International Journal of Sustainable Society (10 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Measuring Infrastructure Projects Impact on UN SDG Global Goals: Development of an SDG Impact-Value Chain for the Infrastructure Sector based on the Triple Bottom Line  
  by Paul Mansell, Simon Philbin, Tim Broyd, Ian Nicholson 
  Abstract: Global grand challenges of climate change, pandemics and other sustainable development risks are threatening international societies. Five years ago, the need for urgent action was grasped by the international community in their report, Transforming Our World: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development (United Nations, 2015), where the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were adopted by 193 states at the UN General Assembly. This paper develops a theory-led value-chain impact model that enables project success to be measured against economic, social and environmental aspects, i.e. Triple Bottom Line (TBL). This provides the infrastructure sector a way to increase the benefits realised across the TBL with SDG language that accords with global imperatives. It informs investment decisions and offers academics and practitioners a workable model for future development. For example, it has recently completed trials and been agreed for full roll-out across UKs Environment Agencys
  Keywords: infrastructure projects; sustainability; Sustainable Development Goals; UN SDG; project management; project success; impact; outcomes; value chain.
  
  
• The Role of Satisfaction and Profitability on CSR-Firm Value Relationship: Evidence from Indonesian Customer Satisfaction Award (ICSA)  
  by Josua Tarigan, Saarce Elsye Hatane 
  Abstract: This paper adopts customer satisfaction as the mediating variable to find the indirect effects of CSR toward firm profitability and value. Partial least squares analysis is conducted to assess 144 firm-year observations from Indonesian listed firms that consistently received ICSA. The empirical findings clarify that CSR holds a prominent part in driving the satisfaction level from customer and the financial performance of the firm. Accordingly, firm should consider CSR engangement into its the corporate strategy to achieve customer satisfaction level and improve the short-term and long-term financial aspects. This finding could be a deliberation for managers in CSR investment as it does bring positive impact for the firm. This paper provides a new and first evidence in adopting customer satisfaction, based on ICSA, to assess the CSR and financial performance relationship in Indonesian context.
  Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); GRI; Customer Satisfaction; ICSA; Firm Profitability; Firm Value.
  
  
• Resilience Assessment Framework for the sustainability of Traditional Commercial Centers - Case of the Historical Bazaar of Bursa -  
  by Havva Tlemsani Bozdag, Rachida Benabbou, Tulin Vural Arslan 
  Abstract: The Bazaar has been successfully recognized as being the economic heart of urban traditional centers in Islamic cities. Thanks to different factors that ensured its resilience and sustainability, the bazaar nowadays is generating considerable interest in terms of keeping its sustainability face to the present fast transformations, internal and external disturbances without losing its values, soul, identity, and its role as a vital commercial area. While a variety of general resilience assessment frameworks have been suggested for urban areas, this paper provides a specific comprehensive framework (GALLDS) that focuses on the fundamental abilities to consider while evaluating Urban Resilience in a specific type of urban areas the Historical Bazaar Area. We chose to apply this framework on The Historical Bazaar of Bursa, which is a living World Heritage. Governance, Adaptability, Learning from the past, Long-term planning, Diversity and Self- organization are considered here as the main features behind the resilience of the Bursa bazaar area. This particular framework will be helpful for decision makers and urban planners during future interventions or prospective changes in the bazaar areas.
  Keywords: Sustainable Bazaar; Sustainable development; Resilience Assessment; Cultural Heritage; Historical Bursa.
  
  
• Assessment of the Age Friendly City Indicators in Mashhad Focusing on Urban Managers and the Elderly People  
  by Leila Johari, Omid Ali Kharazmi, Seyed Hadi Zarghani 
  Abstract: The objective of this paper is to investigate the age friendly city indicators in Mashhad by using World Health Organization standards and specialized researches done in line with age-friendly city parameters. A quantitative research method was used and 427 questionnaires distributed among two groups of people, urban managers and elderlies. Results show that there is a large gap between the two groups. All the indices are lower than the standards from the perspective of old people and none of them have reached to score of 4 or 5 (Maximum Desirability), while managers believe that they have had the maximum performance and Mashhad is in a suitable and ideal status. As a whole in study area region 10 have had a better condition in line with age-friendly city indicators than region 1 and 6 except social respect and cultural recreational parameters. Solutions to improve the overall status of Mashhad are presented.
  Keywords: Age-Friendly City; Mashhad; Iran.
  
  
• A full package of gains? Lay perspectives on a bioeconomic transition in Norway  
  by Maja Farstad, Pia Piroschka Otte 
  Abstract: A sustainable bioeconomy based on production and consumption of food, products, and materials within healthy ecosystems is considered a promising response to global challenges like climate change and environmental degradation combined with a growing population. However, ultimately, it is the public as consumers and citizens who provide the market and governance for bioeconomic development. In this paper, we explore lay perspectives on a bioeconomic transition based on eight focus group interviews with lay people in Norway. Overall, we find that the public appears quite positive towards the idea of a bioeconomic transition due not only to expected global gains, but also to individual gains. The findings are relevant for the design of further bioeconomy-related policies aiming to achieve wide public acceptance.
  Keywords: bioeconomy; social acceptance; valuation; collective gains; individual gains; perceived naturalness; Norway.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2021.10039913
   
