Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Economic and environmetal performance'
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1
Boronos, V., and Zh Pronikova. "Economic analysis methods motivation to practice environmental performance of economic entities." Thesis, Sumy State University, 2015. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/40711.
Abstract:
Today, the dynamic development of the world economy leads to an aggravation of the ecological situation. Climate change, water shortage, soil erosion, genetic and electromagnetic pollution and so lead to the fact that countries and the international community have to find new ways to reduce ekodestruktyvnoho human impact on nature. In this regard, each state independently develops methods for greening business.
2
Bollmann, Chad A. (Chad Arnold) 1974. "Optimization of DUPIC cycle environmental and economic performance." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45495.
Abstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-111).
A study of the DUPIC (Direct Use of Spent PWR Fuel In CANDU) cycle was made to analyze cycle performance relative to that of PWR and CANDU fuel cycles in terms of uranium utilization and spent fuel production efficiency. The DUPIC cycle was found to be most efficient in terms of minimizing spent fuel production as well as most efficient (within limits) in terms of maximizing natural uranium utilization. It was found minimally productive to change PWR fuel management practices in order to extend burnup in the CANDU portion of the cycle. A policy analysis regarding potential implementation of the DUPIC cycle in North America, between the U.S. and Canada, was also made. CASMO computer models of PWR, CANDU, and CANFLEX fuel assemblies were created and benchmarked. The PWR models were then used to develop analytical correlations that predict PWR spent fuel isotopic compositions. Correlations that predict reactivity gain and burnup increase in CANDU reactors due to AIROX processing of PWR spent fuel were created. An estimate of fission product removal fractions during AIROX processing was developed. An integrated model that predicts CANDU discharge burnup extension due to the use of spent PWR fuel and AIROX processing was completed and used to analyze and compare the DUPIC cycle to other fuel cycles. The potential issues involved in implementation of a DUPIC cycle between the U.S. and Canada were examined. Stakeholders and influential groups were identified and their values were projected. A significant unresolved issue centers around which nation assumes custody of the DUPIC spent fuel and the disposal costs of that fuel. A plan for DUPIC cycle implementation was developed.
by Chad A. Bollmann.
S.M.
3
Arndt, Stephanie, Gunnar Gaitzsch, Carsten Gnauck, Christoph Höhne, Anne-Karen Hüske, Thomas Kretzschmar, Ulrike Lange, Katrin Lehmann, and André Süss. "The Relation between Corporate Economic and Corporate Environmental Performance." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2011. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-38454.
Abstract:
For almost 40 years researchers have been trying to identify the relationship between corporate environmental and corporate economic performance. Neither theoretical debate nor empirical studies investigating the relationship show conclusive results. Within a field research seminar at Technische Universität Dresden, nine students conducted a meta-analysis of 124 studies to assess different aspects of the relationship between corporate economic and corporate environmental performance. In the first part of our paper, we analyze and present the theoretical background based on a review of literature. In the second part, we test for empirical evidence. At first, the conceptual frameworks and measurement methods for corporate economic and corporate environmental performance are discussed. We also look at the impact of environmental performance on shareholder value. Thereafter, we examine the influence of time, industries and publication bias. In conclusion, our research indicates that the quality of journals merits further examination to improve results.
4
Song, Danbee. "Effects of the ISO 14001 Voluntary Environmental Program on Economic and Environmental Performance." The Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1560641816980076.
5
Mobus, Janet Luft. "Environmental Accounting: The Relationship Between Pollution Performance and Economic Performance in Oil and Gas Refineries." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1997. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279042/.
Abstract:
A research study is undertaken to determine if economic incentives exist for noncompliance with regulatory standards, and if accounting related disclosure of regulatory enforcement actions is a determinant of environmental performance.
6
Sanchez, Rodrigues Vasco Augusto. "Uncertainties affecting the economic and environmental performance of freight transport operations." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2010. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55483/.
Abstract:
The mitigation of supply chain uncertainty within transport operations can minimise the risk of disruptions in the delivery process, so transport resources can be utilised in the most efficient and least polluting manner. The overall aim of this thesis is to link the uncertainties originating within the supply chain and externally with the economic and environmental performance of road freight transport operations and also to identify potential mitigation tools and/or approaches to minimise their effects. In the deductive stage, a conceptual model was developed by adapting existing manufacturing-focused uncertainty frameworks. This model has been refined through the application of focus groups and confirmed in a structured questionnaire-based survey. The outcome was the four main uncertainty clusters that affect transport operations in the UK. These uncertainty clusters are: delays, variable demand and/or inaccurate forecast, delivery constraints and insufficient supply chain integration and coordination. Furthermore, the main uncertainty cause found in the focus groups was unplanned road congestion. In the inductive stage, uncertainty evaluation assessments in three FMCG distribution networks were undertaken to evaluate the effects that different uncertainty causes have on the economic and environmental performance of such operations. An "extra distance" measure was developed for these assessments, further complemented by including the time dimension of performance in two of them. As a result of this, a new and innovative transport uncertainty evaluation tool has been developed. The main uncertainty clusters found in the deductive stage of the research are the uncertainty clusters found in the deductive stage of the research are those that contribute more to the generation of unnecessary kilometres run within the distribution networks assessed.
7
Jammernegg, Werner, and Heidrun Rosic. "The economic and environmental performance of dual sourcing: A newsvendor approach." Elsevier, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2012.12.007.
Abstract:
We extend the dual sourcing model based on the newsvendor framework by considering the
environmental impact of transport. In our context, dual sourcing means that a company, e.g.
a retailer, uses an offshore and an onshore supplier. We include environmental regulations for
transport in the model. Firstly, emission taxes for the transport from the offshore source are
considered. It can be shown that with increasing emissions taxes the company sources less from
offshore. This improves the environmental performance but the economic performance (expected
profit) is severely harmed. Secondly, we propose that an emission trading scheme is valid for
transport activities. In this case, the optimal policy turns out to be a two-sided control-limit
policy. If the emission limit (expressed in product units) is set to the minimal offshore order
quantity the environmental impact of transport can be reduced while the economic performance
is nearly not affected. Thus, from managerial perspective emission trading is preferred to an
emission tax on transport. Also from the perspective of policy-making emission trading is reasonable
as it helps to limit the negative environmental impact of transport but does not strongly
reduce the competitiveness of individual companies.
8
Onabanjo, Tosin. "Techno-economic and environmental assessment of gas turbines utilizing biofuels." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2015. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/9280.
Abstract:
The continued global reliance on fossil fuels with impact on resource depletion, human health, atmospheric pollution and environmental degradation has necessitated a global drive to integrate renewable fuels such as biodiesels. Biodiesels are described as “fuels composed of fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters and obtained from vegetable oils or animal fats”. Their use in energy generation could diversify the world’s energy mix, reduce fossil fuel dependence, reduce emissions and energy cost to bring about other economic benefits, especially for developing economies and rural communities with lack of adequate access to modern energy. A techno-economic and environmental life cycle assessment is however required to ensure that these fuels are fit for use in engines and meet any regulatory standard and sustainability criteria. This thesis has evaluated the use of Jatropha- and microalgae-biodiesel for power generation in two industrial gas turbines with open and combined cycle configuration. This was achieved using a techno-economic and environmental life cycle impact assessment framework. Comparative fuel assessments have been carried out between biodiesels and fossil fuels. Furthermore, the concept of microbial fuel degradation was examined in gas turbines. The thesis have identified Jatropha biodiesel as a worthwhile substitute for conventional diesel fuel, because it has close performance and emission characteristics to conventional diesel fuel with added advantage of being renewable. The consequent displacement of conventional diesel fuel with Jatropha biodiesel has significant environmental benefits. For economic viability and sustainability of gas turbine operated power plants, energy producers require a minimum monetary amount to recover the added cost of operating 100% Jatropha biodiesel. Other integration mechanisms are also available for utilizing the fuel in engines without compromising on plant’s economic performance. In worst case scenarios, where there are no government incentives, local conditions such as high life cycle cost of electricity, open opportunities for distributed and independent power generation from renewable fuels like Jatropha-biodiesel. Furthermore, this thesis has identified salient energy conversion processes that occur in gas turbine fuels, especially with biodiesels and developed a bio-mathematical model, Bio-fAEG to simulate these processes in gas turbines. This platform is a first step in quantifiable assessment and could enable a better understanding of microbial initiated processes.
9
McCullough, Gerard John. "Essays on the economic performance of U.S. freight railroads under deregulation." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/12237.
Abstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-156).
by Gerard J. McCullough.
Ph.D.
10
Mulwa, Richard M. "Economic and environmental performance of sugarcane production in Kenya non-parametric frontier approaches." Weikersheim Margraf, 2006. http://deposit.d-nb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?id=2939503&prov=M&dok_var=1&dok_ext=htm.
11
Gilbraith, Nathaniel. "Evaluating How Demand Side Resources Affect the Environmental and Economic Performance of Energy Systems." Research Showcase @ CMU, 2015. http://repository.cmu.edu/dissertations/671.
Abstract:
The recent history of energy systems is succinctly summarized as building enough energy extraction, conversion, and delivery infrastructure to meet growing energy demand. Among the benefits of this energy systems framework, we observe that access to modern energy services helps to improve peoples’ standards of living and energy consumption has been positively correlated with gross domestic product. Among the draw backs of focusing solely on the supply side of energy extraction, conversion, delivery, and consumption are concerns regarding inefficient energy consumption (i.e. over-consumption of energy) and the growing evidence of large energy-related human, environmental, and climate impacts. As governments begin to recognize the economic and environmental costs of additional supply side infrastructure, governments, academic institutions, and advocacy groups highlight the “low hanging” nature of demand side interventions. On the surface, demand side interventions offer a win-win situation: use technology or data to identify energy consuming processes that can be optimized (i.e. reduced) or incur very large energy system costs. The energy system becomes more “cost effective” when incentives or regulations can decrease the energy consumption of those processes at a lower cost than actually meeting the baseline energy demand of those processes. This Dissertation goes further and evaluates how these energy saving policies, incentives, and regulations interact with our existing energy systems in ways that are not immediately apparent. In the second chapter, I assess how mandatory commercial building energy codes can reduce air pollutant emissions and provide social benefits. The U.S. government currently does not use estimates of the benefits of codes to determine the appropriate level of policy stringency 5 or set adoption incentives and thus systematic estimates of social benefits are necessary. Quantitative estimates of code benefits at the state level that can inform the size and allocation of these incentives are not available. We estimate the state-level climate, environmental, and health benefits (i.e., social benefits) and reductions in energy bills (private benefits) of a more stringent code (ASHRAE 90.1-2010) relative to a baseline code (ASHRAE 90.1-2007). We find that reductions in site energy use intensity range from 93 MJ/m2 of new construction per year (California) to 270 MJ/m2 of new construction per year (North Dakota). Total annual benefits from more stringent codes total $506 million for all states, where $372 is from reductions in energy bills, and $134 is from social benefits. These total benefits ranges from $0.6 million in Wyoming to $49 million in Texas. Private benefits range from $0.38 per square meter in Washington State to $1.06 per square meter in New Hampshire. Social benefits range from $0.04 per square meter annually in California to $0.50 per meter foot in Ohio. Reductions in human/environmental damages and future climate damages account for nearly equal shares of social benefits. In the third chapter, I explore how improvements in building natural gas energy efficiency can help natural gas utilities avoid capital intensive natural gas system infrastructure investments. Recent periods of pipeline congestion, high natural gas and electricity prices, and controversial infrastructure proposals have increased the public and policymaker scrutiny of the existing natural gas system infrastructure and investment process. In order to help inform the debate of New England’s energy system options, we estimate the benefits of natural gas end-use efficiency programs for utilities in New England. In particular, we model how efficiency programs affect utility firm pipeline capacity purchases and the excess capacity that utilities resell in the short-term capacity markets (i.e. the “capacity value” of the efficiency program). We 6 find that when the utility currently owns sufficient pipeline capacity to meet demand projections, the capacity value of natural gas energy efficiency measures is high because implementing an efficiency program allows the utility to resell additional excess capacity in the high-value, shortterm resale market: $4 to $5 per thousand cubic feet (MCF) of natural gas savings over the life of the space heating efficiency program and $3 per MCF for water heating efficiency programs. When the utility needs to purchase additional firm pipeline capacity to meet projected demand growth, the efficiency program may avoid part of the planned purchase but also resells less excess capacity. For this scenario, the capacity value of space heating efficiency programs is approximately -$2 to -$3 per MCF of natural gas savings, and $1 per MCF for water heating efficiency programs. Given the current capacity situation of utilities across New England, our findings suggest that some existing natural gas efficiency programs in southern New England (CT, MA, RI) may not be cost effective while a greater number of natural gas efficiency programs in northern New England (ME, NH) may be cost effective. The capacity value of natural gas efficiency programs, and thus the cost effectiveness of these programs, is sensitive to the revenue that utilities receive when they sell excess capacity in the short-term market. We recommend that public utility commissions consider including the revenue that utilities receive from reselling excess capacity in the cost effectiveness testing framework for efficiency programs. PUCs could accomplish this by valuing excess pipeline capacity at the basis differential between New England and production areas or by working with utilities and other stakeholders to identify a mutually agreeable value. In the fourth chapter, I quantify how allowing residential consumer to self-provide electric energy using distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays will change overall electricity 7 system costs in Portugal. Further, I quantify the distribution of the benefits of solar PV among solar panel owning and non-solar panel owning ratepayers. In 2008, the European Parliament adopted the European Commission’s (EC) “20-20-20” goals in order to address global climate change concerns and to tap the potential economic and energy security benefits of energy systems based on renewable energy resources. Under the 20-20-20 package, Portugal needs to produce 60% of total electricity using renewable energy sources (or RES) by 2020. However, the total cost of subsidy policies that lead this transition now account for approximately 33% of residential consumers electricity bills. In light of both the 20-20-20 climate goals and the increasing need to achieve these goals in a cost effective manner, we quantifying the benefits and costs of distributed solar PV in Portugal for panel owners, ratepayers as a whole, and the specific group of ratepayers that does not own solar panels. We measure the benefits and costs of distributed solar PV from these perspectives by computing and comparing the present value of the cost of a distributed solar PV array, the present value of grid electricity purchases that solar panel owners avoid, and the present value of grid generation and delivery costs that the grid avoids when panel owners consume less electricity. We find that solar PV is net present value positive for the average Portuguese electricity ratepayer that owns a solar array. The most attractive option for an average consumer is a 500W array, with a net present value of 700-800€ relative to a present cost of about 1500€. On the other hand, distributed solar PV generation has a higher cost than using the grid to produce and deliver a marginal unit of electricity during periods that solar PV arrays generate electricity. Ratepayers as a whole pay 900-2600€ more in total costs for each kilowatt of distributed solar PV capacity that panel owners install; the 500 W solar array increases total system costs by 1600€. Further, panel owners also avoid paying sunk grid costs, such as revenue guarantees to other renewable 8 generators and the costs of grid infrastructure. In order to recover these sunk costs from ratepayers, retail prices will increase for all consumers. As a result, non-panel owners will pay an additional 1600€ in bills (total across all non-panel owners) for each 500W array that panel owners install. This is equivalent to a 140€/MWh subsidy to panel owners, which is larger than the subsidy that many other Portuguese generators receive but smaller than the subsidy for existing solar PV arrays. Portuguese policy-makers could reduce this subsidy by instituting some type of solar PV fee (more straightforward) or changing the rate structure such that retail prices more closely reflect underlying costs (more complex). Alternatively, Portuguese policy makers could maintain the existing policy. The subsidy per unit of installed solar PV will not change; however, the large number of consumers that live in multi-family housing (and may not be able to install solar PV) suggests that the total value of the subsidy from panel owners to non-panel owners will remain limited.
