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Indre motivasjon eller eksternt press? En kvantitativ studie av drivere for bærekraftsrapportering i norske SMB-er.
Get PDFNorske SMB-er utgjør en stor del av næringslivet, og kan derfor være en viktig bidragsgiver til det grønne skiftet. Gjennom denne studien har vi ønsket å få større forståelse for hva som motiverer SMB-er til å gjennomføre bærekraftsrapportering og hva som utgjør hindringene. Studien undersøker også hvordan bedriftene selv opplever at bærekraftsrapporteringen skaper verdi.
Vi har gjennom vår deduktive forskningstilnærming innhentet data kvantitativt gjennom en nettbasert spørreundersøkelse. Denne spørreundersøkelsen ble besvart av over 1000 norske SMB-er, som er spredt over hele Norge, har ulik bransjetilhørighet og er av forskjellig størrelse. Gjennom spørreundersøkelsen har SMB-er fått delt sine erfaringer og perspektiver, som videre har dannet grunnlaget for vår analyse.
Studiens resultater viser at konkurransefortrinn, omdømme og legitimitet, samt etikk og miljø er store motivasjonsfaktorer for å rapportere på bærekraft. Årsaken til at virksomhetene rapporterer kan også være knyttet til tilfredstillelse av interessenter, særlig bedriftens ledelse og eiere. Blant studiens respondenter deles positive erfaringer knyttet til bærekraftsarbeid og bærekraftsrapportering. Flere forteller at rapporteringen har økt bevisstgjøring av ressursbruken og gitt de nye strategiske muligheter. På tross av dette er det også ytringer om høye kostnader, lav relevans og binding av store ressurser for å kunne utarbeide bærekraftsrapporter.
Resultatene fra denne studien kan gi viktig innsikt, og kan bidra til å skape insentiver og støtteordninger. Slik kan det tilrettelegges for at enda flere SMB-er starter med bærekraftsrapportering, som vil bidra til at Norge raskere når sine klimamål.SMEs represents a big part of the Norwegian business sector and therefor is an important contributor to sustainable development. Through this research we wanted to get a bigger understanding of why SMEs are motivated to implement and conduct sustainability reporting. and what the potential barriers are.
Through our deductive research approach we have collected data quantitatively through a online questionnaire. The questionnaire was answered by over 1000 Norwegian SMEs, that are scattered all over Norway and have different industry affiliations and are of different sizes. Through the questionnaire the SMEs were able to share their experiences and perspectives, that has built the foundation of our analysis.
This research shows that competitive advantage, public image and legitimacy, ethics and the environment are large motivational factors to report on sustainability. Other reasons include satisfying stakeholders, primarily the company's owners and managers. The respondents in this study also shared positive experiences about their sustainability work and sustainability reporting. Several of them also informs about more awareness of their resource usage and that the reporting has opened new strategic possibilities. Despite this there are also statements about high cost, low relevance and resource commitment.
The results from this study can give important insights and can contribute to creating incentives and funding schemes. This will facilitate so even more SMEs can start reporting on sustainability so they can contribute so the Norwegian climate goals reached
UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD WASTE REDUCTION BEHAVIOR IN AT-HOME DINING
Get PDFFirst and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Espen Olav Sjaastad, at the Department of International Environmental and Development Studies (Noragric), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), for his invaluable support, guidance, and encouragement throughout the course of my research. I am also deeply thankful to my husband for his unwavering moral support and understanding during my studies. Finally, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all the respondents who generously contributed their time and insights, making the data collection for this thesis possible
Bare (vill)gjør det! Utforsking av landskapsprosjektering med mål om økologisk funksjon; en studie av Haraldrud industri- og næringsområde
No full textIndustri- og næringsarealer representerer sterkt degraderte økosystemer, og har et oversett potensial i planlegging av det urbane bybildet. For å stoppe tapet av biologisk mangfold og forbedre økosystemets funksjoner, kan landskapsarkitekten tilrettelegge for villgjøring med mål om variasjon i et biomangfoldsperspektiv. Oppgaven presenterer en fremgangsmåte for prosjektering som tar høyde for naturens dynamiske endringer, baseres på stedets gitte forhold, og gir rom for prøving og feiling. Den alternative tilnærmingen tas i bruk i tre mindre områder på Haraldrud.Industrial areas represent significantly degraded ecosystems with overlooked potential in urban planning. To stop the decline in biodiversity and improve ecosystem functions, the landscape architect can facilitate rewilding with variation in a biodiversity perspective as a goal. This thesis presents a design approach that accounts for the dynamic processes in nature, is based on site conditions, and allows for trials and error. The alternative design approach is utilised in three smaller areas in Haraldrud
Introduction of a new product into a new market