  
• The incorporation of environmental issues in the Simmelian metropolis: a (de)construction in light of the Bourdieusian sociology  
  by Rafael Borim-de-Souza, Jacques Haruo Fukushigue Jan-Chiba, Beatriz Lima Zanoni 
  Abstract: This theoretical essay was developed with the objective of (de)constructing, by means of a Bourdieusian interpretation, the incorporation of environmental issues in the Simmelian metropolis. Regarding the consideration of environmental issues in the social construction of the metropolitan reality, some reflections were reached, which are exposed in sequence. The metropolis is an ideological archetype that debates the environment from within itself, which is why the metropolitan shares environmental concerns only if it is effectively threatened by them, a consequence of its objective relationships, which place too much value on the occupational aspect of life in the metropolis. The metropolitan social order, by countless media devices, legitimises the submission of the environment to the socio-economic interests of those who reside in the metropolis. Linked to this aim, dissociations of voices that diverge from the metropolitan environmental ideal are necessary to guarantee less conflicting socialisation of environmental issues.
  Keywords: Simmelian metropolis; Bourdieusian sociology; environmental issues.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2021.10039912
   
  
• Sustainable banking: a systematic literature review  
  by Sanjeet Singh, R. Jayaram 
  Abstract: Sustainable banking had unprecedented importance in the modern world, especially after the subprime crisis of 2007 and this research paper presents a systematic review analysis of sustainable banking. In this systematic review, 55 articles in 38 peer-reviewed journals, related to sustainable banking (1999-2019) had been reviewed from the source of Scopus and Web of Science. This review had focused its research on four major themes of determinants of sustainable banking, sustainable lending practices, evaluation of sustainable banking, and reporting of bank sustainability. This research is concluded by identifying themes of determinants of sustainable banking, sustainable lending practices, and evaluation of sustainable banking as the most promising niches for future research in the area of sustainable banking.
  Keywords: sustainable banking; lending; bank evaluation; banks; sustainable finance; sustainability; sustainable credit; sustainable development; green banking; non-conventional banking.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2021.10039915
   
  
• The influence of status orientation on green purchase intention: a case of a developing market  
  by Phu Nguyen, Linh Tran 
  Abstract: The paper aims to study about the relationship between the status orientation and the intention in purchasing a green product. Based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the authors has applied a quantitative method with a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and proposed a conceptual model to examine the relationships. The findings suggest that traditional status orientation has significant positive effects on environmental knowledge, attitude towards green products, and green product purchase intention. It also demonstrates a positive direct effect of environmental knowledge on green product purchase intention. Henceforth, as this study contributes to the field of marketing, the study has made some recommendations for marketers to target at high traditional status orientation consumers to promote green products. Besides, the paper suggests future studies developing a further model that can examine further relationships.
  Keywords: modern status orientation; MSO; traditional status orientation; TSO; green product; green purchase intention; theory of reasoned action; TRA.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2021.10039914
   
  
• Sasak community sustainability based on the values and benefits of water from customary forests in the traditional village of Senaru, Lombok, Indonesia  
  by Agus Zulkarnain Arief, Tutut Subadyo, Grahita Chandrarin 
  Abstract: This research focuses on the valuation of the communities' sustainability in the Sasak Senaru Traditional Village (SSTV) in Indonesia based on the carrying capacity of water from Bayan customary forest at Mount Rinjani's foot. The resident community of SSTV has full responsibility for managing the natural resources in the customary forest. One of them is the management of water that comes from springs in customary forests. This water resource is used for coffee fields (14.25 hectares), rice fields (9.5 hectares), and household needs such as drinking, bathing, washing. The value analysis of water uses in this research, measured by willingness to pay (WTP) as the base price per m³. The study results indicate the Sasak community's sustainability in SSTV based on the proportional results of water consumption and their income that can support their lives properly.
  Keywords: customary forest; community sustainable; water value; traditional village; Sasak Senaru; Indonesia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2021.10039916
   
  

Special Issue on: ERPBSS-2020 Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity

• In Quest of Integration: Diasporic Organisations Negotiations with State for a Fairer Presence  
  by Aparna Bhat, Neeta Inamdar 
  Abstract: AbstractrnThe relation between the state and the immigrants has been the object of study for many scholars, evident in the number of academic papers emerging in the field. However, scant attention is paid to the diasporic organisations and the role they play within a host society while bargaining for a place for themselves and their culture. This paper explores such collective efforts of Indian Diasporic Organizations (IDOs) and their negotiations with the state for their 'fairer 'presence within the 'multicultural' UK. rnThe qualitative data emerging out of the interviews of IDOs is analysed using recursive abstraction, to identify the perception they hold of themselves vis-a-vis that of state and the 'instruments' of negotiation they employ while arguing for a fairer presence for themselves within the host society. rnThe study unveils the role of IDOs as distinct and committed to the cause of people they represent, but caught between the forces of integration and maintenance of their own collective identities.rnrnrnrnrn
  Keywords: Indian Diasporic Organizations (IDOs); United Kingdom; Integration; Identity; Indian Diaspora.