Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Industry sustainability'
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TANAKA, MICHIKO. "Sustainability in Fashion industry." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Textilhögskolan, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-20152.
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In recent years Fair Trade’s People Tree has succeeded within the fashion industry by making ecological and ethical products fashionable, and subsequently fostering concern about ecological and ethical issues among consumers.There are two choices in our future when we buy clothes: we can buy ecological products to reduce the ecological foot print, -or we can reuse what we have now.In this thesis I take a close look at reuse of second-hand remade products.Program: Magisterutbildning i Applied Textile Management
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Faulkner, Dan B. "Sustainability of the Beef Industry." College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/625407.
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Eliasson, Tina, and Maria Olsson. "Social sustainability in the construction industry." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Kommunikations- och transportsystem, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-144580.
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Byggbranschen står nu inför ett utmanande kliv i hållbarhetens riktning - att ta sig an och arbeta för en socialt hållbar samhällsutveckling. Intresset att arbeta med detta är stort hos både entreprenörer, beställare och samhället i stort. Detta bidrar till att offentliga beställare formulerar krav på socialt arbete i offentliga upphandlingar, då offentlig upphandling är ett verktyg med stor genomslagskraft som kan användas för att föra detta arbete framåt. Syftet med studien är att ta reda på vad begreppet sociala hänsyn innebär, att sammanställa vilka krav på sociala hänsyn som ställs och kommer att ställas i upphandlingar som offentliga beställare i Östergötland annonserar samt identifiera de områden som beställarna avser utveckla inom ämnet. Detta för att entreprenörföretagen ska kunna satsa på en utveckling av det område inom sociala hänsyn som kommer att vara mest aktuellt i regionen, nu och i kommande upphandlingar. Detta mynnar ut i frågeställningarna: Vad innebär begreppet sociala hänsyn? Vilka krav på sociala hänsyn ställer offentliga beställare vid upphandling? Vilka åtgärder bör entreprenörerna vidta för att leva upp till kraven på sociala hänsyn som offentliga beställare prioriterar? Genom intervjuer med beställare och entreprenörer i byggbranschen har en grund skapats för att kunna definiera begreppet sociala hänsyn som "en inkludering av alla individer i samhället oavsett kön, ålder, fysisk förmåga eller etnisk tillhörighet". Insamling av publicerade förfrågningsunderlag visar på att det fokusområde inom social hållbarhet som prioriteras idag är krav på sysselsättningsåtgärder, där fokus ligger på att inkludera individer som står utanför arbetsmarknaden. Slutsatsen är att entreprenörerna bör arbeta för att skapa fler platser i driftentreprenader och produktion, för att öka antalet sysselsatta, samt komplettera detta med bra utbildningar, handledning och stöttning. Det har även visat sig finnas förbättringsmöjligheter i beställarorganisationernas arbete med att ställa krav på sociala hänsyn, vilka, utöver svaren på frågeställningarna, presenteras i slutsatsen.
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Muslu, Deniz. "INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN FASHION INDUSTRY." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Textilhögskolan, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-17105.
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Abstract This research is designed to see the level of innovativeness of fashion brands in terms of being sustainable. It also aims to find out if there is a relation between business models and innovativeness within sustainability of fashion brands. Following the literature review, desk research, consumer survey and expert interviews are carried out. Desk research is made through web pages of fashion brands and some organizations. The information from the web pages revealed a lot about the current sustainability actions. In this desk research, 10 companies are examined in regard to their sustainability actions, to learn about what has been done and to see what can be considered as innovative in terms of sustainability. Following the desk research, a consumer survey is designed to explore the consumer opinion on the topics of sustainability and innovation. A consumer survey of 100 people is conducted at the Swedish School of Textiles. Due to the need for conscious knowledge about sustainability and innovation, people who studies or works in the textile school is specifically chosen as a cluster. The sample is called “Informed consumers” and is believed to have savvy about innovation and sustainability. How sustainability actions of brands are perceived, how consumers evaluate fashion brands and what they understand from “innovativeness” are some questions explored in the survey. Results are given via frequency distribution charts and maps. Following the survey, 5 interviews are made with contacts from the companies to study the issue also from the perspective of the business world. These expert interviews are verbally structured and are explained within the research. The method of interviews is qualitative research method and the result provides the reader an insight. To propose an assessment method for fashion companies, “The Innovation within Sustainability Index” is constructed. Although this index is inspired by some current environmental index models, the final model is original and includes the consumer perspective as well as author’s own evaluation on the innovative sustainability actions of the fashion companies. The companies which are evaluated in the index are: H&M, Lindex, Gina Tricot, Zara, Acne, Filippa K, Patagonia and Nike. At the end, it was not possible to point out significant relation between business models and innovativeness within sustainability. However, this result may differ when the model is applied to larger samples.Program: Master Programme in Fashion Management
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Suleman, Nasir Illaf, and Ilknur Kesici. "Social Sustainability within the Manufacturing Industry." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Logistik och verksamhetsledning, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-45769.
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GRUNDSTRÖM, LINNÉA, and LAURA PUSKORIUTE. "A study of sustainability and digital sustainability communication within the steel industry." Thesis, KTH, Skolan för industriell teknik och management (ITM), 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-224208.
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Nankervis, Alan R. "Vulnerability & sustainability in the tourism industry /." View thesis, 2000. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030701.133400/index.html.
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Choong, Chee Guan. "Sustainability in the Malaysian palm oil industry." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.589047.
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With a rapidly growing world population, the demand for palm oil is increasing. In 2010, palm oil accounted for 36.5% of the world's vegetable oil production and it is projected to be the leading vegetable oil in the world by 2016. The Malaysian palm oil industry is committed to delivering sustainable palm oil products to its customers. This is being achieved through the establishment of a roadmap identifying strategies and action plans that are priorities for 2009 to 2020. These include the implementation of IS014001 (Environment Management Systems), since 2004, and IS014040 (Life Cycle Assessment), since 2006. The implementation of carbon footprint labelling is currently being carried out as part of continuous improvements for the delivery of sustainable palm oil. The aim of this research was to investigate tools and methods that might be used in the delivery of sustainable Malaysian palm oil. Interviews based on a semi- structured questionnaire were used to identify current practices in the Malaysian palm oil industry. Results from the interviews highlighted the importance of IS014001 and IS014040 implementations in the delivery of sustainable palm oil. Case studies related to IS014001 and IS014040 were used to derive stakeholder needs for sustainable palm oil. These informed the creation of a supply network map that was used to visualisethe Malaysian palm oil industry and the extent of current IS014001 and IS014040 implementations. It was found that neither IS014001 nor ISO 14040 were implemented across the whole supply network. The supply network map was used to frame simulations of parts of the Malaysian palm oil industry system, namely, the plantation, mill and mill-refinery. Early results indicated that computer simulations could be a valuable tool that would complement existing methods such as Environmental Management Systems and Life Cycle Assessment. Simulation models could be populated with real-world data and used to inform policies for Malaysian palm oil production. For better traceability of decision making, considerations would need to be given to the identification of system boundaries, simulation parameters related to stakeholder needs, the capture of operating environments, and risks and uncertainties in the validation of models.
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Khudyakova, Zhanna, and Emma Wennberg. "Sustainability Communication in The Swedish Shoe Industry." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för textil, teknik och ekonomi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-633.
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Sustainable actions in the footwear industry are growing in importance and sustainability communication has an important role for a changed shoe industry. The sustainability communication must be clear, credible and comparable as well as accessible in order to be communicated successfully.
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Johnson-Hilliard, Militea. "Small Business Sustainability in the Salon Industry." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1712.
