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Open Access

Abstract

Details

Designing Environments for People with Dementia
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78769-974-8

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 October 2019

Gabriela Scur, Adriana Marotti de Mello, Lilian Schreiner and Fernando José das Neves

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how technology-forcing regulations affect the product development process in the supply chain of heavyweight vehicles.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how technology-forcing regulations affect the product development process in the supply chain of heavyweight vehicles.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a case study, this paper seeks to understand how one of the leading companies in heavyweight vehicles manufacturing industry and its engine supplier in Brazil introduce eco-design practices into its engine development process.

Findings

Through case studies conducted in a heavyweight vehicle producer and its engine supplier, this study shows that, in addition to meeting the standards and legislation, the automaker uses ecodesign practices during the product development cycle such as a design that eliminates harmful and hazardous materials and a project that allows recycling, the reuse of parts and energy efficiency, thereby reducing the environmental impact. However, without the mandatory requirements imposed by federal legislation, products with lower environmental impacts would rarely be developed, as environmental performance is not demanded by customers, who are mainly cost driven. Technology-forcing regulations play an important role in enhancing the adoption of ecodesign practices, but market and competitive conditions also play an important role.

Originality/value

Several studies on the impacts of public policies and development for the automobile sector have been conducted, but there is a lack of studies in the area of commercial vehicles, especially in Brazil. Therefore, this research is justified by new demands of society, in addition to the necessity of complying with legal requirements and the adoption of good practices related to eco-design.

Details

Innovation & Management Review, vol. 16 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2515-8961

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 20 June 2023

Abdelmajid Ibenrissoul, Zakaria Benjouid and Souhaila Kammoun

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the compliance of environmental risk management systems implemented by Moroccan banks with ISO 14001 certification or environmental

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the compliance of environmental risk management systems implemented by Moroccan banks with ISO 14001 certification or environmental charters.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through the distribution of an environmental risk management questionnaire to all Moroccan banks’ branches, business centers and various central entities. The study uses regression analysis to model the relationship between environmental management system (EMS) compliance and environmental management explanatory variables to identify the most relevant indicators that can explain the effectiveness and reliability of an EMS.

Findings

Empirical evidence reveals that the evaluation of EMS compliance in Moroccan banks should consider two categories of variables: the first category is related to the culture of environmental risk management, and the second one is related to environmental management practices.

Originality/value

The results show that the “information” variables play a key role in the overall design of an EMS and represent essential variables in the general definition of the environmental policy and in raising awareness and providing information on the bank’s commitment to a pro-environmental approach. The “application” variables confirm that environmental management practices need to be put in place to manage the different environmental risks. The study raises some managerial implications and further research directions.

Details

Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1985-9899

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 March 2019

Sven Stremke and Sören Schöbel

The purpose of this paper is to enlarge the body of knowledge on research through design (RtD) methods that can be employed by landscape architects and others working on (but not…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enlarge the body of knowledge on research through design (RtD) methods that can be employed by landscape architects and others working on (but not limited to) sustainable energy transition.

Design/methodology/approach

A specific approach to RtD – qualitative landscape structure analysis (QLSA) – is introduced and illustrated by means of diagrams and photographs. Two case studies showcase the application of QLSA for research on solar parks in the Netherlands and research on wind turbines in the Alpine foothills in Southern Germany.

Findings

The case studies show how RtD can help to define design principles for large solar parks and arrangement of wind turbines in particular landscape types in the Netherlands and Germany, respectively. In doing so, RtD can help to expand the breadth of spatial research beyond well-established methods such as multi-criteria decision analysis and environmental impact assessment.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into contemporary RtD in two countries and affirms the importance of such research with regard to landscape transformations while starting to define a research niche for landscape architects and other environmental designers working on the topic of sustainable energy transition.

