnSoS assessment framework for the freight transport industry. To bridge this research gap, this study develops an EnSoS framework based on an integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, i.e., fuzzy best-worst method (FBWM) and fuzzy logic approach. The proposed framework evaluates the current sustainability performance with an index and highlights the obstacles to the sustainable freight transportation system. The proposed framework presents two sustainability enablers, nine dimensions, and sixty-three sustainability attributes, including ten new attributes. The FBWM method is used to compute the fuzzy importance weight of attributes, whereas the fuzzy logic is used to assess the performance of each attribute. The proposed framework is validated with the case of the Indian freight industry. The fuzzy transportation EnSoS index (FTEnSoSI) is computed as (3.511, 6.366, 8.418), and close to ' very environmental and social sustainable (VESS) ' label. The fuzzy performance importance index (FPII) is computed to assess the performance of each attribute. Based on FPII value, thirty attributes are identified as obstacles to transport sustainability. The result analysis presented proposed policy measures for improving EnSoS obstacles. [Display omitted] • This paper presents a three-layered EnSo sustainability framework. • A fuzzy best-worst method (FBWM) and fuzzy logic approach is used to develop EnSoS index. • The proposed framework could be a basis for assessing the sustainability standards of the freight transport industry. • Obstacles of environmental and social sustainability are identified, and adequate policy measures are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to advance understandings of food systems functioning at a national level and explore ways for its transformation towards sustainability and social justice. Integrating food regime theory from political economy with social metabolism from ecological economics, and surplus/reproduction from feminist economics, we develop a novel research framework which combines six dimensions—food systems governance, monetary agrifood chain, socio-metabolic agrifood chain, surplus/reproduction, socioecological impacts, and conflicts & levers of change—encompassing 34 elements linked through six key connections. The research framework highlights the role of cheap food for the social reproduction of the labouring population in capitalism. Since national states play important roles in maintaining food regimes, we conducted a critical literature review through which we identified the main contributions and limitations of studies of food regimes at the national level aimed at foreseeing exit ways beyond the current corporate food regime. This regime is one of the main drives of the overcoming of planetary boundaries. An agroecological transition and food system change is needed to address this socio-ecological crisis, and this requires new food polices at a national level as well. This is why we consider it essential to integrate social metabolism with the approaches of food regimes and surplus/reproduction. • We integrate food regimes with social metabolism and reproduction in food research. • A critical literature review on national food regimes identifies key knowledge gaps. • A research framework with six dimensions, 34 elements and six connections. • A proposal relevant for agroecology transitions towards food systems transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare sector's direct and indirect GHG emissions account for 4%–5% of global net emissions. Hospitals face the challenge of sustainable transformations and need to measure, monitor, and report on their sustainability performance. While indicator-based assessments of hospital sustainability have received increased attention over the last years, they are heterogenous in their terminologies, categories, and included indicators. This study reviews taxonomies and included indicators in hospital sustainability assessments, laying the foundation for future developments of consistent indicator-based assessments. The objective is to (1) critically review existing assessments of hospitals; (2) identify relevant sustainability topics in a hospital context and derive a best-practice categorization; (3) highlight thematical gaps. Based on the PRISMA method, we identify 88 relevant articles. First, 47 articles (comprehensive hospital sustainability assessments with extensive indicator sets) are reviewed, forming the basis for deriving a best-practice categorization. Second, considering an additional 41 articles (proposing indicators for specific hospital aspects), we collect all indicators and compile a consolidated indicator pool. We find substantial variations in the taxonomies and terminologies of the reviewed articles; most notably, there is a disagreement about what constitutes an indicator. 73% of all consolidated indicators are qualitative, and 78% are site-specific. Thematical gaps relate to sustainability along upstream and downstream value chains (esp. food and pharmaceuticals) and quantitative social indicators in general. The developed best-practice taxonomy and the compiled indicator pool serve as a comprehensive basis for future sustainability assessments of hospitals. [Display omitted] • Review of 88 articles for indicator-based sustainability assessment of hospitals. • Literature shows diverging understandings of what constitutes an indicator. • Best-practice taxonomy and categorization of indicators. • Consolidated pool of environmental, social, and governance indicators. • 73% of indicators qualitative, thematical gaps in up- and downstream value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agri-food global value chains (GVCs) have transformed food production and trade, fostering efficiency and specialization across international borders and also introducing new challenges. This paper synthesizes insights from a special issue focused on agri-food GVCs, addressing four critical areas essential for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of these chains. We explore how trade connections and specialization can drive economic growth, emphasizing the importance of GVC integration. We also examine the role of transportation and infrastructure in ensuring global trade efficiency, highlighting the need for strategic investments to support robust supply chains. Additionally, we