In a rapidly changing world, sustainability is becoming more and more of a priority for organizations. This paper evaluates the possibility of using the Doughnut Economics Model (DEM) as a tool to implement sustainability within an organization on the firm-level, highlighting the potential opportunities and limitations that it poses. Through case studies conducted with two organizations (Apotea AB & Proton Group), both common and firm-specific gaps within sustainability strategies are identified, and the applicability of the DEM is appraised as a tool to help fill these gaps. A qualitative research method was employed, and interviews were held with sustainability managers from Apotea AB and Proton Group. A qualitative thematic analysis process led to the generation of initial codes, themes, and patterns that emerged throughout the interviews held. The results from this study highlighted the illustrative and visual nature of the DEM, and how it could help firms view sustainability from different perspectives. The visualisation of the model helps stimulate conversations about sustainability within the firm, and raising awareness on the topic of sustainability, promoting it within organizational culture. This study additionally concluded that the implementation of the DEM in only a firm-specific, directly impacted area, could help the firm with pinpointing niche areas where the enterprise can make its largest contribution towards a safe and just space for humanity. On the other hand, this study found and supported existing claims through past research on the model’s limitations in terms of its downscaling, as the planetary boundaries are designed for a global scale. Moreover, the model lacks in defining policies, indicators, or measurements regarding areas of improvement. The opportunities that lie in the DEM are plentiful, however, the downscaling process on a firm-scale is extremely challenging, and little-to-no existing research or literature exists on the topic.

The world is simultaneously facing social and environmental sustainability issues. There is a decreasing window of opportunity to limit global warming in accordance with the Paris Agreement, significant biodiversity loss, and mounting inequality. This raises questions about our current economic systems’ ability to tackle the problems, which has given rise to new economic approaches. One such approach is Doughnut Economics which functions as a compass for a safe and just space for humanity and prescribes seven shifts in economic thinking for getting there. Given the urgency to identify and implement solutions to current sustainability issues, it is paramount to gain an understanding of Doughnut Economics' transformative potential by engaging with examples where the approach is used. To build on the knowledge of Doughnut Economics' transformative potential, this thesis investigates the case of Bannau Brycheiniog in Wales through the lens of the three spheres of transformation: the practical, political, and personal. The methods employed were semistructured interviews with a purposive and snowball sampling method. Additionally, one workshop with stakeholders was attended and the park’s Management Plan was analyzed. The results show that there are several factors in the practical, political, and personal spheres enabling the use of Doughnut Economics. These include data availability, favorable national legislation, and values that resonate with the Doughnut. Challenges include using proxies and indicators, resistance from some parts of the political sphere, and other priorities stemming from shortfalls in the social foundation. Furthermore, the results indicate that the Doughnut has impacted, and has the potential to further impact the three spheres in numerous ways. For example, by expanding the BB National Park’s horizons and contributing to a holistic understanding of the park, legitimizing existing ideas, and inspiring other actors to follow suit. The study concludes that the use of Doughnut Economics shows potential for change in a sustainable direction in all three spheres and their interconnections. However, the use of the Doughnut without explicitly implementing its wider theoretical background as described in the seven shifts mitigates the transformative potential. Thus, the study recommends an explicit use of all the seven shifts.

INTRODUCTION: Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage to seniors through a benefit plan with a major deductible inserted in the middle. It is important to study the extent to which this structure affects seniors’ adherence to prescription medications. Therefore, this study had the following objectives: (1) To identify characteristics of beneficiaries reaching and not reaching the coverage gap, (2) To study the entry and exit times from the coverage gap, (3) To study the impact of a complete gap in coverage on beneficiaries’ adherence to prescription medications, (4) To study the impact of a partial gap in coverage on beneficiaries’ adherence to prescription medications METHODS: This was a retrospective quasi-experimental analysis with matched control groups using a nationally representative sample of Part D enrollees from 2008 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) datasets. Adherence to each oral medication taken for one or more of the seven pre-defined therapeutic classes before and after reaching the coverage gap was measured using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Appropriate statistical tests for significance were performed for each analysis RESULTS: A quarter of our sample (24.42%) reached the coverage gap in 2008. Most of the beneficiaries reaching the coverage gap did so by end of September. Those reaching the coverage gap and losing all coverage experienced significantly greater reductions in adherence (3% more for beta-blockers to 9% more for oral anti-diabetic agents), compared to those not reaching the coverage gap. A considerable proportion of beneficiaries stopped taking medications in both the groups and the proportion of beneficiaries considered adherent also dropped in both the groups during the coverage gap period. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare Part D beneficiaries face significant barriers to adherence and this is especially highlighted among those reaching the coverage gap. Interventions to improve adherence in this group should target all beneficiaries, especially those with several chronic conditions.

This research explores the perspectives of the opinion leaders of the activism movement in Tenerife on tourism on the island and the solutions proposed by these stakeholders to the current sustainability problems related to tourism. These issues include tourist's misbehavior in natural protected areas, waste, submarine emissions of residual water sewage, water shortage, gentrification, overtourism, overpopulation, 14,6% of unemployment in 2022, decline of agricultural land, high population density, etc. Furthermore, this study looks into how sustainability is articulated by the activism movement. The information was gathered from seven semi-structured interviews with opinion leaders of the activism movement with backgrounds in different fields including terrestrial biology, marine biology, archaeology, apiculture and agriculture. A thematic analysis was used to catalogue their responses into common topics to gain an overall picture of their perspective. The activist movement perceives the current tourism model as part of a system that needs to change by controlling and setting boundaries to tourist flows, immigration, construction and real state. Furthermore, they suggest a societal change towards valuing the natural and cultural heritage of the island. Sustainability is articulated by the activists as a balance between humans and nature, which should be obtained through a democratic decision-making process that assesses a common sustainable vision in line with scientific evidence. The activists further suggest that the transition towards sustainability requires cooperation between top-down changes and bottom-up changes, which will ultimately also transform the type of tourism on the island.

The global social, ecological and economic challenges facing humanity today have given rise to the UN's 17 Global Objectives and Agenda 2030 to achieve sustainable development. Kate Raworth, professor of economics from Oxford University, has in the same spirit developed a visual framework with seven related conditions for mankind to live by, to strive towards living within a safe and fair zone of sustainable development. This framework and associated conditions for sustainable development are applied in this study with the intention to investigate and concretize the potentially contributing sustainable development effects of a norm-creative waste management project in a process of sustainable societal development. The results of the study show clear evidence that the waste management project has contributed to sustainable societal development according to the respondents who participated in the study. However, further studies are required to concretize these results through a more scientifically objective methodology. / De globala sociala, ekologiska och ekonomiska utmaningarna som mänskligheten står inför i dagsläget har gett upphov till FN’s 17 globala mål och agenda 2030 för att vägleda mänskligheten mot en hållbar utveckling. Kate Raworth, professor i ekonomi från Oxfords universitet, har i samma anda utvecklat ett visuellt ramverk med sju tillhörande förutsättningar för mänskligheten att sträva mot för att leva inom ett säkert och rättvist utrymme av hållbar utveckling. Detta ramverk och tillhörande förutsättningar för hållbar utveckling appliceras i den här studien med syftet att undersöka och konkretisera ett normkreativt avfallsprojekts potentiellt bidragande effekter till en hållbar samhällsutveckling. Resultatet av undersökningen påvisar tydliga belägg för att avfallsprojektet har bidragit till en hållbar samhällsutveckling utefter det teoretiska ramverket enligt respondenter som deltagit i studien. Det krävs dock vidare studier för att konkretisera dessa resultat i mer objektiva sammanhang.

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