Yes / Previous research has theorised that the link between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and performance is mediated by environmental sustainability orientation (ESO). However, firm- level factors that may moderate this relationship are lacking. This paper attempts to fill this gap by examining how and when EO enhances new venture performance by considering ESO as mediator and stakeholder integration as an important contingent factor. Using primary data obtained from 242 chief executive officers (CEOs)/entrepreneurs, we found that the indirect relationship between EO and new venture performance is strengthened at high levels of stakeholder integration. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Background: Nordicfeel is a leading e-commerce company in the beauty industry. The e-commerce market plays a central role in maintaining and developing strategies aligned with environmental sustainability, particularly in last mile delivery. Currently, Nordicfeel outsources its last mile delivery to external logistics companies, which consequently have the responsibility to implement innovative and environmentally friendly solutions to reduce environmental impact and attract an increasingly environmentally conscious customer base. Purpose: The purpose is to identify deficiency in Nordicfeel´s current process of selecting freight companies. Subsequently, improvement proposals for the identified deficiencies will be formulated, based on environmental sustainability.  Method: This study employs a qualitative case study approach. Pattern matching has been utilized as the method of analysis. Drawing on a theoretical framework and the sustainability reports of freight companies, a template for supplier assessment has been developed. Results: After the study, various deficiencies were unveiled within Nordicfeel's sustainability framework: multifarious freight partnerships, ambiguities in delineating the sustainability paradigm, a conspicuous absence of proactive initiatives, and the collaboration with Bring Three of these deficiencies underwent an analysis, culminating in proposed remedial strategies. The findings advocate for Nordicfeel to streamline its network of freight partners, proactively instigate sustainability initiatives and impose environmental sustainability requirements on Bring. / Bakgrund: Nordicfeel är ett ledande e-handelsföretag inom skönhetsbranschen. E-handelsmarknaden har en central roll i att upprätthålla och utveckla strategier i linje med miljömässig hållbarhet, särskilt inom last mile delivery. För närvarande outsourcar Nordicfeel sin last mile delivery till externa fraktbolag, som därmed har ett ansvar att arbeta med innovativa och miljövänliga fraktlösningar för att minska miljöpåverkan och attrahera en allt mer miljömedveten kundbas. Syfte: Syftet är att identifiera brister i Nordicfeels nuvarande process för val av fraktbolag. Därefter tas förbättringsförslag fram för de identifierade bristerna, utifrån miljömässig hållbarhet. Metod: Arbetet tillämpar en kvalitativ fallstudie. Mönsterjämförelse har applicerats som arbetetsanalysmetod. Utifrån en teoretisk referensram samt fraktbolagens hållbarhetsrapporter har en mall för leverantörsbedömning tagits fram. Resultat: Efter genomförd studie har ett flertal brister identifierats med Nordicfeels miljömässigt hållbara last mile delivery såsom: stort antal fraktbolag, svårigheter i att definiera begreppet hållbarhet, inga aktiva hållbarhetsinitiativ och samarbetet med fraktbolaget Bring. Tre av dessa brister har vidare analyserats och utifrån detta har förbättringsförslag tagits fram. Resultatet visar på att Nordicfeel borde reducera antalet fraktbolag, implementera hållbarhetsinitiativ och sätta krav på fraktbolaget Brings miljömässiga hållbarhet.