Details

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-6099

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 12 September 2023

Abderrazak Laghouag

The aim of this paper is to contribute to empirical research dealing with the measurement of green and sustainable supply chain management(SSCM) practices. The paper intends to…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to contribute to empirical research dealing with the measurement of green and sustainable supply chain management(SSCM) practices. The paper intends to empirically evaluate the practices maturity related to green supply chain management (GSCM) in one of the most strategic sectors in Saudi Arabia, namely, pharmaceutical sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a research questionnaire, data were collected from 111 respondents in pharmaceutical companies. Data analysis has been conducted based on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program to evaluate the extent to which pharmaceutical companies in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are mature regarding each sustainable SCM dimension.

Findings

The results reflect high adoption of green practices related to SCM by pharmaceutical companies operating in KSA that are highly meeting environmental requirements that represent one of the core objectives of KSA vision 2030.

Research limitations/implications

The study presents a platform based on which future studies can link the maturity of Sustainable SCM with the firm's performance.

Practical implications

This study provided professionals and managers in the pharmaceutical sector with in-depth insights regarding the maturity of their green practices related to SCM. This study also proposed a framework that could be by managers to continuously assess their Sustainable SCM practices.

Originality/value

This research intends to demonstrate to what extent SSCM in pharmaceutical sector are mature.

Details

Journal of Money and Business, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2634-2596

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 July 2023

Margherita Lisco and Radhlinah Aulin

The reuse of timber building parts, when designing new buildings, has become a topic of increasing discussion as a proposed circular solution in support of sustainable development…

Abstract

Purpose

The reuse of timber building parts, when designing new buildings, has become a topic of increasing discussion as a proposed circular solution in support of sustainable development goals. Designers face the difficulty of identifying and applying different design strategies for reuse due to multiple definitions, which are used interchangeably. The purpose of this study is to propose a taxonomy to define the relationships between various concepts and practices that comprise the relevant strategies for reuse, notably design for disassembly (DfD) and design for adaptability (DfA).

Design/methodology/approach

Literature reviews were conducted based on research publications over the previous 12 years and located through the Web of Science and Scopus.

Findings

A taxonomy for the design process grounded on two strategies for reuse is presented: DfD and DfA. Based on previous work, the taxonomy aims to build a vocabulary of definitions in DfD and DfA to support other researchers and practitioners working in the field.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to the design phase of timber-based buildings. It does not take into account the other phases of the construction process, neither other kind of construction methods.

Practical implications

The application of the taxonomy can facilitate communication between different actors and provide a way for building product manufacturers to demonstrate their reuse credentials, enabling them to produce and promote compliant products and thereby support design for reuse strategies.

Social implications

This paper could contribute to a closer collaboration of all stakeholders involved in the building process since the very early phases of the conceptual design.

Originality/value

This paper contributes a comprehensive taxonomy to support the deployment of circular reuse strategies and assist designers and other stakeholders from the earliest of phases in the building’s life cycle. The proposed definition framework provided by the taxonomy resolves the longstanding lack of a supporting vocabulary for reuse and can be used as a reference for researchers and practitioners working with the DfD and DfA.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. 24 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 June 2023

Gunilla Carlsson, Oskar Jonsson, Stefan Olander, Marianne Salén, Eva Månsson Lexell and Björn Slaug

This study aims to explore how an accessibility database (AD) has been developed and implemented as a tool for facility managers to evaluate and increase the accessibility of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore how an accessibility database (AD) has been developed and implemented as a tool for facility managers to evaluate and increase the accessibility of public facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight participants were strategically sampled for semi-structured interviews, and documents on the AD were gathered. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used for a directed content analysis of the data. The CFIR domains used for the analysis were: intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals and process.

Findings

The development and implementation of the AD demonstrated the complexity in assessing and planning for increased accessibility. The communication and iterative processes within the inner as well as with the outer setting was an important part of the development and implementation, as well as anchoring each step locally, regionally and nationally, within public authorities and disability organizations.

Practical implications

The assessments of environmental barriers and the results reported in the AD can serve as a guide for identification of accessibility issues. However, singular identified barriers were reported as a fragmentation of the building regulations, and thereby when retrofitting is carried out, experts who have the competence to suggest solutions based on the entirety need to be involved to reach the goals of increased accessibility and countering of exclusion and discrimination.

