Sustainability

20 pages, 318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of SMEs’ Green Business Models in the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: Differences in Their Design and Degree of Adoption Stemming from Business Size

by María A. Quintás, Ana I. Martínez-Senra and Antonio Sartal

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2109; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062109 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7680

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how SMEs define the components of their business models (value proposition, creation and capture) from the point of view of decarbonization. We analyze SMEs as a group, and study whether their size affects this process [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how SMEs define the components of their business models (value proposition, creation and capture) from the point of view of decarbonization. We analyze SMEs as a group, and study whether their size affects this process and, in both cases, we examine evolution over time. We use a database comprising 1161 observations of SMEs, 466 in 2014, and 695 in 2016. The results show that SMEs’ value propositions give an intermediate valuation to both legally required and voluntary reduction of environmental impact, irrespective of SME size and the year analyzed. Regarding value creation, SMEs adopt practically no environmental practices, and there are significant differences according to size, with more difficulties than advantages stemming from small size. The study also shows that such environmental practices are not effective in reducing carbon. This diagnosis indicates that SMEs need help from the administration if they are to play a key role in the process of transformation toward a low-carbon economy. Legislative actions involving harsher environmental protection measures might help shape value propositions that place greater importance on reducing environmental impact, whereas training actions on available environmental techniques, promotion of research on how to adapt such techniques to SMEs and the development of specific practices for SMEs might enhance environmental value creation and capture in their BMs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Sustainable Competitive Strategies)

15 pages, 2223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Diffusion of Inter-Organizational Technology in Supply Chains: An Approach to Heterogeneous Levels of Risk Aversion

by Daeheon Choi, Chune Young Chung and Kaun Y. Lee

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062108 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2629

Abstract

This paper develops a model to analyze inter-organizational technology adoption in a supply chain. While the basic model is general, this study is motivated by several cases of inter-organizational technology adoption in supply chains. The proposed model in this study considers firms on [...] Read more.

This paper develops a model to analyze inter-organizational technology adoption in a supply chain. While the basic model is general, this study is motivated by several cases of inter-organizational technology adoption in supply chains. The proposed model in this study considers firms on both levels of the supply chain, namely, supplier firms and buyer firms. These individual firms’ thresholds for adoption should be considered by other firms’ decisions within a network, together with their own organizational attributes. The heterogeneity across the population should be allowed. That is, individual firms make a decision for adopting the technology at different times due to their different network sizes, prior beliefs, and amounts of information observed. The main finding is that this uncertainty decreases as other suppliers adopt the technology, and information about their experiences becomes available. In addition, at any given time, an estimate of the benefit to a supplier depends on the number of supplier firms and on the number of buyer firms that have already adopted the technology. Thus, we seek to capture this dependence and analyze its effect on the adoption of a new inter-organizational technology. The next step is to embed the firm-level adoption model into a population model. The model includes various types of heterogeneity in the population model to capture the factors affecting the speed of diffusion. This allows us to derive an adoption curve that is specified by the accumulated fraction of firms that have adopted the technology in or before any given period. The population model allows us to consider the effect of several strategies observed in practice and numerical experiments yielding many managerial implications in this area. Full article

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18 pages, 2854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of the UK Green Deal in Shaping Pro-Environmental Behaviours: Insights from Two Case Studies

by Candice Howarth and Ben M. Roberts

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2107; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062107 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5177

Abstract

Domestic energy use accounts for more than a quarter of total energy use in the United Kingdom (UK), with space and water heating accounting for almost 80% of this consumption. Energy efficiency is often the simplest and most cost-effective way of reducing energy [...] Read more.

Domestic energy use accounts for more than a quarter of total energy use in the United Kingdom (UK), with space and water heating accounting for almost 80% of this consumption. Energy efficiency is often the simplest and most cost-effective way of reducing energy use, and improving domestic energy efficiency can contribute significantly to reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A significant proportion of the UK’s energy stock remains inefficient, and over 80% of current housing stock will still be standing in 2050. Therefore, retrofitting existing buildings is fundamental to achieving energy efficiency improvements in the domestic sector. In order to reduce carbon emissions and improve domestic energy efficiency, the UK government launched the Green Deal in 2013 to improve the energy efficiency in buildings in the UK, reduce emissions from homes by 29%, and help meet carbon reduction targets. It aimed to overcome existing perceived barriers to the adoption of energy efficiency measures in the home and enable households and businesses to make energy-saving improvements to their properties, delivering a range of important benefits to the owner/occupier as a result. This paper critically assesses the impact of the Green Deal in shaping pro-environmental behaviours by drawing on two case studies. Lessons learnt from the UK’s Green Deal energy policy are presented, and implications for the UK government’s role in shaping energy policy and pro-environmental behaviours are considered. Full article

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13 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The motric, Educational, Recreational and Satisfaction Impact of Adventure Education Activities in the Urban Tourism Environment

by Dana Badau and Adela Badau

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2106; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062106 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5122

Abstract

(1) Background: The study aims to highlight the impact of educational, recreational, motric and satisfaction of adventure education activities in the urban tourism environment; (2) Methods: The study included 48 students with specialization in physical education. The adventure education program included two specific [...] Read more.

