Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kris Hartley, Steffen Schulzchen, Conny A. Bakker, Julian Kirchherr
Summary: Transitioning to a circular economy can enhance sustainability, with governments playing a crucial role. This article introduces a policy framework for the circular economy that includes over 100 policy instruments, filling a gap in existing scholarship. The framework categorizes circular economy policies into nine groups and aims to promote structured discussions and identify areas for future research.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Francesc Pardo-Bosch, Ana Blanco, Euken Sese, Felix Ezcurra, Pablo Pujadas
Summary: Public lighting is a key factor in global electricity usage and city energy bills, with smart public lighting gaining momentum for its potential quick wins. This paper discusses the effectiveness, efficiency, and feasibility of establishing a smart public lighting infrastructure network, providing insights and recommendations for other public managers looking to implement this service effectively and scale-up its use and business model.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kun Liang Ang, Eng Toon Saw, Wei He, Xuecheng Dong, Seeram Ramakrishna
Summary: The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is also moving towards sustainable manufacturing to reduce undesirable impacts on the earth ecosystem. Current sustainable practices mainly focus on waste mitigation, lacking the adoption of circular economy concept. Academic research in the industry mainly concentrates on chemistry, while a systematic framework guiding the implementation of circular economy concept is missing.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chang Su, Frauke Urban
Summary: The modeled circular economy scenarios show significant energy saving and emission reduction benefits for the town from 2020 to 2040. The outbreak of COVID-19 can be seen as an opportunity to enhance the circular economy, with the introduction of related measures resulting in additional reductions in energy use, CO2 emissions, and PM2.5 emissions.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Joel Ntsonde, Franck Aggeri
Summary: Public procurement is considered an effective tool for leading public and private actors to implement more sustainable practices, stimulating sustainable innovation and creating new markets for ecofriendly products. Research shows that public procurement can be studied as a design activity, clarifying its mechanisms for stimulating sustainable innovation and fostering greener markets in relation to circular economy.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alastair T. M. Marsh, Anne P. M. Velenturf, Susan A. Bernal
Summary: The article investigates key questions regarding the interpretation of Circular Economy principles, implementation of comprehensive strategies, and potential issues in integrating different strategies for concrete. It emphasizes the importance of considering the material, product, and system scale attributes of concrete, as well as the societal, political, and legal aspects of Circular Economy.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Noah Gethsemane Akhimien, Eshrar Latif, Shan Shan Hou
Summary: The application of circular economy in buildings requires systematic review and analysis, with research showing a gradual increase in circular economy awareness but still in its early stages. It is suggested that future research should focus on obscured areas to achieve a holistic approach.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
S. Serhat Karakutuk, Sener Akpinar, M. Arslan Ornek
Summary: This paper aims to develop an optimal energy-efficient design for a production plant within the circular economy framework, by formulating the design problem as an optimization problem using mathematical programming and goal programming approaches. The developed mathematical programming model successfully identifies energy-efficient production designs considering investment costs and sustainability aspects.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Serena Giorgi, Monica Lavagna, Ke Wang, Mohamed Osmani, Gang Liu, Andrea Campioli
Summary: Circular economy has gained importance in the European policy arena, particularly in the construction sector which is a major contributor to waste production and resource consumption. The level of application of circular strategies varies across European countries, highlighting the need for more coordinated actions and policies. The current focus is on waste management and recycling practices, while initiatives for reversible building and circular business models are less prevalent. There is also a lack of use of life-cycle tools to assess the environmental effectiveness of circular strategies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Peter North, Andrej Jentsch