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Small businesses fail at high rates; 51% fail to succeed in business beyond the first 5 years. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore the strategies that salon business owners used to succeed in business. The sample comprised of 2 salon business owners in Savannah, Georgia who have been in business more than 5 years. The conceptual framework was based on the general systems theory. Data were collected from conducting semistructured interviews with each business owner, a review of company business plans, direct observation of participants during client interaction in the salon, as well as member-checking interview responses. The data were methodologically triangulated to strengthen the credibility and trustworthiness of the study results. Four main themes were identified: (a) education and training, (b) customer service strategies, (c) determination and dedication, and (d) professionalism. The findings from this study may contribute to social change by giving business owners the necessary skills and strategies needed to sustain and develop a successful business and increase profit. The data from this study may contribute to the prosperity of small business owners, their employees, communities, and the local economy.
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Panja, Manjusha. "Sustainability Integration in the Fashion Retail Industry." Thesis, KTH, Industriell Management, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-240293.
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Sustainability has gained prominence from past couple of decades, the fashion industry is most polluting industries in the global. This research is to explain the importance of sustainability integration in the fashion industry. The research methodology applied is first, it provides literature review examining books and articles pertaining to environmental and social responsibility in fashion industry from past decade. Secondly, the case study on H&M Group and interviewing end consumers of fashion. The results to demonstrate the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry and how fashion retailers play a key role and responsibility for enabling sustainability in the whole supply chain.
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Lim, Chye Ing. "Sustainability Assessment of Malaysian Palm Oil Industry." Thesis, Curtin University, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/75678.
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The Palm Oil Sustainability Assessment framework has been developed to improve sustainability performance of Malaysian palm oil production. It was applied to a crude palm oil supply chain to identify sustainability improvement strategies. A biogas plant has been incorporated into the existing supply chain to improve the sustainability performance of crude palm oil production. This framework will assist stakeholders in the supply chain to select appropriate strategies for sustainable palm oil production.
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Thomas, Judith V. "What price heritage? Markets and sustainability." Thesis, Oxford Brookes University, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.294226.
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Omoloso, Oluwaseyi, W. R. Wise, Kathleen Mortimer, and L. Jraisat. "Sustainability Disclosure in the Leather Industry - 166: A Content Analysis of Selected Sustainability Reports." Verein für Gerberei-Chemie und -Technik e. V, 2019. https://slub.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A34131.
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Content:
In today’s business environment, organisations are increasingly reporting their sustainability credentials through different channels. However, in a traditional industry with a complex supply chain as leather, many companies do not publicly disclose details of their sustainability activities, while a considerable number of companies report on the environmental sustainability aspect alone. Hence, this study identifies good practices of sustainability reporting, discussing the sustainability information extracted from the reports of a selected number of companies in the leather industry.
A thematic content analysis was used to extract sustainability information from either the website, annual report, sustainability report or corporate social responsibility report of six leather companies. A review of existing literature assisted in categorising different practices under the three sustainability dimensions while a highlight of patterns among practices followed.
The results show that the companies are observing a good practice of either dedicating a section of their website to revealing their sustainability activities or utilising their sustainability reports. Additionally, these companies follow a good practice of reporting their activities based on the economic, social and environmental sustainability dimensions, rather than focusing on just one of the aspects. Amongst the six companies, energy efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gases emission were the most occurring environmental sustainability practices. On the other hand, health and safety occurred as the dominant social sustainability practice of the leather industry, while economic sustainability practices have not been well defined, providing an opportunity for future research.
Conclusively, the study provides a useful resource for managers and companies in the leather industry to learn from brands that have been embarking on sustainability efforts and assist them in getting a grasp of the concept, in readiness for strategy formulation, implementation and reporting. This study provides knowledge of the sustainability criteria to be met by small, medium sized and large leather supply chain actors on their sustainability journey.
Take-Away:
1. The companies are observing a good practice of either dedicating a section of their website to revealing their sustainability activities or utilising their sustainability reports.
2. The companies also follow a good practice of reporting their activities based on the economic, social and environmental sustainability dimensions, rather than focusing on just one of the aspects.
3. Energy efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gases emission were the most popular environmental sustainability practices, health and safety was the dominant social sustainability practice while economic sustainability practices have not been well defined.
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Egas, Galarza Daniel Francisco. "Optimising the environmental sustainability of the dairy industry." Doctoral thesis, TDX (Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa), 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/670668.
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Los resultados de esta tesis demostraron que es posible una evaluación y mejora ambiental constante de los sistemas lácteos mediante el uso de herramientas especializadas como CalcPEFDairy, auditorías energéticas e indicadores de economía circular; y que juntos son capaces de identificar y proponer medidas de mejora de alto impacto. Los resultados también demuestran la viabilidad de comunicar adecuadamente los resultados medioambientales obtenidos con CalcPEFDairy como una estrategia de marketing. La calidad y confiabilidad de los resultados obtenidos de las herramientas implementadas en esta tesis es tal que pueden usarse en un proceso de verificación externo para obtener una declaración ambiental y una Ecoetiqueta para un producto lácteo disponible en el mercado. Estas credenciales medioambientales verificadas brindan a los productores lácteos la posibilidad real de aumentar sus ganancias económicas sin afectar la sostenibilidad ambiental de su sistema productivo y productos.Els resultats d'aquesta tesi van demostrar que és possible una avaluació i millora ambiental constant dels sistemes lactis mitjançant l'ús d'eines especialitzades com CalcPEFDairy, auditories energètiques i indicadors d'economia circular; i que junts són capaços d'identificar i proposar mesures de millora d'alt impacte. Els resultats també demostren la viabilitat de comunicar adequadament els resultats mediambientals obtinguts amb CalcPEFDairy com una estratègia de màrqueting. Ja que la qualitat i fiabilitat dels resultats obtinguts és tal que poden usar-se en un procés de verificació extern per obtenir una declaració ambiental i una Ecoetiqueta per a un producte lacti disponible al mercat. Aquestes credencials mediambientals verificades brinden als productors lactis la possibilitat real d'augmentar els seus guanys econòmics sense afectar la sostenibilitat ambiental del seu sistema productiu i productes.
This thesis results shows that a constant environmental assessment and improvement of dairy systems is possible through the use of specialised tools such as CalcPEFDairy, energy audits and circular economy indicators; which together are capable to identify and propose high impact improvement measures. The results demonstrate the feasibility of properly communicating the CalcPEFDairy environmental assessment outcomes as a marketing strategy since their quality and reliability is such that they can be used in an external verification process to obtain an environmental declaration and eco-label for a market available dairy product. This verified green credentials give dairy producers the real possibility of increasing their economic returns without affecting their system and products environmental sustainability.
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Ackerman, Lindsay Marie. "Consumer Perceptions of Sustainability in the Cruise Industry." FIU Digital Commons, 2015. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1911.
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This thesis addresses the lack of available research regarding consumer perceptions of sustainability in the cruise industry. The study was conducted by administering an anonymous online survey with cruise message board participants and social media users. The survey was available to all consumers, including consumers who have not cruised. The survey focused on general reasons a consumer books a cruise, consumer travel behaviors, sustainability of the cruise industry, and sustainable factors that may impact a consumers’ choice of a cruise line. The goal of this research was to determine any patterns and trends that may emerge regarding consumer perceptions. The findings of the study showed cruise history and demographics have influenced consumer views on sustainability in the cruise industry.
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Maria, Dzurik, Gilbride Adrianne, and Gierke Dana. "Purpose beyond Profit : Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Institutionen för strategisk hållbar utveckling, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-4288.