(1) Background: The study aims to highlight the impact of educational, recreational, motric and satisfaction of adventure education activities in the urban tourism environment; (2) Methods: The study included 48 students with specialization in physical education. The adventure education program included two specific activities and the evaluation focused on: the students’ choice in choosing and crossing the routes from the Adventure Park in Brasov according to their difficulty; the distance covered within the Photo Trip Brasov Adventure. At the end of program a questionnaire contained 20 items divided into two parts of 10 items for each of the two activities: Adventure Park Brasov Challenge and Photo Trip Brasov Adventure, was used to assess the educational, recreational and satisfaction impact of the urban adventure tourism activities. The results were processed using SPPS 20; (3) Results: At the Adventure Park Brasov Challenge the girls have accumulated 118 points (29.7%), and the boys 280 points (70.3%). For Photo Trip Brasov Adventure, the average distance covered by the 12 teams was 5.516 ± 0.240. The results are statistically significant for p < 0.05. The Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the whole questionnaire was α = 0.933; for the Adventure Park Brasov Challenge was α = 0.811; for Photo Trip Brasov Adventure was α = 0.924, suggesting that the items had a very high internal consistency; (4) Conclusions: Participation in the Education program through adventure in urban tourism environment highlighted the expansion and improvement of the physical, technical, educational, recreational potential and participation of the students. The analysis of the results of the questionnaire revealed that the students mostly appreciate the satisfaction and recreational parameters and in the lower the educational and motoric parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity as a Means of Culture, Leisure and Free Time)

15 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Ecuador

by Paúl Sarango-Lalangui, José Álvarez-García and María De la Cruz Del Río-Rama

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2105; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062105 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7276

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger enterprises, generate economic, social, and environmental impacts on their environment. However, in the case of these types of enterprises, the accumulation of these impacts is very significant in the immediate surroundings where they offer [...] Read more.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger enterprises, generate economic, social, and environmental impacts on their environment. However, in the case of these types of enterprises, the accumulation of these impacts is very significant in the immediate surroundings where they offer their products and services. This discussion is particularly relevant in Ecuador, where 99% of all enterprises are SMEs. The objective of this research is to find out if small and medium-sized enterprises in this country are involved in the adoption of sustainable practices as well as see if there are significant differences in adoption based on size, sector, and age. The methodology used is the performance of a descriptive analysis and regression of the data obtained through a structured questionnaire (indicators of the Ethos Institute of Brazil). Previously, the reliability of the questionnaire was validated through an exploratory factor analysis. The target population consists of 9843 enterprises, obtaining a sample size of 188 valid surveys, which implies a response rate of 2%, representing a sampling error of ±7.08%. The results obtained enabled us to perform a sustainability diagnosis of SMEs in Ecuador, identifying the strengths and weaknesses. The managers have a positive and favourable attitude towards sustainability. The practices considered show a medium-high implementation level of 79.71% in economic sustainability, 82.28% in social sustainability, and 78.14% in environmental sustainability in the enterprises considered in the sample. Although these percentages are significant, there is plenty of scope for improvement. Full article

21 pages, 727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Decisive Risks of Green Development Projects by Adopting Social Network Analysis under Stakeholder Theory

by Li Ma, Lin Wang, Kuo-Jui Wu, Ming-Lang Tseng and Anthony S. F. Chiu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2104; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062104 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4106

Abstract

The Belt and Road initiatives related to green development projects are being increasingly considered globally. However, such projects face several risks resulting from stakeholder diversity. Although previous studies attempted to identify the risks caused by stakeholders, they found it difficult to provide a [...] Read more.

The Belt and Road initiatives related to green development projects are being increasingly considered globally. However, such projects face several risks resulting from stakeholder diversity. Although previous studies attempted to identify the risks caused by stakeholders, they found it difficult to provide a precise boundary to separate the risks attributable to a single stakeholder. This study adopts social network analysis to explore the decisive risks attributed to each stakeholder by considering a project’s stage. The results reveal that contractors take on the most risk and, thus, require real-time monitoring. Furthermore, all stakeholders need to collaborate with one another during the implementation stage of a project to mitigate the occurrence of risk. This study makes three contributions: it (1) provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the understanding of stakeholder theory; (2) offers specific guidelines for monitoring risks; and (3) enables stakeholders to understand their duties in controlling risks. Detailed discussions are provided in the remainder of the manuscript. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agribusiness Decision making model in Belt and Road Green Development)

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15 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competitive–Cooperative Strategy Based on Altruistic Behavior for Dual-Channel Supply Chains

by Fei Xu and Honglei Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062103 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3218

Abstract

As market competition becomes increasingly fierce, it becomes more and more important for members of the supply chain to maximize market sales and improve the economic benefits of all parties through altruistic cooperation. Considering the complex relationship between online and offline retail channels, [...] Read more.

As market competition becomes increasingly fierce, it becomes more and more important for members of the supply chain to maximize market sales and improve the economic benefits of all parties through altruistic cooperation. Considering the complex relationship between online and offline retail channels, this paper proposes a competitive–cooperative strategy based on altruistic behavior for the dual-channel supply chain, by applying the theory of the co-competition game. First, we introduce the problem with respect to the relationship between online and offline retail channels, and establish the competitive–cooperative strategy model based on altruistic behavior. Then, we prove the equilibrium strategy for existence and stability of the proposed model through mathematical deduction. Next, a multi-object optimal model is excluded by applying the Pareto principle, and the NSGA-II-based algorithm is obtained to acquire the Nash equilibrium point. Finally, we present the case testing results, which indicate that the proposed model is robust and can improve the channel efficiency of the supply chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Supply Chain System Design and Optimization)

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14 pages, 647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Patient Participation through Physician’s Resources on Experience and Wellbeing

by Jiyoung Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062102 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3160

Abstract

Few studies have reported on how customer value is co-created in healthcare service delivery, and its effect on patients’ perceptions of wellbeing. It is important to examine physician-patient interaction in the context of a healthcare sector characterized by complex, specialized services and to [...] Read more.