Summary: The UK government is focusing on decarbonizing building heating by reducing energy demand and switching to low-carbon and renewable energy technologies. However, the linear economy approach may lead to increased burden on the national electricity infrastructure by 2050 due to inefficient use of resources in the current technologies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hadad Elroi, Grzymala Zbigniew, Wojcik-Czerniawska Agnieszka, Szewczyk Piotr
Summary: This study explores optimizing waste resource efficiency through the Circular Economy (CE) framework. Through a comprehensive review and case analysis, we find that the principles of circular economy are crucial in extending product lifecycles and reducing waste, and propose strategies to optimize waste management.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andrew Adewale Alola, Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo
Summary: Motivated by Finland's transition to circular economy and carbon neutrality, this study investigates the environmental aspects of resource productivity, environmental-related technologies, and export intensity using various statistical approaches and long-term estimators. The findings suggest that increasing raw material productivity can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while environmental-related technologies also play a significant role. However, economic growth measured by GDP has a negative impact on environmental sustainability in the long run. Relevant policy measures are recommended to guide decision makers in achieving circular economy and carbon zero goals in Finland.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
James Sherwood, Gerardo Tun Gongora, Anne P. M. Velenturf
Summary: The finite capacity of the Earth to provide the resources needed for products is now influencing policy decisions and citizen behaviors. A methodology called 'Performance-weighted abiotic Resource Depletion' (PwRD) is proposed, which normalizes and justifies resource use based on a product's function. This approach enables direct comparison of resource use among different products, similar to an absolute sustainability assessment. The PwRD metric quantifies concerns over element supply risk and suggests reasonable actions for sustaining a circular economy.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stefania Liuzzi, Chiara Rubino, Francesco Martellotta, Pietro Stefanizzi
Summary: There is a growing research interest in using paper as a building material. This study presents the results of a measurement campaign conducted on innovative waste paper-based building components. Different types of biomass were added to a pulp paper blend to develop three different mixture designs, and physical characterization and performance tests were carried out. The results showed that the tested materials had thermal insulation properties and the manufacturing process affected the acoustic properties and microstructural properties of the components.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Pilar Mercader-Moyano, Paula Anaya-Duran, Ana Romero-Cortes
Summary: In a planet with limited resources and severe climate change conditions, the construction industry should seek sustainable solutions by using the circular economy concept for building renovations to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zaida Troya, Rafael Esteban, Enrique Herrera-Viedma, Antonio Pena-Garcia
Summary: Nuclear facilities are a main milestone in the journey towards sustainable energy, with cleaner, more efficient, and almost unlimited energy sources like nuclear fusion presenting a major challenge for the future. While experimental installations to control nuclear power are proliferating globally, doubts persist among citizens regarding the expected benefits and potential hazards of these facilities.
Article
Business
Rosa M. Rodriguez, Alvaro Labella, Pedro Nunez-Cacho, Valentin Molina-Moreno, Luis Martinez
Summary: Since 2013, there has been a surge of interest in the Circular Economy, leading to a base of academic literature, yet effective methods for measuring CE implementation are still unclear. A comprehensive minimum cost consensus model has been proposed to address this issue.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Antonio Martos-Pedrero, David Jimenez-Castillo, Francisco Joaquin Cortes-Garcia
Summary: This study examines the impact of corporate social responsibility on the financial performance, image and reputation of agri-food firms. It also considers the moderating effect of the legal form of organization on these relationships, as well as the influence of CSR knowledge absorption and managerial perception of ethics and social responsibility. The findings suggest that both factors play a decisive role in firms' CSR orientation, and socially and environmentally responsible practices positively affect reputation and financial performance, particularly in cooperatives.