This thesis explores consumer perceptions of aesthetically imperfect, or 'ugly,' foods and investigates the willingness to purchase and consume these products as a strategy to reduce food waste. The study delves into cognitive biases that lead to the rejection of nutritionally sound yet visually unappealing foods, significantly contributing to food wastage. Through a comprehensive food perception survey, this research examines the impact of visual appeal, expected taste, price, and bundling strategies on consumer choices, particularly focusing on the enhancement of the attractiveness of 'ugly' foods when paired with aesthetically pleasing ones.Key findings highlight that while consumer biases heavily influence the initial reaction of 'ugly' foods based on appearance, innovative marketing strategies like bundling can shift perceptions and increase consumer willingness to purchase. Crucially, the thesis identifies post-purchase ownership perception as a significant factor in influencing future consumer behavior. Ownership of 'ugly' foods, even in a hypothetical sense, positively affects consumers’ perceptions and behaviors, increasing their likelihood to repurchase and recommend these products, thus indicating a sustainable shift in consumption patterns. This research provides actionable insights for stakeholders in the food industry to mitigate consumer biases against 'ugly' foods, thereby enhancing sustainability and ethical consumption practices. The broader implications of these findings suggest that addressing post-purchase perceptions can effectively contribute to reducing global food wastage and fostering more environmentally responsible food consumption.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design / Melody L. A. LeHew / The relationship between knowledge, attitudes and behavior has been a subject of interest for researchers for several decades in various fields of study. However, an inconsistency has been found from one study to another with literature showing inconclusive and inconsistent results regarding the relationship between knowledge, attitudes and behavior in general and purchase of eco-conscious apparel in particular. Literature also found perceived characteristics of innovation (PCI) to significantly influencing innovation adoption. However, research investigating the influence of eco-conscious apparel knowledge (EAK) and eco-conscious apparel attitudes (EAA) on intention to purchase eco-conscious apparel (IPEA) that includes PCI has not been conducted in any previously published studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influential relationship between EAK-EAA-IPEA to understand if including PCI strengthens the inconsistent link between knowledge, attitudes and behavior as well as enhances the predictability of IPEA. The model of stages in the innovation-decision process developed by Roger’s (1983) in the diffusion of innovation theory was used as a theoretical framework for developing the model of innovation-decision process for eco-conscious apparel. Specifically, the three product characteristics used in this current study were based on the PCI (i.e., complexity, compatibility and relative advantage) explained by Rogers (1983) in his model. Two objectives were developed and tested using six research questions and pertinent hypotheses. The research relied on quantitative analysis of responses from 592 respondents to an online survey with eco-conscious knowledge, attitude and behavior questions pertaining eco-conscious apparel products. Hierarchical regression analysis, t-test and correlation analysis reveal that, inclusion of PCI significantly strengthened relationship between EAK-EAA-IPEA and also enhanced the predictability of IPEA; the ability to predict IPEA as well as strength of the link between EAK-EAA-IPEA was greater when more information was provided about eco-conscious apparel than less information; respondents have limited EAK; EAK was not a good predictor of IPEA; EAA was found to significantly predict IPEA; highly innovative respondents perceive eco-conscious apparel less complex and highly compatible and are more likely to purchase eco-conscious apparel; all three PCI were found to significantly predict IPEA; demographic variables were found to be related to only certain variables in this study.