12
Daniel, Shantha Esther. "The economic and environmental performance of cogeneration under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2009.
13
Tekin, Ilknur Mary Joy Nirmala. "Green Index: Integration of Environmental Performance, Green Innovativeness and Financial Performance." PDXScholar, 2014. http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/1815.
Abstract:
The integration of sustainability performance of companies is becoming increasingly important. The recent global requirements (i.e. the Kyoto Protocol) for significant reduction of the negative impact of companies on the environment over the next 6 years have been putting pressure on the companies, requiring them to lower the negative environmental impact of market performance. This requirement challenges the profitable growth of the companies' business functions, given the change needed for business operations to improve on their environmental impact.
In this dissertation a new corporate sustainability performance index, called: The Green Index, for measuring and assessing the integrated sustainability performance of companies is developed. The Green Index integrates Environmental Performance, Green Innovativeness and Financial Performance, by quantifying the expert opinions toward their integration. Development of the Green Index is a holistic approach in defining and measuring "green" performance for companies, integrated into their market performance. Green Index, for the first time in the literature, introduces Green Innovativeness in defining and measuring Green Performance of companies, in integration with Environmental and Financial Performance.
In the literature and business practices, there are various sustainability indices used, and methodological approaches in measuring corporate sustainability performance with more than hundred performance indicators. The Green Index, uniquely refers to the collective expert opinion of management researchers, executive managers of corporations, high-tech companies' R&D managers, financial managers, corporate social responsibility managers, in defining a shorter list of 29 performance measures under the three core performance dimensions. Hierarchical Decision Modeling is used for the development of Green Index based on experts' collective decisions. At the next level, desirability levels for each one of the 29 performance measures are scaled by a group of angel investors and investors. And their collective desirability quantifications are used toward the application of the Green Index to quantify the Green Index value for a set of scenario analyses for alternative company performance states.
Green Index fills a major gap in the scholarly literature and business practices. It meets the needs prioritized in the near future strategy of World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) towards development of new performance metrics and business models for industries that are financially successful while innovating with green products as they are reducing their negative environmental impact (WBCSD Annual Report 2010, 2011).
14
Barker, Greg. "Using economic and regulatory approaches to improve the environmental performance of buildings in South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5288.
15
Abaad, Abdelmanam. "Design, techno-economic and environmental risk assessment of aero-derivative industrial gas turbine." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2012. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/7929.
Abstract:
Increased availability of natural gas has boosted research and
development efforts to further increase gas turbine performance. Performance
has been increased remarkably and unit cost reduced due to achievements
gained in improving thermodynamic cycles and cooling technologies. However,
increased complexity in power industry regulations and fluctuations in fuel price
have indicated that all the aforementioned improvements in gas turbine
performance could not cope with the increased competition in the gas turbine
industrial market. Innovation within the aero-derivative concept has enabled
further significant improvement in the performance of industrial gas turbines. It
allows a more beneficial approach than developing new designs of industrial
gas turbines owing to reduced designing time and cost. Objectives in this
project focus on developing a methodology of design and assessing aeroderivative
gas turbine engines derived from a 130-seat aircraft engine.
Developed methodology includes techno-economic and environmental
assessment, conducted through further developments of models based on
Techno-economic and Environmental Risk Assessment (TERA) philosophy, to
be applied in further industrial applications.
Tools used in this investigation include a significant literature research on
the development of aero-derivative gas turbine technologies, including
thermodynamic cycles and its land-based applications. Turbomatch is a homebased
code developed in Cranfield University, used in calculating design point
and predicting off-design performance of parent aero-engine and the aeroderivative
engines developed. Excel and FORTRAN code are also used in
calculating engine’s design parameters, and creating a model of life estimation
Creep. Moreover, FORTRAN code is used for building emission and economic
models for power generation and combined heat and power applications.
Finally, MATLAP code is used in creating a small model for generating
performance TXT files, and running marine integrated models platform. All models needed to develop the methodology have been created, and
calculations of an engine’s performance and assessment were conducted
based on this developed methodology. Sensible results are generated from the
investigated methodology and they show acceptable designs of aero-derivative
engines on different thermodynamic cycles. Based on the acceptable level of
technology and material thermal barriers, all design and off-design performance
limitations of new developed aero-derivative engines have been determined for
a wide range of ambient conditions. Techno-economic and environmental
assessment performed through implementing the developed aero-derivative
engines on power generation and marine applications under different operating
scenarios. Results of operating the engines on power generation and marine
applications have been investigated and compared. It is observed that engines
respond differently when operating under different environmental profiles,
depending on the number of units engaged and their thermodynamic cycle as
well as mechanical configurations. Also, the selected specific gas turbine
engine can be the best economical choice for operating on determined
scenario, while it cannot be when operating in different scenarios. Assessment
of developed engines on the investigated application shows how the lowest
specific cost (small engine size) can constitute important criteria in engine
selection.
16
Tindall, Nathaniel W. "Analyses of sustainability goals: Applying statistical models to socio-economic and environmental data." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/54259.
Abstract:
This research investigates the environment and development issues of three stakeholders at multiple scales—global, national, regional, and local. Through the analysis of financial, social, and environmental metrics, the potential benefits and risks of each case study are estimated, and their implications are considered.
In the first case study, the relationship of manufacturing and environmental performance is investigated. Over 700 facilities of a global manufacturer that produce 11 products on six continents were investigated to understand global variations and determinants of environmental performance. Water, energy, carbon dioxide emissions, and production data from these facilities were analyzed to assess environmental performance; the relationship of production composition at the individual firm and environmental performance were investigated. Location-independent environmental performance metrics were combined to provide both global and local measures of environmental performance. These models were extended to estimate future water use, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions considering potential demand shifts. Natural resource depletion risks were investigated, and mitigation strategies related to vulnerabilities and exposure were discussed. The case study demonstrated how data from multiple facilities can be used to characterize the variability amongst facilities and to preview how changes in production may affect overall corporate environmental metrics. The developed framework adds a new approach to account for environmental performance and degradation as well as assess potential risk in locations where climate change may affect the availability of production resources (i.e., water and energy) and thus, is a tool for understanding risk and maintaining competitive advantage.
The second case study was designed to address the issue of delivering affordable and sustainable energy. Energy pricing was evaluated by modeling individual energy consumption behaviors. This analysis simulated a heterogeneous set of residential households in both the urban and rural environments in order to understand demand shifts in the residential energy end-use sector due to the effects of electricity pricing. An agent-based model (ABM) was created to investigate the interactions of energy policy and individual household behaviors; the model incorporated empirical data on beliefs and perceptions of energy. The environmental beliefs, energy pricing grievances, and social networking dynamics were integrated into the ABM model structure. This model projected the aggregate residential sector electricity demand throughout the 30-year time period as well as distinguished the respective number of households who only use electricity, that use solely rely on indigenous fuels, and that incorporate both indigenous fuels and electricity. The model is one of the first characterizations of household electricity demand response and fuel transitions related to energy pricing at the individual household level, and is one of the first approaches to evaluating consumer grievance and rioting response to energy service delivery. The model framework is suggested as an innovative tool for energy policy analysis and can easily be revised to assist policy makers in other developing countries.
In the final case study, a framework was developed for a broad cost-benefit and greenhouse gas evaluation of transit systems and their associated developments. A case study was developed of the Atlanta BeltLine. The net greenhouse gas emissions from the BeltLine light rail system will depend on the energy efficiency of the streetcars themselves, the greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity used to power the streetcars, the extent to which people use the BeltLine instead of driving personal vehicles, and the efficiency of their vehicles. The effects of ridership, residential densities, and housing mix on environmental performance were investigated and were used to estimate the overall system efficacy. The range of the net present value of this system was estimated considering health, congestion, per capita greenhouse gas emissions, and societal costs and benefits on a time-varying scale as well as considering the construction and operational costs. The 95% confidence interval was found with a range bounded by a potential loss of $860 million and a benefit of $2.3 billion; the mean net present value was $610 million. It is estimated that the system will generate a savings of $220 per ton of emitted CO2 with a 95% confidence interval bounded by a potential social cost of $86 cost per ton CO2 and a savings of $595 per ton CO2.
17
Zilkens, Matthias. "Towards sustainability of wheat and maize cultivation in Beijing region : economic performance and environmental impacts /." Aachen : Shaker, 2004. http://www.gbv.de/dms/zbw/500401152.pdf.
18
Walsh, John. "Anaerobic digestion : its potential to improve the economic and environmental performance of organic farming systems." Thesis, Bangor University, 2013. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/anaerobic-digestion--its-potential-to-improve-the-economic-and-environmental-performance-of-organic-farming-systems(67bdfe0b-34a3-42e1-8260-3604b07d0a02).html.
19
Prinsloo, Thomas Frederik. "Does it pay to be green? : an empirical study of the South African mining industry / T.F. Prinsloo." Thesis, North-West University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/4615.
Abstract:
In recent years, the growing importance of environmental and social issues has put pressure on companies to implement environmental and social systems. With the pressure on companies to improve environmental performance, environmental management accounting can provide a valuable tool that enables companies to respond to environmental challenges. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry and also to identify and evaluate the opportunities to improve both a company's environmental performance and economic performance.