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Increasing population, finite resources, over-consumption, and unsustainable trends in business contribute to urgent and complex sustainability challenges in society. The intent of this research is to understand the role business can play in moving society toward sustainability, specifically by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses present in the outdoor industry. Evaluation of the outdoor industry using a lens of the FSSD highlights unique opportunities for the outdoor industry in moving society toward sustainability while addressing the complex challenges. Using the advantages of being cooperative and sharing the values of trust and a connection to nature, the outdoor industry has the potential to make a unique shift from the current profit-driven market economy. This thesis examines how the current operations of the industry can be more strategic, efficient, and impactful in moving consumers, business, and society in a transition toward sustainability.
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JingJing, Duan, Li Xinze, and Renate Sitch. "Ethical Consumers:Strategically Moving the Restaurant Industry towards Sustainability." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Avdelningen för maskinteknik, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-2223.
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Consumerism plays an important role in the development of society, and consumption can be a driving force to shift society into a sustainable future. This paper defines ethical consumers and the restaurant industry as the research field, after analysing the current reality of restaurant industry, and the existing tools for ethical consumers to make their purchasing decision, we bridge the gaps by creating an ideal eco-labelling process for the restaurant industry. Eco-Etiquette is our ideal sustainable tool to better inform ethical consumers in their purchasing decisions. This paper also discusses other ways to assist ethical consumers, and identify some aspects for further research.
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França, Cesar L., Kate Maddigan, and Kyle White. "Sustainability Opportunities and Challenges of the Biofuels Industry." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Avdelningen för maskinteknik, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-2301.
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Liquid biofuels are being produced to displace fossil fuels for transportation, with bioethanol and biodiesel being the primary biofuels produced for this purpose in the world today. While there is consensus on the need for a sustainable biofuels industry, there is little consensus on how to proceed to avoid environmental and social degradation with global biofuel production. A literature review of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data, and the generic Strategic Life-Cycle Management (SLCM) and Template for Sustainable Product Development (TSPD) approaches, helped to inform the creation of a specific tool for sustainable industrial biofuels development, called the TSPD for biofuels. Other data collection involved expert and industry dialogue, as well as stakeholder feedback, on the content of the TSPD. Results showed a variety of sustainability challenges and opportunities, the most significant of which concerns agricultural production. Compelling measures for a sustainable biofuels industry include: cooperation among all stakeholders using a systems approach based on strategic sustainable development, sustainable biofuels certification; and government policies to stimulate research into new technologies and feedstocks, as well as to reduce consumption and increase efficiency.skiingkyle@yahoo.ca, csrlevy@terra.com.br, Kate_maddigan@yahoo.com
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Sultan, Basel Mohammed. "The construction industry in Yemen : towards economic sustainability." Queensland University of Technology, 2005. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16182/.
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The construction industry is one of the most important components in the economic development of a developing country, being a major contributor to the national economy of many such countries. This industry is largely responsible for the physical provision of housing and infrastructure and, as such, can be the backbone of prosperous economies, providing social development and employment. The construction industry in the developing economy of Yemen is plagued by difficult economic and technical problems, which permeate most aspects of the industry. In addition, construction procedures in Yemen consume excessive capital, time and resources that have a direct flow-on effect for the national economy and the nation's socio-economic development. Macroeconomic problems in unemployment, inflation and an inequitable balance-of-payments all add to the existing difficult economic situation in the construction industry. Further, the lack of appropriate infrastructure, weak and inefficient legal, administrative and financial institutions are also major contributors. The recent global shift to sustainable development also requires that the construction industry in Yemen initiate important strategic developmental policies in order to meet future demand for economical and sustainable development. This research uses a comprehensive literature review to design and conduct a survey into the existing local development barriers and then obtains a census of expert opinions using the Delphi methodology to rank a set of sustainable developmental policies and strategies. The research then establishes a comprehensive list of recommendations for achieving economicly sustainable industry. Proposed policies and strategies are formulated from various international studies, including Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development. The proposed policies and strategies are specifically chosen as they are considered to be compatible with the Yemen case and are also seen to more readily integratable with cultural aspects of Yemen, particularly in focusing on the hardships of its local needs and capabilities. The construction industry in the developing nation of Yemen appears aligned in many ways to the needs of other developing economies and, as such, it is expected that the findings of this research will be of great interest to professionals involved in the construction economies of other such developing nations.
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Sultan, Basel M. "The construction industry in Yemen : towards economic sustainability." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2005. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/16182/1/Basel_Sultan_Thesis.pdf.
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The construction industry is one of the most important components in the economic development of a developing country, being a major contributor to the national economy of many such countries. This industry is largely responsible for the physical provision of housing and infrastructure and, as such, can be the backbone of prosperous economies, providing social development and employment.
The construction industry in the developing economy of Yemen is plagued by difficult economic and technical problems, which permeate most aspects of the industry. In addition, construction procedures in Yemen consume excessive capital, time and resources that have a direct flow-on effect for the national economy and the nation's socio-economic development. Macroeconomic problems in unemployment, inflation and an inequitable balance-of-payments all add to the existing difficult economic situation in the construction industry. Further, the lack of appropriate infrastructure, weak and inefficient legal, administrative and financial institutions are also major contributors.
The recent global shift to sustainable development also requires that the construction industry in Yemen initiate important strategic developmental policies in order to meet future demand for economical and sustainable development.
This research uses a comprehensive literature review to design and conduct a survey into the existing local development barriers and then obtains a census of expert opinions using the Delphi methodology to rank a set of sustainable developmental policies and strategies. The research then establishes a comprehensive list of recommendations for achieving economicly sustainable industry. Proposed policies and strategies are formulated from various international studies, including Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development. The proposed policies and strategies are specifically chosen as they are considered to be compatible with the Yemen case and are also seen to more readily integratable with cultural aspects of Yemen, particularly in focusing on the hardships of its local needs and capabilities.
The construction industry in the developing nation of Yemen appears aligned in many ways to the needs of other developing economies and, as such, it is expected that the findings of this research will be of great interest to professionals involved in the construction economies of other such developing nations.
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Small, Lionel Bryan. "Sustainability Practices That Influence Profitability in the Petroleum Industry." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3724.
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Petroleum industries in the U.S. attract increased scrutiny from governmental bodies, businesses, and the civil society for their lack of sustainability practices, such as air emissions control, the use of cleaner fuels, and water pollution mitigation. Although the short-term cost of implementing these practices may be high as stated by a sample of the industry's leaders, long-term benefits include lower business costs and a reduction of the adverse impacts on society, the environment, and the economy. This multiple-case study highlighted the practices of several petroleum industry leaders who demonstrated an exception to these practices-who have been clear thought leaders in the delivery of both environmental sustainability and profitability. Data collection included in-depth interviews with 16 purposively selected petroleum business participants supplemented by a review of archival records containing annual sustainability reports. The participants were experts who practiced sustainability as part of their work-related activities. Data saturation occurred when no new data or patterns emerged. Methodological triangulation occurred as evidenced by the convergence of data from the different sources. Yin's 5-step analysis, which guided the coding process, yielded 3 main themes: environmental air quality, fuel, and water. These themes aligned with practices identified from the review of 20 archival reports across a 5-year period. Key practices identified from the archival records included flaring reduction, natural gas utilization, and water re-cycling. The implications for positive social change include the potential for the preservation of resources for present and future generations when all companies operating in the petroleum industry embrace sustainability.
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Larsson, Robert. "Integrating sustainability with business strategy – the Swedish chemical industry." Thesis, Stockholm University, Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-7826.
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This thesis aims to investigate perceptions of sustainability in relation to business
strategy within the Swedish chemical industry. To this end, a survey was
distributed with the assistance of industry organization Plast- och Kemiföretagen
to companies that are part of the Responsible Care® program.