Few studies have reported on how customer value is co-created in healthcare service delivery, and its effect on patients’ perceptions of wellbeing. It is important to examine physician-patient interaction in the context of a healthcare sector characterized by complex, specialized services and to determine how value is thereby co-created. This study’s purpose is to investigate the potential impact of patient participation through physicians’ resource offering on patient experiential value and wellbeing. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey of actual patients in South Korea, whose responses were analyzed via structural equation using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. IBM Corp.: Armonk, NY, USA. The results indicate that physicians provide significant affective and cognitive resources to patients; in turn, patients are actively involved in the medical encounter process. These co-creation activities lead to increases in patients’ experiential value and perceived wellbeing. Patients’ play a major role in problem-solving, and service providers contribute resources such as professional expertise and affective care. Healthcare service providers can refer to the service process model proposed herein and aim to maximize patients’ roles and use of their resources for patients’ wellbeing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Practices on Cotton Production and Livelihood of Farmers in Punjab, Pakistan

by Muhammad Ali Imran, Asghar Ali, Muhammad Ashfaq, Sarfraz Hassan, Richard Culas and Chunbo Ma

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062101 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 70 | Viewed by 11890

Abstract

Cotton is the second largest crop of Pakistan in terms of area after wheat and is being suffered by multiple shocks over the time due to conventional agricultural management practices, climate change, and market failures. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was introduced by the [...] Read more.

Cotton is the second largest crop of Pakistan in terms of area after wheat and is being suffered by multiple shocks over the time due to conventional agricultural management practices, climate change, and market failures. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was introduced by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in 2010, as an innovative cleaner production alternative to conventional farming that aimed at increasing the efficiency of natural resources, resilience, and productivity of agricultural production system, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The adverse effects of climate change on cotton production at the farm and regional level can be minimized by using CSA practices and technologies. The present study investigated the financial performance and explored the impact of CSA through sustainable water use management on cotton production in Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) irrigation system of Punjab, Pakistan by using Cobb-Douglas production function. The adopters of CSA in cotton cultivation were identified by conducting six focus group discussions. Data were collected through well-structured questionnaire from 133 adopters of CSA and 65 conventional cotton growers for the cropping season 2016–2017. It was found that water-smart (raising crops on bed, laser land levelling, conjunctive use of water and drainage management), energy-smart (minimum tillage), carbon-smart (less use of chemicals) and knowledge-smart (crop rotation and improved varieties i.e., tolerant to drought, flood and heat/cold stresses) practices and technologies of CSA were adopted by the cotton farmers in the study area. Most of the farmers were of the view that they are adopting CSA practices and technologies due to the limited supply of canal water, climate change, drought-prone, massive groundwater extraction, rapidly declining groundwater table and increasing soil salinity over the time. Results revealed that uniform germination, higher yield and financial returns, the concentration of inputs and increase in resource use efficiency are the main advantages of CSA. The econometric analysis showed that implementation of CSA practices and technologies as judicious use of water and fertilizer, groundwater quality, access to extension services, and appropriate method and time of picking have a significant impact on the gross value of cotton product (GVP). The findings of the study would be helpful for policy makers to formulate policies that can minimize farmer’s financial burden to adopt CSA technologies and implement for scaling out in Punjab and beyond. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Governance for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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20 pages, 12532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drought Assessment with the Community Land Model for 1951–2010 in East Asia

by Myoung-Jin Um, Mun Mo Kim, Yeonjoo Kim and Daeryong Park

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2100; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062100 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4531

Abstract

Severe droughts have occurred in East Asia; however, observational hydroclimate data that covers the entire region is lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate drought assessment in East Asia. This study estimated three drought indices by generating hydroclimate variables using the [...] Read more.

Severe droughts have occurred in East Asia; however, observational hydroclimate data that covers the entire region is lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate drought assessment in East Asia. This study estimated three drought indices by generating hydroclimate variables using the Community Land Model (CLM). The results of the CLM were verified by comparison with Climatic Research Unit (CRU) data for precipitation and air temperature and the Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) data for runoff. Spatial and temporal variations in three drought severity indices, including the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), the standardized runoff index (SRI), and the Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI), in East Asia were estimated using the CLM output and compared with the SPEI in the CRU. This study classified drought frequency into four classes depending on the drought severity with 5-deg gapped longitude and latitude for 1951–2010 in East Asia and found that moderately dry (D2) and severely dry (D3) drought frequency classes matched well between the CLM and CRU data. The SPEI in the CLM and CRU data showed very similar frequency magnitudes and an increasing temporal trend. The SRI and SSMI frequencies for CLM also showed an increasing temporal trend compared to the SPEI frequency trend. The results of this study show that CLM outputs are reliable for drought analysis in East Asia. Furthermore, this study suggests the possibility of CLM application to other regions to generate hydroclimate data that is otherwise insufficient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Impact Events and Climate Change)

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13 pages, 229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Infrastructure through Citizen Stormwater Management: Policy Instruments, Participation and Engagement

by Eva Lieberherr and Olivia Odom Green

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2099; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062099 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5627

Abstract

As in other industrialized countries, many urban water social-ecological systems in the United States are characterized by frequent discharges of contaminated runoff, catastrophic flooding, and near-complete severance of the hydrologic cycle. Recent advancements in stormwater best management practices aim to push urban water [...] Read more.

As in other industrialized countries, many urban water social-ecological systems in the United States are characterized by frequent discharges of contaminated runoff, catastrophic flooding, and near-complete severance of the hydrologic cycle. Recent advancements in stormwater best management practices aim to push urban water social-ecological systems into a more sustainable regime that reconnects the hydrologic cycle and utilizes ecosystem services, such as infiltration and evapotranspiration, to improve the quality of urban and suburban water bodies. Collectively, these approaches are termed green infrastructure. As a decentralized approach, green infrastructure requires implementation on, as well as access to, property throughout a watershed, which poses particular governance challenges for watersheds where most land is held privately. We argue that green infrastructure on private property has a strong potential for creating a more sustainable regime through Citizen Stormwater Management, a participatory form of governance with strong citizen influence and engagement. We develop a classification scheme to assess policy instruments’ degree of government intervention, citizen participation, and engagement. The paper explores how various policy instruments encourage Citizen Stormwater Management across the United States on both public and private property. We then conduct a textual analysis of ten years of publicly available data from Onondaga County, New York (USA) to assess the implementation of applicable policy instruments. Findings indicate that incentive-based (carrots) along with outreach (sermon) policies can play an important role when regulatory instruments (sticks) are lacking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Water Management)

28 pages, 1491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Addressing Organisational Pressures as Drivers towards Sustainability in Manufacturing Projects and Project Management Methodologies

by Fotios Misopoulos, Roula Michaelides, Mohammad Afiq Salehuddin, Vicky Manthou and Zenon Michaelides

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062098 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7190

Abstract

The concept of sustainability continues to rapidly grow in interest from disparate academic and industrial fields. This research aims to elucidate further the implications of the sustainability drivers upon project management methodological approaches specifically in the manufacturing industry. This paper studies the three [...] Read more.