In this study, scatter plot diagrams were used to determine the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry. Ten South African mining companies were selected for the study and their financial information as well as environmental information for the period 2005 to 2009 was used.
After the analysis of the scatter plot diagrams was done, it was found that it pays to be green for coal–mining companies, but not for gold– and platinum–mining companies. This study also identified that environmental management accounting is essential to identify and effectively manage environmental costs to improve environmental performance and that it is a very important tool to help companies to implement environmentally friendly programmes for ensuring a company's long–term strategic position. Despite all the risks and challenges facing the mining industry, opportunities to improve a company's environmental performance and economic performance, include emissions trading, development of new technologies, investing in projects in renewable energy and an increase in demand of mining products due to the effects of climate change. ii
The value of the study is that it is the first study to investigate the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry. This study is also unique as it takes into account how investors see the company in terms of environmental performance. This study uses economic performance measures from an internal and external point of view and not merely from an internal point of view like the previous studies. Companies in the mining industry as well as investors can use the findings presented in this study to realise the importance of preserving the environment as well as the importance of triple bottom line accounting.Thesis (M.Com. (Management Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.
20
Yazdeen, Haji Haji. "Integrating Material Flow Cost Accounting with Life cycle assessment to Assess the Economic an Environmental Performances of Selected Wood Industries in the Landes de Gascogne Forest, France." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Bordeaux, 2023. http://www.theses.fr/2023BORD0153.
Abstract:
Il y a une préoccupation croissante quant à l’impact de nos modes de consommation et de production sur notre planète, au point que nous atteignons les limites de croissance avec la planète incapable d’assimiler indéfiniment les effets des activités anthropiques. En conséquence, au cours des dernières années, les préoccupations croissantes concernant le changement climatique ont poussé les organisations commerciales à changer leurs priorités, non seulement pour atteindre des objectifs économiques, mais également pour considérer les objectifs écologiques. La foresterie, qui est une partie importante de la nature, a traditionnellement été un fournisseur de matières premières renouvelables pour l’utilisation industrielle (sciage, pâte et papier, panneaux de particules, etc.) et pour le bois de chauffage domestique. Bien que de nombreuses études aient été menées dans ce domaine, peu d’attention a été accordée à l’importance de l’évaluation monétaire de l’impact environnemental négatif pour déterminer le véritable prix des produits en bois et prendre une décision éclairée pour l’investissement. Cette étude vise à évaluer la performance économique et environnementale de cinq produits en bois de pin maritime, issus du processus Gate-to-Gate dans la forêt des Landes de Gascogne en France. Les données ont été collectées sur la base d’une revue de la littérature et des références mentionnées dans le chapitre quatre et le chapitre cinq de cette étude, puis ces données ont été utilisées dans l’analyse du logiciel semipro pour identifier l’impact environnemental (Gate-to-gate) pour les produits étudiés par la méthodologie d’évaluation du cycle de vie (LCA) et un modèle de coût a été établi pour chaque produit par la méthodologie de coût du cycle de vie (LCC). Ensuite, les deux méthodologies ont été liées en utilisant la comptabilité des coûts des flux de matières (MFCA), et les résultats ont correspondu à la part de marché spécifiée dans le chapitre trois par l’analyse des flux de matières (MFA)There is an increasing understanding that our consumption and production patterns have to change to stay within our planetary boundaries, the planet being unable to indefinitely assimilate the effects of current anthropic activities. Correspondingly, in recent years, growing concerns about climate change pollution and biodiversity loss have driven business organizations to change their priorities, not only to achieve economic objectives, but also to consider ecological goals. Forestry, an important part of natural systems, has been a traditional supplier of renewable raw materials for industrial use (e.g., sawmilling for construction wood, pulp and paper, particle boards), as well as for domestic fuelwood. Although many studies have been conducted in this field, little attention has been paid to the importance of the monetary valuation of negative environmental impacts in order to determine the true price of wood products to take informed investment decisions. This study aims to assess economic and environmental performance of five maritime pinewood products during the gate-to-gate process (harvesting to semifinal product) in the Landes de Gascogne Forest (“Landes Forest”) in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The product groups considered are construction wood, pulp, plywood, pellets and pallets. For this purpose, the study uses several systemanalytical methods in combination: material flow analysis (MFA), life-cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and material flow cost accounting (MFCA). The relevant MFA data in Chapter 3 was collected from an industrial partner and based on databases, literature sources and other references to obtain Life Cycle Inventories for the LCA study in Chapter 4. The LCA software SimaPro was used for this analysis, applying the ReCiPe life-cycle impact assessment method to identify the environmental impact (gate-to-gate) of the studied products. A cost model based on the Environmental Prices Handbook was developed in Chapter 5 to estimate the external costs based on the environmental impact results. This has been set for each product group and integrated into environmental LCC to compare the external with the internal costs, in far as possible with the data available. The methodologies have been tied together in Chapter 6 using MFCA; results correspond to the market share specified in Chapter 3 by MFA. We found that, among the studied products, unbleached pulp and plywood production have the highest economic and environmental costs at €32.36/€15.13 and €27.22/€7.14, respectively. That means that the best use of raw timber is as construction wood due to two reasons: first, the long lifespan of construction wood compared to other studied products; second, not only is less energy is required in the production process, but chemical materials are also absent from the process. This study proposes a suitable methodology framework for the economic and environmental assessment of forest products and other industries. Moreover, this work reviews the design and monitoring of wood from a sustainable resource and environmental impact perspective The environmental impacts costs (external costs or externalities) and key internal costs have been estimated for studied product groups. [...]
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Khodabandeh, Afsaneh, and Diala Nahra. "Do The CSR activities help to attain Sustainability in SMEs within the Swedish Pharmaceutical Industry?" Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för ekonomi, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-26214.
Abstract:
Aim and method: This study aims to investigate the implementation of CSR activities to attain sustainability in SMEs by focusing on the pharmaceutical industry in Sweden.To achieve the aim of this study, qualitative method has been used to conduct multiple case study of 10 SMEs in the pharmaceutical industry in Sweden. Result and conclusion: This study has shown that the CSR activities in the studied pharmaceutical SMEs are at the primary stage as most of them currently go through research and development. There is no balance between three aspects of the CSR(social, environmental and economic), and CSR activities could not be fully implemented to maintain holistic sustainability. Ethics seems to have a high impact on CSR activities in the pharmaceutical sector, especially due to its involvement in the betterment of lives all over the world. Thus, in a way, this industry is ethically responsible for providing affordable treatments. Contribution: The present study contributes to the literature by investigating the CSR activities in the Swedish pharmaceutical SMEs and their ability to attain sustainability in terms of employment, society, revenues and supporting the economy. A new framework, which consists of three pillars namely ethical, environmental and social, could be used to assess the CSR activities in order to achieve sustainability in SMEs. In this framework, ethics would be a pillar of the CSR instead of the economic one.
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Patel, C. "Techno-economic performance analysis and environmental impact assessment of energy production from biomass at different scales." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2013. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1396237/.
Abstract:
Burning fossil fuels contributes largely to the release of CO2 emissions, which CO2 accounted for 84% of the total UK greenhouse emissions in 2009. Energy production can affect climate change because it is currently produced using non- renewable fuels. As a result the UK Government has set a target of 15% renewable energy use by 2020. Renewable energy is the production of energy using fuels that are produced and sourced sustainably. Maximising renewable energy by using alternative fuels to produce our heat and electricity can help decrease our emissions and reach Government targets. The main objective of this work is to investigate the techno-economic assessment and life cycle assessment of energy from different types of biomass in the UK context. Energy use in the UK and climate change is discussed to present a case for sustainable energy. An extensive review of the thermal treatment options, as well as the different types of biomass available in the UK has been presented. Issues related to energy from biomass such as food vs. fuel and land vs. fuel are also discussed. In this thesis two second generation types of biomass are individually investigated - solid recovered fuel (SRF) and forestry waste wood chips (FWWC). A techno-economic assessment was performed on small to medium scale combustion plants using SRF (50 ktpa and 100 ktpa) or FWWC (50 ktpa, 80 ktpa and 160 ktpa). These are waste forms of biomass one of which is a mixed waste source (SRF) and the other a single waste source (FWWC), of which we have a great untapped resource in the UK. Discounted cash flow analysis, internal rate of return and levelised cost for the plants are calculated. The techno-economic assessment for the SRF plants were done previously by Yassin et al., (2008) and updated in this study using new cost data, such as landfill disposal costs and the new banded ROC’s scheme. The techno-economic performance of the FWWC was devised in the same way as for the SRF plant to ensure consistency. The results showed that the small and medium scale SRF plants were technically and economically viable, whilst only the largest scale FWWC plant was economically viable. A sensitivity analysis on the economic assessment was also performed, to investigate changes in levelised cost when seven different parameters were changed by 10% and 30%. As a result of these investigations a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed on the large scale plants to investigate environmental aspects of sustainability. Hot-spot analysis was conducted for both plants and landfill reference systems were investigated for the SRF plant, whilst the FWWC plant investigated the emissions associated with leaving wood in the forest. In addition, the plants were compared against fossil fuel alternatives at the same production scale. The results of the LCA showed that both types of biomass are more environmentally friendly than fossil fuel alternatives. The SRF hot-spot analysis showed that the Fairport Process releases the most CO2. The FWWC hot-spot analysis showed harvesting released most CO2. The work was developed further by investigating a first generation liquid form of biomass rapeseed oil (RSO) for the production of energy using internal combustion engines. RSO is grown in increasing amounts in the UK for bio-diesel production but can also be used crude to produce energy. A techno-economic assessment of energy from RSO was conducted at small (27 ktpa) to medium (40 ktpa) scale plants, using the identical methodology as above. The results found only the medium scale plant to be economically viable. A sensitivity analysis on the economic assessment was also performed using the same percentage changes as above. An LCA was performed for the 40 ktpa RSO plant. A base case was investigated and compared to the plant. A hot-spot analysis was investigated, which showed the harvesting and cultivating units released the most CO2. The effects of growing rapeseed oil and how we use our land is investigated. The results showed the plant releases least emissions when the rapeseed is grown on rotation, using reduced tillage methodology.
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Samara, Georges. "Managing Family Businesses Heterogeneity: Global Strategies for Family Business Economic and Social Performance." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Ramon Llull, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/461046.
Abstract:
Com gestionar i dirigir una empresa familiar per tal d’aconseguir uns resultats econòmics i socials millors? Si bé les empreses familiars són un grup molt heterogeni d’empreses, s’ha fet molt poca atenció a la forma de govern i a les contingències institucionals a l’hora d’analitzar el seu acompliment econòmic i social. Com a resultat d’això s’han produït alguns debats teòrics i s’han detectat algunes conclusions contradictòries en la literatura. Aquesta tesi explica l’heterogeneïtat de les empreses familiars per tal d’il·lustrar millor les opcions de gestió i de govern que en poden catalitzar l’acompliment econòmic i social. S’analitzen tres fonts poc estudiades de l’heterogeneïtat de les empreses familiars: les diverses actituds, habilitats i serveis del seu capital humà, els diferents nivells d’implicació de la família en el negoci i l’entorn geogràfic institucional en què s’incardinen les empreses familiars. Aquesta tesi aporta arguments teòrics i analitza empíricament les diferents opcions de gestió i de govern que poden catalitzar els resultats econòmics i socials de les empreses familiars. En definitiva, aquest treball fa diverses contribucions teòriques que poden ajudar a reconciliar les visions contradictòries detectades a la literatura i proporciona algunes recomanacions molt més precises als professionals.¿Cómo gestionar y dirigir una empresa familiar para lograr mejores resultados económicos y sociales? Pese a que las empresas familiares son un grupo muy heterogéneo de empresas, se ha prestado muy poca atención a la gobernanza y a las contingencias institucionales a la hora de abordar su desempeño económico y social. El resultado de ello han sido algunos debates teóricos y algunas conclusiones contradictorias en la literatura. La presente tesis explica la heterogeneidad de las empresas familiares para arrojar más luz sobre las opciones de gestión y de gobernanza que pueden catalizar el desempeño económico y social de dichas empresas. Se analizan tres fuentes poco estudiadas de la heterogeneidad de las empresas familiares: las diversas actitudes, habilidades y servicios de su capital humano, los distintos niveles de implicación de la familia en el negocio y el entorno geográfico institucional en que se incardinan las empresas familiares. Esta tesis proporciona argumentos teóricos y analiza empíricamente las distintas opciones de gestión y de gobernanza que pueden catalizar los resultados económicos y sociales de las empresas familiares. De este modo, este trabajo realiza varias contribuciones teóricas que pueden ayudar a reconciliar las visiones contradictorias detectadas en la literatura y proporciona algunas recomendaciones mucho más precisas a los profesionales.