Originality/value

By structuring the implementation process by means of the CFIR, facilitators and barriers of using an AD as a basis for retrofitting were revealed. The practical challenges outlined in assessing and increasing accessibility can guide facility managers when considering actions to increase accessibility.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 May 2021

Monica Choy, Justin Cheng and Karl Yu

The purpose of this paper is to use the case of an international luxury hotel chain in Hong Kong to illustrate general environmentally-friendly practices in housekeeping. Six…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the case of an international luxury hotel chain in Hong Kong to illustrate general environmentally-friendly practices in housekeeping. Six in-depth interviews were conducted with the housekeeping department staff to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hotel’s environmental sustainability practices by analysing their benefits and limitations. Results reveal that all informants acknowledged the environmental sustainability strategies adopted by the Hotel, which can benefit stakeholders. Despite multiple green practices in hotel housekeeping, several strategies may not be as significant as expected with misaligned expectations from the management and the actual practices may create excessive workload for frontline room attendants with a lack of policy enforcement and supportive policies. Therefore, hotels should keep a mutual communication between the management and frontline employees prior to conducting environmentally- and employee-friendly practices. Given the labour-intensive nature of the hotel industry, the housekeeping department should ensure employment equality policy is in place with adequate environmentally friendly support for employees.

Details

Tourism Critiques: Practice and Theory, vol. 2 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-1225

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 8 December 2022

Carole Ayoub Moubareck

A composting project was introduced into an undergraduate microbiology course, to evaluate its efficacy against traditional lecturing for teaching environmental sustainability.

Abstract

Purpose

A composting project was introduced into an undergraduate microbiology course, to evaluate its efficacy against traditional lecturing for teaching environmental sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The research project was a semester-long intervention. Three groups of students participated in the study: a group of 47 female undergraduate students were involved in a composting project, a group of 43 female students were exposed to a traditional lecture and a group of 34 students were the control group. A pretest and a posttest were used, along with poster presentations for the composting project students. In addition, a questionnaire was used to examine students' attitudes toward composting and their waste management practices.

Findings

The project and lecture groups showed significant increases in average test-scores, with the post-project increase (20.9 points) being higher than the post-lecture increase (12.3 points). The questionnaire revealed that nonorganic waste recycling was practiced irregularly, while food waste was reused as livestock feed by 38% of the students. Composting was not common, but 23% of the students in the project group started household composting during the project. The students who were most satisfied with the project outcomes were willing to spend higher prices for a composting box (p = 0.036), showing a high correlation between awareness raising and environmental sustainability practices.

Social implications

The project-based learning approach had more impact than the traditional lecture in teaching environmental sustainability to the students. The project succeeded in improving students' composting knowledge and increased their interest in continuing the composting practices at home.

Originality/value

The study is the first attempt to measure the direct impact of composting education on Emirati students' knowledge of, and interest in environmental sustainable practices, vis-à-vis composting.

Details

Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2077-5504

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 August 2022

Mark S. Reed, Pippa J. Chapman, Guy Ziv, Gavin Stewart, Helen Kendall, Amy Taylor and Dianna Kopansky

There is growing interest around the world in more effectively linking public payments to the provision of public goods from agriculture. However, published evidence syntheses…

Abstract

There is growing interest around the world in more effectively linking public payments to the provision of public goods from agriculture. However, published evidence syntheses suggest mixed, weak or uncertain evidence for many agri-environment scheme options. To inform any future “public money for public goods” based policy, further synthesis work is needed to assess the evidence-base for the full range of interventions currently funded under agri-environment schemes. Further empirical research and trials should then focus on interventions for which there is mixed or limited evidence. Furthermore, to ensure the data collected is comparable and can be synthesised effectively, it is necessary to reach agreement on essential variables and methods that can be prioritised by those conducting research and monitoring. Future policy could then prioritise public money for the public goods that can most reliably be delivered, offering better value for taxpayers and improving the provision of ecosystem services from agricultural landscapes.

Details

Emerald Open Research, vol. 1 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-3952

Keywords

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