scholarly journals ASSURING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AT PROJECT FEASIBILITY STAGE IN SRI LANKA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.P.D.P. Senanayake ◽  
◽  
H. Chandanie ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
The Future

Construction activity is commonly considered to have adverse impacts on the environment, which is the basis of sustainable development for human being. Further, sustainability should be addressed mostly in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka, where a considerable amount of construction works is currently in progress and remain to emerge in the future. It is considered that the proper development and operation of a construction project can make significant contribution to the mission of sustainable development. However, the existing difficulty is the lack of the guidance for implementing sustainable development principles in construction industry. Therefore, this research intends to bring the necessity of mandated project feasibility studies as a guideline for sustainable development in the Sri Lankan Context. The research aim was approached through a qualitative survey strategy. To solicit the perceptions of experts on the identified sustainability performance criteria, a semi-structured interview survey was conducted. Ten experts were selected through purposive sampling strategy, who had experience in sustainable construction and project feasibility evaluation criteria. The manual content analysis method was used to analyse the collected data. Findings of the research revealed that though numerous sustainability assessment tools are being practised, there is a failure in sustainable construction in the current context. Thus, the minimum sustainability requirements were identified under the three pillars of sustainability, aiming to develop the project feasibility study as a guideline and to ensure sustainability performance from the project inception stage. These findings are helpful for industry practitioners especially the project owners to initiate a sustainable construction with concerted actions of all project stakeholders to safeguarding the future

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment and Agricultural Supply Chains Evidence-Based Multidimensional Analyses as Tools for Strategic Decision-Making—The Case of the Pineapple Supply Chain in Benin

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2060
Author(s):  
Doriane Desclee ◽  
David Sohinto ◽  
Freddy Padonou
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Agricultural Supply

Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 is a shared objective of all institutions and people. The challenges differ according to the characteristics of every context. In developing countries, strongly dependent on the agricultural sector, agricultural supply chains are recognized as crucial for economic growth and enablers for livelihood improvement. Moreover, sustainable development issues are correlated and can meet in agricultural supply chains. For several decades, parallel to decision-makers, the research community has elaborated sustainability assessment tools. Such tools evolved to fit with actuality, but it is challenging to find decision-making support tools for sustainable development adequate in agricultural supply chains and developing countries contexts. There is a necessity to define evidence-based tools and exhaustive analytical frameworks according to sustainability multidimensionality and strategical tradeoffs necessity. The VCA4D method aims to go beyond the limits of previous methods. It proposes a combination of multidisciplinary analytical tools applied empirically to analyze agricultural supply chains in their context. It provides evidence-based analytical results allowing to identify enablers for strategic sustainable and inclusive interventions. However, to even better meet contextual exhaustiveness’s expectations and indicators’ robustness to lead to relevant interventions, we should insist on a stricter framing of contextual data collection processes.

scholarly journals On the Sustainability Performance of the European Union’s Economic Recovery Strategy – A Case Study with Lessons for Policymakers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodoros Zachariadis
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Recovery Strategy ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Environmental Considerations ◽  
Development Objectives

Abstract The European Union pursues an economic recovery strategy with explicit environmental considerations but less clear alignment with broader sustainable development objectives. Using as a case study one national Recovery Plan that was published in May 2021, we perform a rapid but detailed sustainability assessment of its measures. At times when policymakers need immediate advice, this framework helps identify weaknesses and guide the inclusion of sustainability-oriented policies in national budgets.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impacts of Higher Education Institutions on Sustainable Development—An Analysis of Tools and Indicators

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Findler ◽  
Norma Schönherr ◽  
Rodrigo Lozano ◽  
Barbara Stacherl
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Organizational Boundaries ◽  
System A ◽  
Sustainability Assessment Tools