How can family businesses be managed and directed to achieve better economic and social outcomes? Despite that family businesses are a group of heterogenous companies, little attention has been given to governance and institutional contingencies when discussing the family business economic and social performance. This resulted in several theoretical debates and conflicting evidence found in the literature. This thesis accounts for family business heterogeneity to shed further light into the managerial and governance choices that can catalyze family businesses economic and social performance. Three understudied sources of family businesses heterogeneity are explored: The various attitudes, skills, and services of the family business human capital, the different levels of family involvement in the business, and the institutional geographical setting in which family businesses are embedded. This thesis theoretically argues for and empirically explores managerial and governance choices that can catalyze family businesses economic and social outcomes. By doing so, this work offers several theoretical contributions that can help reconcile conflicting views found in the literature and provides finer-grained recommendations for practitioners.
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Contarini, Antonio. "Flat roofs renovation: a life cycle approach for environmental impact assessment and economic effectiveness." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2012. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/3313/.
Abstract:
The high energy consumption caused by the building sector and the continuous growth and ageing of the existing housing stock show the importance of housing renovation to improve the quality of the environment. This research compares the environmental performance of flat roof systems (insulation, roofing membrane and covering layer) using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The aim is to give indications on how to improve the environmental performance of housing. This research uses a reference building located in the Netherlands and considers environmental impacts related to materials, energy consumption for heating and maintenance activities. It indicates impact scores for each material taking into account interconnections between the layers and between the different parts of the life cycle. It compares the environmental and economic performances of PV panels and of different materials and thermal resistance values for the insulation. These comparisons show that PV panels are convenient from an environmental and economic point of view. The same is true for the insulation layer, especially for materials as PIR (polyisocyanurate) and EPS (expanded polystyrene). It shows that energy consumption for heating causes a larger share of impact scores than production of the materials and maintenance activities. The insulation also causes larger impact scores comparing to roofing membrane and covering layer. The results show which materials are preferable for flat roof renovation and what causes the largest shares of impact. This gives indication to the roofers and to other stakeholders about how to reduce the environmental impact of the existing housing stock.
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González, Juncà Arnau. "Combined heat and power generation systems for optimum environmental and economic performance : a case study in Catalonia." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/396270.
Abstract:
In the current energy conjunction, with an expected growth of energy consumption in a context of fossil fuel depletion, more focus is being placed on renewable energy sources (RES) for electricity generation. To enhance their deployment worldwide, hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) are a trendy alternative, because they can effectively take advantage of scalability and flexibility of these energy sources, since combining two or more allows counteracting the weaknesses of a stochastic renewable energy source with the strengths of another or with the predictability of a non-renewable energy source.
This work presents an optimization methodology that was developed for life cycle cost optimization and multi-objective cost and environmental impact optimization of a grid-connected HRES based on solar photovoltaic, wind and biomass power. In such a system, biomass power seeks to take advantage of locally available forest wood biomass in the form of wood chips to provide energy in periods when the photovoltaic (PV) and wind power generated are not enough to match the existing demand and, additionally, produce thermal energy when a combined heat and power (CHP) scheme is adopted. The developed model was tested in a sample township in central Catalonia using real wind, solar irradiation and electricity demand data from a certain location on an hourly basis.
To assess different situations and system layouts, four different case studies were carried out and the model was adapted to each of the situations analyzed. Sensitivity analyses that allowed detecting to which variables the system was more sensitive in each situation were performed. In all cases, the model responds well to changes in the input parameters and variables while providing trustworthy sizing solutions.
When looking to a grid-connected HRES consisting of PV and wind power technologies, the results of its cost optimization show that it would be economically profitable in the studied rural township in the Mediterranean climate region of central Catalonia (Spain), being the system paid off after 18 years of operation out of 25 years of system lifetime.
Placing the focus into a grid-connected PV-wind-biomass HRES, the results show that such a system could be installed with smaller upfront investments than the previous case, counteracted by higher life-cycle costs. However, such a system would have benefits in terms of energy autonomy and environment quality improvement, as well as in term of job opportunity creation as biomass is the RES with greater impact on local job opportunities creation.
The same system was also analyzed under a multi-objective perspective, considering not only its life-cycle cost, but also its life-cycle environmental impact (EI). In that case, the results show that they are contradicting criteria. Low EI layouts highly dependent on RES have higher costs than the ones more reliant on the electricity from the public grid, which present high environmental impact. Results also show that improving the rate of return on investment in HRES would be a very beneficial measure to encourage the use of renewable energies for electricity production, as it has significant positive outcomes in terms of both cost and environmental impact reduction.z<
The last hypothesis analyzed was the possibility of adopting a CHP scheme. The system showed lower return on investment rates, making it profitable after around 10 years that are required to pay back the initial investment. That is a result of the usage of thermal energy produced through biomass conversion, which makes more efficient the whole system as that energy is, otherwise, thrown away. The trade-offs between cost and environmental impact show again that small investments on renewable energies (RE) have great returns in terms of environmental impact reduction, especially when the starting point is the current grid situation with more than 50% of energy sources being fossil fuel-based with their associated EI.En l'actual situació de l'energia, amb un pronosticat augment del consum energètic en un context d'esgotament dels combustibles fòssils, s'està posant més atenció en les fonts d'energia renovable per generació elèctrica. Per millorar el seu desplegament arreu, els sistemes híbrids d'energia renovable són una alternativa en puixança, donat que aquests poden aprofitar l'escalabilitat i flexibilitat de les fonts d'energia renovable donat que la combinació de dues o més fonts permet contrarrestar les debilitats d'una font d'energia no controlable amb les fortaleses d'una altra o amb la controlabilitat d'una font d'energia no renovable. Aquest treall presenta una metodologia d'optimització que ha estat desenvolupada per a optimització del cost de cicle de vida i per la optimització multi-objectiu de cost i impacte ambiental (IA) de cicle vida d'un sistema híbrid d'energia renovable connectat a la xarxa elèctrica i basat en l'ús de les energies solar fotovoltaica (FV), eòlica i de la biomassa. En aquest sistema l'ús de la biomassa busca l'aprofitament del recurs forestal autòcton en forma de 'wood chips' per proporcionar energia en aquells períodes en els què les energies FV i eòlica no són suficients per a subministrar la demanda existent i, addicionalment, produïr energia tèrmica adoptant un esquema de cogeneració. El model desenvolupat ha estat testat i validat en un municipi rural situat a la Catalunya central i utilitzant dades reals de velocitat de vent, irradiació solar i demanda elèctrica amb una precisió horària. Per a evaluar diferents situacions i disposicions del sistema, s'han dut a terme 4 casos d'estudi, i el model ha estat adaptat a cada una de les situacions analitzades. També s'han dut a terme anàlisis de sensibilitat que permeten detectar a quines variables és més sensible el model i el sistema de producció elèctrica. En tots els casos, el model respon adequadament als canvis implementats en les dades d'entrada, a la vegada que proporciona resultats del dimensionat òptim del sistema. Fixant-nos en un sistema FV - eòlic, els resultats de la seva optimització de cost mostren que seria econòmicament viable la seva instal·lació en la localització evaluada, amb un període de retorn de la inversió de 18 anys dels 25 anys de vida útil del sistema. Si ens fixem en un sistema FV - eòlic - biomassa, els resulstats mostren que el sistema requereix de menys inversió inicial que l'anterior, avantatge contrarrestat per un cost de cicle de vida major. No obstant, aquest sistema aportaria beneficis en termes d'autonomia energètica, millora de qualitat ambiental i en creació de llocs de treball derivats del processat de la biomassa forestal, una font intensiva en demanda de llocs de treball. El mateix sistema també s'ha analitzat des d'una perspectiva multi-criteri, considerant també l'IA. En aquest cas, els resultats mostren que cost i impacte ambiental són criteris contradictoris: sistemes de baix IA tenen costs més elevats que aquells que se sustenten en l'energia de la xarxa elèctrica, que presenta un elevat IA. Els resultats també mostren que la millora de la taxa de retorn de la inversió seria una mesura molt beneficiosa per fomentar l'ús de les energies renovables per a la generació d'electricitat degut al seus retorns positius en termes de reducció de cost i IA. La darrera hipòtesi analitzada ha estat l'adopció d'un esquema de cogeneració. En aquest cas, el sistema mostra menors períodes de retorn de la inversió, fent-lo rentable a partir dels 10 anys. Això es deu a la utilització de l'energia tèrmica produïda en la valorització energètica de la biomassa, que té efectes en la millora de l'eficiència al aprofitar energia que d'altra manera es malbarata. Els balanços entre cost i impacte ambiental mostren de nou que petites inversions en energia renovable tenen grans retorns en termes de reducció de l'IA, en especial partint d'un sistema elèctric on més d'un 50% de fonts energètiques són combustibles fòssils amb elevat IA
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Zilkens, Matthias [Verfasser]. "Towards Sustainability of Wheat and Maize Cultivation in Beijing Region : Economic Performance and Environmental Impacts / Matthias Zilkens." Aachen : Shaker, 2004. http://d-nb.info/1170539858/34.
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Mamouni, Limnios Elena Alexandra. "Incorporating complex systems dynamics in sustainability assessment frameworks : enhanced prediction and management of socio-ecological systems performance." University of Western Australia. Faculty of Business, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0012.
Abstract:
[Truncated abstract] The application of reductionism, breaking down problems to simpler components that can be solved and then aggregating the results, is one of the bases of classical science. However, living organisms, ecosystems, social and economic structures are complex systems, characterised by non-linear interactions between their elements and exhibit emergent properties that are not directly traceable to their components. Sustainability assessment frameworks oversimplify system interactions, achieving limited predictive capacity and causing managerial behavior that may reduce system's ability to adapt to external disturbance. Intrigued by the importance of complexity, we explore the central theme of how complex thinking can influence the understanding and progress towards sustainability. The purpose is to conceptualize the relationship of key terms (such as sustainability, functionality and resilience), and consecutively develop new or adjust existing sustainability frameworks to take into account complex systems interactions. We aim at developing theory and frameworks that can be used to raise awareness of the pitfalls of the growth paradigm and direct towards modest positions when managing complex systems. We seek to define the structural elements that influence system adaptive capacity, allowing identification of early signs of system rigidity or vulnerability and the development of knowledge and techniques that can improve our predictive and managerial ability. The focus has been on a variety of system scales and dynamics. At the collective community level, a number of stakeholder engagement practices and frameworks are currently available. However, there is limited awareness of the complexity challenges among stakeholders, who are commonly directed to a triple bottom line analysis aiming at maximizing a combination of outputs. An attempt is conducted to measure the functionality of the processes underlying a standing stock, in contrast to sustainability measures that only assess the variations of the standing stock itself. We develop the Index of Sustainable Functionality (ISF), a framework for the assessment of complex systems interactions within a large-scale geographic domain and apply it to the State of Western Australia. '...' Finally, we focus on smaller systems scales and develop a methodology for the calculation of Product Ecological Footprint (PEF) including elements from the accounting method of activity based costing. We calculate PEF for three apple production systems and identify significant differences from first stage calculations within the same industry. Cross-industry application will provide a practical way to link individuals' consumption with their ecological impact, reduce misperceptions of products' ecological impacts and develop a market-driven approach to internalizing environmental externalities. At the firm level PEF can be compared with investment costs, resulting in the opportunity to optimize both functions of financial cost and ecological impact in decision making. We have developed methods for incorporating complexity in sustainability assessment frameworks. Further work is required in testing and validating these methodologies at multiple system scales and conditions. Integrating such tools in decision making mechanisms will enhance long-term management of socioecological systems performance.
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Venkatachalam, Jayasurya. "How can we measure the technical, socio-economic, and environmental performance of circular business models and supply chain?" Thesis, KTH, Skolan för industriell teknik och management (ITM), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-302533.