Get PDFMasteroppgaven undersøker om Spense kan løse betalings- og faktureringsutfordringer hos svenske bilforhandlere gjennom Steve Blanks Customer discovery model. Gjennom kvalitative intervjuer og konsepttester kartlegges behov, produkttilpasning, forretningsmodell, brukerreise og interessentkart, med særlig vekt på forbedret perioderapportering og integrasjon med eksisterende systemer.The master’s thesis investigates whether Spense can solve payment and invoicing challenges in Swedish car dealerships using Steve Blank’s Customer Discovery model. Through qualitative interviews and concept tests, it maps needs, product fit, business model, user journey, and stakeholder relationships, with particular emphasis on enhanced periodic reporting and integration with existing systems
Silage Storage and Sustainability: Comparing the Economics and Environmental Impacts of Round Bales and Bunker Silos
Get PDFThis thesis has compared the effects the choice of ensilaging technique has on a farm’s environmental impacts and feed costs. Two ensilaging techniques, round bales and bunker silos, were compared on their performance on three model farms situated in Norwegian agriculture. This was done by conducting a review of literature on the environmental impacts of ensilaging and the properties in ensilaging in general, as well as conducting a feed cost analysis in a spreadsheet. The research showed that round bales generally have lower environmental impacts than bunker silos, primarily due to lower rates of feed loss during storage, but that it is not an uncomplicated picture. Round bales were also the lowest cost option for the smallest models in all cases, and it was the lowest cost model for all models once accounting for feed loss. Round bales were the lowest-cost option for the smallest farm models in all scenarios, and became the most cost-effective choice across all models when feed loss was taken into account
Kapitalen flytter ut: Hva skjer med Norge når de rikeste drar?
Get PDFDenne masteroppgaven undersøker hvordan utflytting av formuende nordmenn påvirker tilgangen på kapital for norske bedrifter og gründere. For å belyse problemstillingen undersøker studien hvordan kapital investeres etter utflytting. I tillegg undersøkes hvilke faktorer som påvirker valget mellom investeringer i henholdsvis utenlandske og norske selskaper.
For å besvare forskningsspørsmålene ble det gjennomført en kvalitativ undersøkelse i form av dybdeintervjuer med ni formuende nordmenn som har flyttet til Sveits eller Italia, primært av skattemessige årsaker. Utredningen ser på teori om home bias, politisk usikkerhet, entreprenøriell kapital, tillit til system og aktører samt betydningen av nettverk for å forstå informantenes investeringsatferd.
Hovedfunnene i studien viser at et flertall av informantene i liten grad foretar nye investeringer i Norge etter utflytting. Dette forklares i stor grad med økt opplevd politisk usikkerhet samt en vridning av home bias – en tendens til å foretrekke investeringer i hjemlandet. Studien gir innsikt i hvordan utflytting kan påvirke investeringsatferd og kapitaltilgang, og antyder at utflytting av formuende individer kan svekke kapitaltilgangen i Norge.This master's thesis explores how the emigration of wealthy Norwegians affects the availability of capital for Norwegian companies and entrepreneurs. To address the research question, the study examines how capital is invested after emigration. Additionally, it investigates the factors influencing the choice between investments in foreign and Norwegian companies.
To answer the research questions, a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with nine wealthy Norwegians who have relocated to Switzerland or Italy, primarily for tax-related reasons. The study draws on theories of home bias, political uncertainty, entrepreneurial capital, trust in systems and actors, and the significance of networks to understand the informants' investment behavior.
The main findings indicate that the majority of the informants make few new investments in Norway after emigration. This is largely explained by increased perceived political uncertainty and a shift in home bias – a tendency to prefer investments in the home country. The study provides insight into how emigration can influence investment behavior and access to capital, suggesting that the emigration of wealthy individuals may weaken the availability of capital in Norway
How Early Maternal Antibiotic Exposure Affect Bacterial Exposure and Composition in Infants the First Year of Life
Get PDFThe gut microbiota and its development during early life is important, as the microbiota interacts with the immune system and can impact the health of the individual. There are many factors that may affect the gut microbiota development such as birth mode, feeding mode and antibiotics. During pregnancy and early life, it is common to receive antibiotics against bacterial infections. Antibiotics have in several instances been shown to alter the gut microbiota. However, we do lack knowledge of how antibiotic exposure during early gestation affects the gut microbiota. This effect may be important due to vertical transmission of gut bacteria from mother to child and may influence the first gut colonizers. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to determine if antibiotics during early pregnancy alters the mother’s gut microbiota which subsequently leads to differences in colonization pattern for their children.