Many higher education institutions (HEIs) have started to incorporate sustainable development (SD) into their system. A variety of sustainability assessment tools (SATs) have been developed to support HEIs to systematically measure, audit, benchmark, and communicate SD efforts. In recent years, stakeholders have increasingly asked HEIs to demonstrate their impacts on SD. These impacts are the direct and indirect effects an HEI has outside of its organizational boundaries on society, the natural environment, and the economy. This study analyzes to what extent SATs are capable of measuring the impacts that HEIs have on SD. A mixed-method approach, using descriptive statistics and an inductive content analysis, was used to examine 1134 indicators for sustainability assessment derived from 19 SATs explicitly designed for application by HEIs. The findings reveal that SATs largely neglect the impacts HEIs have outside their organizational boundaries. SATs primarily use proxy indicators based on internally available data to assess impacts and thus tend to focus on themes concerning the natural environment and the contribution to the local economy. Updating existing SATs and developing new ones may enable HEIs to fully realize their potential to contribute to SD.

Addressing the higher education for sustainable development agenda at the College of Open and Distance Learning, St. Mary’s University, Ethiopia: opportunities and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wondwosen Tamrat
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

Purpose This study aims to assess the extent to which sustainable development practices are prevalent at the College of Open and Distance Learning (CODL), St. Mary’s University, Ethiopia. The assessment focused on identifying the college’s inclusion of the sustainable development agenda in its policy statements, various functions and practices. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed-method approach and used a case study in its design. Data were generated from a standard survey questionnaire, adopted from the unit-based sustainability assessment tool (Togo and Lotz-Sisitka, 2009), a semi-structured interview and documentary evidence. Findings The findings revealed that CODL has limited involvement in sustainability issues despite relevant policy directions set at national and institutional levels. Current engagement patterns are limited to teaching, course provision and a few areas of operations and management while a serious gap has been noted as regard the two core functional areas of research and community service which happen to be neglected. Research limitations/implications This study was based on a single CODL, albeit an institution with a long history of offering distance education in Ethiopia. Despite its contribution to an understanding of how sustainability issues are addressed in the context of Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular, the generalizability of the findings to other similar institutions is limited. Originality/value There is very little research in Africa as regard the involvement of higher education institutions in promoting the issues of sustainability in general and distance education providers in particular. In addition to addressing this gap, the study suggests the need for distance education institutions to improve their mapping strategies and respond to the greater concerns of sustainable development.

scholarly journals Studies of the Prefabricated Housing Construction Market in Poland

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Radziszewska-Zielina ◽  
Monika Gleń
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Turning Point ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Housing Construction ◽  
Construction Market ◽  
The Future ◽  
Favourable Change

Abstract The directions of development of the construction market are not only related to the need to own one’s own home but also to increasing functional and economic requirements and conditions of sustainable development. The perception and understanding of prefabrication in housing construction are undoubtedly starting to change. Sustainable construction criteria may constitute a significant turning point and support for the development of new prefabricated housing construction technologies. Entrepreneurs are slowly perceiving an opportunity for the development of prefabrication in the construction market. The implementation and popularisation of ready-made homes will undoubtedly constitute a favourable change in the Polish construction market; however, this will require a modification of habits. This article presents an historical analysis of the development of the prefabricated housing construction market as well as an attempt to answer questions concerning the future of prefabrication in housing construction in Poland based on the conducted studies.

scholarly journals Sustainability Performance in Food Supply Networks: Insights from the UK Industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoum Tsolakis ◽  
Foivos Anastasiadis ◽  
Jagjit Srai
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Supply Networks ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
The Uk

The purpose of this research is to introduce a qualitative sustainability performance assessment framework for food supply networks, based on the perception of their key stakeholders’ upper management. Moreover, the paper provides industry insights by exemplifying the value of the proposed framework for the UK food industry. A critical review on the most acknowledged sustainability assessment methodologies and tools resulted in the synthesis of the proposed framework. An illustrative application follows, based on data from semi-structured interviews with C-level executives from key players of the UK poultry sector. The results demonstrate an easy-to-use approach, with a comprehensive and sharp outcome on supply chain sustainability performance assessment. Industry insights demonstrate an adequate sustainability performance with respect to the entire supply chain. A detailed view on different echelons reveals specific areas that could be improved, such as the environmental performance at both farming (production) and processing levels. This work extends the scope of current sustainability performance assessment tools by providing a tangible triple bottom-line overview, as well as echelon-specific and indicator-specific details, in a user-friendly, yet straightforward, way. UK food industry insights are valuable for practitioners and academics. The illustration is based exclusively on C-level executives’ viewpoint; thus, any generalization of the results should be considered to this effect. Supply chain stakeholders, policy-makers, and researchers could perform a quick and reliable supply network sustainability performance assessment.