Abstract:
Circular business models can assist in reshaping and transitioning away from the current linear consumption pattern which can in turn allow us to achieve a circular economy. Businesses can change their operating model and consider a more sustainable alternative to their current production and consumption method. For businesses to assist in the transition of circular economy, the circular economy strategies can be integrated into their business models. Companies have already started to align goals and objectives to achieve this by measuring performance indicators. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are used to effectively communicate and set targets to be achieved within different levels of an organization. KPIs can be used to monitor the progress of different aspects of sustainability including environment, economic and social. Due to this reason, many industries are shifting towards a circular business model to ensure better resource utilization and sustainable operations. For companies to evaluate their progress towards their set targets and goals, performance measurement is crucial. In this study, relevant existing circular KPIs have been identified which can be implemented by the case companies to measure the performance of their supply chain and entire business model. The technical, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions are focused on this study while identifying the Key Performance Indicators. A systematic literature review was initially performed during this study. Data achieved from literature was then compared with empirical data. The empirical data is based on interviews and surveys conducted with the case companies which were later compiled to develop the suitable indicators.Cirkulära affärsmodeller kan hjälpa till att omforma och övergå från det nuvarande linjära konsumtionsmönstret, vilket i sin tur kan göra det möjligt för oss att uppnå en cirkulär ekonomi. Företag kan ändra sin driftsmodell och överväga ett mer hållbart alternativ till sin nuvarande produktions- och konsumtionsmetod. För att företag ska bistå vid övergången till cirkulär ekonomi kan strategierna för cirkulär ekonomi integreras i deras affärsmodeller. Företag har redan börjat anpassa sina mål för att uppnå detta genom att mäta prestationsindikatorer. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) används för att effektivt kommunicera och sätta upp mål som ska uppnås inom olika nivåer i en organisation. KPIs kan användas för att övervaka utvecklingen av olika aspekter av hållbarhet, inklusive miljö, ekonomisk och social. Av denna anledning övergår många branscher mot en cirkulär affärsmodell för att säkerställa bättre resursutnyttjande och hållbara operationer. Prestandamätning är avgörande för att företag ska kunna utvärdera sina framsteg i förhållande till sina uppsatta mål. I denna studie har relevanta befintliga cirkulära KPIs identifierats som kan implementeras av fallstudieföretagen för att mäta prestanda för deras försörjningskedja och hela affärsmodellen. Fokus för denna studie är de tekniska, miljömässiga och socioekonomiska dimensionerna samtidigt som de viktigaste prestationsindikatorerna identifieras. En systematisk litteraturöversikt utfördes initialt under denna studie. Data erhållen från litteraturen jämfördes därefter med empiriska data. De empiriska uppgifterna är baserade på intervjuer och undersökningar som gjorts med fallstudiebolagen som senare sammanställdes för att utveckla lämpliga indikatorer.
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Jaax, Alexander. "Essays on disparities in innovative performance and economic development in emerging countries : a regional and firm-level investigation." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 2016. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3540/.
Abstract:
The global economic system has been undergoing fundamental changes since the 1980s. Many emerging countries drastically increased their openness to trade and foreign investments. Formerly socialist countries entered a transition towards a market-based model and deepened their integration into the global economy. As a result, the geography of trade, investment flows, and innovation is becoming more multipolar. This thesis seeks to improve our understanding of the links between these macro-level shifts and the geography of innovation, spatial patterns of economic deprivation, as well as firm-level outcomes in emerging countries. This thesis is structured into an introductory chapter and four analytical papers. The introductory chapter outlines three themes corresponding to the areas to which this thesis makes a contribution: (1) the interplay of the local and the global dimension in shaping regional patterns of knowledge creation, (2) the link between the relative weight of the private sector and spatial patterns of economic deprivation, and (3) the role of global production networks and the changing geography of trade in shaping regional patterns of innovative performance and heterogeneous firm-level outcomes. The first paper examines the geography of innovation in Russia, adopting a perspective that combines Soviet-era legacies, contemporaneous regional conditions, and global linkages. The results shed light on multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) role as key agents providing Russian regions with knowledge from distant places. The findings simultaneously point to the importance of path dependencies in regional patterns of knowledge generation. The second paper investigates the link between regional innovative performance in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia and investments of MNEs categorized by entry mode and business function. The analysis suggests that the relationship between global linkages established by MNEs and regional knowledge creation is jointly shaped by the heterogeneity of MNEs’ investments and the heterogeneity of region-specific conditions in Latin American economies at different stages of technological development. The third paper focuses on Vietnam, a country that has seen some provinces act as pioneers and others as laggards in the journey towards an outward-oriented marketbased economy. The link between the private sector’s weight in the economy and economic deprivation is a topic of considerable policy interest, but its subnational dimension remains underexplored. The analysis considers the relationship between provincial differences in the change of private firms’ formal employment share and changes in the geography of economic deprivation. The findings reveal that increases in private firms’ employment share are associated with reductions in poverty. MNEs appear to be a key driver of this association. Finally, the fourth paper concerns Vietnam’s growing trade with China. It looks at the link between imports from China and firm-level outcomes in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector. The results show that, contrary to previous findings for advanced economies, exposure to imports from China is positively linked with firm-level employment. Information on trade in intermediates suggests that inputs imported from China may support Vietnam’s export growth. The findings cast light on the necessity to consider the role of global production networks and trade in intermediates when assessing the developmental implications of changing trade patterns.
30
Pepino, Camille. "La performance en droit des affaires." Thesis, Aix-Marseille, 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018AIXM0500/document.
Abstract:
Les opérateurs économiques sont confrontés à un fort accroissement de la concurrence combiné à des préoccupations sociales et environnementales désormais devenues indispensables. De ce constat, il semble que la performance qu’elle soit de type économique, social ou environnemental, soit devenue une valeur intrinsèque qui s’intègre ponctuellement à des obligations, ou engendre des obligations. Elle sera parfois extérieure au contrat et imposée par le droit lui-même. En ce sens, le législateur impose que la rémunération de certains dirigeants de sociétés soit obligatoirement indexée sur des critères de performances. Mais la performance sera parfois interne au contrat et constituera un élément essentiel pour ce dernier. Ces manifestations traduisent un mouvement d’ensemble rendant nécessaire la construction d’une réflexion juridique sur la performance, prisme de lecture devenu inévitable et particulièrement crucial. En dépit de l’attrait de la quête de performance, le droit est à la recherche d’un point d’équilibre de nature à permettre un développement économique dans les meilleures conditions, adossé au respect de l’environnement, naturel, humain, voire sociétal. C’est dans cette perspective que la dynamique de cette étude est construite. Elle appréhende la performance comme le fait d’atteindre un objectif, avec des moyens et des méthodes efficientes, tout en limitant les pertes financières et les effets néfastes. La performance est la nouvelle clé de lecture de la vie en société, et le droit des affaires s’impose à cet égard comme l’un des premiers relaisEconomic operators are facing a sharp increase in competition combined with social and environmental concerns that have become of the essence. From this observation, it seems that the performance, be it economic, social or environmental, has become an value that is part of obligations, or creates itself obligations. It will sometimes be outside the contract and imposed by the law itself. In this sense, the legislator requires that the remuneration of certain companies executives is compulsorily indexed on performance criteria. But the performance will sometimes be internal to the contract and will be an essential element for the latter. These events reflect an overall movement making it necessary to construct a legal dissertation on performance, a new reading prism that has become inevitable and particularly crucial. Despite the attractiveness of the quest for performance, the law is seeking a point of balance likely to allow economic development in the best conditions, backed by respect for the environment, natural, human, even societal. It is in this perspective that the dynamics of this study is built. It understands performance as achieving a goal, with efficient means and methods, while limiting financial losses and adverse effects. Performance is the new key to reading life in society, and business law is one of the first relays
31
Roos, Erica Caetano. "Um estudo exploratório sobre avaliação de desempenho ambiental em portos." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/148020.
Abstract:
Portos são elos que ligam o transporte terrestre ao transporte marítimo e são fundamentais para o comércio internacional. Por sua importância para o desenvolvimento dos países, portos vêm demandando técnicas mais aprimoradas para sua gestão e também para a avaliação de seu desempenho. Nesse contexto, surgem questões importantes, tais como a definição, métricas utilizáveis e também dimensões de desempenho a serem avaliadas. Uma questão que surge é a da avaliação de desempenho ambiental do porto, já que por serem interfaces entre a terra e o mar, portos impactam nos ecossistemas marinhos e terrestres. Porém, a avaliação ambiental geralmente envolve critérios técnicos, e o impacto econômico e financeiro acaba em segundo plano. Sendo assim, esta dissertação propõe compreender as questões envolvidas na avaliação de desempenho de portos, e especificamente na avaliação de desempenho ambiental nos mesmos. Para isso, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória que busca compreender o tema de avaliação de desempenho ambiental levando em consideração aspectos econômicos e financeiros. Ao longo desta pesquisa, os resultados apontam que ainda havia uma lacuna na literatura, onde não havia um modelo que levasse em consideração critérios econômicos e financeiros ao avaliar o desempenho ambiental. Para solucionar este problema, foi proposto um modelo de indicadores de referência. Entretanto, para avaliar a viabilidade de implantação do modelo proposto, foram realizadas entrevistas com stakeholders do setor portuário. Os entrevistados foram a Gerência de Meio Ambiente da ANTAQ (Agência Nacional de Transporte Aquaviário), a SEP/PR (Secretaria Especial de Portos da Presidência da República) e duas Superintendências do Rio Grande do Sul, que são responsáveis pelos portos públicos do estado: a SPH (Superintendência de Portos e Hidrovias) e a SUPRG (Superintendência do Porto do Rio Grande). Os resultados das entrevistas apontam que o modelo proposto não seria aplicável neste momento. Então, a proposta foi adaptada e criou-se um modelo simplificado e outro que poderá ser implantado quando já houver base de dados suficiente para tal. Portanto, a contribuição acadêmica deste trabalho está relacionada à criação de indicadores para a medição de desempenho ambiental e econômico em portos e a discussão do tema para portos brasileiros.Ports are links that connect the inland transport to maritime transport and are essential for international trade. Because of its importance to the development of countries, ports are demanding improved techniques for their management and for evaluating their performance. In this context, there are important issues such as the definition, usable metrics and also dimensions of performance to be evaluated. One important question is the environmental performance of the port. Ports impact both on maritime and inland ecosystems, and it is necessary to minimize these impacts. However, the environmental assessment usually involves technical variables, and economic and financial impact are not taken into account. Thus, this dissertation proposes to understand the issues involved in assessing the performance of ports, and specifically in environmental performance evaluation on them. For this, an exploratory research was carried out aiming to understand the environmental performance evaluation issue taking into account economic and financial aspects. Throughout this study, the results showed that there was still a gap in the literature, where there was not a model to take into account economic and financial criteria to evaluate environmental performance. To solve this problem, a model with indicators to evaluate the performance was proposed. However, to assess the implementation feasibility of the proposed model, interviews were held with stakeholders in the port sector. Respondents were Environmental Management Sector of ANTAQ (National Agency of Waterway Transportation), SEP/PR (Special Secretariat of Ports of Precidency of Republic) and two Superintendents of Rio Grande do Sul, which are responsible for public ports in the state: SPH (Superintendence of Ports and Waterways) and SUPRG (Superintendence of Port of Rio Grande). The results of the interviews show that the proposed model would not apply at this time. So the proposal was adapted and created a simplified model and one that can be deployed when there is already sufficient database. Therefore, the academic contribution of this study is related to the establishment of indicators for measuring the environmental and economic performance in ports and the subject of discussion for Brazilian ports.
32
Weiss, Martin, Peter Dekker, Alberto Moro, Harald Scholz, and Martin K. Patel. "On the electrification of road transportation – A review of the environmental, economic, and social performance of electric two-wheelers." Elsevier, 2015. https://publish.fid-move.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A72787.
Abstract:
Electrification is widely considered as a viable strategy for reducing the oil dependency and environmental impacts of road transportation. In pursuit of this strategy, most attention has been paid to electric cars. However, substantial, yet untapped, potentials could be realized in urban areas through the large-scale introduction of electric two-wheelers. Here, we review the environmental, economic, and social performance of electric two-wheelers, demonstrating that these are generally more energy efficient and less polluting than conventionally-powered motor vehicles. Electric two-wheelers tend to decrease exposure to pollution as their environmental impacts largely result from vehicle production and electricity generation outside of urban areas. Our analysis suggests that the price of e-bikes has been decreasing at a learning rate of 8%. Despite price differentials of 5000 ± 1800 EUR2012 kW h−1 in Europe, e-bikes are penetrating the market because they appear to offer an apparent additional use value relative to bicycles. Mid-size and large electric two-wheelers do not offer such an additional use value compared to their conventional counterparts and constitute niche products at price differentials of 700 ± 360 EUR2012 kW−1 and 160 ± 90 EUR2012 kW−1, respectively. The large-scale adoption of electric two-wheelers can reduce traffic noise and road congestion but may necessitate adaptations of urban infrastructure and safety regulations. A case-specific assessment as part of an integrated urban mobility planning that accounts, e.g., for the local electricity mix, infrastructure characteristics, and mode-shift behavior, should be conducted before drawing conclusions about the sustainability impacts of electric two-wheelers.