A second purpose of the study is to explore critical factors when implementing an
integration of sustainability with business strategy. To do this as well as dig deeper
into a couple of questions raised in the survey, a qualitative study was carried out
at Akzo Nobel business unit Pulp and Paper Chemicals (operating under the brand
name of Eka Chemicals). Semi-structured interviews were performed with seven
company representatives from different organizational levels, to explore critical
factors identified in a literary study.
From the survey, it could be concluded that the studied companies considered
sustainability as an important issue today and with growing importance for the
future. It was also observed that sustainability is currently not an issue at the core
of business strategy, as 35% of respondent companies did not think that top
management handled issues related to sustainability. Enhanced reputation and
cost reduction/resource efficiency were seen as the primary creators of business
value when addressing sustainability. Additional top motivating forces to consider
sustainability were legislative demands and company core values.
From the literary study a model of critical factors when implementing changes in
strategy was developed. Four different aspects identified were explored in the
semi-structured interviews at Eka Chemicals: change leadership, shared vision,
sense of urgency and aligning goals. In that specific setting, the critical factors of
having a shared vision and aligning individual, organizational unit and corporate
goals were found to exist to a high degree, while the critical factor of change
leadership was only partially existent, and a sense of urgency not existent.
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Ek, Sara. "The implications of financial sustainability in the microfinance industry." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekonomi och organisation (Inst.), 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-91363.
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Microfinance is a relatively young and somewhat ambiguous concept. The phenomenon has, however, proven to contribute to making the lives better for many poor people, thus the interest for the industry has grown substantially. The increased attention has stimulated the movement towards more financially sustainable organizations. Along with this transformation, concerns regarding how it affects the poor have been raised. This study aims to map the key characteristics of financially sustainable microfinance institutions (MFIs) and what features that separates them from their non-sustainable counterparts. By analyzing data from 1109 MFIs, some significant differences between sustainable and non-sustainable organizations have been found. The study shows that for-profit MFIs are self-sufficient to a greater extent than the non-sufficient ones, which might be caused by the pressure to deliver value to shareholders. Furthermore, there are indications that self-sufficient MFIs are more efficient, which can be assumed to be caused by technological advantages, or different lending methods. The findings on outreach are somewhat contradictory; sustainable MFIs are reaching more clients on average, which discards a mission drift. On the other hand, self-sufficient MFIs have larger average loan sizes and less female borrowers, two indications that a mission drift actual exists. Self-sufficient MFIs have also proven to have lower loan loss rates and lower yields on loan portfolio. Positive findings, as they indicate that the MFIs have sound loan portfolios and that they have managed to become self-sustainable not by exploiting the poor, but by reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Financial sustainability can therefore be assumed to be achieved without forsaking the poor, if the social aims of the organizations are consistent with the financial objectives.
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Guillen, Georgina, Jennifer Katan, and Bin Xu. "Behind the Scenes : Media Industry Stakeholders Collaborating Towards Sustainability." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Sektionen för ingenjörsvetenskap, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-2219.
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The aim of this research is to discover ways that multi-stakeholder platforms for collaboration can be instrumental in the efforts of the media industry to achieve compliance with sustainability. Industries have gained awareness of their responsibilities towards environmental, social and economic welfare, and the media has a powerful role within society. The media industry's behavior is reflected both through its impacts of business operations as well as media products. The premise of this research suggests that an effective platform model fosters interpersonal, stimulating and energizing conversations amongst stakeholders in a neutral and friendly environment. In collaboration with various media stakeholders and showcasing an existing UK-based platform, the Media CSR Forum, and in investigating its structure and membership dynamics, it was possible to gain insight of common challenges for media companies. We identified the potential for platform models to help media companies plan strategically with the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. Strategic planning for sustainable development can help the media industry to face the challenge that their current contribution to un-sustainability represents and become a key player for sustainable societies.
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Gunnarsson, Adam, and Gustaf Ljungwaldh. "Business Model Innovation Towards Sustainability : The Mobile Phone Industry." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Företagsekonomi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-107751.
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Most companies have some sort of business model showing how they operate their activities,resources, cost and revenues etcetera. What is becoming increasingly emphasised in today'sbusiness is however to integrate sustainability within the business model. Our research willtherefore investigate how companies are attempting to make their business model moresustainable. We have chosen to focus on the mobile phone industry as reports have shown thatthey are a significant contributor to carbon emissions and electronic waste. With this in mind ourresearch question is formulated as follows:"How is the mobile phone industry attempting to innovate their business models towardssustainability?"As we attempt to understand how the mobile phone industry is attempting to innovate towardsgreater sustainability, we have chosen to perform a qualitative study. The material we usedconsisted of reports and web pages as well as interviews with manufacturers of mobile phonesand MNO’s. To analyse the material we had collected, we chiefly utilised a list of materialconcerns specific to the aforementioned mobile phone industry stakeholders, a proposedarchetype system for classifying attempts to innovate the business model to become moresustainable and finally a tool for graphically presenting a business model and its inner workings.Our conclusions show what the companies we have interviewed are attempting to innovate intheir business model. The innovations focus mainly on their partnerships, activities, resourcesand value propositions. By performing this study we contribute to the still young research area ofsustainable business model innovation through providing a snapshot of what our interviewedcompanies are attempting to innovate at the time of our study. Furthermore it also contributes tothe empirical use of the proposed sustainable business model innovation archetypes as we applythem to empirical data in an attempt to classify the data. Through performing both of theseactions we also contribute a proposed way of classifying sustainable business model innovationwithin a business model through the combining of the archetypes and the business model canvas.
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Chen, Lujie. "Sustainability and company performance : Evidence from the manufacturing industry." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Produktionsekonomi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-121052.
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This dissertation approaches the question of sustainability and its influence on company performance, with special focus on the manufacturing industry. In the contemporary production environment, manufacturing operations must take into account not only profit, but also environmental and social performance, in order to ensure the long-term development of the company. Companies have to decide whether they should allocate resources to environmental and social practices in order to improve their competitive advantage. Consequently, in decision-making processes concerning operations, it is important for companies to understand how to coordinate profit, people, and planet. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the current situation regarding manufacturers’ sustainable initiatives, and to explore the relationship between these sustainable practices and companies’ performance, including financial performance, operational performance, innovation performance, environmental performance, and social performance. First of all, a structured literature review was conducted to identify sustainable factors considered to be important in the decision making of manufacturing operations. The findings were synthesized into a conceptual model, which was then adopted as the basis for designing the survey instrument used in this dissertation. Drawing on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reports, empirical research was performed to explore the relationship between environmental management practices and company performance. Interestingly, the findings showed that many environmental management practices had a strong positive impact on innovation performance. Sustainability disclosures and financial performance were further analyzed using extended data from the GRI reports. The results also showed that several sustainability performance indicators, such as product responsibility, human rights, and society, displayed a significant and positive correlation with return on equity in the sample companies. In order to further explore the research area and to verify these findings, a triangulation approach was adopted and new data were collected via a survey conducted among middle and large sample companies in the Swedish manufacturing industry. The results indicated that the sustainable improvement practices had a positive impact on company performance. Some environmental and social improvement practices had a direct and positive correlation with product and process innovation. Furthermore, findings suggested that better cooperation with suppliers on environmental work could help to strengthen the organizational green capabilities of the focal companies. When considering the company’s general approach to implementing sustainable practices, some interesting findings emerged. There were limited significant differences in sustainable practices when comparing different manufacturing sectors, and different countries and regions. However, the results showed that Swedish manufacturing companies often place higher priority on implementing economic and environmental sustainability practices than on social ones. This dissertation contributes to the literature on manufacturing sustainability. The study expands the understanding of how environmental, social, or economic perspectives as a triple bottom line can influence company performance and to a certain extent the supply chain. Identifying and understanding such relationships gives companies the opportunity to integrate sustainability into their manufacturing operations strategy in order to sustain their manufacturing operations over the long term.
