Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability
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183 research outputs found
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Procurement strategy for fresh vegetable produces to mitigate food waste in the retail sector
Food waste is critical issue in developing countries, including Indonesia, affecting both the retail and consumers. In the case of vegetables, food waste frequently arises due to their short shelf life, spoilage, and physical damage. Additionally, the instability of vegetable prices creates challenges for consumers in meeting their needs. In sufficiency in the vegetable supply chain exacerbate the problem leading to leftovers and waste. This research aims to explore the causes of vegetable food and propose effective procurement strategies to mitigate it. A quantitative research approach was employed, with data collected through structured interviews involving 127 vegetable traders. The analysis utilized ANOVA to examine the effect of traders’ demographic characteristics on factors contributing to food waste. The results showed that demographics factors, such as age, daily turnover, and market location, significantly influence procurement strategies. Key findings underscore the importance of proper packaging tailored to the specific type of vegetable and the need for supplier intervention, to ensure adequate packaging during delivery, thereby maintaining vegetable quality. Moreover, traders with higher turnover rates are advised to carefully manage their purchasing practices to minimize waste. These insights highlight the critical role of procurement strategies in reducing vegetable food waste and the need for targeted interventions across the supply chain
Analysis of potential environmental impacts in the coffee supply chain using the Life Cycle Impact Assessment
Agroindustry refers to industry that process agricultural raw materials into value-added products. Sanrego coffee is a blend of authentic Sanrego coffee and sugar, without the use of chemicals. SMI Sanrego Caffee produces a variety of products, including coffee and chocolate. However, the coffee processing activities at SMI Sanrego Caffee can have potential environmental impacts due to emissions, liquids waste, and solid waste generation. to assess and mitigate these environmental impacts, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method is amployed. LCA evaluates the environmental effects at various stages of a product, process, or service lifecycle. Based on the results from the analysis, using the Simapro software, the potential environmental impacts were compared across several impact categories, abiotic depletion (3.77 kg Sb-eq), global warming (518 kg CO2-eq), acidification (4.41 kg SO2-eq). The interpretation stage of the analysis identified several areas improvement: first, optimizing fuel usage; secondly, reducing reliance on aluminum foil; third, minimizing the use of sacks; and lastly, reducing electricity consumption.
The hazard zone of Mount Merapi and the community’s perception of (in)securities
Human beings identify security based on their life experiences and their ability to calculate risk, determining the degree to which risk is acceptable or unacceptable. Living years in a risk-prone area bears the sensitivity that enables adaptation to temporary risks, such as volcanic eruptions. Mount Merapi, located on Java Island, is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. In the prone area, the perception of risk has been invented by a legal body, such as the government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), through hazard mitigation strategies that dominate the discourse. At the same time, the voices of local people are less prominent. Local communities tend to perceive the dichotomy concept of hope and despair in a contextual manner, which influences their sens of uncertainty. The article explores how security and danger are contextualized under specific times and conditions. The empirical study aims to understand the varying perceptions by focusing on translating the term “human security” into the local language. The concept of human security, introduced as an international framework, was introduced using a top-down approach, adopted by the government, and applied at the local level. Thus, managing their own risk, will enhance local security and become active agents in defining risk and formulating their coping strategies
Evaluation of the phytoremediation potential of T. spathecea and P. balforiana grown in crude oil polluted soils
The impact of crude oil contamination on the environment, especially on soil quality, has been a major concern in Nigeria and for regulatory bodies worldwide. This study focused on assessing the phytoremediation potential of two plant species T. spathecea and P.balfouriana, grown on crude oil-contaminated soils. The plant were cultivated in soils polluted with crude oil at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mL/kg. The research was laid out in a 5 x 5 factorial experiment with three replicates, in a completely randomized designed to give a total of 75 experimental units. The gas chromatographic flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used in determining the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to determine the heavy metals. The relevant analytical techniques of APHA and AOAC (2020) was used to determine the phytochemical contents of the plant species. The results of TPH analysis revealed that the concentration of TPH increased with the rising concentration of crude oil pollutant in the soil. TPH values were 1,120 mg/kg for P. balfouriana and 2,762.79 mg/kg for T. spathecea. Both plant species showed considerable growth despite increasing crude oil concentrations. The results of heavy metals phytoextraction indicated a trend of increasing metal concentrations with increasing crude oil pollution. Copper concentration ranged from 2.28 mg/kg in T. spathecea to 12.64 mg/kg in R. simplex. Iron uptake ranged from 11.36 mg/kg in P. balfouriana to 22.40 mg/kg T. spathcea. The uptake of manganese increased from 5.56 mg/kg in P. balfouriana to 10.56 gm/kg in T. spathecea, while cobalt concentration decreased from 0.08 mg/kg in T. spathecea to 0.04 mg/kg in P. balfouriana. The study highlights the potential of P. balfouriana and T. spathecea for phytoremediation in crude-contaminated soils and advocates for their use as effective tools for soil remediation
The adoption of electric vehicles in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Switching from conventional fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) offers a promising way to reduce carbon emissions, especially if we also decarbonize our electricity sources. This study focuses on Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, where EV adoption is still in its early stages. Understanding local perceptions is crucial for making informed decisions to promote the use of EVs. There has been used a qualitative approach, gathering data through questionnaires from a diverse group of Dushanbe residents. The analysis showed varied perceptions as older respondents were more likely to agree with EV adoption, and there were notable differences based on gender and education level. Women showed greater enthusiasm for EVs, and those with a Master’s degree were more likely to support the transition. Residents recommended increasing salaries, improving infrastructure, and providing government support to make the shift to EVs easier. This study highlights the importance of understanding local views in shaping policies for sustainable transportation in Dushanbe. Further research and targeted actions are needed to overcome challenges and encourage widespread EV adoption
Application of microorganisms to determine the impact of infiltration layer and season on pit latrine groundwater contamination