The concept of sustainability continues to rapidly grow in interest from disparate academic and industrial fields. This research aims to elucidate further the implications of the sustainability drivers upon project management methodological approaches specifically in the manufacturing industry. This paper studies the three prevalent dialogues in the field of sustainability, relevant to the environmental and social aspects of the Triple Bottom Line, and utilises Institutional Theory to propose organisational pressures as affecting sustainability efforts in industrial manufacturing project management. Furthermore, the literature bodies of Lean and Life Cycle Analysis in manufacturing project management guided our reflection that the various drivers of sustainability put forward that do not consider the distinctive organisational pressures fail to address institutional and systemic project management issues holistically. The authors further conduct and draw on a systematic literature review on the constructs of sustainability in the manufacturing industry and their adopted methodologies, evaluating academic articles published from the year 2001 to 2017. The findings indicate that normative pressures prevail over coercive and mimetic pressures and are seen as the main drivers of sustainability in the manufacturing industry. In an incremental reductionist approach, project management knowledge areas are analysed, and the study posits that Stakeholder and Communications Management are two of the knowledge areas that need to integrate the above pressures to achieve cohesive sustainable industrial results. The principle contribution is to offer a new conceptual perspective on integrating project management knowledge areas with Institutional Theory pressures for more sustainable project management methodologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Project Management and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation on Intellectual Property Rights Policy System of the Renewable Energy in China

by Xing Gao and Keyu Zhai

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2097; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062097 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3246

Abstract

With the intensive consumption and price rising of traditional fossil fuels, the development and utilization of renewable energy has attracted worldwide attention. Meanwhile, due to enhanced energy constraints and increasingly grim greenhouse gases, many countries all over the world have been developing renewable [...] Read more.

With the intensive consumption and price rising of traditional fossil fuels, the development and utilization of renewable energy has attracted worldwide attention. Meanwhile, due to enhanced energy constraints and increasingly grim greenhouse gases, many countries all over the world have been developing renewable energy technologies to promote sustainable growth economically. Intellectual property rights (IPR) policy linked to renewable energy provides institutional guarantee for the development of renewable energy industry and technology. This study works to test the performance of IPR policies of renewable energy industry in China. We employed Cobb-Douglas production function and built on a quantitative policy indicator measurement system over the period from 2004 to 2013 to evaluate the impact of IPR policy of renewable energy industry on innovation and market development in China, which provides an all-round study on the IPR system by clearing up all IPR policy system that is related to the renewable energy industry. The results of Multiple Regression Models indicated that the current IPR policy of renewable energy industry are disconnected from China’s reality because the innovation ability of the renewable energy industry has not been improved rapidly and that both the market transformation ability and market prospect of new energy technology patents are weak. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 438 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Eco-Security Assessment Based on the Multi-Dimensional Connection Cloud Model

by Qiuyan Liu, Mingwu Wang, Xiao Wang, Fengqiang Shen and Juliang Jin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062096 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3051

Abstract

The evaluation of land eco-security is challenging because it is involved with various uncertainty factors. Although the normal cloud model provides an idea for dealing with the randomness and fuzziness of indicators for the evaluation of land eco-security, it cannot simulate the distribution [...] Read more.

The evaluation of land eco-security is challenging because it is involved with various uncertainty factors. Although the normal cloud model provides an idea for dealing with the randomness and fuzziness of indicators for the evaluation of land eco-security, it cannot simulate the distribution state of the evaluation indicators in a finite interval and their calculation process is complicated for multi-factor problems. Herein, a novel multi-dimensional connection cloud model is discussed to remedy these defects. In this model, combined with the range of evaluation factors in each grade, the identity-discrepancy-contrary principle of set pair theory is adopted to determine the digital characteristics of the multi-dimensional cloud model, which can uniformly describe the certainty and uncertainty relationships between the measured indices and the evaluation criteria and also improve the fuzzy-randomness of evaluation indicators closer to the actual distribution characteristics. The case study and the comparison of the proposed model with the normal cloud model and the matter element model were performed to confirm the validity and reliability of the proposed model. Results show that this model can overcome the subjectivity in determining the digital characteristics of the normal cloud model, providing a novel method for the comprehensive evaluation of land eco-security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Soils and Water: the Role of Environmental Land Use Conflicts)

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16 pages, 436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transformations and the Level of Tourist Function Development in Polish Voivodeship Capital Cities

by Katarzyna Przybyła and Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062095 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3192

Abstract

The article discusses transformations of the tourist function in Polish voivodeship capital cities in the period between 2005–2015. The first research stage was carried out through the background of the theory of city economic base using two indicators: index of surplus workers (ISW) [...] Read more.