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A study of the sustainability journey of Spier Holdings, a well known wine and leisure business in South Africa, offers a unique opportunity for interrogating corporate drivers for a lower carbon future. The business has established sustainability as a brand identity, declared carbon neutrality as a macro organisational goal in response to the global challenge of climate change, and sought scientifically and technologically appropriate ways of addressing this challenge. A preliminary analysis revealed various initiatives that are in place for measuring and reducing the business’ environmental impact, including carbon emissions. However, an in-depth study of the establishment’s environmental performance over two decades showed inconsistencies in year-on-year reporting, delays in shifting the supply chain, and gaps in implementation, particularly in the area of energy efficiency and adoption of renewable energy technology. Understanding and interrogating the business’ sustainability journey through a systems ecology and corporate citizenship framework proved inadequate. The case highlights that organizational goals for environmental performance areas, including the aim of carbon neutrality, and sustainability reporting are not sufficient catalysts for change. A complexity-based resilience approach allowed the business to be understood as an adaptive system. The sustainability story tracks different phases of a modified adaptive renewal cycle, which also determine the dominant management paradigms, strategic responses and forms of collaboration during each phase. Spier’s sustainability journey was found to be underpinned by a quest for corporate resilience which includes the resilience of the business (enterprise resilience) and of the social-ecological system within which it resides (SES resilience). The business responded to interdependent risks and uncertainties in its internal and external contexts, through investment strategies in key areas of corporate environmental performance. As a contribution to new knowledge, this thesis proposes an integrated corporate resilience framework for building enterprise resilience and ecological sustainability. This framework, and the accompanying mapping tool, reveals deep, ecological drivers for Spier’s environmental performance across corporate areas of lower carbon emissions, water sustainability, wastewater treatment, solid waste recycling and ecological custodianship. The framework is recommended for use by similar businesses, eager to configure their relationship with natural resources and ecosystem services, and by scholars, for investigating corporate performance towards environmental sustainability. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ʼn Studie van die volhoubaarheidsonderneming van Spier Holdings, ʼn bekende wyn- en ontspanningsaak in Suid-Afrika, bied ʼn unieke geleentheid vir die ondersoek van korporatiewe aandrywers vir ʼn laer koolstoftoekoms. Die onderneming het volhoubaarheid as ʼn handelsmerkidentiteit gevestig, koolstof-neutraliteit as ʼn makro- organisatoriese doel verklaar in reaksie op die wêreldwye uitdaging van klimaatsverandering, en het wetenskaplik en tegnologies gepaste wyses gesoek om hierdie uitdaging die hoof te bied. ʼn Voorlopige analise het verskeie inisiatiewe wat gereed is vir meting en vermindering van die onderneming se omgewingsimpak aan die lig gebring, met inbegrip van koolstofvrystellings. ʼn Dieptestudie van die instelling se omgewingsprestasie oor twee dekades heen het egter inkonsekwenthede in jaar-tot-jaar-verslagdoening, vertragings in die verandering van die aanvoerketting, en gapings in implementering, in die besonder op die gebied van energiedoeltreffendheid en die ingebruikneming van hernubare energietegnologie getoon. Begrip en ondersoek van die onderneming se volhoubaarheidsonderneming aan die hand van ʼn raamwerk vir sisteemekologie en korporatiewe burgerskap het onvoldoende blyk te wees. Die geval beklemtoon dat organisatoriese doelstellings vir omgewingsprestasiegebiede, met inbegrip van die oogmerk van koolstofneutraliteit, en volhoubaarheidsverslagdoening nie voldoende katalisators vir verandering is nie. ʼn Kompleksiteitgebaseerde veerkragtigheidsbenadering het dit moontlik gemaak dat die onderneming as ʼn aanpassingstelsel beskou kan word. Die volhoubaarheidsverslag gaan verskillende fases van ʼn gewysigde aanpassings- hernuwingsiklus, wat ook die dominante bestuursparadigmas, strategiese reaksies en vorme van samewerking gedurende elke fase bepaal, na. Daar is bevind dat Spier se volhoubaarheidsonderneming onderstut word deur ʼn soeke na korporatiewe veerkragtigheid wat die veerkragtigheid van die onderneming (ondernemingsveerkragtigheid) en van die sosiaal-ekologiese stelsel waarbinne dit gesetel is (SES-veerkragtigheid) insluit. Die onderneming het op onderling afhanklike risiko’s en onsekerhede in sy interne en eksterne samehange gereageer deur beleggingstrategieë in sleutelgebiede van korporatiewe omgewingsprestasie. As ʼn bydrae tot nuwe kennis, doen hierdie tesis ʼn geïntegreerde korporatiewe veerkragtigheidsraamwerk vir die opbou van ondernemingsveerkragtigheid en ekologiese volhoubaarheid aan die hand. Hierdie raamwerk, en die gepaardgaande beskrywingsinstrument, lê diep, ekologiese aandrywers vir Spier se omgewingsprestasie oor korporatiewe gebiede van laer koolstof-vrystellings, watervolhoubaarheid, die behandeling van afloopwater, herbenutting van vaste afval en ekologiese bewaring bloot. Die raamwerk word aanbeveel vir gebruik deur soortgelyke ondernemings wat graag aan hulle verhouding met natuurlike hulpbronne en ekostelseldienste vorm wil gee, en deur vakkundiges vir die ondersoek van korporatiewe prestasie met betrekking tot omgewings-volhoubaarheid.

