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Winds of Change: : strategies and Challenges for Sustainable Organizational Transformations
Get PDFHållbara förändringar i organisationer är nödvändiga för att anpassa sig till marknadsförändringar, teknologiska framsteg och kontinuerlig innovation. Trots att förändringsprocesser i många fall är komplexa och svårhanterliga, är de avgörande för att organisationer ska förbli konkurrenskraftiga och kunna växa i en snabbt föränderlig omvärld. För att framgångsrikt genomföra hållbara förändringar krävs en organisationskultur som är öppen för flexibilitet, planering, effektiv kommunikation och starkt ledarskap. Motivation blir också en avgörande faktor för organisationsförändringar, då den driver medarbetarnas engagemang och vilja att anpassa sig till nya processer och mål. Högt motiverade medarbetare är därmed mer benägna att omfamna förändringar, bidra med innovativa idéer och arbeta mot gemensamma mål, vilket ökar sannolikheten för framgångsrika förändringsinitiativ. Utan tillräcklig motivation och en stark organisationskultur kan förändringsprocesser mötas med motstånd, minskat engagemang och lägre produktivitet, vilket försvårar implementeringen av nödvändiga förändringar inom organisationer.
Denna studies syfte är att studera hur en harmoni mellan motivation och organisationskultur kan hjälpa till att främja och integrera en hållbar förändring inom organisationer. Studien ämnar se vad det finns för hinder och utmaningar med implementering av en hållbar förändring, där motivation och kultur inom en organisation kan påverka förändringsmöjligheterna. För studiens ändamål görs en fallstudie på organisationen Blomsterlandet. Fallstudien är en kvalitativ studie med induktiv ansats där empiriinsamling gjorts via intervjuer på åtta medarbetare och chefer inom organisationen samt observationer från en av författarna.
Studien visar att genom ett effektivt informations- och kommunikationsutbyte kan organisationen möjliggöra harmoni mellan kultur och motivation, då de båda faktorerna stödjer och stärker varandra. En lönsam organisationskultur tillsammans med en hög motivation hos medarbetare leder till att förändringarna lättare är genomförbara och accepteras inom organisationen. Det rekommenderas att organisationer testar förändring i kritiska testgrupper, för att tillgå underlaget för de information och kommunikationsutbytet som medarbetare är i behov av.Sustainable changes in organizations are necessary to adapt to market shifts, technological advancements, and continuous innovation. Although change processes are often complex and difficult to manage, they are crucial for organizations to remain competitive and grow in a rapidly changing environment. To successfully implement sustainable changes, an organizational culture that is open to flexibility, planning, effective communication, and strong leadership is required. Motivation also becomes a crucial factor for organizational changes, as it drives employees' engagement and willingness to adapt to new processes and goals. Highly motivated employees are thus more likely to embrace changes, contribute innovative ideas, and work towards common goals, increasing the likelihood of successful change initiatives. Without sufficient motivation and a strong organizational culture, change processes may be met with resistance, decreased engagement, and lower productivity, complicating the implementation of necessary changes within organizations.
The purpose of this study is to examine how harmony between motivation and organizational culture can help promote and integrate sustainable change within organizations. The study aims to identify the barriers and challenges in implementing sustainable change, where motivation and culture within an organization can influence the potential for change. For the purposes of the study, a case study on the organization Blomsterlandet is conducted. The case study is a qualitative study with an inductive approach, where empirical data is collected through interviews with eight employees and managers within the organization, as well as observations from one of the authors.
