International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development (21 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Evaluating a tool for the practice of corporate social innovations: a survey of Brazilian companies  
  by Marcelo A. Dionisio, Eduardo Raupp De Vargas 
  Abstract: To help reduce inequality, businesses are turning to corporate social innovations (CSI) to achieve both business results and social value. This study aims to evaluate and validate the CSI framework proposed by Mirvis and Googins as a tool for practicing CSI. We based our study on a survey conducted with Brazilian companies that participate in the UN Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world to mobilise companies and stakeholders to do business responsibly, including 142 answers out of a sample of 609 companies. The data were analysed through a structural equation modelling (SEM) conducting confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the CSI framework to confirm the correlation between the five constructs, therefore establishing the validity of this framework as a tool for the practice of CSI. We expect to offer both a theoretical and a practical contribution by reinforcing the relevance of the CSI concept along with testing and validating the CSI framework as a tool to help evaluate, analyse, and implement CSI initiatives, advancing its practice and promoting the CSI concept.
  Keywords: corporate social innovation; CSI; survey; LinkedIn; social innovation; structural equation modelling; SEM; confirmatory factor analysis; CFA.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2022.10050836
   
  
• Precise pollution control in new urban development areas: a case study from China  
  by Cong Wang, Yingchun Hao, Jidong Yao 
  Abstract: To overcome the difficulty of pollution control, it is necessary to investigate and implement a more precise and effective pollution control model. This paper examines the implementation of precise pollution control in Beijing’s Shunyi District. Through field research interviews and data collection, we conclude that the current implementation status of precise pollution control is a grid-based governance model with precise identification, accurate positioning, and refined management of environmental pollution. Certain technical difficulties in the precise identification of pollutants, the single structure of the main body for the precise location of pollution sources, and the need for the level of precise management to be strengthened are all part of the current problem analysis. Our suggestions include improving the scientific and technological capability of precise identification, improving the main structure of precise positioning, and fortifying the construction of a refined management system.
  Keywords: precise pollution control; grid-based management; new urban development area; sustainable development; ecological environment.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2022.10051002
   
  
• Impact of environmental and economic determinants on life expectancy: a sustainable development exploration in Sino-Pak from 1965 to 2020  
  by Hafiz Syed Mohsin Abbas, Aisha Azhar, Ahmad Ali Gul 
  Abstract: This study comparatively examines the impact of environmental, economic, and fiscal determinants on health well-being (life expectancy-LE) and social development in Sino-Pak. The present study uses LE at birth to proxy health well-being and the dependent variable. At the same time, carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and gross domestic product per capita (GDPpc) as independent variables from 1965-to-2020, and current health expenditures per capita (CHE) is moderator variable from 2000-to-2020. OLS Statistics and graphical demonstrations show that CO2 emissions negatively affect the LE in Sino-Pak throughout the selected period while GDPpc has improved the LE in both countries. Adding a moderator role shows that CHE has played a promising role in China compared to Pakistan for life quality and sustainable development Goal 03. The study concludes that the Pakistan Government should adopt effective fiscal and administrative policies from China for better implementations and effective health well-being to achieve the SDG.
  Keywords: carbon dioxide emissions; CO2; current health expenditures per capita; CHE; gross development product per capita; GDPpc; sustainable development; life expectancy.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2022.10052100
   
  
• Ecological assessment of low carbon design of garden based on optimal BP neural network  
  by Min Yu, Yahui Zhang, Fangrong Yang, Panpan Jiao 
  Abstract: The contemporary ecological effect evaluation methods are mostly applied to a number of building industries in large municipal areas, and the ecological evaluation criteria for small area-wide buildings such as gardens are not very clear, leading to a lack of relevant evaluation guidance for garden design and architecture. The error of the proposed model is compared with the traditional algorithm, and the application effect of the model is analysed with the actual garden samples. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional BP neural network, the three output errors of the back propagation-genetic algorithm neural network model are reduced by 7.1%, 4.09% and 2.6%. At the same time, the low carbon design of the gardens reduced the concentration of SO2, NO2 harmful gases in the air of the town area by 0.193 mg/m3 and 0.263 mg/m3, respectively.
  Keywords: landscape design; back propagation neural network; genetic algorithm; ecological environment assessment; low carbon effect.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10054228
   