Research question: What initiatives does Lidl Sweden implement in the area of environmental sustainability?                          Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate what initiatives Lidl has developed and how the company implemented its corporate social responsibility in the direction of environmental sustainability. The purpose is also to compare the company’s activities with the guidelines of the EU Environment Commission and theoretical frameworks developed by previous research, and, as the result, to provide recommendations to the Lidl management. As well the purpose is to review the general improvement patterns within the food retail industry. Method: The research is made by using a qualitative method with a deductive approach. In order to present quality information in the study, a case design was chosen. The empirical analysis includes four interview transcriptions, secondary data and documentation, as well as a comparison to the theoretical concepts in the descriptive analysis. Conclusion: The responsibility and awareness of the improvement of the environmental sustainability is vital in the food retail industry. Indeed, it was found that aspects such as product and supplier’s control, the use of resources, transportation and distribution, as well as waste management and information communication to the employees and customers are considered as important aspects of the contribution for the environmental impact reduction. Lidl Sweden has developed and implemented some initiatives towards environmental sustainability, as well regarding the corporate social responsibility. However, there are some suggested actions that can be taken in order to excel the development.

The aim of this study was to explore consumers’ descriptions of sustainable food consumption. The concept of sustainability can be difficult to grasp, but is often defined in terms of three pillars; environment, society and economy. Prior research of sustainable food consumption have often focused on one of the pillars rather than all of them together in relation to consumers understandings of sustainable food consumption. Notwithstanding, previous research have mentioned that in order to fully comprehend sustainability it is essential to take all of the three pillars into consideration. Therefore, this study acknowledged this gap, as it focused on the three pillars of sustainability as a base, and further connected the three pillars to the four food concepts; organic, Fairtrade, sustainable diets and waste, in order to fully understand consumers descriptions of sustainable food consumption. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, and the data was collected through semi-structured interviews with a sample of students and employees at Linnaeus University in Sweden. The interviewees gave varied and interesting answers, which later were analyzed in comparison to the theory on the subject. With the answers from the interviews it was concluded that environmental and social sustainability were prioritized to economic sustainability among participants. As the participants’ descriptions of sustainable food consumption was varied, and all of the four concepts in relation to three pillars were analyzed, a framework was developed in order to clarify how the consumers describe sustainable food consumption. The study also presents a number of implications for further research as well as managerial implications.  Keywords Sustainable food consumption, consumers description, three pillars of sustainability, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, organic, Fairtrade, sustainable diets, vegetarian, locally produced, waste reduction, food waste

Expenditures on water are the significant part of aggregate household spending and their height depends on a design of tariff for public water supply and sewage services among others. This diploma work describes different water pricing structures used in foreign and shows how each structure can be used to achieve objectives -- efficiency, sustainability and equity. The Czech system of price making is referred to as efficient but unfair because it doesn't take in consideration households with low incomes. Because of the continual rise in prices affected by fulfilment standard of the European Union are expected future problems with social acceptability of water prices. The goal of the work is to find possible modification of regulation which might solve this problem.

Orientador: Otávio José de Oliveira / Resumo: A sustentabilidade ambiental tornou-se um fator considerado pelas organizações, pois há preocupações e pressões crescentes sobre os impactos que as atividades empresariais podem causar na saúde humana e no planeta. Na área hospitalar, é possível desenvolver a sustentabilidade ambiental a partir dos resultados obtidos por outros tipos de organizações. Um número crescente de hospitais estão se tornando mais interessados em sustentabilidade ambiental visando a melhoria da saúde pública, ambiental e redução dos custos operacionais. O Green Healthcare (GH) é a incorporação de estratégias de sustentabilidade ambiental aplicada nas organizações de saúde. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal identificar e sistematizar as boas práticas e dificuldades das organizações hospitalares no desenvolvimento/operacionalização dos princípios do GH. Para desenvolver esta pesquisa foi realizada a revisão da literatura científica para identificar os princípios do GH e os fatores críticos de sucesso que impactam no seu desenvolvimento. Os princípios identificados foram: liderança, substâncias químicas, resíduos, energia, água, transportes, alimentos, produtos farmacêuticos, edifícios e compras. Embasado nos princípios, fatores críticos de sucesso e no método de pesquisa estudos de casos múltiplos, foram investigadas seis organizações hospitalares do Estado de São Paulo que participam da Agenda Global para Hospitais Verdes e Saudáveis. Como resultado desta pesquisa é feita a identificação e sist... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Organizations have made environmental sustainability as one of the factors to consider in business because of the increasing pressures and concerns that impact on business activities, human health, and the planet. In the healthcare business, it is possible to develop environmental sustainability from results obtained in other organizations. An increasing number of hospitals are becoming more interested in environmental sustainability for improving public and environmental health and reducing operating costs. Green Healthcare (GH) is the use of environmental sustainability strategies applied in healthcare organizations. This research aims to identify and systematize good practices and difficulties in hospital organizations in the development/operationalization of GH principles. To develop this research, a review of the scientific literature was carried out to identify the principles of GH and the critical success factors that impact its development. The principles identified were leadership, chemicals, waste, energy, water, transportation, food, pharmaceuticals, buildings, and purchasing. Based on the principles, critical success factors, and multiple cases study research method, six hospital organizations from the State of São Paulo that participated in the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda were investigated. As a result of this research, a systematization of actions is done to develop/operationalize the GH principles in hospital organizations. The main scientific con... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Tinta pode ser conceituada como uma película ou camada de polímero utilizada para proteger, sinalizar e iluminar ou mesmo para embelezar o substrato sobre o qual ela é aplicada. Basicamente, esta mistura polimérica é formada por elementos, tais como: resinas, pigmentos, cargas, solventes e aditivos. Os resíduos e o efluente líquido gerados na produção de tintas devem ser tratados de modo que não causem contaminação de rios e das nascentes de água. A reutilização do efluente tratado é uma das possibilidades que deve ser considerada a fim de minimizar os impactos ambientais e reduzir o uso de recursos naturais. Processos de oxidação química são promissores para a degradação de compostos orgânicos tóxicos. O caminho mais eficiente para a oxidação é o ataque pelo radical hidroxila (OH), por meio do processo de oxidação avançada, POA. Um dos exemplos de POA é o que faz uso de aceleradores de feixe de elétrons, adotado por vários países para a remoção de compostos orgânicos. O objetivo deste estudo é aplicar o POA por radiação ionizante para o tratamento do efluente da fabricação de tintas para repintura automotiva, industrial e automotivo. A metodologia utilizada foi um estudo de caso, desenvolvido por meio do processamento com feixe de elétrons aplicados a esses efluentes de indústria de tintas. O estudo foi realizado em três fases. Na primeira, aplicou-se 10 kGy, 30 kGy e 50 kGy de dose absorvida; na segunda, 50 kGy, 80 kGy e 100 kGy, e, na última fase, foi aplicada nas amostras uma dose de 50 kGy e dopadas com 0,005%, 0,05% e 0,5% de peróxido de hidrogénio em volume. Os principais resultados demonstraram uma redução média de cerca de 10% da Demanda Química de Oxigênio, DQO e cerca de 25% da Demanda Bioquímica de Oxigênio, DBO. Os padrões de efluentes finais definidos pelos requisitos legais, em especial pelo Decreto Estadual 8468/1976. para o descarte do corpo no rio ou reutilização em aplicações industriais, foram atendidos. / Paint can be conceptualized as a film or a layer of polymer, to protect, to signal and to illuminate or even to embellish the substrate on which it is applied. Basically, this polymeric compound is formed by elements such as: resin, pigments, fillers, solvents, and additives. Waste and wastewater generated in the production of paint, have to be treated so they do not cause the contamination of rivers and springs water. The reuse of the treated effluent is one of the possibilities that should be considered in order to minimize the environmental impacts and to reduce the use of natural resources. Chemical oxidation processes are promising for degradation of toxic organic compounds. The most efficient path for the oxidation is the attack by hydroxyl radical (OH), and the Advanced Oxidation Process, AOP, using electron beam accelerators have been adopted by several countries for the removal of organic compounds. The aim of this study is to apply the AOP by ionizing radiation to treat the effluent from the manufacture of automotive, automotive refinish and industrial paints. The methodology used was a case study, developed through the electron beam processing of these effluents. The study was developed in three phases: in the first one it was applied 10 kGy, 30 kGy and 50 kGy of absorbed dose, in the second one, 50 kGy, 80 kGy and 100 kGy, and in the last one it was applied 50 kGy in samples and doped with 0.005%, 0.05% and 0.5% of hydrogen peroxide. The main results have shown an average reduction of about 10% of Chemical Oxygen Demand, COD and about 25% of Biochemical Oxygen Demand, BOD. The final effluent standards set by legal requirements for disposal of the body in the river or reuse in industrial application.