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MCCARTHY, MARK JAMES. "ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY A PERSPECTIVE ON THE BUILDING INDUSTRY." The University of Arizona, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/555245.
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Okumu, Luka Jovita. "The microfinance industry in Uganda : sustainability, outreach and regulation." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1091.
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Thesis (PhD (Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.Using an econometric approach on panel data collected from 53 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Uganda over a period of six years (annual), this study has identified the determinants of sustainability and outreach of MFIs. In addition, the study has also used survey data from 31 non-Bank of Uganda (BOU) regulated MFIs or Tier 4 MFIs, four BOU-regulated non-bank MFIs, 12 commercial banks and the BOU itself to assess the effects of financial regulation of MFIs on their sustainability and outreach. The results indicate that sustainability is positively and significantly driven by real effective lending rates and age of an MFI, and negatively by the ratio of gross outstanding loan portfolio to total assets, the ratio of average loan size to the national per capita income, the unit cost of loans disbursed, and a group-based delivery mechanism compared to an individual-based delivery mechanism. Outreach is positively and significantly driven by an MFI being a savings and credit co-operative (SACCO) compared to being a private company, effectiveness of governance, the age of an MFI, the ratio of gross outstanding loan portfolio to total assets, and the ratio of salary/wage paid to staff to the national per capita income, and negatively by the ratio of average loan size to the national per capita income and the unit cost of loans disbursed. In the short run, financial regulation negatively influences the outreach of MFIs, but positively affects their sustainability. In the long term, financial regulation positively influences both the sustainability and the outreach of MFIs. The results suggest a number of policy options. First, the MFIs should focus on the real effective lending rate, given its significance in their sustainability. Second, for a real effective lending rate to be relatively low, the rate of inflation should be low. This calls for prudent monetary policy management by the government. Thirdly, the cost of doing business should be kept low. This calls for prudence in business management by the MFIs and creating a cost-effective business environment by the government. While the results are tentative, in order to expand outreach more SACCOs should be established and the MFIs should commit more funds to lending purposes compared to other investments. Finally, before enacting financial legislation, it is important that its benefits and costs are adequately assessed to ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs both in the short and long term.
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Welter, Karen. "Sustainability in the restaurant industry : a Cape Town study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71819.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aims of this thesis were to focus on the restaurant system in Cape Town with a view to creating a support mechanism for a move to more sustainable practices. A review of the literature found that despite a growing global population, the pressure on resources and consumption has been driven by the global middle class. Over half the world lives in cities and dualistic urban systems reinforce access to resources by excluding the poor and favouring the wealthy. Resource flows and consumption have degraded ecosystems, created waste and emissions. We use resources faster than they can be replenished and have exceeded the earth’s regenerative capacity. Counter to this, there is evidence of decoupling resource use from economic growth. Similarly, the industrialised food system has been created on external inputs such as fertiliser and insecticides, largely derived from fossil fuels. Food produced in the system uses energy, produces waste, depletes the soil and thwarts biodiversity. The global food system counters local food economies. This thesis argues that a sustainable system would have the economy as a basis for a better and equitable environment for current and future generations within ecological and regenerative capacity. As a city Cape Town reflects the inequalities and unsustainability of the global system, with vast disparities in wealth and opportunity. Restaurants can control flows of energy, food and waste, support people and the environment, as well as communicate and educate consumers. By collaborative efforts they can lay the basis for local food economies. Restaurants connect consumers to their food and make decisions about where the food comes from, how it will be prepared and disposed of and who will engage in that preparation. The restaurant sector can contribute to sustainability in its use of resources as well as its employment, community engagement and communication practices. This in turn supports local economies and impacts on the broader sustainability of the city. Research into the restaurant system in Cape Town showed that there is consumer interest in sustainability. There is evidence of restaurants making efforts towards sustainable endeavours. Within Cape Town there is the opportunity to look for more sustainable energy, work around local and seasonal menus, support local food economies, and control wastage. Local food economies can be supported while staff can also be treated fairly and given growth opportunities. Endeavours can be communicated as a way of shifting current unsustainable consumption patterns. The conclusions drawn from the thesis suggest that like the Sustainable Restaurant Associations (SRA) and Dinegreen there is space for a support mechanism for the restaurant industry where individual restaurants can be helped to move to sustainability and collaborate with other stakeholders. The recommendations of the thesis are to create an organisation that can evolve into a co-operative that will bring restaurants together and map out the changes they make. They need to be supported with expertise and audits of their current practice so that they can set goals for the future with regard to their environmental and social actions.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoof doel van hierdie dissertasie was om die restaurantstelsel in Kaapstad te ondersoek met die oog daarop om ‘n ondersteuningsmeganisme vir meer volhoubare praktyke te skep. ‘n Literatuuroorsig het getoon dat ten spyte van ‘n groeiende wereldbevolking, die druk op natuurlike en ander hulpbronne deur die wereldwye middelklas uitgeoefen word. Meer as die helfte van die wereld woon in stede en dualistiese stedelike stelsels versterk toegang tot sulke hulpbronne deur die armes uit te sluit en voorkeur te gee aan die reikes. Die vloei en verbruik van hulpbronne het ekologiese stelsels gedegradeer en afskeidings en afval vergroot. Ons verbruik hierdie hulpbronne vinniger as wat hulle vervang kan word en het die aarde se herstelkapasiteit oorskry. Aan die ander hand is daar bewyse dat die verbruik van hulpbronne ontkoppel is van ekonomiese groei. Insgelyks is die industrieele voedselstelsel gegrond op externe inset soos kunsmis en insekdoders, wat grootendeels van fossiele brandstof bekom word. Voedsel wat in hierdie stelsel geproduseer word verbruik energie, skep afval, put die grond uit en werk biologiese verskeidenheid tee. Die globale voedselstelsel is in teenstand teenoor plaaslike voedselekonomiee. Hierdie dissertasie redeneer uit die oogpunt dat ‘n onderhoudbare stelsel die ekonomie as ‘n basis vir ‘n beter en billike omgewing vir huidige en toekomstige geslagte, binne die ekologiese kapasiteit, sou he. Die stad Kaapstad weerkaats die ongelykhede en onvolhoubaarheid van die wereldwye stelsel, met sy ongelykhede in welstand en geleenthede. Restaurante kan beheer uitoefen oor hulle vloei van energie, voedsel en afval, kan mense en die omgewing ondersteun, sowel as verbruikers inlig en oplei. Deur pogings om saam te werk kan hulle die grondslag le vir plaaslike voedselekonomiee. Restaurante kan verbruikers verbind tot hulle voedsel en kan besluite neem oor waarvandaan die voedsel verkry word, asook hoe dit berei en afgedoen sal word en wie dit sal berei. Die restaurantsektor kan bydra tot volhoubaarheid in sy gebruik van hulpbronne sowel as inwerkneming, gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid en kommunikasiepraktyke. Dit sal op sy beurt dan plaaslike ekonomiee ondersteun en ‘n wyer impak he op die volhoubaarheid van die stad. Navorsing oor die restaurantstelsel in Kaapstad het getoon dat die verbruiker belang stel in volhoubaarheid. Daar is tekens daarvan dat restaurante pogings aanwend in die rigting van beter volhoubaarheid. In Kaapstad bestaan die geleentheid om te soek na meer volhoubare energie, rondom seisoenaangepaste spyskaarte, die ondersteuning van plaaslike voedselekonomiee, en die beheer van afval. Plaaslike voedselekonomiee kan ondersteun word terwyl werknemers regverdig behandel word, en moontlikhede tot vooruitgang het. Hierdie pogings kan oorgedra word as ‘n manier om die huidige onvolhoubare verbruikspatrone te verander. Die afleidings wat gemaak word in hierdie dissertasie stel voor dat daar plek is vir ‘n ondersteuningsmeganisme vir die restaurantindustrie, soos die “Sustainable Restaurant Associations” (SRA) en “Dinegreen”, waar die individuele restaurant gehelp kan word in rigting volhoubaarheid te beweeg en om saam te werk met ander belangstellendes. Hierdie dissertasie stel voor om ‘n organisasie te skep wat kan ontwikkel tot ‘n kooperatiewe wat restaurant saam kan bring en die veranderings wat hulle aanbring kan uiteensit. Hulle sal moet ondersteun word met kennis en ouditering van hulle huidige praktyke, sodat hulle doele kan stel vir die toekoms met betrekking tot hulle omgewings en sosiaal gerigte handeling.
