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This paper examines sustainability reporting trends of 50 NZX-listed companies, focusing on their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. As sustainability reporting remains largely voluntary, unregulated, and inconsistent, this study investigates the current status quo in ESG/sustainability reporting in New Zealand. As a result, it provides managerial advice on what currently constitutes effective sustainability reporting. This paper of qualitative nature explores reporting practices across five key crit...

Global heating is happening at an unprecedented speed. As a result, both human society and natural ecosystems are facing significant challenges. Numerous tools and policies are being implemented both for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Substantial amount of funding has been pledged by international governments and private corporations to support these efforts. One of particularly promising tools that tends to gain popularity for addressing climate change are Nature-based Solutions. These tools can be use...

The European Union stands apart through its ambitious blueprint to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Playing a pivotal role within this process, the energy transition in EU is challenged by the trilemma of supply security, competitiveness and sustainability. Historical contingencies and contextual factors trigger different evolutionary trajectories in terms of temporalities and geographies. Testing the club convergence hypothesis, studies addressed the heterogeneity of EU member states either from energy or environ...

Heavy rainfall in the summer have become more frequent, and when they occur over the coastal region, the cumulative hazardous pressure leads to floods, loss of physical life and socio-economic impact. Such is the disaster due to the floods in Tsarevo at the end of summer 2023. The paper contains a conceptual analysis of hydrological and meteorological conditions, land cover and use, and institutional preparedness to deal with dangerous floods. It is prepared on the basis of the data from Copernicus Land Monitoring...

In a context where clean energy has become almost an imperative, investments in renewable energy projects play an important role for achieving the sustainability of scarce resources needed for the well-being of future generations. Driven by the fact of climate change and the very need for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions all around the world, renewable energy economy has expanded with increasing participation of investors and new types of innovative financial techniques. One of the most striking innovative fi...

The aim of the study was to characterize the gelling effect of candelilla wax (DW) using different types of cold-pressed vegetable oil (sunflower oil, olive oil, walnut oil, grape seed oil and hemp seed oil). The structuring of the oleogels was achieved by hot incorporation of oil with different percentages of carnauba wax, as follows: 3%, 5% and 11%. Characterization of the oleogels was done by determining the chemical and physical properties of the oleogels, the oil binding capacity and the texture of the oleoge...

As the only arctic state in America, Alaska is the least dense in population, while consuming more energy (per capita) than any other state. A quarter of that energy presently is provided for by renewable resources, despite a long standing goal out of the legislature to provide half of the state's domestic energy through renewable energy resources by 2025. Of the non-renewable energy produced in the state, natural gas provides half the energy, primarily for the largest urban area. Most of the state-s crude petrole...

In this article, we will present the types of seismic waves, how their collection is performed and their preparation for analysis and processing. Understanding these aspects can help improve in future any stage of the process, by using new hardware and/or software equipment, in continuous development around the world. There are three steps in seismic exploration of the ground. The first one is seismic data acquisition which is done in a specific location, ground or water, using a seismic source. The seismic wave g...

The use of secondary waste from municipal solid waste incineration plant in concrete has been studied for its potential to reduce the carbon footprint and abiotic depletion associated with traditional concrete production. Fly ash is a hazardous waste and it can be used as a substitute for cement in the production of concrete. Bottom ash can be used as a substitute for light natural aggregate, which was previously soaked in water for internal treatment of concrete. The composition of concrete includes: CEM I 42.5R,...

Pursuing sustainability in a rapidly changing global landscape has necessitated a paradigm shift in economic models. At the forefront of this transformation is the Circular Economy, characterized by the continuous reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing of products and materials, which has gained prominence as a means to address pressing environmental challenges while fostering economic growth. This research explores the interplay between the circular economy, innovation, investment, and social responsibility. These...

Forests play an important role in carbon storage and global carbon cycling. The processes of litter decomposition, movement within the soil, and incorporation into different soil layers play a crucial role in the functioning of forest ecosystems. These activities are important in regulating the cycling of soil organic matter and the storage and release of carbon into the atmosphere. Soil carbon and carbon input via litter has been well-recognized, however studied relatively less compared to other carbon pools, but...

In the current energetical context, there is a need to diversify energetically independent applications. The presence of energetically independent vending systems is necessary in the smart cities of the future and beyond. Energetically independent vending equipment must ensure the delivery of cold or hot products with low energy consumption. Reduced energy consumption and the use of environmentally friendly sources lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time to higher energy autonomy. The paper p...

Activities related to industrial aspects in the 21st century focus on, among others, low-emission economy, sustainable construction, recycling of processed materials, possibilities of recovery of building materials after the decision to demolish and ecology. The most popular building material is currently concrete used to make monolithic structures and prefabricated elements. There are many modifications to concrete, and the topic of recycling in building materials has become a priority. One of the materials is AB...

The horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a root vegetable that belongs to the botanical family Brassicaceae and due to the high content of bioactive compounds, it has of great interest in many biotechnological fields. The high content of polyphenols, phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C and detoxification enzymes makes horseradish to have a great antioxidant potential and positive effects on the health, being used from ancient times as medicinal plant. The abundance of minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre make horseradi...

Arid and semi-arid regions, including Cyprus, are increasingly experiencing severe weather events due to climate change. These events, characterized by prolonged droughts and flash floods, pose significant challenges to the environment, economy, and societal well-being. This paper aims to analyze the challenges of Flood Risk Management (FRM) in dry areas, focusing on Cyprus as a case study. It reviews historical data on temperature and rainfall patterns, flood types, and severity to propose effective, nature-based...

The extrusion process is recognized as the most versatile processing technology, and it can be used to produce food with higher nutritional, functional, and sensory qualities. The extrusion process involves forcing a mixture of ingredients through a small die under controlled conditions of temperature, pressure, and shear. This review highlights the main effects of the process parameters (feed rate, feed moisture, screw speed, barrel temperature, raw material characteristics, etc.) and system parameters (specific ...

The areas occupied by permanent grasslands constitute one of the most important ecosystems of the Earth, occupying almost half of it. The use of land covered by grasslands and climate changes are the main stressors of grass communities and implicitly of grassland ecosystems. Its multifunctionality (food source for ruminants, insect habitat, means of soil and water conservation, as well as outdoor activities, etc.) is gradually affected, thus diminishing the mentioned functions. The purpose of this paper is to anal...

The use of pig slurry as fertilizer has a clear impact on farm-level energy input requirements, being a correct and natural way of its decomposition and also contributing to the reducing of the amount of chemical fertilizers used, which, in addition to the high cost, may leads to the pollution of the areas where they are applied. Swine sludge could provide between 38 and 61% of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in chemical fertilizer. The purpose of the work is to determine the changes that the application of...

Composting municipal organic waste is important for several reasons, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, soil health improvement, nutrients recycle, waste reduction, costs reduction (by reducing the waste volumes, the handling costs are decreased). Information on the practices of municipal organic waste composting in Romania is limited, thus a comprehensive evaluation of the limiting factors and current solution was carried out. According to the European Environment Agency, Romania has made progress in o...

Urbanization and expansion of urban territory is a global trend that affects all major cities in the world. For this reason, the quality of the urban environment is increasingly important for human health and well-being. One increasingly popular element to improve and address the challenges associated with a warming urbanized landscape is blue-green infrastructure (BGI). Blue-green infrastructure is mainly associated with the urbanized landscape and its integration into the urban environment. In our post, we will ...

Urtica dioica L. is a multi-functional plant commonly known as stinging nettle, which has been used as wild vegetable for centuries. Stinging nettle is a highly nutritious vegetable due to its increased use in different food products and its health-promoting properties. Nettles are highly adaptable occurring in most common areas from unpolluted to highly polluted areas, along stream banks, farmland and also in highly disturbed areas. In hot areas, they prefer sites in partial shade, but accept to grow also in full...

The article discusses the efficiency of vertical subsurface flow filters in wastewater treatment wetlands, where the main filtration layer is composed of recycled aggregates. To determine the efficiency of the vertical filter using modified recycled aggregates, three test columns were created. The first column contained natural gravels, while the second and third columns used masonry (RMA) and concrete aggregates (RCA). The test filters were loaded with wastewater from a combined sewer system, with non-dissolved s...

Compliance with EU environmental regulations and directives regarding effluent water quality discharged is seen as the main driver for the development of wastewater treatment technologies. The Water Framework Directive, the UWWT Directive, and the Nitrates Directive require the reduction of eutrophication caused by nitrogen and phosphorus emissions. In Romania, only approx. 54% of the population is connected to centralized sewage and wastewater treatment systems, meaning that approximately 8 million inhabitants ar...

Green development is a kind of development that considers two factors- social and environmental impacts of development. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are tools that can be used in monitoring of the impacts of climate change. They can demonstrate the effects of climate change and they can contribute to the proper management of urban green via their role as decision-making tools. Urban areas have an important role in urban ecosystems through multifunctional role of trees, such as the reduction of...

Adaptation strategies are highly desirable documents based on more frequently occurring hydrological extremes. These strategic documents are prepared at different levels, the state level on one side and the regional or city level on the other side. The complex approach that was chosen for the Pardubice and Pilsen regions was also applied to the territory of the Dyje basin. Specifically, a multi-criteria analysis was used as a means of selecting priority model areas. Based on the analyses developed from the availab...

Decomposition of solid waste in landfills causes global air pollution with methane, the most dangerous of the greenhouse gases. The emission potential of this gas is 28-36 times greater than that of CO2. With the help of methane-reducing Biocover, can find a solution to this problem. In this study, a biocover was developed in the laboratory to reduce methane emissions. When measuring the methane emissions of this biocover, data on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions were also obtained in parallel. The purpose o...