assess the impact of trade policies on sustainability, market disruptions, and overall efficiency, underscoring the importance of regulatory frameworks that promote both economic and environmental goals. Finally, we consider the implications of domestic and trade policies on welfare and equity, particularly in developing regions where inclusive growth remains a pressing concern. By identifying these essential areas for robust policy frameworks, this paper provides actionable insights for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of the global food system, which can inform policies that enhance the benefits of agri-food GVC integration while mitigating their risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity access and affordability are critical for sustainable development. A significant global population without access to electricity is in the rural communities of developing countries. Rural grid investments are unattractive to investors due to low electricity demand and poverty of rural consumers. This paper assessed the financial capacity of rural dwellers to pay for electricity installation. The results reveal that rural consumers can barely pay for electricity. We propose a paradigm shift and alternative grid design models that recognize the various economic and social status of rural consumers. One suggested model proposes using agricultural production to drive social inclusion and economic sustainability of microgrid investments. • Rural electricity access was studied in developing economies. • Economic sustainability of rural grids was assessed. • Rural grid investments are unattractive to investors due to low electricity demand poverty on the part of rural consumers. • Alternative models were proposed for social inclusion and economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do we test solutions for greater social sustainability in food systems when those alternatives do not yet exist? How do we create solutions that account for the entire food system? This paper presents an innovative research method, the serious game, and its application for researching propositions that are systems-wide, integrating consumer equity and viable small farming in the Northeastern United States. It is presented as an example for other researchers interested in applied, policy-relevant research We detail our mixed-methods, stakeholder-informed process of developing a game that tests policy interventions for increasing the accessebility of small-farm produce, which arose from exploratory qualitative data collection as an example of how to use this method. We describe the resulting "Race Against Rot" game and present an example of results generated by game play. Finally, we discuss the translational potential of using serious games methodology to represent food systems and test real-world solutions to pressing concerns. • Small US farms face persistent economic instability. • Lower-income consumers are often priced out of fresh, regional food distribution. • Serious game methodology provides a novel means of collecting dynamic data to test solutions to such dual problems. • This research tool may be used to address complex, system-level questions critical to rural resilience. • The paper describes this methodology and its application for questions of equity in regional food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product-Service Systems (PSS) have been recognized as potential game-changers for advancing sustainability. However, the sustainability of a PSS over traditional products and services is not automatic; it requires careful, intentional design. Despite a decade's progress in relevant literature, early-stage design assessment of a PSS – particularly from a life cycle standpoint and considering the social sustainability dimension – remains underexplored. This study introduces a framework for early-stage identification and analysis of potential environmental and social impacts within a PSS's life cycle to aid in decision-making and guide towards sustainable solutions. The framework's hotspot analysis, which combines life cycle assessment techniques, aims to pinpoint life cycle stages most susceptible to significant environmental and social impacts. Drawing on existing literature and expert evaluations, this approach offers designers preliminary insights into potential impacts, establishing a groundwork for comprehensive life cycle analysis once more detailed information on products, services, and organizational structures becomes available. The hotspot analysis not only addresses the lifecycle view of a PSS but also places emphasis on the oft-neglected social dimension of sustainability, marking an area ripe for further study. By supporting decision-making in the early design phase and encouraging scrutiny of various PSS concepts, this approach promotes the cultivation of sustainably-designed solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The sustainability of environmentally low-input integrated farming is influenced by the high value of environmental, economic, • The environmentally low-input integrated farming has a good sustainability index of 86.10 %; • The integrated industry facilities, market absorption for compost products A comprehensive sustainability index was designed in this study to evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impact of ecologically low-input integrated farming systems. By integrating diverse agricultural practices while minimizing reliance on external, non-renewable resources, this approach aims to enhance ecological harmony and sustainability. The index provides a multi-dimensional assessment, encompassing environmental, economic, and social aspects, to gauge the overall sustainability of these integrated farming practices. The procedure involved defining critical sustainability criteria across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, collecting relevant data on farming practices, and constructing a model to assess and score these practices. The index was validated through real-world applications and engaged with various stakeholders for insights and practical verification. Environmental data involves measuring soil nutrients (5 %), water usage (500 gallons/acre), and biodiversity (30 species/acre) to assess the ecological impact of farming practices. Economic data focuses on recording crop yields, input costs, and market