33
Günther, Edeltraud, Thomas Günther, and Holger Hoppe. "Are environmental aspects value drivers for companies? A review of empirical studies." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2004. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:swb:14-1077795832156-35502.
Abstract:
"Umweltaspekte und ihre Wertrelevanz für die Unternehmen: Eine Zusammenfassung existierender empirischer Forschungsergebnisse!" (diese Version ist nicht mehr aktuell! 03.04.2007)
The management of the value of a firm requires the identification of important value drivers. The main objective of the paper is to find out whether value based management (e.g. shareholder value oriented management) has to take into account environmental aspects. In order to answer this question, the paper will determine whether there is an empirically proven relationship between the economic and environmental performance of companies. The paper is divided into three main parts: The development of a basic theory, the examination of existing empirical results and the concluding integration of theory with empirical results. Basic Theory: To build a basis, the paper first specifies the theoretical connection between economic and environmental performance of companies. Economic performance (e.g. definable by financial statement and/or capital market data) and environmental performance (e.g. definable by operational and strategic data) are linked in a model. Based on the model the influence of environmental aspects on corporate value is examined resulting in seven hypotheses for the relationship of environmental and economic performance. Empirical Results: In order to test the developed theoretical relation, empirical studies are identified and assessed, with regard to the relationship between economic and environmental performance. The research results in 122 studies from all over the world, which are subject to further investigation. The analyzing process includes different steps. First, the studies are divided and reviewed as far as their empirical method and soundness are concerned. Mainly they can be differentiated in regression, event and portfolio studies. Furthermore the study categorizes the environmental and economic variables used in the analyzed studies. Economic measures are divided into the following categories: market based measures (e.g. stock price), accounting based measures (e.g. RoA), accounting and market based measures (e.g. Tobins q), perceived performance measures (i.e. derived from questionnaires) and miscellaneous measures (e.g. shadow prices). Environmental measures on the other hand are divided into the seven categories: strategic environmental performance, operational environmental performance, questionnaires, rating/ranking, events, environmental disclosure and mutual funds. The next step identifies the empirical result of every study as well as important determinants (e.g. the distinguished environmental and economic categories) of the results. The objective is to show whether general patterns for the existence of different results can be defined. Overall it can be shown that about 40% of all studies report a significant positive relationship between economic and environmental performance, contrary to only 11% reporting significant negative results. Furthermore, in order to assess the special role of environmental aspects as value drivers 23 suitable studies are analyzed on the basis of Rappaport?s shareholder network. Results provide an even stronger evidence for the value creating role of environmental aspects. Conclusion: Finally we can detect statistically proven environmental value drivers combining theoretical and empirical research. At the same time, the empirical methods are also evaluated, especially with regard to there ability to provide useful support for the development and examination of the theoretical research. Overall it seems to the authors that the whole research on the topic runs parallel and is not combined. There are only a few studies who are built on already recognized relations or which try the confirm such relations. Based on these cornerstones, requirements for further empirical research are identified and specified.
34
Günther, Edeltraud, Thomas Günther, and Holger Hoppe. "Are environmental aspects value drivers for companies? A review of empirical studies." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2006. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:swb:14-1156505776534-88699.
Abstract:
The management of the value of a firm requires the identification of important value drivers. The main objective of the paper is to find out whether value based management (e.g. shareholder value oriented management) has to take into account environmental aspects. In order to answer this question, the paper will determine whether there is an empirically proven relationship between the economic and environmental performance of companies. The paper is divided into three main parts: The development of a basic theory, the examination of existing empirical results and the concluding integration of theory with empirical results. Basic Theory: To build a basis, the paper first specifies the theoretical connection between economic and environmental performance of companies. Economic performance (e.g. definable by financial statement and/or capital market data) and environmental performance (e.g. definable by operational and strategic data) are linked in a model. Based on the model the influence of environmental aspects on corporate value is examined resulting in seven hypotheses for the relationship of environmental and economic performance. Empirical Results: In order to test the developed theoretical relation, empirical studies are identified and assessed, with regard to the relationship between economic and environmental performance. The research results in 122 studies from all over the world, which are subject to further investigation. The analyzing process includes different steps. First, the studies are divided and reviewed as far as their empirical method and soundness are concerned. Mainly they can be differentiated in regression, event and portfolio studies. Furthermore the study categorizes the environmental and economic variables used in the analyzed studies. Economic measures are divided into the following categories: market based measures (e.g. stock price), accounting based measures (e.g. RoA), accounting and market based measures (e.g. Tobins q), perceived performance measures (i.e. derived from questionnaires) and miscellaneous measures (e.g. shadow prices). Environmental measures on the other hand are divided into the seven categories: strategic environmental performance, operational environmental performance, questionnaires, rating/ranking, events, environmental disclosure and mutual funds. The next step identifies the empirical result of every study as well as important determinants (e.g. the distinguished environmental and economic categories) of the results. The objective is to show whether general patterns for the existence of different results can be defined. Overall it can be shown that about 40% of all studies report a significant positive relationship between economic and environmental performance, contrary to only 11% reporting significant negative results. Furthermore, in order to assess the special role of environmental aspects as value drivers 23 suitable studies are analyzed on the basis of Rappaport?s shareholder network. Results provide an even stronger evidence for the value creating role of environmental aspects. Conclusion: Finally we can detect statistically proven environmental value drivers combining theoretical and empirical research. At the same time, the empirical methods are also evaluated, especially with regard to there ability to provide useful support for the development and examination of the theoretical research. Overall it seems to the authors that the whole research on the topic runs parallel and is not combined. There are only a few studies who are built on already recognized relations or which try the confirm such relations. Based on these cornerstones, requirements for further empirical research are identified and specified.
35
Huseby, Beate Margrethe. "Government performance and political support : a study of how evaluations of economic performance, social policy and environmental protection influence the popular assessments of the political system /." Trondheim : Inst. for sosiologi og statsvitenskap, Fakultet for samfunnsvitenskap og teknologiledelse, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, 2000. http://www.gbv.de/dms/sub-hamburg/336744234.pdf.
36
Delaforce, Philip M. "Feasibility study of conventional metals as current collectors in solid oxide fuel cells : technical performance, environmental aspects and economic factors." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2006. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/842758/.
Abstract:
In the integrated planar solid oxide fuel cell (IP-SOFC) design individual cells are printed on a porous substrate and connected in series. This minimises the costs by using minimal amounts of functional materials, coupled with mass production techniques. However, the configuration is unfavourable in terms of current collection from the electrodes. From a survey of potential materials for the anode current collector, nickel (from the in-situ reduction of nickel oxide) was identified as the most promising material in terms of cost, availability and the environmental impact compared with the precious metals that are used currently. A novel composite anode microstructure, consisting of small nickel oxide tracks printed within a nickel oxide/yttria tracks doped zirconia anode, was found to provide a level of in-plane conductivity suitable for use in the IP-SOFC. There were, however, issues with the use of nickel oxide. It was found to migrate and react with the magnesium oxide from the support tube, to form a solid solution during sintering of the fuel cell layers. Furthermore, the presence of nickel oxide was found to cause grain growth and phase changes in yttria doped zirconia at high temperatures the extent of which was dependent on the yttria content. For 3 mol% yttria doped zirconia, nickel oxide was found to cause rapid grain growth and stabilise the cubic phase at lower yttria concentrations. Additionally nickel was observed to migrate over 200 mum through the zirconia samples in one hour at 1500°C. For the 8 mol% yttria doped zirconia, which was predominantly cubic initially, the nickel oxide also caused rapid grain growth but the nickel migration was confined to a depth of approximately twice the size of the large grains. The problems associated with nickel oxide are only significant at the high temperatures used during manufacture, so if these can be reduced or eliminated then the benefits a nickel based anode current collector could be realised.
37
Niskota, Jozo. "Environmental performance in cooperative enterprises as determinant of economic and social wellbeing in the Eastern Adriatic : the Cooperative Sustainability Index." Thesis, Kingston University, 2016. http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/36497/.
Abstract:
Societies in the world have been struggling to redefine ways to general prosperity, although a general interest in a more human world order is constant. At the same time, cooperatives operate as privately owned for-profit enterprises having social purpose as their primary objective. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential of achieving sustainable development in enterprises operating under the cooperative principles to bring about human development and environmental improvement. The paradigm suggests interactions among environmental performance, economic results, social benefits and the ethical cooperative principles. Information on more than 1,500 coops was gathered in the EU countries of Croatia and Slovenia, and in one non-EU country Bosnia-Herzegovina and a survey was carried out among coops that were commercially active over a 12-year period from 2002-2013. After deploying the survey via email and through structured telephone interviews, statistical analysis was completed on randomly chosen 100 coops. The results support the main research hypotheses. First, the union of environmental performance and cooperative principles (EP&CP) confirm the existence of a relationship with the economic results. Secondly, the combination of environmental performance and cooperative principles (EP&CP) also indicate a relationship with social benefits. Above all, it is concluded that better results in economic and social benefits are gained in the group having positive Environmental Performance and Cooperative Principles (positive EP&CP) compared to the group where positive only EP was observed. This generally indicates the important contribution of Cooperative Principles to Sustainable Development. Using the survey data an innovative Cooperative Sustainability Index (CSI) has been produced as composite indicator measuring the success in applying ethical elements within two dimensions: the cooperative principles dimension and the environmental. Slovenia has the highest ranking score; Croatia shows less success at the second position; Bosnia Herzegovina has the weakest results. Sustainable development conditions across the Eastern Adriatic region demonstrate an interesting diversity in the environmental sustainability results among the states, but to a certain extent there are similarities as far as social and economic conditions are concerned. Paradoxically, socialism damaged social enterprises like coops in the post-WWII period in the Eastern Adriatic. This occurred not only because the socialist governments misinterpreted cooperative principles, but above all because democratic organisations like coops in a non-democratic society challenge the ethical orthodoxy. In the last few decades, the recovery of coops has varied according to their geographical location. As demonstrated, coops mostly positively prevent contemporary environmental degradation of the world’s resources but also positively contribute to economic and social issues; this puts them in an important position to reduce the inequalities produced by contemporary authoritarian capitalism across the world. In this sense, the first Cooperative Sustainability Index will find its future application and usefulness.
38
Chmura, Nicole J. "The relationship among environmental performance, economic results and social media presence : a study of voluntary eco-certified hotels in Florida." Thesis, Queen Margaret University, 2016. https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7318.
Abstract:
This study sought to investigate whether there was a relationship among environmental performance, economic results and social media presence that contributed to the competitive advantage of Florida Green Lodging Program eco-certified hotels. While eco-certifications were not specifically cultivated for marketing on social media websites, the two-dimensional logos were developed as a meaningful marketing tool that can also be used in an online environment to convey a firm’s commitment to environmental standards. Therefore, gaining an understanding of what connects the added marketing benefit of an eco-certification and the utility usage of an environmentally conscious hotel holds the possibility to garner positive economic results for firms that commit to specific eco-certification standards. Built on a literature foundation of sustainable tourism, social media and theories that unite both subject matters, the study adopted a mixed-methods, sequential explanatory research design with an emphasis on the quantitative findings. The investigation was organized in two phases. The initial phase analyzed data from the FGLP to determine if relationships existed. The second phase provided supportive qualitative data to better comprehend the statistical findings discovered in the first phase. The study utilized both primary data collected from web-based surveys and dialogue paired with secondary data garnered from government forms and social media websites. The pragmatic underpinning of the study permitted the collection, analysis and interpretation of the statistical results combined with supportive qualitative findings structured by six hypotheses that addressed the study’s aim and objectives. The findings revealed 15 statistically significant relationships. Only four relationships contributed a positive economic result and 11 provided negative economic consequences to the eco-certified hotel. The statistical results were paired with qualitative concerns about the program’s commitment to marketing and communication efforts. In addition, the study revealed a management factor may be limiting the relationship among environmental performance, economic results and social media presence, which could be addressed if a more holistic and cross-functional management approach was implemented at an eco-certified property. This work contributes to the growing research between sustainability and marketing, and the use of social media within the hospitality industry, which extended the theoretical foundation of the resource-based theory for future research. The study made an original contribution of knowledge with its use of the resource-based theory to determine the statistical relationships of the physical and fiscal operations of eco-certified hotels in relation to their social media presence. It also extended the definition of marketing ‘resources’ to include seven social media web sites. Future research could continue the investigation among environmental performance, economic results and social media presence to include larger samples, different regions, non-certified hotels and even a contextual review of social media participation. Such findings hold the potential to understand if complementary relationships exist and if hotels could employ the findings to increase its return on investment in both environmental and marketing initiatives.