This study was necessitated as a result of the frequent cases of diarrhoea observed among the students of the researcher. The researcher employed faecal indicator bacteria to assess the impact of the infiltration layer and seasonal variations on groundwater contamination from pit latrines in the municipalities where the students reside. The main experimental materials consisted of water samples collected from 15 randomly selected wells in the Tano Districts of Ghana. Total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and enterococci were used as faecal indicators. The Most Probable Number (MPN) method was employed to determine the presence of faecal indicators in the water samples. The results showed that enterococci and faecal coliforms were reliable indicators of human faecal contamination than total coliforms. The study revealed that coliform level (indicating pit latrine groundwater contamination) increased with greater pit depth and lower static water levels. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the future studies on human faecal contamination prioritize enterococci and faecal coliforms over total coliforms as indicators. To mitigate groundwater contamination from pit latrines, the equation EC = 0.12(PLD) – 0.09(SWL) + 2.37 can be applied to predict a safer infiltration layer between the bottom of pit latrines and the water table
Sustainability consciousness in higher education: Construction of three-dimensional sustainability and role of locus of control
This study aims to analyze the level of sustainability awareness among university students, especially focusing on their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to sustainability across three main dimensions: environmental, social, and economic. Additionally, the study explores whether these behaviors are influenced by individuals’ beliefs about their ability to effect change. This study employed a quantitative approach involving all active students enrolled in the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Semarang. A samples of 233 respondents was selected using a non-probability sampling method. Data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling Partial Least Square method. The study findings reveal that attitude towards sustainability have stronger influence on behavior than knowledge. Respondents\u27 demonstrated a higher level of understanding of sustainability compared to their attitudes and behaviors towards it. Furthermore, concerns to economic aspects were found to impact sustainability behaviors. Most respondents expressed a belief that events around them are beyond their control. This article is expected to significantly contribute to aligning policies and practices, particularly in fostering sustainability awareness, and serve as a basis for achieving sustainable development initiatives
Distribution, local use, and bio-prospecting opportunity of Ocimum americanum L. in Northwestern part of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Ocimum americanum (Basil) encompasses various uses. The plant is valued both as a food additive for its aromatic qualities and in folk medicine for treating various ailments. However, its uses, distribution, and the associated community knowledge have not been properly and systematically documented. Therefore, a survey was conducted to explore the bio-prospecting potential of Ocimum americanum and gather baseline information on its community knowledge. Purposive and proportional samplings were used to select districts, villages, users, and growers who participated in the study. The selected districts - Dembiya, Gonder Zuria, Takusa, Alefa, Bahir Dar city, and Bahir Dar Zuria Districts - were selected based on the plant’s growth potential and user availability. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, group discussions, and field observations. The findings revealed that basil is used for various purposes: ailment treatment (32.67%), food flavoring (26.6%), food preservative (7.7%), and to impart aroma to different foods (8.33%). Specifically, 32.67 % of the respondents used Ocimum americanum for traditional medicine purposes, primarily to treat depression/headaches, stomach aches, and ward off evil spirits. The methods for preparation and administration included concoction (21.05 %), direct application of plant parts (15.79%), grinding (15.79%), melting (5.26%), Fumigation (10.53%), and inhalation (31.58%). Medicinal dosage varied among users depending on the intensity, type, experience, and the severity of the disease. Nine traditional foods spiced, with basil were identified, with the highest fidelity level for basil use being food flavoring (18.33%) followed by preservation (18.33%). The direct matrix analysis indicated that chilli pepper spice was the most preferred local food sweetened by basil, followed by hot-spiced pepper. This study highlights the traditional foods spiced with basil and providesvaluable insights for bio-prospecting companies in the food and pharmacological industries
Photovoltaics rooftop regulations and their connection to pro-environment consumer behavior in Indonesia
To address environmental issues, Indonesia aims to achieve a 23% renewable energy share by 2025 and 31% by 2050, according to the National Energy Plan. This article examines the regulations governing the management of rooftop solar power plant (rooftop-PV) in Indonesia and their connection to pro-environment consumer behavior. Despite Indonesia’s ambitious targets for Renewable Energy (RE) growth, progress in the field still needs improvement. Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) within the community is crucial for adopting rooftop PV as a more environmentally friendly energy alternative. This research employs a qualitative descriptive methodology with content analysis to evaluate the current situation. The research findings indicate that rooftop PV offers economic benefits through cost savings for consumers and is supported by existing regulations. However, some businesses feel that the government needs to expedite revising relevant regulations to address investment stagnation and installed solar panel capacity. Concerns arise that proposed policy changes may hinder the growth of rooftop PV businesses and the achievement of national capacity targets. The role of pro-environment consumer behavior, which has the potential to drive rooftop PV adoption, will be influenced by psychological and social factors, as well as changes in applicable regulations
Tracking sustainability compliance of buildings in rapidly urbanizing Southeastern Nigeria
This study examines sustainability compliance in Southeast Nigeria, a region experiencing rapid economic, social, and environmental changes. The research uses a mixed-methods approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from various stakeholders, including enterprises, governments agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities. The findings reveal a complex landscape of sustainability compliance, highlighting gaps and barriers such as inadequate regulatory frameworks, limited resource access, and a lack of awareness and capacity-building initiatives. Additionally, cultural and societal factors significantly influence attitudes and behaviours towards sustainability. The study emphasizes the importance of context-specific approaches to sustainability compliance in a region characterized by unique socio-cultural and economic dynamics. It provides recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and civil society organizations to foster greater sustainability awareness, promote responsible practices, and create an enabling environment for sustainable development. Further research and collaborative efforts are needed to address these challenges and advance sustainability objectives in the Southeast region