  
• Assessing the determinants of perceived recycling inconvenience in South Korea  
  by Seejeen Park, Seonmi Choi, T.J. Lah 
  Abstract: Studies in waste management often seek to improve the recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) by making household recycling more convenient through curbside recycling services and policies. Most studies in this field have investigated convenience as an independent variable, with curbside recycling regarded as a major factor in determining convenience. Within this context, the current study argues that the factors contributing to recycling convenience within the context of a curbside recycling system should be investigated further. Using a survey sample of 1,000 South Korean citizens, this paper investigates the effects of environmental concern and political ideology on perceptions of recycling convenience. The findings reveal that while concern for the environment makes people view recycling as more convenient, political ideology does not have a significant impact.
  Keywords: recycling convenience; environmental concern; political ideology; recycling intention; curbside recycling; South Korea.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10055644
   
  
• Sustainability accounting and reporting: from theory to practice in a transition economy  
  by Šviesa Leitonienė, Lina Dagilienė, Kristina Rudžionienė 
  Abstract: The aim is to explore the development of sustainability accounting theory and practice in a transition economy through a longitudinal analysis of sustainability reporting in Lithuania. The research methodology, based on a longitudinal analysis of the country case study in 2000-2020, is twofold: chronological analysis of the institutional environment and systematic literature review of sustainability accounting research based on the identified sustainability accounting approaches. The first signs of sustainability reporting practices and research appear only at the beginning of the 21st century in Lithuania, while the two first stages have passed in non-transition economies. Initiatives to implement sustainability and improve reporting come from EU legal legislation and foreign capital companies. The stakeholders are not interested in reported sustainability information; society has no expectations of such reporting, not even regarding the harmful activities of a company. Lithuanian case is similar to developing countries where sustainability reporting is influenced by external forces/powerful stakeholders.
  Keywords: sustainability accounting; sustainability reporting; corporate social responsibility; transition economy; Lithuania.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10055669
   
  
• Thermal Comfort investigation and management of public spaces of Clement Town, Dehradun, India  
  by Siddharth Jena, Ajay Gairola 
  Abstract: The thermal comfort management of public spaces impacts people’s comfort, especially in outdoor activities. Therefore, the willingness of the people to stay in a particular region impacts them and limits their quality of life. Previous research has primarily focused on thermal well-being and has sought the evaluation of the thermal well-being index. The current research has been carried out in the public spaces of Clement Town, Dehradun, India. Therefore, the three public spaces, such as green space, street, and square, have been chosen. Here, the thermal comfort indexes have been picked specifically the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and thermal sensation vote (TSV), depending on the field measurements and a survey using questionnaires, conducted during the summer. The results obtained from the simulation process were influenced by subjective comfort factors in an outdoor scenario during the summer, such as wind velocity and ambient temperature. Based on the procured outcomes, the study was able to relate the micro climate of a semi-urban area with the activity levels of citizens and the landscape of the area. The thermal sensation was quantified using PET and feasible solutions were provided to lower thermal stress and increasing activity levels of citizens by optimising the public spaces.
  Keywords: thermal-comfort; micrometeorological parameters; thermal stress; thermal sensation; India.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10056183
   
  
• Evaluation of ecosystem sustainability in Changchun City, China based on improved emergy analysis and fuzzy clustering integration model  
  by Xing Han, Yujia Song, Yujun Wang, Chang Peng 
  Abstract: The urban composite ecosystem was broken down into three daughter systems of nature, economics, and society to prevent the uncertainty of results arising from the disagreement of assessment indices. In addition, the traditional method for emergy analysis was improved and integrated with the fuzzy clustering model in order to provide a new method for the proper evaluation of the health of urban ecosystems from the perspective of energy-material coupling. With this new method, the health of urban ecosystem in Changchun, China was evaluated. Results showed that by continuously adjusting the energy structure, the industry structure, and the development mode, the urban ecosystem of Changchun city gradually transitioned from the unhealthy to the healthy status. However, a membership value of only 0.77 indicated the weak health of the ecosystem where the environmental load rate gradually increased every year. Emergy analysis using the fuzzy clustering integration model demonstrated the whole health status of urban composite systems with a certain degree of operability and replicability.
  Keywords: ecosystem; health evaluation; environmental load rate; evaluation system; China.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10056656
   
  
• Analysing the constraints of circular economy models and policy challenges in waste management  
  by Pradyot Ranjan Jena 
  Abstract: The exponential growth in the production of goods in the last few decades has raised concerns about ecological degradation. The current design of the linear structure of the industries would create an uneven balance between natural resources and technological advances. There has been a surge of research regarding a paradigm-altering structure to industries that is known as circular economy (CE). The CE structure aims to convert the take-make-dispose pattern of production and consumption. However, there is less understanding regarding its specific components. This paper reviews the results of the existing studies on CE and proposes solutions. The analysis is based on three thematic areas such as challenges in implementing CE models, public policy on CE, and the limitations of CE models. The major challenges for CE models stem from a lack of precise information on the costs, benefits, and technical knowledge of the circular use of resources.
  Keywords: circular economy; CE; waste management; public policy; market failure; asymmetric information.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059976
   