39
Chung, Yea Sun. "Identification of Economic Value Drivers Impacting Operational Cash Flows in the Casual Theme Restaurant Industry." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32573.
Abstract:
The importance of environmental analysis in the strategic management process and the effects of economic value drivers on firm or industry performance have been discussed conceptually and empirically by researchers in corporate failure, and in the areas of finance, accounting, strategic management, and the hospitality industry in the past. The belief is that the more systematic and frequent the scanning performed by managers the higher the chances of improving the firmâ s or industryâ s performance. The present study is an attempt to identify economic value drivers that impact the casual theme sector of the restaurant industry and to ascertain the degree of the impact during the period 1994-2003.
The statistical analysis was based on time series data, using Cross Correlation, Granger Causality, and Multivariate Regression. An exhaustive range of economic value drivers within ten categories were tested: commodity market; foreign currency market; labor market; inflation; stock market; national income and output; interest rate; government revenue, spending, debt, and taxes; money supply; and consumer spending. The unit of analysis was done at the industry level, and an index of operational cash flows of the casual theme sector of the restaurant industry was developed.
Economic value drivers within the categories of commodity markets, labor markets, inflation, stock market, national input/output, government revenue/spending/debt/taxes, money markets, and consumer spending indicated co-movements with and causality to the index of operational cash flows per unit in the casual theme restaurant industry. A high variance in the operational cash flows in the casual theme restaurant industry was explained by a set of economic value drivers within commodity markets, inflation, and labor markets.
In broad, practical terms, the study intends to support the importance of assessing the economic environment for better performance of the restaurant industry and to provide food service managers with a conceptual model to understand the unanticipated effects on the performance of existing or new strategies. In real terms, the model and set of economic value drivers in the model would help them decide what kinds of action or investment in a firm or industryâ s weakness should be taken to buffer future operational risks against value drivers within economic environment.
Master of Science
40
Hailu, Atakelty Gebremedihen. "Environmentally sensitive analysis of economic performance, productivity and efficiency in the Canadian pulp and paper industry, 1959-1994." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ34772.pdf.
41
Repar, Nina [Verfasser], and Reiner [Akademischer Betreuer] Doluschitz. "On the interplay of local versus global environmental and economic performance of Swiss alpine dairy farms / Nina Repar ; Betreuer: Reiner Doluschitz." Hohenheim : Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medienzentrum der Universität Hohenheim, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1156920620/34.
42
Wheeler, Nicole Marie. "Multi-Criteria Trucking Freeway Performance Measures for Congested Corridors." PDXScholar, 2010. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/177.
Abstract:
This research focuses on the development of multi-criteria tools for measuring and analyzing the impacts of recurring and non-recurring congestion on freight corridors in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Unlike previous studies, this work employs several distinct data sources to analyze the impacts of congestion on Interstate 5 (I-5) in the Portland Metropolitan Area: global positioning system (GPS) data from commercial trucks and Oregon DOT corridor travel-time loop data and incident data. A new methodology and algorithms are developed to combine these data sources and to estimate the impacts of recurrent and non-recurrent congestion on freight movements' reliability and delays, costs, and emissions. The results suggest that traditional traffic sensor data tend to underestimate the impacts of congestion on commercial vehicles travel times and variability. This research also shows that congestion is not only detrimental for carriers and shippers costs but also for the planet due to major increases in GHG emissions and for the local community due to large increases in NOx, PM, and other harmful pollutants. The methodology developed throughout this work has the potential to provide useful freight operation and performance data for transportation decision makers to incorporate freight performance measures into the planning process.
43
Ibragimov, Z., Тетяна Анатоліївна Васильєва, Татьяна Анатольевна Васильева, Tetiana Anatoliivna Vasylieva, Олексій Валентинович Люльов, Алексей Валентинович Люлев, and Oleksii Valentynovych Liulov. "The national economy competitiveness: effect of macroeconomic stability, renewable energy on economic growth." Thesis, VARAZDIN DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP AGENCY, 2019. https://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/80913.
Abstract:
According to the reports of the Global Competitiveness which developed by the World Economic Forum, the competitiveness was defined as "a set of institutions, policies and production factors that form the level of the country's performance". This paper investigates the effect of macroeconomic stability, environmental performance on economic growth. The object of investigation - the countries with transformation process from the recourses to the effective economic model according to the reports of the Global Competitiveness which developed by the World Economic Forum. The authors indicated that the main goal to achieve the stable growth - increasing the level of the national economic competitiveness could be realized not only through the growth of the key determinants of the competitiveness: institutions; infrastructure; macroeconomic stability and etc., but also considering the aspects and parameters of country's environmental performance. The methodology instruments of the investigation were modified production function of Cobb-Douglas which considering the level of the country's macroeconomic stability and environmental performance. The period of investigation was 2000-2017 years. Under this research, the authors used the dataset from World Data Bank, Global Environmental performance Index, Global competitiveness report. The findings proved the correspondence of the developed models to the input dataset. Moreover, the assessments of the elasticity of the developed model components were positive and statistically significant.
44
Celander, Filip, and Johan Haglund. "Energy and nutrient recovery from dairy manure : Process design and economic performance of a farm based system." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Industriell miljöteknik, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-107963.
Abstract:
This thesis assessed the technical and economic premises for installing systems that process manure in order to recover nutrients and inherent energy. The main purpose of recovering nutrients was to extract phosphorus from the manure, so as to be able to distribute more of the manure on the farm without exceeding the phosphorus regulation. Three other scenarios were included as reference; conventional manure handling, solid-liquid separation only and solid-liquid separation including energy recovery. Since most important parameters for modeling scenarios in agriculture are site-specific (e.g. soil type, crop rotation and manure composition), the thesis results were based on a case farm. The case farm is a 675 ha dairy farm with approx. 1400 milking cows, located in Östergötland, Sweden. As for the results, it was first concluded that the central characteristics of manure were the content of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The higher the DM content, the more fuel for energy recovery, and the higher the N:P-ratio, the more on-farm N can be utilized before having to consider the P regulation. The technical premises for farm-scale nutrient recovery were limited to commercial techniques from companies operating in Sweden, and included various possible processing methods, such as; pH modification, anaerobic digestion, coagulation-flocculation, precipitation, filtration and reverse osmosis. However, most methods were either too costly or simply not realistic to install on stand-alone farms, resulting in only two feasible options; struvite precipitation and secondary solid-liquid separation with a decanter centrifuge. The comparison in economic performance for all scenarios resulted as follows: nutrient recovery by struvite precipitation was the most profitable scenario of all, if struvite was allowed to replace mineral P fertilizer (i.e. end-product on-farm utilization). If not, it was more profitable to invest in only energy recovery, as nutrient recovery by secondary solid-liquid separation or struvite precipitation with end-product sales were not as profitable. However, the absolutely largest increase in profitability lies within investing in a primary solid-liquid separation. As for the case farm, this investment reduced costs by more than 2 MSEK, while any of the latter scenarios reduce costs by 0,1-0,2 MSEK. Furthermore, the possible utilization of the waste heat from energy recovery increased profitability by a factor of ten.
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Pepino, Camille. "La performance en droit des affaires." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Aix-Marseille, 2018. http://theses.univ-amu.fr.lama.univ-amu.fr/181206_PEPINO_868ahiam689nbkhcn363qt196twr_TH.pdf.
Abstract:
Les opérateurs économiques sont confrontés à un fort accroissement de la concurrence combiné à des préoccupations sociales et environnementales désormais devenues indispensables. De ce constat, il semble que la performance qu’elle soit de type économique, social ou environnemental, soit devenue une valeur intrinsèque qui s’intègre ponctuellement à des obligations, ou engendre des obligations. Elle sera parfois extérieure au contrat et imposée par le droit lui-même. En ce sens, le législateur impose que la rémunération de certains dirigeants de sociétés soit obligatoirement indexée sur des critères de performances. Mais la performance sera parfois interne au contrat et constituera un élément essentiel pour ce dernier. Ces manifestations traduisent un mouvement d’ensemble rendant nécessaire la construction d’une réflexion juridique sur la performance, prisme de lecture devenu inévitable et particulièrement crucial. En dépit de l’attrait de la quête de performance, le droit est à la recherche d’un point d’équilibre de nature à permettre un développement économique dans les meilleures conditions, adossé au respect de l’environnement, naturel, humain, voire sociétal. C’est dans cette perspective que la dynamique de cette étude est construite. Elle appréhende la performance comme le fait d’atteindre un objectif, avec des moyens et des méthodes efficientes, tout en limitant les pertes financières et les effets néfastes. La performance est la nouvelle clé de lecture de la vie en société, et le droit des affaires s’impose à cet égard comme l’un des premiers relaisEconomic operators are facing a sharp increase in competition combined with social and environmental concerns that have become of the essence. From this observation, it seems that the performance, be it economic, social or environmental, has become an value that is part of obligations, or creates itself obligations. It will sometimes be outside the contract and imposed by the law itself. In this sense, the legislator requires that the remuneration of certain companies executives is compulsorily indexed on performance criteria. But the performance will sometimes be internal to the contract and will be an essential element for the latter. These events reflect an overall movement making it necessary to construct a legal dissertation on performance, a new reading prism that has become inevitable and particularly crucial. Despite the attractiveness of the quest for performance, the law is seeking a point of balance likely to allow economic development in the best conditions, backed by respect for the environment, natural, human, even societal. It is in this perspective that the dynamics of this study is built. It understands performance as achieving a goal, with efficient means and methods, while limiting financial losses and adverse effects. Performance is the new key to reading life in society, and business law is one of the first relays
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Lisani, Ncedo. "Developing a performance measurement tool to monitor the performance of a public sector agency : a balanced scorecard approach." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017515.
Abstract:
The world has seen unparalleled pressure put on the public sector to improve the speed and quality of service delivery, whilst simultaneously employing measures to cut the costs. South Africa and the Eastern Cape have not been immune to this as there have been complaints and demonstrations from various national and provincial stakeholders demanding more and improved services. The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in particular has employed the services of public entities in its quest to realise government’s socio-economic developmental objectives and ease some of the service delivery pressures. These agencies are unfortunately struggling to deliver and the Department is unable to play the oversight role it is legislatively mandated to carry out. The main reason for this seem to be the lack of the capacity to objectively track and measure the performance of these agencies. As they say “you cannot manage what you cannot measure”. This is despite the fact that there is a shareholders’ compact and many other measures in place to enable performance monitoring. Also, the public sector is known to have inherent and unique performance management challenges like broad and vague objectives which lead to too many measurements, a propensity to focus on the “easy to measure” but often irrelevant indicators at the expense of critical outcomes and a short-term orientation that is usually fuelled by political expediency. Against this background, this study sought to make use of a comprehensive and dynamic performance monitoring framework, namely the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), to explore its potential use in assisting government to monitor the performance of public agencies, in particular the Development Finance Institutions (DFI) in South Africa. The proposed framework helps government to focus on the performance drivers of future value, and what decisions and actions are necessary to achieve critical outcomes. The aim of the study therefore is to develop an adjusted BSC framework to monitor the activities of a public sector agency and thus demonstrate how a BSC framework could be used to monitor a public agency by the government department. The study is evaluative in nature and is divided into three sections. Section one is presented as an Evaluation Report. It sets the scene, discusses briefly the key theoretical concepts, outlines the research methods used and presents the findings followed by a discussion and recommendations. Section two delves into the literature in more detail, providing a more extensive review of the literature that informed the investigation, whilst section three provides a more extensive description of the research methodology employed in the study. To achieve the aims of the study, the research drew from the work of various authors in the field including that of Bigliardi, Dormio and Galati, 2011; Bititci, Garengo, Dörfler, and Nudurupati, 2012; Julyan, 2011; Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2004 and 2006; Niven, 2003 and 2008 and Northcott and Taulapapa, 2012. Also, five BSC perspectives - including the programme specific “equity” perspective - were used to develop an interview schedule. These were used to formulate the key performance objectives and indicators, based on the stakeholder’s responses. These respondents have experience within the programme as administrators, beneficiaries and funders. The research employed purposive sampling with semi-structured in-depth interviews and document analysis as primary and secondary instruments for data collection. In essence, five officials from the agency, one from DEDEAT and two co-operatives participated in the research. The results indicate a general appreciation of and gravitation towards outcome based measures, even though the government culture of focusing on outputs is still prevalent. The results of the study indicated that, generally, a government - public agency BSC based performance monitoring framework would have the following features: Customer objectives and programme mission as the main goal and this will provides clarity at all levels on who the customers are and what are their primary requirements. Clear, visible and stringent financial controls as the agency is administering public resources. Few carefully selected processes and systems that have a direct and positive impact on the customer objectives. Deliberate and consistent efforts to promote the participation of designated groups in the economy of the country. Comprehensive indicators on capacity building as “mission based-organisations rely heavily on skills, dedication and alignment of staff”. Overall, the study concludes that the make-up of the BSC is beneficial to the public sector and in monitoring the public sector agencies for the following reasons: It helps the agency to focus on customers and their needs. It forces the agency to engage and communicate strategic intention with both internal and external stakeholders and thus synchronize competing stakeholder needs. It forces the agency to limit the number of indicators and therefore select the few value adding measures that are aligned to customer outcomes. Through its cause and effect relationship, the agency is compelled to align all the resources, activities and processes to the main goal of the entity. All these help to minimize the principal agent problem, as the use of the BSC can bring clarity on strategy and expectations, provided it is supported with regular communication.