The study shows that through effective information and communication exchange, the organization can enable harmony between culture and motivation, as both factors support and reinforce each other. A profitable organizational culture combined with high employee motivation makes changes more easily implementable and accepted within the organization. It is recommended that organizations test changes in critical test groups to obtain the basis for the information and communication exchange that employees need
Stockpeople’s approaches and attitudes towards pigs
Get PDFHuman-animal relationships are a common feature of modern animal production and can be expressed in many different ways. These relationships are developed through daily interactions between the two parties and are shown through their respective behaviors. For example acoustic interactions are common for stockpeople to use when it comes to the daily handling and interaction with pigs. Other interactions that occur on a daily basis are visual, chemical and physical interactions. However, how these interactions take place depends a lot on the stockperson’s attitude towards the animals. This is because their attitude towards animals form the basis of their behavior towards them. Because of this, it is of great importance to understand what motivates stockpeople to choose a certain behavior when they are interacting with pigs. There are many occasions in pig production where humans and animals interact and each interaction can have a strong impact on the pigs. If these interactions are poor, there is for instance an increased risk that animals will develop a fear of humans, and there is also a risk of reduced welfare, productivity and health. How stockpeople choose to interact with and handle the animals is thus crucial for the pigs to not perceive the handling as aversive. Apart from this, human-animal relationships are also of great importance for the stockpeople. This is because the human-animal relationship affects pigs’ behavior and thus how easy they are to handle. For example, pigs’ fear of humans is often associated with the fact that handling the animals becomes more difficult, as they will want to avoid human contact. Because of this, knowledge of human-animal relationships are important for understanding and influencing these relationships, but it is also important from the point of view of improving the understanding of the relationship between stockpeople’s attitudes, behaviors and other factors, including the influence of the work environment. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate stockpeople’s attitudes towards pigs, describe how pigs can be affected by this and investigate the stockpeople’s working conditions. The data for this study was collected through a questionnaire, which was shared online, through an email send list and published in a newsletter on Gård- och djurhälsan. Even though there was a smaller sample size collected in this study, the results still indicated that stockpeople’s attitudes towards pigs are positive. Furthermore, the results also showed that the stockpeople believe that their handling methods affect the pigs’ welfare and that the working environment plays an important role in achieving human-animal relationships in today’s pig production. To be able to achieve positive human-animal relationships improvements should therefore be made to stockpeople’s work environment
Banking Beyond Numbers : exploring Social Structures and Practices in Swedish Banks
Get PDFThis study explores the banking sector's systems, practices, strategies, and structures in the transition for sustainability in the business world. The financial sector's historical role in driving sustainable transitions is highlighted, with events like the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the sector's change towards sustainable development. Authors such as Alexander (2014), Beck et al. (2010), and Yip and Bocken (2018) underscore the critical role of banks in achieving overall sustainable development, mainly through initiatives like Sustainable Responsible Investment (SRI) funds and green project financing. Examples from Handelsbanken (Ledarna, 2021) and Söderberg & Partners (Ledarna, 2022) illustrate how financial institutions integrate sustainability into their corporate culture and operations, aiming to impact society positively. The Swedish banking sector's adaptation to new regulations and goals towards sustainability is also highlighted. However, recent disclosures revealing significant carbon emissions linked to banks, including Handelsbanken, challenge the narrative of banks leading a green transition. Reports urge banks to accelerate efforts to align financial flows with climate goals, raising questions about the disparity between sustainability commitments and environmental consequences. Therefore, this study investigates the integration of sustainability practices within Swedish banks during a transition period in the banking sector. The introduction explains the research aim, highlighting the importance of examining how organizational structures and practices contribute to or hinder sustainability integration.
The study's theoretical framework encompasses concepts such as Giddens' (2004) duality of structures, Practice Theory (PT), and Institutional Theory (IT). Giddens' framework explains how broader social structures and cultural norms influence individuals' practices within organizations, while IT sheds light on how organizations respond to institutional pressures to maintain legitimacy. These theories provide a lens through which to analyse the complexities of sustainability integration within Swedish banks. The study's methodology details the data collection process through semi-structured interviews with bank employees. Thematic analysis is utilized to identify patterns and themes within the interview data, allowing for an understanding of the study answering the research questions.
The study's findings focus on the industry's evolving landscape, emphasizing the key role of effective communication in fostering customer relationships, and integrating sustainability into banking practices. The findings underscore a growing customer interest in aligning financial decisions with environmental and social values, driving demand for sustainable financial products such as green mortgages. Respondents highlighted the importance of simplifying language around sustainability, proactive engagement, and internal collaboration in making sustainability accessible within the banking sector. Moreover, the study reveals how personal and organizational values influence banking practices, emphasizing passion, transparency, and competence as drivers of meaningful change toward sustainability. Therefore, the study offers practical implications for enhancing communication strategies and integrating sustainability practices.