  

Special Issue on: Applications of Renewable Energy and Sustainability

• Integrating fuzzy multi-criteria analysis for sustainable configuration of an on-grid hybrid renewable energy system: case study of Tunisia  
  by Zainab Koubaa, Mohamed Ali Elleuch, Ahmed Frikha 
  Abstract: Around the world, the tendency to integrate hybrid renewable energy sources (HRES) is becoming more popular due to sustainable electricity supply. However, determining the best sizing is a complex problem. Most existing decision aid tools to evaluate this design only consider the economic aspect. The use of just one criterion for determining the most appropriate HRES has been considered insufficient in terms of sustainability. To overcome this gap, this paper develops a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) to obtain sustainable and resilient design of grid HRES for the electrification. Then, we made use of fuzzy multi-attribute decision making (FMADM) and multi-objective decision making (FMODM) by considering conflicting objectives aiming in elaborating a sustainable configuration of HRES. The proposed methodology was tested and validated with a real case study in Rades, Tunisia. The results highlight that the selected HRES not only ensures an economical system but also provides environmental and social advantages.
  Keywords: environment; hybrid energy system; renewable energy; fuzzy multi-attribute decision; fuzzy multi-objective decision; sustainable development; Tunisia.
  
  
• A GIS-based green infrastructure planning framework for water sensitive spatial planning  
  by Anju John, Anjana Bhagyanathan 
  Abstract: Green infrastructure (GI) as appropriately allocated land-uses in areas that are meant for inundation during intense rainfall, to encourage percolation and thereby reduce runoff is an important aspect of water-sensitive spatial planning. For tropical belts that combine high population density, rainfall, and landscape change due to rapid urbanisation, this is of paramount importance. The paper attempts to lay out an ecological planning framework for flood risk reduction through GI delineation. Multi-criteria decision analysis that takes into account meteorology, geology, geomorphology, surface-water hydrology, soils, and land-use land-cover patterns is being adopted. Physiographic division of river basin is considered the primary organising factor for the framework developed. The method is demonstrated using a typical watershed in Kerala that has witnessed a widespread loss of lives and property during subsequent floods. This framework will have applications in urban and regional planning, nature conservation fields, water-sensitive spatial planning, and climate change resilience planning.
  Keywords: green infrastructure planning; water-sensitive spatial planning; site suitability analysis; multi-criteria decision analysis; land-use land-cover change; runoff characteristics; Kerala flood 2018; Chaliyar river basin.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10054356
   
  
• A two stage optimal scheduling strategy of hybrid energy system integrated day-ahead electricity market  
  by Nitesh Kumar Singh, Chaitali Koley, Sadhan Gope 
  Abstract: Renewable energy sources mostly suffer from their fluctuating and intermittent nature, which causes them to be restructured in the form of hybrid energy systems. In this paper, a two-stage optimal scheduling strategy for hybrid energy systems containing wind, solar, and energy storage systems along with conventional sources is presented. In the first stage, the imbalance cost in wind energy integrated systems is minimised with complementary renewables, i.e., solar, and further with different types of energy storage systems. In the second stage, the energy arbitrage facility of the electricity market is incorporated into the hybrid energy system for profit with imbalance mitigation using hybrid energy storage. The modified IEEE 30 bus system with a 35 MW wind farm and a 1 MW solar PV system is considered here. Results were obtained using the moth swarm algorithm (MSA) and verified using the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm.
  Keywords: wind farm; solar PV; imbalance cost; energy arbitrage; energy storage system; hybrid energy storage system.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10054534
   
  
• Examination of green technology implementations impacts on the employee income, investment and manufacturing productivity: an empirical assessment  
  by Sajjad Alam, Jianhua Zhang 
  Abstract: Green technology implementation (GTI) impacts are significant in the environmental sectors of production houses. This study examined GTI influence on employee investment, income, and productivity in manufacturing firms. To achieve the study objective, the data was taken from publicly listed manufacturing firms in Zhengzhou City, China. A linear regression and Shannon entropy algorithm are proposed to analyse the research objective. The outcome of linear regression and Shannon entropy algorithms has shown that GTI impact is positively associated with the employee's investment, income, and productivity. The positive result showed multiple employee satisfaction to enhance production and protect the environment. The current work has a novelty approach based on GTI impacts regarding employee income, investment, and productivity to provide a ground-based discussion of GTI impacts.
  Keywords: green technology implementation; GTI; income; investment; production houses.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10056061
   