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Begey, Melissa J. "Green style| Discourses of sustainability among fashion industry professionals." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10196390.
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This thesis addresses the inherent tensions in discourses of sustainable fashion and explores how several individuals in the fashion industry attempt to reconcile these issues. In addition, it looks at the role of discourse in the socialization of ethical perspectives. The study draws on theoretical and methodological perspectives from linguistic and cultural anthropology, sociology, as well as fashion theory to analyze how fashion industry professionals discursively negotiate notions of sustainability and the tensions that emerge between ideals and practices. Data collection for this thesis included semi-structured interviews with fashion professionals in Southern California, along with participant observation within a university-level fashion textile course. Documenting socialization practices and noting the varying discourses of sustainable fashion in use by industry professionals highlight the challenges designers face in bridging eco-sensibilities with design aesthetics, and the complexity of individual agency in being able to participate in the culture of sustainability. The theoretical framework of this thesis demonstrates how linguistic anthropology can contribute to studies of sustainability in fashion design, and, in particular, how language use can be analyzed to better understand the ways in which a new generation can be socialized to new or changing ideas and perspectives.
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Siddiqui, Asif Iqbal. "Venture capital industry in Australia: Characteristics and sustainability positioning." Thesis, Curtin University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1888.
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The thesis investigates the first 25 years of the operational lifespan of the venture capital (VC) industry in Australia utilising a system approach to evaluate its characteristics and viability. Analysed issues include interfirm collaboration networks, efficient use of industry resources and industry culture as well as their implications. A special attention is given to the prospects and capability of the industry in addressing the emerging frontier of environmental, social and governance risks in investment decisions.
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Anwana, Edward, Zaid E. Azaizeh, Onur Özmen, and Ndi George Tebeck. "The Evolution of Industry towards Sustainability : A Case Study of the Olive Oil Industry." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Avdelningen för maskinteknik, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-2008.
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In this thesis, the need for the step by step transformation of industry towards sustainability is emphasized. This work involves looking at the Olive Oil Industry (OOI) from a systems perspective through the lens of Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) and applying backcasting from a principled view of socio-ecological sustainability. A specific project is also looked at, the Integrated Waste Management Project (IWMP), which aims at contributing to the sustainability of this particular industry. The OOI was analysed through the ABCD methodology, a tool used in planning for SSD, and measures were drawn up to guide the industry’s transformation. Following this analysis, the IWMP was examined within the context and results of the OOI research. Overall, the industry is transitioning and the IWMP is a good opportunity and contributor to the evolution of the Olive Oil Industry towards sustainability. At the same time, OOI and other industries would benefit greatly from embracing a systems perspective and a strategic approach for sustainable development.
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Fredriksson, Marie, and Minna Ytterfors. "DEFining sustainability, : a consumer versus company view in the Swedish apparel industry." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för textil, teknik och ekonomi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-417.
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There is not just one official definition of sustainability, but instead over three hundred. Previous studies together show tendencies towards a possible gap in the consumer versus company definitions of sustainability in apparel. A gap in how sustainability is defined. This thesis aims to contribute to the filling of this possible gap with a description and analysis of the matter. Deep semi structured interviews with ten female fashion consumers from the conscious Generation Y, defining and discussing sustainability were performed. The same consumers also attended a one-hour focus group session. The consumer definitions of sustainability were compared with the definitions from Gina Tricot, H&M, Kappahl, Lindex and MQ via their sustainability reports. Our findings shows several gaps in the way sustainability was defined by the conscious female fashion consumer from Generation Y and the conscious fashion company presenting a sustainability report. The two main gaps are the consumers defining sustainability as long lasting quality and less consumption. The companies in their sustainability reports do not address these definitions. Communication, deeper interaction and enhancements in the business model supply chains are concluded in order to address the gaps. For further research a larger more extended study could enhance the results and give deeper insights.
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Martinuzzi, Robert-Andre, Vincent Blok, Alexander Brem, Bernd Stahl, and Norma Schönherr. "Responsible Research and Innovation in Industry-Challenges, Insights and Perspectives." MDPI AG, 2018. http://epub.wu.ac.at/6119/1/sustainability%2D10%2D00702.pdf.
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The responsibility of industry towards society and the environment is a much discussed topic, both in academia and in business. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has recently emerged as a new concept with the potential to advance this discourse in light of two major challenges industry is facing today. The first relates to the accelerating race to innovate in order to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world. The second concerns the need to maintain public trust in industry through innovations that generate social value in addition to economic returns. This Special Issue provides empirical and conceptual contributions that explore corporate motivations to adopt RRI, the state of implementation of concrete RRI practices, the role of stakeholders in responsible innovation processes, as well as drivers and barriers to the further diffusion of RRI in industry. Overall, these contributions highlight the relevance of RRI for firms of different sizes and sectors. They also provide insights and suggestions for managers, policymakers and researchers wishing to engage with responsibility in innovation. This editorial summarizes the most pertinent conclusions across the individual articles published in this Special Issue and concludes by outlining some fruitful avenues for future research in this space.
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Richardson, Vanessa Anne. "The economic and ecological sustainability of the Amazonian timber industry." Thesis, University of East Anglia, 2015. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/59386/.
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Selective logging of tropical forests, particularly reduced impact logging (RIL), has long been suggested as a benign compromise between profitable land-use and biodiversity conservation. Throughout human history, slow-renewal biological resource populations have been predictably overexploited, often to extinction. This thesis examines the degree to which timber harvests beyond the first-cut can be financially profitable or demographically sustainable, both of which remain poorly understood. Data on legally planned logging of ~17.3 million m3 of timber were obtained from 824 government-approved private and community-based concession management plans. Results indicate that neither the post-depletion timber species composition nor total value of pre-harvest forest stands recover beyond the first-cut, suggesting that commercially most valuable timber species become predictably rare or economically extinct in old logging frontiers. Additionally, smallholders appear to exert strong high-grading pressure upon high-value hardwood species, thereby accruing higher gross revenue productivity per unit area and were more likely to inconsistently report areas of unlogged forest set-asides as required by Brazilian law. Selective logging leads to several forms of collateral damage (CD) to the residual forest stand. This pattern of structural disturbance is poorly quantified or understood despite representing a key form of forest degradation, or the second ‘D’ of REDD+ (United Nations Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation). A review of studies on selective logging impacts on tropical forest fauna revealed that ~90% failed to at least report or attempt to quantify CD. This thesis also examined CD associated with a certified industrial-scale RIL operation of eastern Brazilian Amazonia and finds that for every harvested tree, there is an estimated loss of ~12 damaged stems (≥10cm DBH). Over 30% of total ground sampling area of logged forest was cleared within felled-trees impacts alone. Finally, using RIL concession data from an 11-year time series where ~0.34 million trees were harvested, we estimated the total biomass and carbon stock of harvested trees, their CD, and the infrastructure damage associated with roundlog removal. If only harvested trees and their associated CD are considered, the estimated cost incurred in sparing logging-induced forest degradation through carbon financing projects such as REDD+ could compensate for the ~393 US$ ha-1 yr-1 logging revenues accrued to concession owners.
