International Journal of Sustainable Society (8 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• CAN NIGERIA BUILD A SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY IN MIDST OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND CONFLICT?  
  by Adaora Osondu-Oti 
  Abstract: This study examines Niger Delta's environmental degradation, the attendant conflict, and the implications for building a sustainable democratic society in Nigeria. The study makes use of documentary research and also adopts a qualitative case-study approach. Findings reveal that environmental degradation and conflict exist at alarming levels in the Niger Delta region. Niger Delta is one of the most polluted cities in the world with resultant conflict that has caused immeasurable harm to the people. Thus, Nigeria cannot build a sustainable democratic society amid double jeopardies of environmental degradation and conflict. For sustainability to be achieved, the government must work assiduously towards ensuring environmental sustainability and responding to the plights of the people (Niger Deltans/aggrieved communities) through a peaceful and inclusive human security approach, and not through the military force that exacerbates conflict.
  Keywords: Nigeria; Build; Sustainable; Democratic; Society; Environmental; Degradation; Conflict; Niger Delta.
  
  
• Household Decision Making Power based on Income and Marital Status: A study of Chukha District of Bhutan  
  by ALKA RATHORE 
  Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the Decision-making situation of Women in Bhutanese Society. This paper assesses the level of income and marital status of Bhutanese women and how these factors influence decision making in terms of children responsibility, household activities, household purchasing, participation in social activities and fulfilling the social obligation. This research is exploratory in nature. One district was chosen for the study. Purposive random sampling was used to collect data by a survey of a sample size of 552 women from Chukha District of Bhutan, Data was analysed by cross-tabulation and Chi-square test by using SPSS 17.The findings revealed that regular income level of women and household decision are associated. The percentages of women who independently take decision are lower than the decision taken by them with their husband jointly. Data also exposed that women independently take decision are (19.4%) but jointly with husband (52.9%). Thus, conclude that there is an association between the Level of income, marital status and household decision making
  Keywords: Household; Decision; Women Empowerment; income; marital status; economy; society,.
  
  
• Understanding U.S. Millennials Perceived Values of Denim Apparel Recycling: Insights for Brands and Retailers  
  by Jessica Ganak, Yini Chen, Dan Liang, Hang Liu, Ting Chi 
  Abstract: Given the importance of denim jeans recycling in the sustainability movement of todays apparel industry, in the context of rising consumer environmentalism, this study aimed to identify the key factors influencing the U.S. millennial consumers willingness to recycle their denim apparel to brands or retailers that offer recycling services. Consumer perceived value (CPV) model provides the theoretical framework and guides the primary data collection. Based on analysis of 15 in-depth interviews, five main values identified are the perceived social, financial, emotional, convenience and ecological values of denim apparel recycling. Each of these main values has subthemes. The findings can help apparel brands and retailers to better design and execute their recycling programs by targeting millennials who are considered as the primary drivers of fast fashion consumption. Through revealing consumer perceived values from recycling denim apparel, this study adds theoretical insights to academia and suggests practical solutions to companies.
  Keywords: U.S. millennials; consumer perceived values; denim apparel recycling; sustainability.
  
  
• Assessing and analysing the socio-ethical impacts of plate waste: a case of university canteens in Thailand  
  by Natapol Thongplew, Sukanya Pooyphay, Jiraporn Sriburee 
  Abstract: Emerging consumers have driven the transformation of lifestyles and consumption patterns in Thailand to resemble industrialised countries. In Thailand, food waste generated from the consumption of consumers (plate waste) has become problematic and the number of research is still limited. This research conceptualises Thai consumers roles to address plate waste and quantifies plate waste at university canteens for assessing and analysing socio-ethical impacts. Waste hierarchy and citizen-consumer concepts are used to analyse consumers roles and to guide the analysis on socio-ethical impacts of plate waste. The canteens at Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU) became the investigation site. It is revealed that bringing in the citizen-consumer concept broadens what Thai consumers can do to address food waste, offering potentials to promote sustainable food provision systems and consumption practices. For the socio-ethical aspect, it is found that a week of plate waste from about 3,800 consumers could feed 116 Thai adults for one day.
  Keywords: food waste; plate waste; citizen-consumer; socio-ethical impact; Thailand.
  
  
• HOW THE POSITION OF TREES PLANTING CAN IMPROVE THE NEAR-ROAD AIR QUALITY EXPOSED TO CO2 EMISSION FROM TRANSPORTATION  
  by Nurul Aini, Zhenjiang Shen 
  Abstract: This research focuses on evaluating the row position of trees planting to the near-road air quality exposed to CO2 emitted from transportation. Since emission spread quickly to the roadside, it caused highly concentrated CO2 in ambient air that may harm human health. Meanwhile, the roadside is a public space for pedestrians. The design of trees planting is necessarily critical in controlling air quality. This research provides four positions of trees planting simulated in Surabaya City, Indonesia, and created the physical condition according to the actual condition in a real 3D environment. CO2 emission was also calculated based on real data, simulated it using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The result displayed that planting the trees as a barrier between roadside and road in double-row position is an effective position of decreasing CO2 dispersion.
  Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics; CO2 dispersion; design guideline; near-road air quality; tree's row position.
  
  
• Measuring the Effectiveness of E-Government in Malaysia: Does Information Literacy Matter?  
  by Abu H. Ayob 
  Abstract: The objective of this paper is to examine the moderating effect of information literacy between supply-demand factors and the effectiveness of e-government. Particularly, the present study aimed to ascertain whether information literacy moderates the effect of web security, political trust and social influence on the frequency of use and perceived usefulness of government websites in Malaysia. This research employed a quantitative methodology using a survey data amongst 178 adults in Malaysia. Hypotheses were tested through two levels of Ordinary Least Squares regression models. The results showed that social influence is positively related with both frequencies of use and perceived usefulness. However, web security was associated only with the former whilst political trust was associated only with the latter. Lastly, we found a weak relationship between information literacy and the frequency of use. Overall, this paper tested on a comprehensive model of supply-demand factors on a broader perspective of e-government effectiveness amongst users.
  Keywords: e-government; information literacy; web security; political trust; social influence.
  
  
• What We Know About Volunteer Tourism an approach to motivations and impacts  
  by José Abreu, Marisa Ferreira 
  Abstract: Generally defined as an activity in which people decide to volunteer in development or conservation projects, voluntourism is one of the most fast-growing alternative tourism markets, arousing interest from several different people and creating an increasing number of volunteers. These developments are being used by many organizations has a way of using volunteers expertises as important benefits. rnOur paper analyses and describes the concept of voluntourism, as well as the motivations that drive the volunteers, and the impacts or benefits of their projects experience in the host community and in themselves. We did a literature review, firstly using a bibliometric analysis, to deeply understand and categorize the generic concept. Secondly, we did ten exploratory online questionnaires to volunteers with experiences in international volunteering programs. The results show that this topic have become a trend in recent years and that understanding the motivations of volunteers, as well as the benefits and impacts of the projects, are essential to the development of voluntourism.
  Keywords: Voluntourism; Volunteer; International.
  
  

Special Issue on: Sustainable Practices in Businesses and Environmental Policies Balancing the Triple Bottom Line

• 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.