  
• Data mining-based ecotourism visitor evaluation management model in the context of sustainable development  
  by Xiaoli Chen 
  Abstract: With the rapid development of ecotourism, the phenomenon of ecotourism generalisation has gradually become prominent, and the sustainable development of tourism industry faces serious challenges. In order to optimise the effect of visitor evaluation management and understand the influencing elements of ecotourism, the study proposes an ecotourism visitor evaluation management method based on web text mining, firstly proposes a web text mining algorithm, then builds an ecotourism visitor evaluation management model on this basis, and finally tests its application effect. The results show that with the increase of evaluation data volume, the accuracy rate of the ecotourism tourist evaluation management model based on web text mining maintains a high range of 58-70%, and the recall rate can reach up to 70% with the best comprehensive performance. The results of satisfaction evaluation and IPA analysis of tourists tend to be the same as the expert evaluation. This indicates that the ecotourism visitor evaluation management model based on web text mining improves the effectiveness of visitor evaluation, which is beneficial to the utilisation and protection of ecological resources and provides a boost to the transformation of tourism into a sustainable green industry.
  Keywords: data mining; web text; sustainable development; ecotourism.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10056903
   
  

Special Issue on: Eco-Innovation in Environment and Sustainable Development

• GA-IPSO-BSVM based sustainable development of ecological economic logistics data forecasting model  
  by Yan Sun 
  Abstract: Considering the increasing accuracy of machine learning in detection and recognition tasks, this paper propose a classification model, which consists of an improved genetic algorithm (GA), the improved particle warm optimisation (IPSO) and balanced support vector machine (SVM) (namely GA-IPSO-BSVM), to increase the accuracy and to optimise the convergence of logistics data performance classification. Firstly, this paper embeds the elimination mechanism of GA to my model at the early stage of iterations to delete a lot of particles with low speed. Then, in the middle of the iteration, this paper improves the topology structure of particle relationship in PSO to avoid the algorithm trapping into local optimal solution. At the late stage of the iteration, this paper combines the excellent particles in all regions into the excellent particle population and iterate the population to obtain the global optimal solution.
  Keywords: logistics data; ecological-economic belt; GA; particle swarm optimisation; PSO; support vector machine; SVM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059215
   
  

Special Issue on: Economic, Social and Environmental Issues Global and Local Challenges

• Sustainability levels of horticultural farmers in southern Brazil: an evaluation based on the MESMIS framework  
  by Eluane Parizotto Seidler, Tanice Andreatta, Luís Carlos Zucatto, Luiz Fernando Fritz Filho 
  Abstract: The theme of sustainability has become fundamental to link the debate of environmental, economic and social aspects. However, the incorporation of other dimensions, socio-cultural and institutional, contributes to reinforce the understanding that this theme has an interdisciplinary nature. Thus, frameworks and tools based on indicators have emerged to analyze the sustainability of agricultural systems. This context motivates the objective of this study to evaluate the sustainability levels of Agricultural Production Units (APUs) of family horticultural farmers that are part of the Municipal Fair of Rural Producers of Passo Fundo, in Southern Brazil, using and adapting the Evaluation of Natural Resource Management Systems Incorporating Sustainability Indicators (MESMIS). Finally, it is emphasized that from the application of the MESMIS method adapted, the sustainability of APUs can be improved in the municipality of Passo Fundo, but also in other areas of the state, the country, Latin America and the world.
  Keywords: sustainability dimensions; indicators; institutional; MESMIS; agricultural production; socio-cultural; Brazil; agricultural production units; APUs.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059346
   
  
• Extended producer responsibility policies: the nexus for the circular economy  
  by Bupe Getrude Mwanza, Arnesh Telukdarie 
  Abstract: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is one of the most methodical multi-objective policy instruments for managing post-consumer waste in an environmentally friendly approach. Nevertheless, implementation of EPR in the packaging industry is challenging and the relevant environmental policies are normally not actualised in most developing economies. With the drive for a circular economy (CE), enforcement of EPR in the packaging industry does contribute to the sustainable recovery of waste. The study adopted a qualitative approach in which a case study strategy was utilised. Interviews, policy assessment and literature reviews were used to understand the extent of EPR implementation in Zambia and the status quo on CE from a global perspective. The findings reveal that the EPR on plastic packaging products in Zambia is still in its infancy. From a global perspective, the study identifies many drivers and challenges to EPR implementation. To resolve the challenges faced in EPR implementation, the study recommends that countries take a contextual approach during implementation.
  Keywords: policy; extended producer responsibility; EPR; circular economy; development; sustainability; drivers; challenges; waste management; Zambia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059661
   