The article discusses transformations of the tourist function in Polish voivodeship capital cities in the period between 2005–2015. The first research stage was carried out through the background of the theory of city economic base using two indicators: index of surplus workers (ISW) and Florence specialisation coefficient (FSC). The conducted research covered employment size, structure, and changes, with a particular emphasis on employment in tourism. In the second stage of the study, based on a group of diagnostic characteristics describing the tourist functions performed by cities, taxonomic measures were constructed to determine the level of these functions’ development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Tourism)

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22 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Generative Potential of Tensions within Belgian Agroecology

by Pierre Marie Stassart, Maarten Crivits, Julie Hermesse, Louis Tessier, Julie Van Damme and Joost Dessein

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2094; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062094 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4227

Abstract

Food crises and ecologization have given rise to a Belgian dynamic that does not behave according to the conventional tripod of agroecology: practitioners, social movement, and scientists. Instead of simply recounting the history of Belgian agroecology, the authors trace the history and dynamics [...] Read more.

Food crises and ecologization have given rise to a Belgian dynamic that does not behave according to the conventional tripod of agroecology: practitioners, social movement, and scientists. Instead of simply recounting the history of Belgian agroecology, the authors trace the history and dynamics in Belgium), a journey along six strands that weave themselves into a Belgian tapestry: Genetically modified crop commandos, a scientific paradigm shift, hybrid expertise opening the Northern route that intersects with a Southern political route, an original non-institutional dynamic in the French-speaking part of Belgium and an institutional initiative that led to a rift in Flanders. In the following section, we identify, emerging from those six strands, four tensions that create a space of innovations, namely, politically differentiated discourses, land access, fair price, and epistemic tensions. We discuss then the generative potential of the 4 tensions and describe the potential of reconfigurations generated by boundaries organizations, food justice and transdisciplinarity. We conclude that the concept of agroecology continues to have transformative potential in Belgium today. However, no one can predict the course of such a largely non-institutional dynamic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Agroecology in Europe. New Developments and Applications)

28 pages, 2528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coordinating the Dynamic Development of Energy and Industry in Composite Regions: An I-SDOP Analysis of the BTH Region

by Xu Li, Chinhao Chong, Linwei Ma, Pei Liu, Xuesi Shen, Zibo Jia, Cheng Wang, Zheng Li and Weidou Ni

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062093 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3876

Abstract

In various regions of the world, there is an urgent need to address energy challenges by accelerating the transformation of energy and industrial systems. The problem is quite complex in rapidly developing composite regions, with the necessity to coordinate the dynamic development of [...] Read more.

In various regions of the world, there is an urgent need to address energy challenges by accelerating the transformation of energy and industrial systems. The problem is quite complex in rapidly developing composite regions, with the necessity to coordinate the dynamic development of energy and industry in several heterogeneous subregions. Through a typical case study on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, this study attempts to form a referable methodology for the coordinated development of energy and industry for the sustainable development of rapidly developing composite regions. The concept of an Integrated strategy of Sustainable development objectives, Decision-making systems, Operation systems, and Physical systems (I-SDOP) is proposed to describe the multilayer dynamics of complex energy and industrial systems. A five-step I-SDOP analysis is conducted to determine an integrated strategy for the coordinated development of energy and industry in the BTH region, based on the analysis of its sustainable development objectives, decision-making systems, operation systems, and physical systems. The results indicate the importance of innovation sources and extensive communications to promote market reform and engineering projects that fulfill the strong political wills and strategic plans of China’s central government. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Policy and Policy Implications—Good Examples and Critical Reflections)

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16 pages, 849 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

The Era of Sustainability: Promises, Pitfalls and Prospects for Sustainable Buildings and the Built Environment

by Emilia Conte

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2092; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062092 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6623

Abstract

Following 25 years of efforts in the field, the author discusses the situation of the construction sector by reflecting on the 3Ps of the era of sustainability: the promises of sustainability; the pitfalls in the interpretation of sustainability for construction; the prospects for [...] Read more.

Following 25 years of efforts in the field, the author discusses the situation of the construction sector by reflecting on the 3Ps of the era of sustainability: the promises of sustainability; the pitfalls in the interpretation of sustainability for construction; the prospects for sustainable buildings and the built environment in the future. The paper is organized into five sections. The first section introduces the emergence of sustainable construction, its promises and challenges for architects and engineers. The second section considers how sustainability has been interpreted in practice in construction, i.e., primarily through the process of greening buildings and the built environment. The third section describes the main pitfalls that such interpretation has determined, including the role played by evaluation and assessment systems for sustainable buildings. The fourth section examines prospective paths to overcoming such pitfalls, with particular concerns for new professionalisms and the ensuing role for higher education. The fifth section concludes by supporting the idea that the era of sustainability is still necessary, if sustainability itself becomes a sort of ‘container concept’ of all that is necessary for long-lasting natural and human life on Earth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction, Development and Management in the Built Environment)

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25 pages, 2111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of Critical Reflection in Management Education for Sustainability: A Proposal on Content and Form of Shared Value Rationality

by Janette Brunstein, Marta Fabiano Sambiase and Claudine Brunnquell

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2091; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062091 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3852

Abstract

This article describes and analyzes a proposal for the teaching-learning of strategic management for business students, from the angle of critical reflection (CR) presuppositions. The proposal was designed to broaden the dominant rationality in teaching strategies at business schools and has been in [...] Read more.

This article describes and analyzes a proposal for the teaching-learning of strategic management for business students, from the angle of critical reflection (CR) presuppositions. The proposal was designed to broaden the dominant rationality in teaching strategies at business schools and has been in progress since 2011 in a Brazilian business school. We argued that changes in the organizational environment and in competition demand not only a review of strategy theoretical content, but also of the way that strategy is taught with more critical and reflective teaching-learning approaches. We conducted a survey to analyze the results of this educational experience from students’ points of view. Considering a sample of 165 undergraduate students who have taken the course since its implementation, we evaluated the students’ CR levels. The results present implications for professors, business schools, and researchers, revealing challenging aspects and also CR enhancers in the context of the undergraduate strategy initiative. We expect that the described experience can be replicated and improved in comparative studies in different geographical and disciplinary contexts, encouraging the evaluation and promotion of CR in the teaching of strategic management in business education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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16 pages, 2065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Factors to Achieve Dockless Bike-Sharing Sustainability in China: A Stakeholder-Oriented Network Perspective

by Jian-gang Shi, Hongyun Si, Guangdong Wu, Yangyue Su and Jing Lan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062090 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 102 | Viewed by 9527

Abstract

In China, dockless bike-sharing programs (DBSPs) play a significant role in promoting the goals of sustainable urban travel and carbon emissions reduction. However, the sustainability of DBSPs is increasingly being challenged as various issues associated with different stakeholders emerge. While numerous studies have [...] Read more.