prices to evaluate the financial viability of these practices. Social data is collected through surveys on labor practices, job satisfaction, and community impact, providing insights into the social implications and acceptability of the farming methods. The data revealed that the farming system aligned well with sustainability benchmarks, exhibiting no deviation from optimal levels in soil nitrogen content and water usage. Strong profitability and input cost efficiency were observed in the economic dimension, with a net income per acre of $400/acre and an input cost efficiency of 50 %. In the social aspect, although reasonably scored, specific labor metrics and regional/industry standards were lacking for a comprehensive evaluation. Overall, the farming system demonstrated commendable sustainability practices, with an environmental score of 7.5/10, an economic score of 8/10, and a social score of 7/10, suggesting potential for further improvements, particularly in addressing social sustainability factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact-intensive and rapidly growing pharmaceutical industry must ensure its sustainability. This study reveals that environmental sustainability assessments have been conducted for only around 0.2% of pharmaceuticals, environmental impacts have significant variations among the assessed products, and different impact categories have not been consistently studied. Highly varied impacts require assessing more products to understand the industry's sustainability status. Reporting all impact categories will be crucial, especially when comparing production technologies. Biological production of (semi)synthetic pharmaceuticals could reduce their environmental costs, though the high impacts of biologically produced monoclonal antibodies should also be optimized. Considering the sustainability potential of biopharmaceuticals from economic, environmental, and social perspectives, collaboratively guiding their immense market growth would lead to the industry's sustainability transition. [Display omitted] • The pharmaceutical industry is growing rapidly, with a CAGR of 2.4%. • Environmental impacts of only around 0.2% of pharmaceuticals have been reported. • mAb products feature high market volume and CC impact (6600–210 000 kgCO 2 eq/kg). • Biotechnology advances pharmaceuticals' economic, environmental, and social sustainability. • Quantitative impact assessments can guide the sustainability transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand responsive transit (DRT) is expected to offer enormous possibilities for fulfilling the ever-growing diversified demand while promoting the urban sustainability. Nevertheless, it seems to remain critical but intractable to make the routing decision in response to the time-dependent travel speeds. Considering the risk of speed uncertainty, deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm is presented to address the time-dependent electric DRT problem in this study. Long short-term memory (LSTM) is integrated into the attention mechanism at the decoding process. To evaluate the sustainability, the reward function can be subdivided into the number of served passengers, regret utility, and carbon emissions. To testify the effectiveness, we made a comparison between the CPLEX solver, NSGA-II, and the proposed algorithm in a realistic transportation network of Beijing. The computational results demonstrate that DRL algorithm with shorter computation time and better solutions is dramatically superior to the other approaches. Therefore, the DRL algorithm provides a more efficient framework for addressing the time-dependent electric DRT problem while improving the sustainability of the environment and society. • Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm is constructed to address the time-dependent electric DRT problem. • From the perspective of the sustainability, the number of served passengers, regret utility, and carbon emission are presented as the objective function. • To explore the passenger's decision-making psychology, regret theory and indifference threshold are incorporated for the regret utility. • Numerical examples in Beijing network are further investigated to assess environmental and social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on sustainable development and urban heritage currently focuses more on the economic realm rather than the social dimension. Social cohesion plays an important role in achieving sustainability goals. Although it has been argued that urban heritage contributes to social cohesion, this has not been adequately tested from an empirical perspective. Therefore, this study aims to using a hierarchical linear model investigate the total number and different types of heritages across 32 communities in Nara City, Japan, and the awareness and utilization of urban heritage of 1502 residents in the target communities, to analyzes the relationship with their social cohesion. The findings indicate that social cohesion is related to residents' heritage awareness and utilization patterns. Higher heritage awareness, more frequent visits and longer stays at heritage sites correspond to a higher level of social cohesion. The number of community heritage is also positively related because its presence provides communities with a better living environment and more places to interact and learn about the local culture. However, different types of urban heritage do not have the same relationship with social cohesion. Our research emphasizes that urban heritage should be used wisely to stimulate its role as a driver of sustainable social development. • The relationship between urban heritage and social cohesion is explored for the first time through a quantitative approach. • Social cohesion is positively correlated with the amount of heritage in a community. • Different types of heritage have different relationships with social cohesion. • Heritage awareness and the patterns of heritage use by residents are intimately related to social cohesion. • Propose heritage policies and management from the aspect of urban planning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines female participation as a strategy for sustainable development. The increasing interest in female participation as a sustainability strategy on an international scale, underscores the need for critical examinations of this