  
• Implementation of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in India - a strategic plan  
  by Navdeep Bhatnagar, Suchi Johari 
  Abstract: Air pollution is hazardous, and a major component of this air pollution is millions of conventional fuel vehicles emitting harmful and toxic gases. Vehicular pollution levels are rising rapidly everywhere. One of the ways to solve the problem is by switching to alternate propulsion vehicles such as vehicles powered by an electric motor. Electric vehicles have been introduced across the globe and are rapidly gaining popularity amongst the people. However, the inclination to buy EVs will largely depend upon the availability of charging infrastructure. The estimated cost of setting up a public charging infrastructure (PCI) is huge. Therefore, a phase-wise implementation of PCI is required. The decision regarding the number and location of these charging stations will be critical for the overall success of the EVs. This paper discusses a phase-wise installation of charging stations based on various factors and parameters. This paper formulates the logical basis for the required number of charging stations and their location in a city.
  Keywords: charging station; CHAdeMO; electric vehicle; public charging infrastructure; PCI; type 3 fast DC charger; India.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059688
   
  
• Energy security and energy innovations in the conditions of intelligent systems development and digitalisation  
  by Olga Maslak, Natalya Grishko, Yaroslava Yakovenko, Mariya Maslak, Khatuna Buchashvili 
  Abstract: This studys main goal and task are to empirically confirm the role of innovation and digitalisation as driving forces in the ratio of factors contributing to energy efficiency and energy security. Using a panel of the current state of energy supply in the EU countries over the period 2010-2021, the empirical analysis presented in this paper indicates that innovation and digitalisation are key pillars of the energy strategy to grow in a rapidly changing world with growing risks of increasing the danger of energy dependence. Using logical and graphic methods (using the VOSViewer toolkit) allowed us to generalise mutual penetration of innovations and technologies in the energy sector. The PLS-SEM model was constructed focusing on aspects of the steadiness of the energy supply system using the data of EU countries efficiency and productivity with a perspective of energy security.
  Keywords: energy security; energy security indicators; energy security indexes; digitalisation; energy innovations; intelligent systems; sustainable development.
  
  
• Household behaviours, attitudes, and practices towards solid waste management: the case of municipality of Skikda (Eastern Algeria)  
  by Ouissem Khorief, Aissa Mahimoud, Nedjima Mouhoubi 
  Abstract: This paper is a study of citizens’ behaviour towards solid waste in the municipality of Skikda. The data in this study was based on a quantitative questionnaire survey from 400 housewives. This questionnaire contains three main sections. The first section is concerns citizen data according to demographic (age and sex) and socio-economic (matrimonial status, financial situation, professional level and type of housing). The second section of the survey concerns the management of waste by household, the composition of their waste, the daily quantity, and their evacuation modes. The third section concerns the information rate of households and the relations with the actors of the waste and types of communication between the municipality and the inhabitants. the results show that the population of commune is not well informed about solid waste, recycling, storing and landfilling. Therefore, the irresponsibility and ignorance of collection schedules by the residents confirm the causes of the failure of waste collection in the municipality and 84.00% of respondents do not participate in consultation meetings concerning solid waste management projects as for the participation in the interventions of volunteers and associations.
  Keywords: attitude; citizen behavioural; household; solid waste management; SWM; knowledge; practice; waste management; Algeria.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10059787
   
  
• Development of a sustainability index framework for the Mauritian textile industry  
  by Devkumar Sing Callychurn, Mahendra Gooroochurn, Hurreeram Dinesh Kumar, Sanmooga Savoo 
  Abstract: The textile industry has been a pivotal sector of the Mauritian economy and continues to play a key role in employment creation, and contribution to GDP. The textile industry can contribute to serious environmental degradation. This concern has been the focus of the research which aims at developing a sustainability framework for companies operating in the sector. A study was conducted to assess the level of awareness and sustainability practices already in place in this sector. In light of the results, a sustainability framework was developed based on 174 environmental, 15 economic and 30 social indicators. Assessment of the company practices led to the development of a sustainability index that reflects current performance and which can be used for setting future sustainability targets. The assessment framework is software-based, user-friendly, and can be adapted by any company having a concern of the impact of its economic activities on the environment.
  Keywords: sustainability framework; sustainability index; textile industry; ecological indicators; Mauritius.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2023.10060733