In China, dockless bike-sharing programs (DBSPs) play a significant role in promoting the goals of sustainable urban travel and carbon emissions reduction. However, the sustainability of DBSPs is increasingly being challenged as various issues associated with different stakeholders emerge. While numerous studies have focused on the barriers to traditional bike-sharing programs, the sustainability performance of new-generation DBSPs is largely overlooked. It is accordingly imperative to understand the primary challenges that impede the sustainability of DBSPs and to consider what stimulative measures can be taken. In this study, we investigate the factors that are critical to DBSPs’ sustainability from a network perspective. Stakeholder-associated factors and their interrelations were identified via literature analysis and interviews, and the social network analysis (SNA) method was employed to recognize the critical factors and links in DBSPs. As a result, 10 critical factors and 10 major interactions were identified and further classified into six challenges. Sharing transport schemes, legislative perfection, public private partnership (PPP), and product lifecycle management (PLM) were proposed to govern these challenges. This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge of bike-sharing programs via a network approach that integrates the key influencing factors with those factors’ associated stakeholders. Furthermore, these findings provide the government and operators with implications for mitigating the tough challenges and facilitating the sustainability of DBSPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Governance Model and Strategy to Improve a Sustainable Transport System)

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18 pages, 2078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model of Power System Stabilizer Adapting to Multi-Operating Conditions of Local Power Grid and Parameter Tuning

by Wenping Hu, Jifeng Liang, Yitao Jin and Fuzhang Wu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2089; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062089 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3804

Abstract

The rapid development of the modern power grid has resulted in significant changes to the dynamic characteristics of regional power grids. Moreover, the operating conditions of power grids are increasingly complex, and uncertainty factors are on the rise, which makes it difficult for [...] Read more.

The rapid development of the modern power grid has resulted in significant changes to the dynamic characteristics of regional power grids. Moreover, the operating conditions of power grids are increasingly complex, and uncertainty factors are on the rise, which makes it difficult for a conventional power system stabilizer (PSS) to provide enough damping for the power system. To solve the problem where the conventional model and parameter-tuning method of a PSS cannot adapt to the multi-operating conditions of the modern power system, a new emergency control model of PSS (E-PSS) that can adapt to the multi-operating conditions of the local power grid and a method of parameter tuning based on probabilistic eigenvalue are proposed in this paper. An emergency control channel is also installed on the PSS2B. The conventional channel is used to control the system under normal operating conditions, which ensures that the system meets the conditions of dynamic stability in 99% of operating conditions, and the emergency control is adopted immediately in extreme conditions. Through the process of parameter tuning, the adaptability of the PSS to multi-operating conditions and damping coupling are both considered. Finally, it is verified that the emergency control model of the PSS and the parameter tuning method are effective and robust by a series of simulations based on MATLAB and its Power system analysis toolbox (PSAT). The rapidity of the emergency control can guarantee its effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Technologies: A Sustainable Energy Source)

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21 pages, 5169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumer Intervention Mapping—A Tool for Designing Future Product Strategies within Circular Product Service Systems

by Matt Sinclair, Leila Sheldrick, Mariale Moreno and Emma Dewberry

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062088 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 9789

Abstract

Re-distributed manufacturing presents a number of opportunities and challenges for New Product Development in a future Circular Economy. It has been argued that small-scale, flexible and localised production systems will reduce resource consumption, lower transport emissions and extend product lifetimes. At the same [...] Read more.

Re-distributed manufacturing presents a number of opportunities and challenges for New Product Development in a future Circular Economy. It has been argued that small-scale, flexible and localised production systems will reduce resource consumption, lower transport emissions and extend product lifetimes. At the same time smart products within the Internet of Things will gather and report data on user behaviour and product status. Many sustainable design tools have previously been developed but few are able to imagine and develop visions of how future sustainable product service systems might be manifested. This paper introduces the concept of Consumer Intervention Mapping as a tool for creating future product strategies. The tool visualises the points within a product’s lifecycle where stakeholders are able to intervene in the product’s expected journey. This perspective enables the rapid construction of scenarios that explore and describe future circular product service systems. Validation of the tool in three workshops is described and the outcomes are presented. Consumer Intervention Mapping is successful in creating scenarios that describe existing product service systems and new product concepts adapted to a Circular Economy paradigm. Further work is required to refine the tool’s performance in more focused and reflective design exercises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Design and Consumer Behavior in A Circular Economy)

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24 pages, 2330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Environmental Awareness and Its Connection to Local Environmental Management in Water Conservation Zones: The Case of Beijing, China

by Yi Du, Xiaoyan Wang, Daniele Brombal, Angela Moriggi, Andrew Sharpley and Shujiang Pang

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2087; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062087 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 10374

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the change over time in the environmental awareness in rural Chinese communities and its correlation with environmental management measures implemented at the local level. We identify three main components of awareness, namely: perception, behavior, and attitude toward environmental [...] Read more.