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Enroth, Maria. "Developing tools for sustainability management in the graphic arts industry." Doctoral thesis, Stockholm : Computer Science and Communication, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-4169.
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Tugnoli, Alessandro <1981>. "Development of quantitative methods for sustainability assessment in process industry." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2008. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/905/.
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The increasing aversion to technological risks of the society requires the development of inherently
safer and environmentally friendlier processes, besides assuring the economic competitiveness of
the industrial activities. The different forms of impact (e.g. environmental, economic and societal)
are frequently characterized by conflicting reduction strategies and must be holistically taken into
account in order to identify the optimal solutions in process design. Though the literature reports an
extensive discussion of strategies and specific principles, quantitative assessment tools are required
to identify the marginal improvements in alternative design options, to allow the trade-off among
contradictory aspects and to prevent the “risk shift”.
In the present work a set of integrated quantitative tools for design assessment (i.e. design support
system) was developed. The tools were specifically dedicated to the implementation of
sustainability and inherent safety in process and plant design activities, with respect to chemical and
industrial processes in which substances dangerous for humans and environment are used or stored.
The tools were mainly devoted to the application in the stages of “conceptual” and “basic design”,
when the project is still open to changes (due to the large number of degrees of freedom) which may
comprise of strategies to improve sustainability and inherent safety. The set of developed tools
includes different phases of the design activities, all through the lifecycle of a project (inventories,
process flow diagrams, preliminary plant lay-out plans). The development of such tools gives a
substantial contribution to fill the present gap in the availability of sound supports for implementing
safety and sustainability in early phases of process design.
The proposed decision support system was based on the development of a set of leading key
performance indicators (KPIs), which ensure the assessment of economic, societal and
environmental impacts of a process (i.e. sustainability profile). The KPIs were based on impact
models (also complex), but are easy and swift in the practical application. Their full evaluation is
possible also starting from the limited data available during early process design. Innovative
reference criteria were developed to compare and aggregate the KPIs on the basis of the actual sitespecific
impact burden and the sustainability policy.
Particular attention was devoted to the development of reliable criteria and tools for the assessment
of inherent safety in different stages of the project lifecycle. The assessment follows an innovative
approach in the analysis of inherent safety, based on both the calculation of the expected
consequences of potential accidents and the evaluation of the hazards related to equipment. The
methodology overrides several problems present in the previous methods proposed for quantitative
inherent safety assessment (use of arbitrary indexes, subjective judgement, build-in assumptions,
etc.). A specific procedure was defined for the assessment of the hazards related to the formations
of undesired substances in chemical systems undergoing “out of control” conditions. In the
assessment of layout plans, “ad hoc” tools were developed to account for the hazard of domino
escalations and the safety economics.
The effectiveness and value of the tools were demonstrated by the application to a large number of
case studies concerning different kinds of design activities (choice of materials, design of the
process, of the plant, of the layout) and different types of processes/plants (chemical industry,
storage facilities, waste disposal). An experimental survey (analysis of the thermal stability of
isomers of nitrobenzaldehyde) provided the input data necessary to demonstrate the method for
inherent safety assessment of materials.
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Admire, Caitlin R. "The Colorado Horse Park: promoting sustainability in the equestrian industry." Kansas State University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/8706.
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Master of Landscape ArchitectureDepartment of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning
Laurence A. Clement
The word “equestrian” is generally not known to be synonymous with sustainability. Although there is a small progressive movement, sustainable design is currently not common practice in the horse industry and desperately needs promoting. Horsemen and women need to be made aware that these techniques exist as well as more information on how to implement them into the facilities that they own and manage. The Colorado Horse Park (CHP), one of the largest equestrian event venues in the nation, has great potential to become an example of successful sustainable design. As host to dozens of events and hundreds of visitors each year, the CHP presents the perfect opportunity to educate the horse community on sustainable practices. Using the Audubon Lifestyles Program and Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) as guides, I will promote the sustainable equestrian movement through the implementation of sustainable elements and an interpretive landscape at the CHP. The goal of this new design will be to educate site users on sustainable practices as well as motivate and inspire them to make changes to their own lifestyles and facilities. Using the theories established through research and precedent studies, a new design for the CHP was developed. There are three principles to this design: using circulation systems to make the facility more functional, implementing sustainable elements into the facility to serve as examples, and providing the visitors with educational opportunities in the form of interpretive exhibits. Function and safety are two major concerns at this type of venue, and are addressed through the re-organization of site elements and the establishment of a circulation system which creates separation between differing traffic types. Sustainable practices are applied in the forms of vegetated drainage ways, protection of riparian areas, xeric plantings, habitat restoration, and a manure composting operation. An interpretive landscape of signage and displays highlights each sustainable element and relates information on how visitors can incorporate sustainable techniques in their own facilities.
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Filsner, G. "Sustainability of industry clusters : new member creation in Motorsport Valle." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2007. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/11373.
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The emphasis in cluster theory has been in explaining how and why clustering might
contribute to competitive advantage for co-located firms, and hence for the economy.
While firms may be encouraged to co-locate to gain from transactional, institutional and
knowledge benefits, threats to economic sustainability have been associated with a
deterioration of advantages and a failure to adapt, resulting in a decline of
competitiveness. This thesis reconsiders industry clusters as organisational populations,
suggesting a mechanism through which the population and the resource environment
can adapt and survive Cluster sustainability is described as a evolutionary process in
which the population and resources of the cluster adapt through the creation of new
member firms. Based on an embedded case study of eight firm formation events taking
place in the UK motorsport industry, the research examines how an industry cluster
regenerates and reproduces itself. The concentration, complexity, and diversity of
supply and demand comprising the cluster’s organisational population generate a
resource environment which generates creation of new members compatible with the
cluster’s knowledge architecture. New member entry depends on the absorptive
capacity of the cluster, while contributing to the ability to identify, diffuse and exploit
new knowledge. Sustainability of industry clusters is associated with the characteristics
that support new member creation.
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Simon, Kallstenius Ivan. "Patterns of Collaboration for Sustainability in the Global Clothing Industry." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-169781.
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Global industries are characterized by complex networks of organizations, which are often dominated by a few disproportionately large transnational corporations. While industry consolidation is not a new phenomenon, the scale and speed at which global industries now impact diverse social-ecological systems is unprecedented. In this thesis, I combine the interconnected perspective of business ecosystems with the sustainability focus of the social-ecological systems literature through the concept of keystone actors. Adopting a network perspective, I apply this framing to the global clothing industry, and specifically analyze the patterns of coordination and collaboration among actors working to address systemic sustainability challenges facing the industry. While keystone actors wield significant influence over both the industry’s biophysical and socio-economic impacts, I find it is the presence of key brokers – actors who mediate indirect connections between keystone actors in the clothing industry – that possess the potential to coordinate action around sustainability challenges into a collective industry-wide effort. I conclude the thesis by discussing how the empirical findings, and network perspective more generally, can advance the study of keystone actors in global business ecosystems.
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Filsner, Gilly. "Sustainability of industry clusters : new member creation in Motorsport Valley." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2007. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/11373.