Abstract
The study's discussion explores sustainability practices within Swedish banks, covering various dimensions such as internal integration, external pressures, and the influence of social structures and institutional dynamics. It begins by examining how sustainability practices are woven into two Swedish banks, stressing the significance of effective communication, customer engagement, and organizational adaptability to embrace sustainability. The discussion highlights how societal expectations and market trends influence banks' strategic initiatives and product portfolios. While societal demands drive banks towards sustainability, a gap exists between aspirations and practical implementation, indicating a complex interplay of normative and coercive pressures. Moreover, the study discusses the challenges and opportunities inherent in navigating these pressures, emphasizing the need for adaptive organizational structures and a clear definition of sustainability practices.
The study underscores the critical role of regulations and institutional frameworks in shaping organizational behavior within the banking sector. In conclusion, the study improves our understanding of the multifaceted nature of sustainability practices within Swedish banks, emphasizing the importance of recognizing individual differences and setting clear definitions to facilitate the sector's transition towards sustainability.Denna studie utforskar banksektorns praktiker, strategier och strukturer i övergången mot hållbar utveckling. Finanssektorn har en historisk roll för att driva förändringar, och med händelser som 2008 års finanskris och covid-19-pandemin accelererat sektorns förändring mot hållbar utveckling. Exempel från Handelsbanken (Ledarna, 2021) och Söderberg & Partners (Ledarna, 2022) illustrerar hur finansiella institutioner integrerar hållbarhet i sin företagskultur och verksamhet i syfte att påverka samhället positivt. Dock har det avslöjats att betydande koldioxidutsläpp kopplade till banker, inklusive Handelsbanken, ifrågesätter bankernas hållbarhetsarbete. Därför undersöker denna studie integrationen av hållbara praktiker inom svenska banker. Inledningen förklarar forskningsmålet och belyser vikten av att undersöka hur organisatoriska strukturer och praktiker bidrar till eller hindrar hållbarhetsintegrering. Studiens teoretiska ram omfattar begrepp som Giddens (2004) dualitet av strukturer, Practice Theory (PT) och Institutional Theory (IT). Dessa teorier skapar en lins genom vilken man kan analysera komplexiteten i hållbarhetsintegrering inom svenska banker. Studiens metodik beskriver datainsamlingsprocessen genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med bankanställda. Tematisk analys används för att identifiera mönster och teman i intervjudatan, vilket möjliggör en förståelse av studien som svarar på forskningsfrågorna.
Studiens resultat fokuserar på att effektiv kommunikation främjar kundrelationer och hur det bidrar till att integrera hållbarhet i praktiker. Resultaten understryker ett växande kundintresse för att anpassa finansiella beslut med miljömässiga och sociala värden, vilket driver efterfrågan på hållbara finansiella produkter. Respondenterna betonade vikten av att förenkla språket kring hållbarhet, proaktivt engagemang och internt samarbete för att göra hållbarhet tillgänglig inom banksektorn. Dessutom avslöjar studien hur personliga och organisatoriska värderingar påverkar praktiker. Studiens diskussion utforskar hållbarhet och praktiker inom två svenska banker, och täcker olika dimensioner såsom intern integration, externa påtryckningar och påverkan av sociala strukturer och institutionell dynamik. Dessutom diskuterar studien de utmaningar och möjligheter som finns och betonar behovet av organisationsförändringar och en tydlig definition av hållbarhets praktiker. Studien understryker den avgörande roll som regleringar och institutionella ramar spelar för att forma organisatoriskt beteende inom banksektorn. Sammanfattningsvis förbättrar studien förståelsen av hållbarhet och praktiker inom två svenska banker.
Sammanfattnin
The co-operative governance structures influence on the members adaptability : a study of the farmer members perceived adaptability, trust, and influence regarding changes inflicted by the different co-operative governance structures and sizes
Get PDFThe development of the agricultural context has gone from a stable environment in which farmers can focus on optimising their productions to an ever-changing environment. Farmers now must focus on adaptability and resilience instead of optimisation. Agricultural co-operatives are important to farmers and for their revenue. With mergers and acquisitions the co-operatives get more legs to stand on, and thus become more diversified in their operations. There are several advantages and disadvantages for organisations to diversify their operations, such as spreading the risks across different businesses and thus becoming more resilient in the face of change and challenges, but it can also be risky with higher costs for the development of new products or markets. There are a few differences between large and small co-operatives, one being the difference in governance structure, with smaller co-operatives usually being governed by direct democracy and large co-operatives through representative democracy. However, this begs the question of what differences and challenges there are related to the governance structures and the co-operatives size. The aim of the study is to analyse how trust, adaptability and the influence of the members change in relation to the co-operative’s democratic governance structure and size.