To achieve this faecal samples from 300 mother-child pairs from the Preventing Atopic Dermatitis and Allergy (PreventADALL) study were analysed. The samples were collected from mothers at 18 weeks of gestation, where 74 mothers had been exposed to antibiotics prior to sampling, and from their children at birth, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. DNA was extracted from the samples and sequenced using Reduced Metagenome Sequencing (RMS).
The use of antibiotics during early pregnancy in mothers significantly altered the prevalence of 83 strains. Six of these strains were also significantly affected by the mother’s antibiotic use in newborns. Among these were Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Alistipes inops and Mesosutterella multiformis which increased in prevalence in mothers and their newborns when the mother was exposed to antibiotics. Other factors such as birth mode and feeding mode may be confounding factors that contribute to alterations in the gut microbiota, as observed in literature. Despite possible confounding factors, this study did observe changes related to the use of antibiotics during early pregnancy. Further research should take these factors into consideration to get a clearer understanding of the effects of birth mode along with antibiotic use during early pregnancy
Breaking 200 Years of Neutrality: Sweden’s NATO Membership Decision Through a Traditional Geopolitical Lens
Get PDFSweden’s historic decision to apply for NATO membership in 2022, breaking its 200-year tradition of neutrality and nonalignment, was a direct response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This thesis explores the complexity of this policy shift, contrasting it with Sweden’s Cold War nonalignment despite having to face the Soviet threat. The thesis poses two research questions: “How can traditional geopolitics explain Sweden’s decision to abandon neutrality and seek NATO membership?” and “What are the limitations of traditional geopolitical explanations for Sweden’s decision to abandon neutrality and seek NATO membership?” This qualitative, theory-led case study, employing a comparative historical approach and process tracing, first uses traditional geopolitics to explore the strategic rationale. This involves analysing factors like strategic geography, regional power dynamics, and alliance calculations. Recognising that traditional geopolitics has its limitations in explaining the shift’s timing, speed, and domestic factors, the study integrates insights from critical geopolitics and realism. These theories help explain the roles of discursive threat construction, evolving national identity, domestic political consensus, and systemic pressures. The thesis concludes that while traditional geopolitics provides an objective explanation based on patterns of state development and behaviour influenced by a geographical setting, critical geopolitics and realism offer explanations of drivers beyond geography
Dokosaheksaensyreproduksjon i thraustochytrider : overvåking og optimalisering av bioprosesser
Get PDFThe dietary omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with a wide spectrum of health benefits. However, the increasing demand for this essential fatty acid surpasses the supply from traditional sources (like DHA-rich oil derived from captured fish), highlighting the need for novel sources of DHA. A promising solution is DHA production using oil-rich microbes, with marine thraustochytrids being prominent candidates. These microbes can ferment a variety of substrates and generate high biomass concentrations with significant fractions being DHA. To develop innovative and environmentally sustainable production processes, sugars derived from abundantly available and renewable resources, such as lignocellulosic biomass, can serve as promising fermentation feedstocks. However, research on DHA production by thraustochytrids using such feedstocks remains limited.
To develop economically efficient bioprocesses, accurate information on biomass composition and medium components is essential. Traditional real-time process parameters are typically limited to a few metrics (e.g., temperature, pH, and gases), while biomass and media components are rarely assessed in real-time. Advanced spectroscopy-based technologies can through few measurements and modelling provide valuable data on the composition and the concentrations of biomass and specific substrates/metabolic products. This is a rapid technology that can also enable real-time measurements, either via an external analysis instrument (online) or via a submerged sensor (in-line). Characterizing biomass and medium components using spectral data reduces reliance on traditional analytical methods, which may involve time-consuming sample treatment prior to analysis.
In this thesis, we utilized thraustochytrids to produce DHA-rich biomass from lignocellulosic sugars derived from Norway spruce, and we applied advanced spectroscopy-based methods to analyze both biomass and medium components in real-time and post-process.