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Aouay, Faten. "L'éco-innovation dans le secteur industriel. Quels déterminants, quelles barrières et quel rôle pour améliorer les performances des entreprises ? Cas de la Tunisie." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Brest, 2021. http://www.theses.fr/2021BRES0077.
Abstract:
Ce travail de thèse a pour objectif d’examiner les déterminants de l’éco-innovation et les barrières qui lui font obstacle ainsi que d’évaluer son impact sur la performance environnementale, sur la performance économique en termes de croissance et de rentabilité et sur la réputation des entreprises. La démarche adoptée comporte deux parties ; la première présente l’état de l’art du phénomène de l’éco-innovation accompagné de la présentation des spécificités de la Tunisie, qui est notre terrain d’investigation alors que la seconde, d’ordre empirique, comporte une enquête réalisée auprès de 159 entreprises industrielles tunisiennes. Les données recueillies ont été analysées en recourant aux méthodes suivantes : l’analyse en composantes principales, l’analyse discriminante et la régression multiple. Les principaux résultats ont dégagé quatre points importants.Premièrement, la pratique de l’éco-innovation est moins répandue que celle de l’innovation non écologique. Deuxièmement, les barrières y faisant obstacle obéissent à la typologie suivante ; des barrières liées au marché, des barrières liées aux connaissances, des barrières liées aux coûts.Troisièmement, il y a quatre déterminants qui stimulent particulièrement l’innovation écologique, tels que la technologie, la pression concurrentielle, les bénéfices attendus et les instruments de marché. En revanche, les instruments réglementaires de commande et de contrôle ainsi que la demande écologique des consommateurs n’y contribuent pas significativement.Quatrièmement, l’éco-innovation a un impact significatif à la fois sur la performance environnementale et la réputation des entreprises. Cependant, elle n’améliore pas directement la performance économique en termes de croissance et de rentabilitéThe objective of this thesis is to investigate the determinants of eco-innovation and the barriers that impede it, as well as to assess its impact on the environmental performance, the economic performance in terms of growth and profitability as well as the companies’ reputation. Our approach includes two parts; the first one presents the state of the art of the eco-innovation phenomenon accompanied by the presentation of the specificities of Tunisia, which is our field of research the second one, which is of empirical order, includes a survey carried out among159 Tunisian industrial companies. The data were analyzed using the following methods: principal component analysis, the discriminant analysis, and multiple regressions. Our main findings identified four important points.Firstly, the practice of eco-innovation is less widespread than that of non-ecological innovation.Secondly, the barriers to eco-innovation fall into the typology of market barriers, knowledge barriers, and cost barriers. Thirdly, there are four determinants that particularly stimulate eco-innovation, such as technology, competitive pressure, expected benefits and market instruments, while command and control regulatory instruments and ecological consumer’s demand do not contribute significantly. Fourthly, ecoinnovation has a significant impact on both environmental performance and firms’ reputation, but does not directly improve economic performance in terms of economic growth and profitability
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Wilson, Jason Clifford. "A techno-economic environmental approach to improving the performance of PV, battery, grid-connected, diesel hybrid energy systems : A case study in Kenya." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Energiteknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-28542.
Abstract:
Backup diesel generator (DG) systems continue to be a heavily polluting and costly solution for institutions with unreliable grid connections. These systems slow economic growth and accelerate climate change. Photovoltaic (PV), energy storage (ES), grid connected, DG – Hybrid Energy Systems (HESs) or, PV-HESs, can alleviate overwhelming costs and harmful emissions incurred from traditional back-up DG systems and improve the reliability of power supply. However, from project conception to end of lifetime, PV-HESs face significant barriers of uncertainty and variable operating conditions. The fit-and-forget solution previously applied to backup DG systems should not be adopted for PV-HESs. To maximize cost and emission reductions, PV-HESs must be adapted to their boundary conditions for example, irradiance, temperature, and demand. These conditions can be defined and monitored using measurement equipment. From this, an opportunity for performance optimization can be established. The method demonstrated in this study is a techno-economic and environmental approach to improving the performance of PV-HESs. The method has been applied to a case study of an existing PV-HES in Kenya. A combination of both analytical and numerical analyses has been conducted. The analytical analysis has been carried out in Microsoft Excel with the intent of being easily repeatable and practical in a business environment. Simulation analysis has been conducted in improved Hybrid Optimization by Genetic Algorithms (iHOGA), which is a commercially available software for simulating HESs. Using six months of measurement data, the method presented identifies performance inefficiencies and explores corrective interventions. The proposed interventions are evaluated, by simulation analyses, using a set of techno-economic and environment key performance indicators, namely: Net Present Cost (NPC), generator runtime, fuel consumption, total system emissions, and renewable fraction. Five corrective interventions are proposed, and predictions indicate that if these are implemented fuel consumption can be reduced by 70 % and battery lifetime can be extended by 28 %, net present cost can be reduced by 30 % and emissions fall by 42 %. This method has only been applied to a single PV-HES; however, the impact this method could have on sub-Saharan Africa as well as similar regions with unreliable grid connections is found to be significant. In the future, in sub-Saharan Africa alone, over $500 million dollars (USD) and 1.7 billion kgCO2 emissions could be saved annually if only 25 % of the fuel savings identified in this study were realized. The method proposed here could be improved with additional measurement data and refined simulation models. Furthermore, this method could potentially be fully automated, which could allow it to be implemented more frequently and at lower cost.
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Marques, Ana Sofia Peseiro. "Relação entre práticas internas de sustentabilidade e a performance sustentável : influência da certificação ISO 14001." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/16476.
Abstract:
Mestrado em Gestão e Estratégia IndustrialCom o aumento da concorrência e pressão para uma maior sustentabilidade ambiental é cada vez mais importante recorrer a práticas internas de forma a obter reconhecimento no mercado e uma performance mais sustentável. O presente estudo pretende analisar a relação entre as práticas internas de sustentabilidade e a performance sustentável, medida de acordo com as três dimensões do modelo de Triple bottom line (TBL), a performance ambiental, económica e social. Adicionalmente, o estudo avalia como é que a certificação pela norma ISO 14001 afeta estas relações. As práticas internas analisadas foram as compras ecológicas, o design ecológico e a produção sustentável. De forma a testar o modelo conceptual proposto foi desenvolvido e aplicado um questionário online, enviado por email para as empresas de manufatura em Portugal. Foram consideradas 222 respostas de empresas com 50 ou mais colaboradores, das quais 75 respostas foram obtidas de empresas certificadas e 147 respostas de empresas não certificadas pela ISO 14001. Os resultados deste estudo demostraram que a gestão ambiental interna tem uma relação positiva e significativa com as práticas internas de sustentabilidade. Das três práticas internas de sustentabilidade consideradas as compras ecológicas e a produção sustentável mostraram uma relação positiva e significativa com a performance sustentável. No entanto, o efeito do design ecológico na performance sustentável não é significativo. Relativamente à certificação pela ISO 14001, é percetível que apenas existe influência da certificação na relação entre a gestão ambiental interna e as compras ecológicas. Para as restantes relações não foram identificadas diferenças significativas.
With increasing competition and pressure for greater environmental sustainability, it is increasingly important to use internal practices in order to gain market recognition and a more sustainable performance. This study intends to analyze the relationship between the internal practices of sustainability and the sustainable performance measured, according to the three dimensions of the Triple bottom line (TBL) model, environmental, economic and social performance. Additionally, the present study assesses how ISO 14001 certification affects these relationships. The internal practices analyzed in this study were ecological purchases, ecological design and sustainable production. In order to test the proposed conceptual model, an online questionnaire was developed and applied, then to the manufacturing companies in Portugal. In total 222 responses were considered from companies with 50 or more employees, of which 75 answers were from certified companies and 147 responses from companies not certified by ISO 14001. The results of this study demonstrated that internal environmental management has a positive and significant relationship with internal sustainability practices. Of the three internal sustainability practices considered, the green purchases and sustainable production showed a positive and significant relationship with sustainable performance. However, the effect of eco-design in sustainable performance it is not significant. Regarding the certification by ISO 14001, it is noticeable that there is only an influence of the certification on the relationship between internal environmental management and green purchases. For all other relationships there is no significant differences.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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Oliveira, José Augusto de. "Relação entre as práticas de Produção mais Limpa e as de Produção Enxuta: estudos de casos múltiplos e survey sobre os impactos no desempenho ambiental, econômico e operacional da empresa." Universidade de São Paulo, 2016. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/18/18156/tde-12012017-084020/.
Abstract:
Os princípios e as práticas de Produção Enxuta e de Produção mais Limpa contribuem para a geração de valores com perspectivas diferentes. São valores focados respectivamente em sustentabilidade econômica e em sustentabilidade ambiental que, alcançados complementarmente podem contribuir para a satisfação dos stakeholders de forma mais sustentável. Estudos apresentam compatibilidades entre a Produção Enxuta e as diferentes abordagens de Sustentabilidade Ambiental, contudo, poucas pesquisas exploram empiricamente as relações entre estes constructos, mostrando uma lacuna a ser preenchida no meio acadêmico e empresarial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e analisar as relações entre as práticas de Produção mais Limpa e as práticas de Produção Enxuta e seus impactos no desempenho da empresa. Para este objetivo foi proposto a realização de uma pesquisa empírica baseada na triangulação entre dois métodos: estudos de caso múltiplos, contando com 6 (seis) estudos de casos; e uma pesquisa do tipo survey, realizada com 208 (duzentos e oito) indústrias de manufatura brasileiras. Observou-se que há sinergia e complementaridade entre as práticas de Produção mais Limpa e de Produção Enxuta e que estas, empregadas de forma combinada, maximizam o desempenho ambiental, operacional e econômico da empresa. Contudo, observou-se que o desempenho ambiental fomentado pelas práticas de Produção Enxuta é limitado aos aspectos ambientais de consumo de recursos e de geração de resíduos.The Lean Production and Cleaner Production principles and practices contribute to the values generation with different perspectives. Values are focused respectively on economic sustainability and environmental sustainability, achieved complementarily can contribute to the satisfaction of the stakeholders in a more sustainable way. Studies presents compatibilities between Lean Production and the different Environmental Sustainability approaches, however, few researches have explore empirically the relationship between these constructs, showing a gap to be filled in academia and industry. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the relationships between Cleaner Production and Lean Production practices and their impact on company performance. For this purpose, it was proposed the accomplishment of an empirical research based on triangulation between two methods: multiple cases studies, with six (6) case studies; and a survey research carried on 208 (two hundred and eight) of Brazilian manufacturing industries. It was noted that there is synergy and complementarity between production practices Cleaner and Lean Production and these, used in combination maximize environmental performance, operational and economic enterprise. However, it was observed that the environmental performance promoted by Lean Production practices is limited to environmental aspects of resource consumption and waste generation.