To answer the research questions a multiple case study of Arla Foods, Lantmännen, Norrmejerier and Varaslättens Lagerhus’s farmers was conducted. The co-operatives are of different sizes but comparative market environments, with Arla and Norrmejerier both being dairy companies, while Lantmännen and Varaslättens Lagerhus both being grain traders. Furthermore, the study uses a qualitative approach. Ten interviews were conducted with the four different agricultural co-operatives to gain an understanding on the farmers opinions, feelings, and ideas of improvements regarding their co-operatives model, governance structure and in general. The interviews data and findings were in turn analysed through the conceptual framework. The conceptual framework consists of Co-operative governance, Agency theory and social capital. The results then show that there indeed are differences in social capital between the co-operative sizes and governance structures. In addition, the results show that there are significant differences in perceived influence and smaller differences in perceived trust between the co-operative sizes and governance structures. Another interesting finding is the lack of commitment within both the large and small co-operatives.
The conclusions drawn from the study are that adaptability is not seen as a particularly big challenge of either larger or smaller co-operatives but that trust, influence, member connections, member relations and commitment were. There are particularly large challenges for larger co-operatives regarding influence, member connections and member relationships. Commitment on the other hand was found to be an issue in both co-operative sizes. To mitigate these challenges large co-operatives, need to redesign their governance structures to become more member central and to make sure that members can become more active through participation in the co-operative.Utvecklingen av jordbrukskontexten har gått från en stabil miljö där bönder kan fokusera på att optimera sina produktioner till en ständigt föränderlig miljö. Lantbrukarna måste nu fokusera på anpassningsförmåga och motståndskraft istället för optimering. Jordbrukskooperativ är viktiga för jordbrukare och för deras inkomster. Genom sammanslagningar och förvärv får kooperativen fler ben att stå på och blir därmed mer diversifierade i sin verksamhet. Det finns flera fördelar och nackdelar för organisationer att diversifiera sin verksamhet, som att sprida riskerna mellan olika verksamheter och därmed bli mer motståndskraftiga inför förändringar och utmaningar, men det kan också vara riskabelt med högre kostnader för utveckling av nya produkter eller marknader. Det finns några skillnader mellan stora och små kooperativ, en är skillnaden i förvaltningsstruktur, där mindre kooperativ vanligtvis styrs av direkt demokrati och stora kooperativ genom representativ demokrati. Detta väcker dock frågan om vilka skillnader och utmaningar det finns med ledningsstrukturerna och kooperativens storlek. Syftet med studien är att analysera hur förtroende, anpassningsförmåga och medlemmarnas inflytande förändras i förhållande till kooperativets demokratiska styrningsstruktur och storlek.
För att besvara forskningsfrågorna genomfördes en multipel fallstudie av Arla Foods, Lantmännen, Norrmejerier och Varaslättens Lagerhusets bönder. Kooperativen är av olika storlek men med jämförande marknadsmiljöer, där Arla och Norrmejerier båda är mejeriföretag, medan Lantmännen och Varaslättens Lagerhus båda är spannmålshandlare. Vidare använder studien en kvalitativ ansats. Tio intervjuer genomfördes med de fyra olika lantbrukskooperativen för att få en förståelse för böndernas åsikter, känslor och idéer om förbättringar angående deras kooperativmodell, styrningsstruktur och i allmänhet. Intervjudata och resultat analyserades i sin tur genom det konceptuella ramverket. Det konceptuella ramverket består av Kooperativ styrning, Agentrelation och Socialt kapital. Resultaten visar sedan att det finns skillnader i socialt kapital mellan kooperativa storlekar och förvaltningsstrukturer. Dessutom visar resultaten att det finns signifikanta skillnader i upplevt inflytande och mindre skillnader i upplevt förtroende mellan de kooperativa storlekarna och styrningsstrukturerna. Ett annat intressant fynd är bristen på engagemang inom både de stora och små kooperativen.