approach. Centring on contemporary Sweden as a prominent site of this development, this article investigates the municipal use of gendered design processes and gender-sensitive policies. Drawing on the study of five public spaces, this article discusses categorization and processes of inclusion/exclusion and ordination/subordination in relation to the design and use of public spaces. Central to the analysis is a recurring ambivalence identified in the material, where spaces are referred to both as spaces for girls and spaces for everyone. The authors argue that spaces can only fulfil the double demand of being for girls and for everyone if we accept that girls stay subordinated to boys in their use of public space. Drawing on an analysis of the interplay of inclusion/exclusion and ordination/subordination they propose a generalizable model of participation and public space. The article concludes by advocating for the creation of spaces for girls and the creation of spaces for everyone to be treated as two related yet separate tasks. • Public spaces designed exclusively for girls aim to address gender imbalances. • Spaces for girls are ascribed attributes like welcoming and openness. • Spaces for girls became open to all over time, revealing ambiguous intentions. • A space can be for girls and for all only if girls remain subordinate to boys. • A model combining inclusion/exclusion and ordination/subordination is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability issues are emerging as a major focus for the insurance institutions, who have to face a number of challenges of the immediate future regarding environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, climate changes, and catastrophic events. Despite this, literature is still scarce. In this vein, our work contributes to the small but growing body of literature on sustainable finance insurances, by providing evidence of the positive role that insurance companies can play in realizing a more sustainable financial system. The study proposes an innovative securitized process, described as a financial cycle oriented to the achievement of the social objective of collective health. Sustainable instruments allow firms, insurance companies and investors to play a proactive role: virtuous companies, attentive to health protection of their employees, could benefit from premium discounts on the costs of insurance coverage for business risks. The analysis demonstrates how the securitization scheme supports projects with economic-social impact, underlining main actors' roles, challenges, and opportunities for a sustainable future. Findings pave the way for designing new sustainable insurance solutions and have both practical and social implications. • Social objectives and financial circle: a challenge insurer can take up when public health is fragile. • A health derivative can involve various actors with a common purpose. • Securitization scheme combines sustainability and inclusion goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study is to investigate the moderating effect of Information Technology governance on the relationship between the use of Financial Technologies and sustainability performance. The study used non-probability convenience and snowballing sampling approaches to collect data. The study collects a sample of 210 respondents targeting bankers in various positions from the Indian commercial banks. The study used structural equation modeling to estimate the results. The findings highlight the complex links between IT governance, FinTech, and sustainability-related concerns, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to sustainability. Banks can establish more complete strategies for sustainable growth by considering IT governance, FinTech, and ESG factors. The findings reveal that IT governance is critical in shaping banks' strategic planning towards sustainable activities, evolution of Fintech, and technological advancements, which in turn influence significantly and positively sustainability performance. IT governance leads to increased adoption of Fintech and enhances sustainability performance, contributing to the growth of economic sustainability. Banks that strategically utilize IT governance to foster Fintech and sustainability performance improvements likely experience economic gains due to their focus on sustainable and technologically driven practices. The findings emphasize the importance of balancing sustainability efforts and suggest that banks that embrace IT governance while emphasizing ESG factors are more likely to embrace better sustainability performance. The findings offer advice for bankers and policymakers on how to strategically utilize technology to improve sustainability and economic performance while considering potential trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The discursive boundary object of social sustainability consists of several levels of meaning. • The ambiguity in the first level allows a discursive shift in the second level without changing the meaning in the first. • To identify discursive shifts, it is necessary to not delimit the analysis to the first level of meaning. • The lack of short-term procedures for social sustainability allows for calculative practices to solve goal conflicts. This paper provides further understanding of how social sustainability functions as a discursive boundary object, by exploring how it is artefactually anchored during the planning process, and how this anchoring affects the discourse of social sustainability. This is explored in a Swedish strategic planning project – the RiverCity in Gothenburg – where social sustainability is the desired policy objective. This paper traces how the discourse of social sustainability shifted during the planning process (2012–2019) and shows how social sustainability contains two levels of meaning, substantives aspects of what a socially sustainable city is and procedural of how to achieve it. The substantive level functions as a boundary object between policy areas, however, the procedural level leads to goal conflicts when it is translated and artefactually anchored by different municipal departments. The findings show how the conflicts between different translations of social sustainability change the discourse over time without changing the phrasing of the first level of meaning. This finding shows that 1) while