This paper aims to synthesize in a logical and coherent approach the main control techniques used in managing and combating food fraud, as well as to discuss their effectiveness. Given the impact that food fraud can have on consumers' health and well-being, anti- fraud control techniques used throughout the food chain are an important and relevant topic, still insufficiently addressed and accepted in the relevant economic environment. The objectives of the article include presenting the current context of food fra...

Consumers are changing their food preferences in favor of healthier foods that have a beneficial effect on health and that embrace sustainable consumption patterns. To meet the demand of modern consumers, the food sector is undergoing a major revolution as more and more new products are appearing on the market. This trend has encouraged the food industry to develop a new category of food products, which is 'functional foods-, characterized by the presence of one or more bioactive compounds having beneficial effect...

The article analyzes and evaluates the current status of the water quality of the Chepinska River. It is one of the main right-hand tributaries of the Maritsa River, and large settlements are located in its catchment area and active agricultural activity is carried out. They cause a strong anthropogenic impact and a significant change in water quality. The heterogeneous impact requires the assessment to be carried out by using a complex of indices that includes the Canadian Water Quality Index (CCME WQI), the Bava...

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as horse radish tree or drumstick tree is a perennial multipurpose tropical tree. It can be used as medicine, cosmetic and functional food, among others. The benefits of using the leaves are ascribed to the presence of a number of antioxidants. Nowadays it is widely cultivated and naturalized in many countries. Simple methods to extract antioxidants from Moringa leaf are lacking, which were established, stability of antioxidants was assessed, and residue left after extraction was e...

This study explores the intricate relationship between Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) and landslide vulnerability within the context of Iasi City, Romania. UHIs are characterized by elevated temperatures in urban areas compared to their surrounding rural areas, primarily resulting from human activities and urbanization. The combination of these two factors, UHI and landslide vulnerability, poses critical challenges for urban planning, environmental sustainability, and public safety. The research employs a multi-discipl...

The oil obtained from linoleic sunflower hybrids grown mainly by Romanian farmers shows a low oxidation stability. In the period 2021-2023, high oleic and high oleic high stearic sunflower hybrids were cultivated experimentally in the western part of Romania. A good climatic and pedological adaptability was observed both in the intensive conventional culture and in the biologic one. The fatty acid profile showed the same characteristics. The oil obtained from linoleic sunflower hybrids grown mainly by Romanian far...

Natural zeolites, a family of hydrated aluminosilicates, are important raw materials for micro and nano technologies due to their molecular-sieve, ion-exchange and catalytic properties. Their porous crystalline framework is built from alternating SiO4 and AlO4 - tetrahedra forming cages and channels, and improvement of zeolite performance is possible by thermal and chemical treatment. The influence of hydrochloric acid and calcination on heulandite-containing tuff from the Georgian Dzegvi-Tedzami deposit was studi...

The work analyzes the rights of future generations in a perspective of solidarity within Italian-European environmental law, in a similar way to what was done in the German legal system. The analysis is conducted through a survey of the Italian-European regulatory framework, also with specific reference to the objectives of European social policies and through the jurisprudential comparative analysis with the legal system of the Federal Republic of Germany. In particular, with specific reference to a recent enviro...

By steady scientific research carried out in the last decades was possible to register wanted technological advance oriented also to succeed in shaping sustainable smart cities. Nowadays several cities on European level and not only are starting the implementation of smart city design strategies, which are foremostly developed by access to needed databases as well as by specific approaches related to location intelligence supporting by this shaping appropriate policies on local level. Smart cities imply effective ...

The article is devoted to the study of optimization measures to improve the rational use of the surface tier of anthropogenic landscapes in the Kryvyi Rih landscape and technical system. The surface tier of anthropogenic landscapes is analyzed and defined on the example of mining and settlement landscapes. The problems associated with the active development of the mining industry and the causing such factors as poor soil quality, derivative processes and phenomena, pollution and uncontrolled use of resources are i...

Potential use of four types of fly ash waste as raw material for synthesis of photo- catalysts to be applied for wastewater treatment was investigated. In this respect the four selected fly ash types were subject to morphological characterization by dimensional analysis of particles and scanning electronic microscopy on to composition characterization by thermogravimetric analyses and X-ray fluorescence. Their potential to be used for advanced degradation of organic compounds via heterogeneous photocatalysis was i...

In order to make the transition to a low-carbon economy and sustainable transport system and solve environmental and climate problems, many countries are replacing traditional cars that run on petroleum fuels with electric cars. Unlike vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), electric vehicles` emissions from the operation phase are practically zero, but this is not the case if we consider the full life cycle. In this paper, we briefly describe the electric vehicle market, examine the life-cycle emission...