Slutsatserna från studien är att anpassningsförmåga inte ses som en särskilt stor utmaning för varken större eller mindre kooperativ utan att tillit, inflytande, medlemskopplingar, medlemsrelationer och engagemang var det. Det finns särskilt stora utmaningar för större kooperativ vad gäller inflytande, medlemsanknytning och medlemsrelationer. Engagemang å andra sidan visade sig vara ett problem i båda kooperativa storlekar. För att mildra dessa utmaningar måste stora kooperativ göra om sina styrningsstrukturer för att bli mer centrala för medlemmarna och för att se till att medlemmarna kan bli mer aktiva genom att delta i kooperativet
Hur påverkas investeringsbeslut i ny teknik inom lantbruk?
Get PDFVärldsbefolkningen ökar och med den även efterfrågan på mat. För en minskande lantbrukarkår innebär detta högre krav på effektivitet och avkastning för att kunna tillgodose en växande befolkning. Utöver detta står världen även inför klimatförändringar vilket innebär mer extrema väderomslag och större skillnader mellan växtodlingsåren än förut. För att kunna möta detta krävs det att lantbruksbranschen ställer om till mer avancerade tekniska lösningar. Detta innebär intensivare och större investeringar som i sin tur ställer högre krav på lantbrukare att vara pålästa och kunniga om olika tekniska lösningar på en marknad som ständigt förnyas och utvecklas. Inom det svenska lantbruket har den tekniska utvecklingen accelererat under de senaste generationerna och teknik blir förlegat i snabb takt i dagens klimat. Det är även en skillnad i hur anpassade lantbruken är till modern teknik och vart i den teknologiska utvecklingen de är. Med detta omväxlande klimat krävs det att lantbrukarna tar välgenomtänkta och underbyggda beslut för att välja de mest hållbara investeringarna.
Den här studien är baserad på prospektteorin och den kumulativa prospektteorin vilka ämnar förklara beslutsfattande genom att uppföra prospekt som sedan utvärderas för att finna det alternativ med högst nyttokapacitet. Dessa teorier bidrar med att förklara tillvägagångsättet vid investering hos lantbrukare och hur deras tankar går om olika investeringsmöjligheter.
Genom att undersöka vad som påverkar investeringsbeslut av ny teknik inom lantbruksbranschen kan producenter av lantbruksteknik enklare och effektivare erbjuda just den teknik som lantbrukare efterfrågar och behöver för att kunna bedriva ett hållbart lantbruk i framtiden. Det bidrar även med att ge en insikt i vad som driver näringsverksamheter inom de gröna näringar och vad de anser är effektivitet och framtidens lantbruk. Skillnaden mellan maskinstationer och familjelantbruk som denna studie speglar uppvisar även skillnader i hur två aktörer inom samma bransch kan ha skillnader i sin driftsplanering. Sammanfattningsvis speglar denna studie hur teknisk förnyelse är framtiden för ett hållbart lantbruk och vad branschens utövare efterfrågar för att kunna uppnå framtidens mål.
Resultatet av studien är att det finns tre parametrar som påverkar lantbrukare i deras investeringsbeslut. Parametrarna är; riskaversion, effektivisering samt fria eller forcerade investeringar.The global population and its’ demand for nutrient is steadily increasing. This requires an increased efficiency and agricultural output from a dwindling number of farmers. Furthermore, our planet stands before climate change which in turn means more extreme fluctuations in weather and greater disproportions between planting seasons. To be able to face these perils the agricultural industry needs to adapt and implement more advanced technical solutions. This entails more intensive and larger investments which in turn creates greater demands on the farmers to be more knowledgeable on different technical solutions in a market that is ever evolving and renewed. In the Swedish agricultural sector, the technical advancements have accelerated during the last couple of generations and technology quickly becomes obsolete in today's climate. There’s also a difference in how well-adapted the agriculture is and where in the technical development they are. This alternating climate requires farmers to make well-founded decisions into sustainable investments.
This study is based on the prospect theory and the cumulative prospect theory which aims to explain decision making by constructing prospects to later evaluate in the strive of finding the alternative with the highest benefit. These theories contribute with explaining how investment decisions are made by farmers and their reasoning behind different investment opportunities.