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The emphasis in cluster theory has been in explaining how and why clustering might contribute to competitive advantage for co-located firms, and hence for the economy. While firms may be encouraged to co-locate to gain from transactional, institutional and knowledge benefits, threats to economic sustainability have been associated with a deterioration of advantages and a failure to adapt, resulting in a decline of competitiveness. This thesis reconsiders industry clusters as organisational populations, suggesting a mechanism through which the population and the resource environment can adapt and survive Cluster sustainability is described as a evolutionary process in which the population and resources of the cluster adapt through the creation of new member firms. Based on an embedded case study of eight firm formation events taking place in the UK motorsport industry, the research examines how an industry cluster regenerates and reproduces itself. The concentration, complexity, and diversity of supply and demand comprising the cluster’s organisational population generate a resource environment which generates creation of new members compatible with the cluster’s knowledge architecture. New member entry depends on the absorptive capacity of the cluster, while contributing to the ability to identify, diffuse and exploit new knowledge. Sustainability of industry clusters is associated with the characteristics that support new member creation.
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Mgembe, Seraphia Robert. "Small Business Sustainability Strategies in the Tanzanian Construction Materials Industry." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6622.
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Small business owners in the construction materials industry play a significant role in economic development through gross domestic product and employment. However, like other small business owners, many owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry close their businesses within 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study grounded in the resource-based theory was to explore the strategies that owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry operating in Tanzania used to sustain business for longer than 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 4 purposefully selected owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry and a review of daily sales records, weekly sales reports, and audited accounts. Member checking and triangulation were used to strengthen the credibility and trustworthiness of the interpretation of data and information. Data analysis involved coding and thematic analysis. Themes were categorized into business establishment strategies, customer satisfaction and retention strategies, and other sustainability strategies. Findings from this study may contribute to social change by providing information on mechanisms for improving business performance; reducing the risk of failure; and creating sustainable, better-paying jobs that can increase the well-being of business owners, employees, their families, and communities.
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Hedges, Glenn A. "Developing a business case for sustainability in the construction industry." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2017.
Find full textAbstract:
In this thesis a framework is provided to assist construction industry personnel overcome industry-wide inertia to innovation and sustainability. Using an ethnographic-based case study method, the relevant business improvements and value drivers linked to total shareholder return were identified. The resultant framework can enable construction industry personnel to compose effective business cases for sustainability within the context of existing project and organisational performance practices. The framework will also enable the construction industry to make more meaningful contributions to society's sustainable development challenges.
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Spies, Airton. "The Sustainability of the pig and poultry industries in Santa Catarina, Brazil : a framework for change /." Brisbane, Qld. : School of Natural and Rural Systems Management, University of Queensland, 2003. http://adt.library.uq.edu.au/public/adt-QU20030708.174115/index.html.
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Flores, Alvaro. "Brazilian Leather Certification of Sustainability - 32." Verein für Gerberei-Chemie und -Technik e. V, 2019. https://slub.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A34141.
Full textAbstract:
Content:
Sustainability and transparency of the leather industry are increasingly important factors for the sector’s clients as well as final consumers, looking for quality products that are also sustainable in all tiers of the production process. In this sense, certification and labelling processes are tools that grant visibility to the positive practices of manufacturers and their suppliers.
In Brazil, through an unprecedented tanneries initiative conducted by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB), a certification for the leather production process was created. The Brazilian Leather
Certification of Sustainability (CSCB) counts on the participation of the various links in the production chain.
Using the concept of the sustainability tripod, CSCB considers the results of tanneries in economic, environmental and social aspects. A sustainable tannery develops its activities with positive economic
results, seeking to reduce inherent environmental impact of its activities, providing better working conditions to employees and respecting the surrounding community. Since the starting point of its creation
(2012), CSCB has reached many results concerning process’ improvements in the industry, quitting wastage and getting efficiency in indicators. As the CSCB practices are inside more than 20 tanneries all
over Brazil (some of them amongst the biggest in the country, covering a big part of the Brazilian leather production, which is one the hugest in the world) these findings are extremely important and must be shared with whole industry.
The certification process is based on implementation and compliance with principles, criteria, and indicators established by standards developed by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT)
and audited by certification institutes accredited by The National Metrology, Quality, and Technology Institute (Inmetro), signatory to the mutual recognition agreement within the framework of the
International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). These agreements guarantee the international validation and recognition of CSCB.
Tanneries are certified according to how well they meet the standards, being granted an identification seal for sustainable processes, guaranteeing the transparency of Brazilian leather suppliers.
Take-Away:
Sustainability as a tool for efficiency in the leather industry
Results on the last years of work of the Brazilian Leather Certification of Sustainability (CSCB)
Sustainability indicators on Brazilian tannery work
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Holton, Ian R. "Developing a sector sustainability strategy for the UK precast concrete industry." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2009. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/5008.
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Sector sustainability strategies can provide industry sectors with a way of managing risks and opportunities, and contributing to sustainable development. The UK Government has encouraged their development in the construction industry. British Precast, as the trade association for the precast concrete industry in the UK, had undertaken to develop a sector sustainability strategy for that industry. However, the development of such strategies is a departure from the traditional role of the trade association and presented British Precast with a number of challenges. This EngD research programme was therefore established in order to address those challenges and facilitate progress towards a more sustainable precast industry. The research programme has followed a mixed method strategy of inquiry based on action research methodology, that is, a series of research cycles have been undertaken with the findings from each cycle being used to inform and guide subsequent cycles; archival analysis, survey and case study were the main research methods used. The requirement of the EngD programme to publish elements of the work in refereed journal and conference papers as the research progresses has allowed the research to be validated as scientifically satisfactory. The strategy development process combined best practice, current and emerging theory, original research, stakeholder engagement, and experience from other sectors and industries. The strategy was produced in the form of an action plan for British Precast. This plan differs from the sustainability strategies produced for other sectors of the construction products industry in that rather than simply promoting action on specific objectives, it provides British Precast with a means of engaging with the industry and its stakeholders, and facilitating progress towards a more sustainable precast industry. The action plan has been well received by the industry and its stakeholders, and there is clear evidence that it is helping to guide the business decisions of companies in the industry, and that progress towards a more sustainable precast industry is being achieved as a result. The research supporting the strategy development process has added to current knowledge and guidance on the development of sector sustainability strategies, but shown that there are limits to the influence trade associations can have over their members' actions. It has also been shown that the development of management systems, particularly environmental management systems to ISO 14001, and continuous performance improvement cultures can assist companies in managing for sustainability, supporting the findings of other studies. However, further work is needed to build support for the action plan within the precast industry, particularly amongst SMEs, to support the downstream supply chain in using precast products to deliver more sustainable construction, and to assist companies in achieving progress towards corporate sustainability. Recommendations are made for this work.
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Olorunshola, Yemisi Christianah. "Small Business Sustainability Strategies in the Maritime Industry in Lagos, Nigeria." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6933.
Full textAbstract:
Small business enterprises (SBEs) are major contributors to national job creation and employment, but small businesses face a myriad of challenges which lead to their failure before 5 years of operation. Some small business owners lack the skills to create strategies that will lead to long term business survival. Porter's 5 forces competition was used as the conceptual framework for this multiple case study. The purpose of the study was to explore the strategies Nigerian SBEs use to sustain their first 5 years of operation. Semistructured interviews served to collect data from the chief executive officers of 2 SBEs in the maritime industry in Lagos, Nigeria. Data analysis entailed the use of qualitative analysis to capture and organize data and identify emerging themes. Some emerging themes included the securing of the necessary finances, the ability to respond to the effects of government policy, and providing excellent customer service. The implications of this study for social change include the mitigation of the negative effects of business failure on the people of the host community. Small business owners and leaders, partners of small business owners, and policymakers might benefit from this research by deploying the findings to appropriate business domains.
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Chee, Tahir Aidil Bin. "A systematic approach to sustainability metrics : palm oil production as a case study." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.670180.
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Barletta, Giovanni Luca. "Analysis of the sustainability of collusion in the liner shipping industry." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.520876.
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