In 1923 Le Corbusier-s Vers une architecture was published for the first time, maybe the most influential essay for the discipline ever. Imprinted on the title page of that first edition was the photo of the deck of the steamer Aquitaine, at the time the most up-to- date result of the industry: from there, the -machine- became the model for a radical renewal of architecture. Nowadays, in 2023, who would ever dream of presenting the latest cruise ship or a super-jet as a paradigm for a renewed architecture? In fact...

The consequences of human actions on Earth are becoming increasingly evident, leading us to consider that the -climate collapse has begun-, as the General Secretary of the United Nations (UN) warned at the beginning of September 2023. At less than a decade from 2030, the goals and its targets for sustainable development (SD) in the UN 2030 Agenda are far from being achieved, requiring urgent actions. Their fulfilment is at risk, particularly considering recent events such as the war(s) and the pandemic. Developing...

A case study for a public library which aim to become nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) is presented. Due to building-s location in the city center of a medium sized municipality from Romania, important site limits have to be considered, as well as other pre-existent conditions. These conditions significantly limit the technological options that can be implemented to ensure nZEB compliance. Also, the destination itself of the building (library with free access to the shelves), imposes a specific energy profile (c...

To improve individual and total meat production, it is necessary to implement control models of anthropogenic influence on meat production, i.e., the readjustment and diversification of mammal and poultry meat productions to the needs of the processing industry and the regional market trend. Depending on the evolution of herds and productions, the implementation of measures to improve organizational management is aimed at ensuring, in addition to nutrition, environmental control and favourable maintenance conditio...

Achieving profitable crop production milestones hinges on the establishment of a robust soil fertility program. Such programs demand foresight and meticulous planning. To ensure the profitability and efficiency of wheat cultivation, it is imperative to provide the right amount of essential plant nutrients precisely when and where the crop requires them. The application rates of fertilizers hold little significance if these vital nutrients are not distributed at the appropriate locations and times. Wheat, in partic...

The impact of climate change is felt by people all over the world, but this change is more pronounced in Europe. In Slovakia, which is in Central Europe, we feel these changes in all areas of the economy, but most significantly in agriculture. We experience extremely high temperatures more and more often, and frequent periods of drought alternate with extreme intensity of precipitation. The aim of this paper is to compare these changes in temperature and precipitation with a reference period - the sixty-year clima...

The issue of food security, in the face of threats as resource scarcity, climate change, population growth, pollution etc confronts the agri-food systems all over the world with the challenge of pursuing resilience and sustainability. Western populations do not currently experience food shortages, but others do not have enough food available and some others suffer from hunger. Besides, a topic gaining much attention is the malnutrition condition of the global population. International research present fortificatio...

This research aims to contribute to the development of eco-friendly car seats using hanji yarn by examining the flame-retardant treatment effect of two types of hanji yarn fabrics woven with polyester warp yarn and two different types of weft yarn: hanji- polyester blended yarn (76:24) and 100-percent hanji yarn, respectively. In terms of the flame-retardant treatment, NICCA FI-NONE PD-38 was used as the flame retardant with the concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 percent, and a flame resistance test was conducted in...

Dioecious Cannabis sativa L. is grown for derived products that are of industrial, food and therapeutic importance. The research aims to highlight the therapeutic potential. The study's main objective is to examine the antibacterial activity of dioecious hemp extracts on two bacterial strains. The plant material comes from 4 varieties of dioecious hemp CS (Cannabis sativa L.): CS1-Armanca, CS2- Lovrin 110, CS 3- Silvana and CS 4- Teodora. The antibacterial property of the plant biological material was tested on tw...

A study of the bioregion paradigm reveals that bioregions can be diverse. A bioregion is a construct of the human mind that evolves to resist the continued destruction of wild systems in an effort to restore ecological balance. Latvia has a diverse landscape, relatively rich biological diversity and cultural heritage, which provides a solid foundation for the creation of potential bioregions. The UN Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal and other documents offer solutions to make our farming more ...

Different oleogels were obtained from olive oil (OL), grape seed oil (GO), sunflower oil (SO), walnut oil (WO) and hemp oil (HO) using carnauba wax as a gelling at different concentrations of 5%, 7%, and 9% (w/w). The physical characteristics of the oleogels obtained, such as oil binding capacity (OBC), peroxide index (IP) and color, were determined. From a structural point of view, the oleogels were further investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). It was found that a higher concentration o...

Voltammetry is an electrochemical technique widely used in quantitative analysis to determine nickel ions in food samples due to its excellent stability. Knowing the exact applied levels of metals such as nickel in different food samples is very important to prevent high nickel consumption, especially in people with allergies and nickel excess. Electrochemical analytical methods appear to be an alternative with many advantages, including high sensitivity, low detection limits on the g/L scale, ease of use, and sim...