the core idea persists different translations lead to different artefactual anchoring, 2) which shows a mismatch between long-term socioeconomic goals and short-term financial goals for social sustainability, and 3) risks the concept being hijacked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, the home appliance industry has significantly impacted the environment and human welfare. Consumers today know the consequences of their consumption habits and are willing to make a change. An essential influencer in this regard is social media. This study uses grounded theory to explore sustainability communication by home appliance brands on social media. The purpose of the study is to undertake empirical research to develop an understanding of the phenomenon of sustainability communication. We employed inductive content analysis to study 13 home appliance brands. The unit of analysis is social media posts over three years, from 2020 to 2023. Social media analytics methods of topic modelling, sentiment analysis, and analysis of likes are used. The study's findings indicate a substantial amount of communication focused on sustainability. There is significantly more emphasis on social sustainability than environmental sustainability. We find that people evaluate sustainability communication more positively than non-sustainability communication. Nine sub-topics are identified through topic modelling. Academic literature and previous studies firmly establish the importance of environment, green, and energy efficiency in sustainability communication. Yet, this study presents a unique perspective by uncovering a broad range of topics. The study contributes to the existing literature by proposing the concept of Responsible Sustainable Consumer Communication (RSCC). The study offers industry professionals and researchers a valuable resource to deepen their understanding of sustainability communication as it exists today and its effects. • Use of Social Media Grounded Theory (SMGT) to study brand communication on Twitter. • Conception of Responsible Sustainable Consumer Communication (RSCC). • Topic modelling and sentiment analysis of sustainability communication. • Consumer sentiment for sustainability communication is positive. • Use and effectiveness of social and environmental sustainability communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International agreements have been adopted in recent years to disseminate animal welfare standards worldwide, similar to the situation for environmental and social sustainability standards. Scholars who have analyzed such initiatives argue that this calls for contextualized strategies for a successful implementation of international animal welfare standards in specific settings, also emphasizing the relevance of individuals and institutions who function as intermediaries in these complex situations of change. However, previous studies do not provide empirical insights into how different intermediaries work in relation to international animal welfare standards implementation in national contexts. Focusing empirically on the implementation of EU animal welfare directives in Brazilian pig production, this paper aims to connect the standards implementation and intermediation literatures to deepen the understanding of how a network of intermediaries formed and acted as an 'ecology of intermediaries' to facilitate the implementation process for international animal welfare standards. The paper aims to enrich debates on how to develop contextualized strategies that can translate recognized international regulations into practical animal welfare improvements. Our findings provide evidence that collective intermediation efforts are pivotal in addressing demands (such as translation, adaptation, regulation) that emerge from the complex situation of change provoked by the implementation of international animal welfare standards in national contexts. The main implication of our study for theory on standards implementation is that the operationalization of a contextualized strategy linked to international animal welfare standards implementation is composed of a normative dimension and a technological dimension and that, to achieve their desired outcome, contextualized strategies also rely on connected and complementary intermediation actions. • Animal welfare standards implementation requires contextualized strategies. • Intermediation is pivotal in operationalizing animal welfare standards implementation. • Intermediaries formed an ecology that facilitates standards implementation. • Contextualized implementation strategies have normative and technological dimensions. • Contextualized strategies also rely on connected and complementary intermediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current animal-based food systems are being challenged by environmental, social and economic sustainability issues. A systemic transformation from conventional agriculture to a more sustainable cellular agriculture utilising cell-cultivation technologies to produce animal products has been proposed. The aim of this study is to explore the political and policy stakeholders' perceptions about cellular agriculture; how they perceive of the current food system and its potential transformation into a cellular agricultural system. The qualitative data comprises 13 interviews conducted with representatives of German stakeholders. The data were analysed with the Transformative Innovation Policy approach. Perceptions of the transformative potential of cultured products were classified into drivers and bottlenecks that either advance or hinder the progress of cellular agriculture in Germany. The results show that the political and policy stakeholders are aware of the changes that are needed, but anticipate that large-scale transformation to the cellular agriculture system may not be a plausible solution in the near future. • Political and policy stakeholders' perceptions of cellular agriculture and cultured meat tend to be ambiguous. • The Transformative Innovation Policy approach was used to assess the transformative potential of cellular agriculture. • The stakeholders addressed 22 themes that could be utilised for or against cultured meat. • The themes were further classified as hindering bottlenecks and advancing drivers of the development of cultured meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]