Sustainable Concrete; Is Nanotechnology the Future of Concrete Polymer Composites?

2013 ◽  
Vol 687 ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lech Czarnecki
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Polymer Composite ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Final Conclusion ◽  
Sustainable Concrete ◽  
Product Regulation ◽  
The Future ◽  
History Of ◽  
Construction Product

Sustainable development as the leading civilization idea, and nanotechnology as the contemporary wave of technology significantly affecting the society, are brought together in this paper. A brief history of sustainability implementation from the start concept until European Construction Product Regulation is presented. The extended definitions of sustainable construction and sustainable material are analysed with adequate conclusions towards Concrete. The category of Exergy is implemented as a measure for “natural environmentally-friendly” meaning. The generalised concrete development curve is presented with discussion of Well Defined Concrete Performance. The statement that the sustainability is necessity for concrete and the nanotechnology is the chance for the future of concrete polymer composite is the final conclusion of the paper.

scholarly journals A CHECKLIST FOR ASSESSING SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Yin Shen ◽  
Jian Li Hao ◽  
Vivian Wing-Yan Tam ◽  
Hong Yao
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
Project Sustainability ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Construction Practice

Construction sustainability performance is indispensable to the attainment of sustainable development. Various techniques and management skills have previously been developed to help improving sustainable performance from implementing construction projects. However, these techniques seem not being effectively implemented due to the fragmentation and poor coordination among various construction participants. There is a lack of consistency and holistic methods to help participants implementing sustainable construction practice at various stages of project realisation. This paper develops a framework of sustainability performance checklist to help understanding the major factors affecting a project sustainability performance across its life cycle. This framework enables all project parties to assess the project sustainability performance in a consistent and holistic way, thus improving the cooperation among all parties to attain satisfactory project sustainability performance.

scholarly journals On the Sustainability Performance of the European Union’s Economic Recovery Strategy – A Case Study with Lessons for Policymakers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodoros Zachariadis
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Recovery Strategy ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Environmental Considerations ◽  
Development Objectives

Abstract The European Union pursues an economic recovery strategy with explicit environmental considerations but less clear alignment with broader sustainable development objectives. Using as a case study one national Recovery Plan that was published in May 2021, we perform a rapid but detailed sustainability assessment of its measures. At times when policymakers need immediate advice, this framework helps identify weaknesses and guide the inclusion of sustainability-oriented policies in national budgets.

scholarly journals Coverage Analysis of Indonesia Sustainability Assessment Tools: Similarity in Dimension and Assessment Results

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.34) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Rahmat Nurcahyo ◽  
Komang Tattya Lokhita A.K ◽  
Djoko Sihono Gabriel
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Coverage Analysis ◽  
Sustainability Assessment Tools ◽  
Sustainability Assessments ◽  
Assessment Results

The number of sustainability assessment tools in Indonesia is growing rapidly, concerns are raised on whether the assessment results of different tools present similar and valid conclusion about the sustainability performance in manufacturing industry. In this paper, we analyze dimensions of sustainability assessment tools and compare the structures of sustainability tools in Indonesia. Using a coverage analysis to demonstrate the similarity and differences between two sustainability assessments in Indonesia (PROPER and Industri Hijau) we then compare the results of both and analyze it. This study shows that two sustainability assessment tools in Indonesia which are PROPER and Industri Hijau have high variations in their structures, indicators, criteria, and sub-themes despite their similar dimension and purpose.  Consequently,  these sustainability assessment  tools  show  differences  in  assessment results  and  conclusions  on  the  sustainability  performance  of firms. Future research may propose a new integrated sustainability assessment tool so there will be only one sustainability assessment tool in Indonesia.  

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