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS-ZEMEDELSKA EKONOMIKA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jaroslaw Gorecki, Pedro Nunez-Cacho, Milena Rutkowska
Summary: The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment and reducing resource usage is a major challenge. It is difficult to distinguish a dominant leadership style in construction companies, and achieving a circular economy requires consistency and the involvement of change leaders.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Management
Daniel Lorenzo, Pedro Nunez-Cacho, Naveed Akhter, Francesco Chirico
Summary: This study focuses on the family-specific barriers to innovation in family firms, using path dependence theory as the theoretical framework. Qualitative approach is used due to limited existing theory, and a sample of four family businesses in Spain and Uruguay are studied. The study concludes with propositions and theoretical contributions arising from the research.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Business
Antonio Martos-Pedrero, David Jimenez-Castillo, Vera Ferron-Vilchez, Francisco Joaquin Cortes-Garcia
Summary: This study examines the impact of corporate social responsibility on export performance, and finds that there is no direct effect. However, innovation serves as a mediator in this relationship, and companies that adopt associative legal forms benefit more from their social responsibility practices.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Andres Martinez-Medina, Sonia Morales-Calvo, Vicenta Rodriguez-Martin, Victor Meseguer-Sanchez, Valentin Molina-Moreno
Summary: Individuals with disabilities have long experienced discrimination and exclusion, making them socially vulnerable. The passage of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006 was a significant legislative milestone in recognizing the rights of this population. This study examined 1024 research articles published in Scopus, focusing on the social, workplace, educational, and financial inclusion of individuals with disabilities since the Convention. The results showed an increase in scientific production and interdisciplinary research, leading to important advancements in inclusive practices for this population. The study identified productive journals, authors, institutions, and countries, as well as international cooperation networks, and outlined the main themes and trends in the research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Antonio Pena-Garcia
Summary: The presence of walls with different reflectance in indoor facilities, especially when the walls are mirrors, is a problematic issue in lighting design. Existing methods are not accurate and designers often neglect the mirrors, resulting in excessive illuminance, glare, energy consumption, and material usage. This study proposes an intuitive theoretical model based on virtual twin-spaces behind the mirrors, which can be applied to various calculation methods. Additionally, the model takes into account the users' extended field of vision and virtual luminaries, providing an advantage that is not found in existing literature.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Menelio Bardales, Catherine Bukowski, Valentin Molina-Moreno, Francisco Jesus Galvez-Sanchez, Angel Fermin Ramos-Ridao
Summary: This research examines the use of specific parameters to assess the forest biomass as a source of rural sustainable energy in the Central American Pine-Oak Forests of Honduras. The findings reveal a significant degradation of the ecosystem, highlighting the need for immediate intervention to prevent further deterioration.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
A. Pena-Garcia, J. Cabeza-Lainez
Summary: This article proposes a new concept of light injection and distribution in tunnels, which can complement electrical lighting during the daytime, save energy, and decrease the number of projectors. The system consists of collectors, light-pipes, and reflecting vault, and can collect solar flux and distribute it to the pavement with high illuminance and uniformity.
TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND SPACE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Martha Maria Mayes-Ramirez, Francisco Jesus Galvez-Sanchez, Angel Fermin Ramos-Ridao, Valentin Molina-Moreno
Summary: The management of solid urban waste is a major challenge for society and the economy, resulting from production and consumption processes. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of literature to identify articles published in high-impact scientific journals. A total of 1897 research articles published between 1981 and 2021 were collected from the Scopus database. The findings reveal quantitative and qualitative growth in this research field since the 20th century, with four main trends identified: environment, society, technical aspects, and economic aspects. The economic aspect emphasizes the circular economy and its relevance to the objectives and sustainable development goals of the 2030 agenda, highlighting the need for solutions to problems caused by inadequate solid waste management.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maria Belen Prados-Pena, Francisco Jesus Galvez-Sanchez, Pedro Nunez-Cacho, Valentin Molina-Moreno
Summary: This study empirically analyzed consumer behavior towards sustainable craft products and found that the image of sustainable craft products as perceived by consumers influences their purchase intentions. Additionally, this influence is increased when consumer attitudes towards and involvement with sustainable craft products increase.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Industrial Relations & Labor
Pedro Victor Nunez-Cacho Utrilla, Felix A. Grande-Torraleja, Antonio Luis Moreno Albarracin, Cristina Ortega-Rodriguez
Summary: The management of human capital is crucial for the success of family-owned companies. This study analyzes the relationship between employee development practices and the performance of family businesses. The findings suggest that employee development has a direct effect on performance indicators. Practical implications are provided for family businesses to invest in and prioritize employee career development.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Antonio Esteban-Lopez, Agustin Castillo-Martinez, Antonio Pena-Garcia
Summary: Sustainable development entails more than just energy savings and pollution reduction; it encompasses economic, technical, cultural, and behavioral aspects. Rehabilitating abandoned infrastructure for alternative uses, such as the El Caminito del Rey in Spain, can be a successful model for sustainable development in rural areas.