By researching what affects investment decisions regarding new technology in the agricultural sector producers of agricultural technology can more easily and effectively offer precisely the technology farmers demand and need to be able to drive sustainable farming into the future. It also contributes by giving insight into what drives these businesses in the agricultural sector and what they believe is effectiveness and the future of farming. The difference between agricultural contracting businesses and family farms as this study show is the different perspective on operations that two actors in the same sector can have. In conclusion this study shows how technical innovation is the future of sustainable farming and what the sector demands to achieve the goals of the future.
The results of the findings in this study are that there are three parameters that affects farmers in their investment decisions. The parameters are; risk aversion, effectiveness and free or forced investments
Do white rot fungi utilize carbon derived from lignin?
Get PDFThis study aims to investigate what happens to the carbon in lignin when it is broken down by white rot saprotrophic fungi in boreal forest ecosystems. Lignin is a complex and durable material that plays a significant role in storing carbon in these ecosystems. While there has been extensive research on how white rot fungi break down lignin, there is still debate on whether they can use lignin as a source of carbon. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the complicated processes and environmental impacts of transforming carbon through lignin degradation in boreal forests by conducting a literature review on the interaction between saprotrophic fungi and lignin. Additionally, an experiment was conducted to test how coniferyl alcohol a subunit of lignin is modified.
This research highlights the complexity of lignin degradation and the role of fungi in carbon cycling within boreal forests. Understanding these processes is crucial for several reasons, for example it can provide insights into the ecological functions of fungi and their interactions with other organisms in the forest ecosystem.
The literature review revealed that while significant progress has been made in understanding the biochemical pathways and enzymes involved in lignin breakdown, there are still many unknowns regarding the ecological and environmental factors that influence these processes.
The experimental component of the study showed how difficult it can be to conduct a simpler experiment. And that even in a controlled environment things don’t always go as planned.
Based on the results, gaps were identified, and the question needs further research. We need to dig deeper into how fungi metabolize lignin-derived carbon inside their cells. Understanding these processes is key to seeing how carbon cycles through forest ecosystems. If fungi can not only break down lignin but also use its carbon for growth, it could greatly affect soil carbon dynamics and shift their ecological roles. This highlights the need for advanced genetic tools and protocols to study these interactions in natural settings
Vilka beståndsegenskaper hjälper skogar undkomma naturliga bränder : en studie i Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraina
Get PDFIn May 2022, there was a mega-fire in the south-eastern part of ChEZ, caused by the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. It burned plantations established after the mega-fire in 1992 in the same area. Despite the mega-fire, some forest patches survived. A detailed analysis of forest management data from 2016 shows that the survived forest patches were comprised of broadleaved tree species with more than 80% of the canopy. This suggests that the dominance of broadleaves could be the factor that contributed to the survival of the forest patches (refugia). Consequently, this study investigates the characteristics of their surrounding forests that enhance the likelihood of these forests escaping large natural fires. We hypothesize that fuel discontinuity and structural heterogeneity in the buffers increase the probability of refugia occurrence. We used available local forest inventory datasets (geospatial polygons with attribute tables) from 2016 to map fire refugia and their adjacent areas (buffer zones) using QGIS and R. From the GEDI LiDAR footprints and Planet satellite images that were acquired before (2021) and after the mega-fire, we created wall-to-wall maps for canopy cover (CC), canopy height (CH), presence of broadleaves (POB) and forest cover (FC). Spectral bands were used as the predictor variables for predicting these attributes. CC map was used as a proxy for fuel discontinuity, and the POB map was used as a proxy for fuel type. We extracted the values of the variables from the maps for 10 m, 30 m, and 50 m buffers around survived and burned polygons. CH difference was calculated as the difference in CH between buffer and polygon, which was used as a proxy for structural heterogeneity. Using these variables as predictors, we developed Random Forest models for the 10 m, 30 m, and 50 m buffers that predict refugia occurrence using R. After analyzing the refugia occurrence with variable importance plots and partial dependence plots, we found that the fuel type, POB was the factor that saved some forests from the 2022 mega-fire. We could not find any evidence to support our hypothesis of structural heterogeneity and fuel discontinuity. It was observed that the decrease in the probability of refugia occurrence despite higher POB values was due to the adjacence of the non-refugia buffers to highly flammable Scots pine stands. These stands got burned, and the crown fire spread to surrounding patches and burned them down even if the POB values ranged between 75-81.5% in their buffers of 10 m width. This research recommends incorporating broadleaved species such as European oak, European aspen, and silver birch into the future production forest management regimes as they are fire-resistant and enhance forest resilience