Paper 1 explored the use of spruce-derived hydrolysate for production of DHA by the marine thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium limacinum SR21. Shake flask batch cultivations using spruce hydrolysate combined with a complex nitrogen source and varying amounts of salts, revealed that supplementing salts in the medium was not necessary for optimal growth. The best performing media compositions were scaled up to bioreactors using a fed-batch fermentation strategy, producing up to 55 g/L of biomass containing 44% (w/w) lipids, of which one-third was DHA. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was established as a rapid method for assessing the total lipid content in A. limacinum SR21 biomass.
Paper 2 further explored the use of spruce hydrolysate for DHA production by A. limacinum SR21. Controlled bioreactor batch cultivations were conducted to assess the impact of varying dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, C/N ratios, and nitrogen sources. FTIR was applied for rapid assessment of total lipid contents. The results suggested that yeast extract and peptone could be partially substituted with NaNO3 in a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, optimal conditions were identified as 20% DO and a C/N ratio of 10 gC/gN. This cultivation setup achieved a biomass concentration of 21.7 g/L, containing 29.1% total fatty acids, of which 35.1% was DHA. Continuous cultivations using a chemostat setup with a dilution rate of 0.3 day-1 was also tested, but led to much lower biomass and lipid titers compared to the optimized batch process. These results indicate that a single vessel chemostat setup may not be suitable for lipid production by A. limacinum SR21 using spruce hydrolysate.
Paper 3 is a method-focused study that explored the use of Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy for online monitoring of critical process parameters in bioreactor cultivations, involving the yeast Rhodotorula toruloides with glucose and the thraustochytrid Schizochytrium sp. with glycerol. FT Raman measurements were conducted via a flow cell in a recirculatory loop connected to the bioreactor. Combined with predictive data modeling, this approach successfully provided real-time concentrations of carbon substrates (glucose and glycerol), as well as produced biomass, carotenoids, and lipids. Robust multivariate regression models were developed, with R2 ranging between 0.94-0.99 for R. toruloides and 0.89-0.99 for Schizochytrium sp., demonstrating a high correlation between online FT Raman spectral data and reference measurements.Omega-3 fettsyren dokosaheksaensyre (DHA) er assosiert med en rekke helsegevinster. Tradisjonelt har konsentrert olje fra villfisk vært hovedkilden for DHA, men dette er en begrenset ressurs. For å møte den økende etterspørselen for denne essensielle fettsyren, er det behov for nye kilder for DHA. En lovende løsning er DHA-produksjon via oljerike mikrober, hvor spesielt thraustochytrider har fått mye oppmerksomhet. Disse mikrobene kan fermentere en rekke ulike substrater og generere høye biomassekonsentrasjoner med betydelige mengder DHA. For å utvikle nye og mer bærekraftige produksjonsprosesser, kan sukker fra fornybare ressurser som lignocelluloseholdig biomasse være et miljøriktig alternativ. Det er derimot lite forskning på DHA-produksjon av thraustochytrider ved bruk av slike råmaterialer.
For å utvikle effektive fermenteringsprosesser er det viktig med nøyaktig informasjon om sammensetning og konsentrasjoner av biomasse og mediekomponenter. Vanligvis overvåkes og måles parametere som temperatur, pH og gasser i sanntid, mens biomasse og mediumkomponenter sjelden blir analysert underveis i fermenteringen. Avanserte spektroskopibaserte teknologier kan gjennom få målinger og modellering gi verdifull informasjon om sammensetning og konsentrasjoner av biomasse og spesifikke substrater/metabolske produkter. Dette er en rask teknologi som også kan foreta målinger underveis i fermenteringen, enten via et eksternt analyseinstrument (online) eller via en sensor nedsenket i bioreaktoren (in-line). Karakterisering av biomasse- og mediekomponenter ved bruk av spektraldata reduserer avhengigheten av tradisjonelle analysemetoder, som ofte innebærer tidkrevende behandling av prøver før analyse.
I denne avhandlingen brukte vi thraustochytrider til å produsere DHA-rik biomasse ved bruk av sukker fra grantrær. I tillegg brukte vi avanserte spektroskopiske metoder for å analysere både biomassesammensetning og mediekomponenter underveis eller etter fermenteringen
Bicycle Commuting in the Greater Oslo Region
Get PDFThe thesis explores how to increase cycling for commuters in Oslo. It does this by comparative assessment with cycle friendly cities, by expert interviews and by end user surveys. The study focuses on interventions that could increase cycling and its integrated use with public transport in Oslo. The thesis proposes both hard and soft measures and tries to put forth practical solutions that could be implemented