This paper aims at investigating the change over time in the environmental awareness in rural Chinese communities and its correlation with environmental management measures implemented at the local level. We identify three main components of awareness, namely: perception, behavior, and attitude toward environmental management measures. Data were collected from two surveys in three villages in northern China in 2006 and 2015 that interviewed 125 and 129 respondents, respectively, and were analyzed employing an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The results discussed in the paper show that environmental awareness increased between 2006–2015, and was mainly manifested in better environmental behavior and understanding of environmental status due an improvement in rural infrastructure and a greater amount of information provided to rural residents about the environment. Place of residence had a considerable influence on respondents’ environmental awareness: residents in eco-villages had a higher environmental awareness than those living in common agricultural villages. This appears to indicate a positive nexus between the comprehensiveness of environmental management measures implemented locally, and environmental awareness. Also, the universality of environment issues reduced the importance of socioeconomic and demographic factors in determining the degree of environmental awareness. However, more attention should be paid to villagers’ external behavior and inner feelings, such as their attitude to governmental management policies. These findings yield important policy implications that are relevant to the promotion of environmental awareness in China’s rural communities, and the adoption of more effective environmental management measures. Full article

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21 pages, 2053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Prospective of Nuclear Power in China

by Yan Xu, Junjie Kang and Jiahai Yuan

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2086; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062086 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 11873

Abstract

From scratch to current stage, China’s nuclear power technology has experienced rapid development, and now China has begun to export nuclear power technology. As a kind of highly efficient and clean energy source, nuclear energy is also a priority option to solve energy [...] Read more.

From scratch to current stage, China’s nuclear power technology has experienced rapid development, and now China has begun to export nuclear power technology. As a kind of highly efficient and clean energy source, nuclear energy is also a priority option to solve energy crisis, replace traditional fossil fuels and reduce air pollution. By analyzing the short-term and long-term development trend of nuclear power in China, the paper has reached the following conclusions: (1) Under the current situation of excess supply, due to high investment cost of first-kind reactors, the decline of utilization hours and the additional cost of ancillary service obligations, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the third generation nuclear power will significantly increase, and the internal rate of return (IRR) will significantly fall. In the short term, market competitiveness of nuclear power will be a major problem, which affects investment enthusiasm. (2) With technology learning of third generation technology, the LCOE of nuclear power will be competitive with that of coal power in 2030. (3) The CO₂ emissions reduction potential of nuclear power is greater than coal power with CCS and the avoided CO₂ costs of nuclear power is much lower. Therefore, nuclear power is an important option for China’s long-term low-carbon energy system transition. The paper proposes to subsidize the technical learning costs of new technology through clean technology fund at the early commercialization stage. When designing power market rules, the technical characteristics of nuclear power should be fully considered to ensure efficient operation of nuclear power. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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17 pages, 818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of University Technology Transfer: Mediating Effect of Inventor’s Technology Service

by Fang Li, Sheng Zhang and Yuhuan Jin

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062085 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3543

Abstract

Based on the perspective of knowledge transfer and the technology acceptance model (TAM), this paper constructs a university technology transfer sustainable development model that considers the inventor’s technology service from the perspective of the long-term cooperation of enterprise, and analyzes the mediating effect [...] Read more.

Based on the perspective of knowledge transfer and the technology acceptance model (TAM), this paper constructs a university technology transfer sustainable development model that considers the inventor’s technology service from the perspective of the long-term cooperation of enterprise, and analyzes the mediating effect of the inventor’s technology service on university technology transfer sustainability. By using 270 questionnaires as survey data, it is found that the availability of an inventor’s technology service has a significant positive impact on the attitude tendency and practice tendency of enterprise long-term technological cooperation; enterprise technology absorption capacity and trust between a university and an enterprise also have significant influence on an inventor’s technical service availability. Therefore, the inventor’s technology service acts as a mediator in the relationship between university technology transfer sustainability and influence factors. Universities ought to establish the technology transfer model, which focuses on the inventor’s tacit knowledge transfer service, and promotes the sustainable development of the university. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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24 pages, 6148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Case Study on Spatio-Temporal Data Mining of Urban Social Management Events Based on Ontology Semantic Analysis

by Shaohua Wang, Xianxiong Liu, Haiyin Wang and Qingwu Hu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062084 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4494

Abstract

The massive urban social management data with geographical coordinates from the inspectors, volunteers, and citizens of the city are a new source of spatio-temporal data, which can be used for the data mining of city management and the evolution of hot events to [...] Read more.

The massive urban social management data with geographical coordinates from the inspectors, volunteers, and citizens of the city are a new source of spatio-temporal data, which can be used for the data mining of city management and the evolution of hot events to improve urban comprehensive governance. This paper proposes spatio-temporal data mining of urban social management events (USMEs) based on ontology semantic approach. First, an ontology model for USMEs is presented to accurately extract effective social management events from non-structured UMSEs. Second, an explorer spatial data analysis method based on “event-event” and “event-place” from spatial and time aspects is presented to mine the information from UMSEs for the urban social comprehensive governance. The data mining results are visualized as a thermal chart and a scatter diagram for the optimization of the management resources configuration, which can improve the efficiency of municipal service management and municipal departments for decision-making. Finally, the USMEs of Qingdao City in August 2016 are taken as a case study with the proposed approach. The proposed method can effectively mine the management of social hot events and their spatial distribution patterns, which can guide city governance and enhance the city’s comprehensive management level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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20 pages, 1664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Address the Sustainability Transition of Farming Systems? A Conceptual Framework to Organize Research

by Guillaume Martin, Sandrine Allain, Jacques-Eric Bergez, Delphine Burger-Leenhardt, Julie Constantin, Michel Duru, Laurent Hazard, Camille Lacombe, Danièle Magda, Marie-Angélina Magne, Julie Ryschawy, Vincent Thénard, Hélène Tribouillois and Magali Willaume

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062083 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6747

Abstract

Stakeholders from academic, political, and social spheres encourage the development of more sustainable forms of agriculture. Given its scale and scope, the sustainability transition is a challenge to the entire agricultural sector. The main question is, how to support the transition process? In [...] Read more.