Exploring Food Waste : investigating the Variability and Consensus in the Current Landscape of Definitions
Get PDFThe challenge of defining food waste is pivotal to global sustainability efforts, as clear and transparent definitions are essential for accurately monitoring and reporting progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve per capita food waste by 2030. This paper investigates the varying definitions of food waste, exploring their commonalities and differences through a discourse analysis of academic and institutional sources. A comprehensive literature review identified key definitions and highlighted the prominence of this issue over the past decade. A 4-axis conceptual model—Scope, Destination, Nutritional Density, and Edibility—was used to dissect these definitions. The discourse analysis revealed significant gaps, such as the frequent omission of nutritional density considerations. Additionally, a survey involving 103 experts, primarily from Europe (89%), provided insights into their view on food waste through a series of questions based on a 4-axis conceptual model. The findings reveal significant variability in some respects, such as the inclusion of drinking water (37%) and crops left in the field due to diseases or pests (52%), as well as in the categorization of final destinations for food waste, including animal feed (61%) and food exceeding individual nutritional needs (44%). A broad consensus was observed on some aspects, such as including later stages of the food supply chain from processing/wholesale to households (98% - 99%) and excluding tap water (3-12%) or wild berries (7%). The study highlights the lack of a standardized methodology when defining food waste, emphasizing the importance of both inclusion and exclusion in building a clear framework. Such an approach could improve the effectiveness of reduction strategies and enhance global sustainability efforts. Future research should continue to explore this issue, incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives and emerging technologies
Grönare skolgårdar
Get PDFSkolgårdar är en viktig plats för barns lek och utveckling,
men många skolgårdar domineras idag av
hårdgjorda ytor med begränsad mängd vegetation.
Tidigare forskning har visat att tillgång till grönska
och naturlika miljöer på skolgårdar kan ha positiva
effekter på barns lek, sociala interaktion och
välbefinnande. I den här studien undersöktes hur
införandet av vegetation på en skolgård påverkade
barnens lekmönster och beteenden.
Vid en intervention introducerades 42 m2
buskartad vegetation på en skolgård i Malmö, vilket
höjde skolgårdens totala mängd lekbar vegetation
avsevärt. Skolgårdens lekpotential analyserades
med hjälp av verktyget “Outdoor Play Environment
Categories”. Barnens lek studerades sedan med
hjälp av en systematisk observationsmetod kallad
“behavior mapping”, där barnens rörelsemönster,
aktivitetsnivåer, lekaktiviteter och barngruppernas
sammansättning observerades. Analyser och observationer
tog plats två veckor innan interventionen,
och upprepades sedan ett år senare för att möjliggöra
jämförelse mellan perioderna.
Resultaten visade att den nya vegetationen bidrog
till en mer varierad lekkultur med ökad förekomst
av utforskande och kreativ lek. Barnen drogs till de
nya planteringarna och använde vegetationen flitigt,
trots att den fortfarande var under etablering.
Aktivitetsnivåerna förändrades inte markant totalt
sett, men aktiviteten fördelades annorlunda över
skolgården. Fler neutrala lekmiljöer inbjöd till lek
över könsgränserna i vissa delar av skolgården.
Studien tyder på att införandet av vegetation kan
berika barns lekmiljö och skapa mer inkluderande
förutsättningar, även under etableringsfasen.
Vegetationen verkade kunna stödja en mångfald
av lektyper och bidra till mer dynamiska lekmiljöer
som bättre svarade mot olika barns behov
och preferenser. Resultaten går i linje med tidigare
forskning som visat att grönska kan främja barns
kreativa och utforskande lek samt bidra till mer
jämlika lekmiljöer. Studien understryker vikten av
varierade och integrerade lekmiljöer för att skapa
goda förutsättningar för barns allsidiga utveckling
och välbefinnande på skolgårdar. Samtidigt är det
svårt att isolera effekterna av just vegetationen
från andra faktorer som kan ha påverkat studiens
resultat. Fler studier behövs för att bekräfta resultaten
och undersöka hur olika typer av grönska och
design av lekmiljöer kan optimeras för att stödja
barns behov.