Stakeholders from academic, political, and social spheres encourage the development of more sustainable forms of agriculture. Given its scale and scope, the sustainability transition is a challenge to the entire agricultural sector. The main question is, how to support the transition process? In this article, we explore how agricultural science can address the sustainability transition of farming systems to understand and support transition processes. We discuss the potential for articulating three research approaches: comprehensive analysis, co-design, and simulation modeling. Comprehensive analysis of the sustainability transition provides perspectives on the interplay between resources, resource management, and related performances of farming systems on the one hand and technical, economic, and sociocultural dimensions of change on the other. Co-design of the sustainability transition stimulates local-scale transition experiments in the real world and identification of alternatives for change. Simulation modeling explores future-oriented scenarios of management at multiple levels and assesses their impacts. We illustrate the articulation of research approaches with two examples of research applied to agricultural water management and autonomy in crop-livestock systems. The resulting conceptual framework is the first one developed to organize research to understand and support the sustainability transition of farming systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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21 pages, 3839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Refugee Students in Spain: The Role of Universities as Sustainable Actors in Institutional Integration

by Silvia Marcu

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2082; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062082 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6596

Abstract

This article examines the role of institutions—particularly universities—in the recent refugee crisis. It contributes to the debate on the integration of refugees through the higher education system in Spain. Based on semi-structured interviews with refugees and experts in the institutions linked to the [...] Read more.

This article examines the role of institutions—particularly universities—in the recent refugee crisis. It contributes to the debate on the integration of refugees through the higher education system in Spain. Based on semi-structured interviews with refugees and experts in the institutions linked to the reception and integration of refugees, the paper presents evidence—albeit within an under-developed field of analysis—which has strong practical and sustainable policy implications. I argue that expanding access to university, by recognizing refugees’ qualifications and their overcoming of language barriers, increases the potential of refugees to contribute to the socio-economic progress of the receiving country and thus avoid marginalization. The evidence-based analysis of the effectiveness of the existing initiatives and programs for the integration of student refugees identifies challenges that still need to be addressed. The conclusions highlight the role of universities as sustainable actors in the integration of refugees, which through their programs make the reality of refugees more visible to other actors throughout Europe in the hope of encouraging institutions and other organizations to follow their lead in effective and sustainable initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning for Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Promotion of Environmental Management in the South Korean Health Sector—Case Study

by Jong-Ryool Kim, Eui-Chan Jeon, Seongmoon Cho and Hana Kim

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2081; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062081 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5816

Abstract

Because of the comprehensiveness and urgency of environmental challenges, every stakeholder needs to be engaged in reducing environmental impacts. The healthcare sector has rarely been studied, despite its intense effects on the environment, particularly through generating various forms of hazardous waste and intensively [...] Read more.

Because of the comprehensiveness and urgency of environmental challenges, every stakeholder needs to be engaged in reducing environmental impacts. The healthcare sector has rarely been studied, despite its intense effects on the environment, particularly through generating various forms of hazardous waste and intensively consuming energy and water. Many healthcare facilities exist in South Korea, and every citizen frequently visits hospitals thanks to the convenient system. To reduce the environmental impacts of the healthcare sector, the South Korean government has implemented various policy measures aimed at promoting environmental management in that sector. This study evaluated the eco-efficiencies of 21 hospitals from 2012 to 2015 using data envelopment assessment (DEA), used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to analyze hospital staff members’ answers to a questionnaire asking about the relative importance and performance of individual environmental management tasks, and also identified environmental management tasks that should be prioritized by building an importance-performance analysis (IPA) matrix using those questionnaire responses. This study found that eco-efficiencies have improved during the period, and that mandatory policy measures were more effective than voluntary agreements for improving eco-efficiency. This implies that rigorous reporting and monitoring should be implemented along with any voluntary agreement. In addition, this study found that the top priorities are “establishment of vision and strategy for environmental management” and “organization of task team for environmental management and task assignment”. This shows the necessity of additional policy measures, such as training or consulting to promote the priorities. In addition to policy recommendations for diffusing environmental management in the South Korean healthcare sector, the methodological approach sheds light for researchers interested in environmental management in the healthcare sector because previous studies depended on qualitative approaches, particularly case studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy—Sustainable Energy and Waste Policies)

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17 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examination of Differences in Water Quality and Quantity by Reservoir Catchment with a Different Land-Use Type in the Republic of Mauritius

by Fatema Nabybaccus, Don Koo Lee, Yohan Lee and Jung Il Seo

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10062080 - 19 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4167

Abstract

Forest buffers contribute to enhancing the quality and availability of water in catchments. This study aims to examine the effects of forest buffers on water quality and quantity in three reservoir catchments in Mauritius, including Mare aux Vacoas (MAV), Mare Longue (ML), and [...] Read more.

Forest buffers contribute to enhancing the quality and availability of water in catchments. This study aims to examine the effects of forest buffers on water quality and quantity in three reservoir catchments in Mauritius, including Mare aux Vacoas (MAV), Mare Longue (ML), and La Ferme (LF). While MAV and ML are surrounded by forests, the forested area of LF was cleared for photovoltaic panels for electricity generation and agriculture. We used catchment simulation modeling and empirical data analysis. The results showed that the concentrations of water quality parameters, such as conductivity, silica, total suspended solid (TSS), total organic carbon (TOC), NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, and total reactive P in LF were higher than those in MAV and ML. Sparsely vegetated lands can lead to water quality degradation due to surface runoff. In addition, the water quantity per unit area for MAV and ML were greater than that for LF, which indicated that a high percentage of forest buffer cover also positively influences the quantity of water in catchments. Our findings suggest that forest buffers have a critical importance in hydrological cycles and also enhance water production, and thus should help develop an effective and innovative water resource management strategy in Mauritius. Full article

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