Sammanfattningsvis belyser studien den potential
som finns i att berika skolgårdar med växtlighet
för att skapa mer stimulerande och inkluderande
lekmiljöer. Även om vegetationen är under etablering
verkar den kunna bidra till mer varierad lek
och aktivitet. Studien understryker betydelsen av
genomtänkt design med integrerade, gröna miljöer
för barns lek och utveckling på skolgårdar.School yards are important places for children’s
play and development, but many school yards
today are dominated by paved surfaces with limited
vegetation. Previous research has shown that
access to greenery and natural environments in
school yards can have positive effects on children’s
play, social interaction, and well-being. This study
investigated how the introduction of vegetation in
a school yard affected children’s play patterns and
behaviors.
In an intervention, 42 m2 of shrub vegetation
was introduced in a school yard in Malmö, significantly
increasing the total amount of playable
vegetation in the school yard. The play potential of
the school yard was analyzed using the “Outdoor
Play Environment Categories” tool. Children’s
play was then studied through a systematic observation
method called “behavior mapping”, where
children’s movement patterns, activity levels, play
activities, and the composition of children’s groups
were observed. Analyses and observations took
place two weeks before the intervention and were
repeated one year later to enable comparison between
the periods.
The results showed that the new vegetation
contributed to a more varied play culture with
increased occurrence of exploratory and creative
play. The children were drawn to the new
plantings and used the vegetation extensively,
even though it was still being established. Overall
activity levels did not change significantly, but activity
was distributed differently across the school
yard. More neutral play environments invited play
across gender boundaries in certain parts of the
school yard.
The study suggests that the introduction of vegetation
can enrich children’s play environment
and create more inclusive conditions, even during
the establishment phase. The vegetation seemed
to be able to support a variety of play types and
contribute to more dynamic play environments
that better responded to the needs and preferences
of different children. The results are in line
with previous research showing that greenery can
promote children’s creative and exploratory play
and contribute to more equal play environments.
The study emphasizes the importance of varied
and integrated play environments to create good
conditions for children’s comprehensive development
and well-being in school yards. At the same
time, it is difficult to isolate the effects of vegetation
specifically from other factors that may have
influenced the results. More studies are needed to
confirm the results and investigate how different
types of greenery and the design of play environments
can be optimized to support children’s
needs.
In summary, the study highlights the potential of
enriching school yards with vegetation to create
more stimulating and inclusive play environments.
Even if the vegetation is being established, it seems
to be able to contribute to more varied play and
activity. The study underscores the importance
of thoughtful design with integrated, green environments
for children’s play and development in
school yards
The Saint Olav Pilgrim Trail
Get PDFPilgrimage or long-distance walking is a life changing journey, that restores the soul, brings inner peace, happiness and balance between body and mind. The pilgrimage along St Olavsleden, which is a 580 km long Scandinavian pilgrimage route, is an international phenomenon that attracts people with varying motives. This includes personal, health, social and spiritual/religious reasons as well as cultural-historical interests and the preference for nature and beautiful landscapes. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study, which included the collection of personal pilgrimage stories and in-depth interviews with pilgrims. The main aim was to learn more about how the environment can support the higher needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, that is self-actualization and self-transcendence. In the study it was found that quiet or passive stages of the journey support reflection, increase emotional awareness and liberate the mind, while more active or engaging stages require focus, help the person become present in the now and move forward in life. Being guided by pilgrimage signs through the unknown and the wonderment of nature were found to promote soul restoration, while beautiful scenery, such as the view of mountains, lakes, and waterfalls, as well as the experience of cultural heritage sites fostered a deep emotional connection to the surroundings. Moreover, the experience of these environmental aspects gave life perspective and awakened existential thoughts that led to personal transformation. Finally, the contrasting experiences on the trail were highly appreciated by the pilgrims and made the journey into a metaphor for life