Matthew Thurston and Matthew J. Eckelman
A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory was conducted for Yale University's procurement of goods and services over a one‐year period. The goal of the inventory was to identify the…
Abstract
Purpose
A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory was conducted for Yale University's procurement of goods and services over a one‐year period. The goal of the inventory was to identify the financial expenditures resulting in the greatest “indirect” GHG emissions. This project is part of an ongoing effort to quantify and reduce the university's environmental impacts.
Design/methodology/approach
The impacts of institutional purchases were analyzed using publicly available economic input‐output life cycle assessment software. This model allows users to estimate the indirect GHG emissions of procured goods and services using expenditure data for different categories of purchases. The results are based on national averages for the USA.
Findings
The findings of this inventory indicate that indirect GHG emissions from procured goods and services are the greatest source of the university's emissions. A total of 15 of the university's 142 financial expenditure categories accounted for 80 percent of the GHG emissions. Many of these categories were expected, including energy purchases, construction activities, and air travel. Others were more surprising, particularly architectural and engineering services, laboratory supplies, and software.
Practical implications
This study is expected to assist Yale University in its efforts to reduce GHG emissions by providing a quantitative basis for prioritizing green supply chain management decisions.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates that universities and other organizational entities can proficiently assess indirect GHG emissions from goods and services using publicly available software, and that these efforts are significant for understanding the environmental impacts of higher education.
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Jesse Sherry and Shannon Tivona
This study aims to use life cycle assessment to determine the environmental impact of food purchases at a small, liberal arts college. The authors also use the results to develop…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to use life cycle assessment to determine the environmental impact of food purchases at a small, liberal arts college. The authors also use the results to develop a simple decision-making tool for college and university dining services administrators, attempting to make their food purchases more sustainable.
Design/methodology/approach
Life cycle assessment was used to analyze the global warming potential (GWP) of all food products purchased at a college café during a four-month study period.
Findings
The authors found the top ten highest impact products accounted for 40% of orders by weight, but 80% of the GWP. In particular, beef and cheese exhibited the highest GWP/kg. These findings highlight the importance of considering the carbon intensity of food products when making purchasing decisions. The authors also examined the carbon intensity and cost of common meal options and developed a carbon intensity comparison heuristic that can assist in making food purchasing decisions with the goal of lowering the GWP of food purchases.
Practical implications
The results of this study show that life cycle assessment is a useful tool for university food service operations seeking to reduce environmental impact. The carbon intensity food comparison heuristic based upon this data serves as a helpful decision-making tool in guiding food service to reduce GWP.
Originality/value
While life cycle assessment has typically been used to analyze individual food products, this study demonstrates its use as a decision-making tool to guide purchasing decisions across an entire array of food purchases.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide insights toward the potential of lean healthcare organization for environment sustainability and develop propositions for future studies.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide insights toward the potential of lean healthcare organization for environment sustainability and develop propositions for future studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a conceptual paper to study the inbuilt capacity of lean healthcare organization to mitigate environmental footprint. As a result, lean compatibility with environmental sustainability (ES) has been explored in areas like manufacturing, supply chain, aviation, construction, etc. The lean philosophy, lean culture and lean tools were analyzed to identify their contribution to ES in the context of healthcare organizations.
Findings
Based on the analysis of lean philosophy, culture and tool, this paper theorizes that lean healthcare organizations have huge potential to mitigate environmental footprints. Lean healthcare organizations need not to do any extra effort for ES albeit it is inbuilt in it. Lean philosophy provides a vision to the healthcare organization for ES whereas lean culture bestow healthcare with an epistemology for the same.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides insight that ES is embedded in lean healthcare organizations. Lean healthcare organizational culture is ideal for application for constructivism theory where employees construct a new knowledge from their experiences to minimize the waste that eventually help in ES.
Originality/value
Major contributions of the study include a new approach for mitigating the environmental footprints by adopting lean in healthcare organization.
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Liziane Araújo da Silva, Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra, Thiago Coelho Soares, Robert Samuel Birch and José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra
Reducing our carbon footprint (CF) or decarbonizing is a sustainable development goal. Although there has been an increase in research on this topic, little is known about the…
Abstract
Purpose
Reducing our carbon footprint (CF) or decarbonizing is a sustainable development goal. Although there has been an increase in research on this topic, little is known about the status of CF research within universities. The purpose of this paper is to identify the initiatives implemented in universities aimed at reducing CF in their efforts toward creating a Green Campus.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a bibliometric method, the status of this field of research was examined for the purpose of identifying the main publications and the most central researchers in terms of productivity and citations. Also, by using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the regions of the world with the most active research, as well as the direction of research, were identified.
Findings
The survey identified the region that published the most on the subject in the past 10 years, as well as the most relevant authors in the publications. Through this factor analysis, it was possible to identify, among the 105 publications analyzed, four distinct factors (clusters) with different thematic strands that appear to define a difference between the related studies on this topic. These factors were identified as campus management: supply and consumption operations; greenhouse gases emissions assessment: CF calculation; university air travel; sustainable food systems. The changes in people’s attitudes and in the use of university spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the CF was also noted as a point that can be investigated in future research. As well as the reflection of the reduction in academic air travel and the “forced” occurrence of online events during the same period.
Originality/value
The paper aims to innovate by applying the multidimensional scaling method and EFA to scientific articles on the topic of decarbonizing campuses and identifying the clusters that constitute this field of study. The research seeks to contribute to current metric knowledge on the topic and to the creation of a specific research agenda.
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Samera Nazir, Saqib Mehmood, Li Zhaolei, Zarish Nazir and Sana Nazir
This study explored how COVID-19 moderated the relationship between organizational learning capabilities (OLCs), technological innovation (TI), supply chain management (SMC…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored how COVID-19 moderated the relationship between organizational learning capabilities (OLCs), technological innovation (TI), supply chain management (SMC) processes and enterprise performance (EP). It aimed to give ideas on how organizations could change and do well during big disruptions.
Design/methodology/approach
Design: A structured questionnaire served as the data collection tool, employing a stratified sampling technique. Partial least squares (PLS) was utilized for data processing. Information was gathered from the automobile industry in Xian, China, providing an in-depth understanding of how COVID-19 moderated the variables under examination.
Findings
The study discovered that COVID-19 changed how organizational learning, TI, SCM and EP interacted. Some organizations had trouble keeping up with learning and innovation, but others used them to make their SCM stronger, leading to better performance. Also, different effects of COVID-19 were seen in various industries and organizations.
Practical implications
This study provided practical implications for managers, policymakers and practitioners. It emphasized fostering OLCs and TI as crucial for resilience during disruptions like COVID-19. Strategic investments in SCM were highlighted to mitigate disruptions and seize opportunities. Additionally, context-specific approaches were underscored for navigating pandemic-induced challenges.
Originality/value
This study enhanced existing literature by analyzing how COVID-19 moderated the link between organizational learning, TI, SCM and EP. Through diverse methodologies and organizational contexts, it offered fresh insights into dynamic organizational responses to disruptions, advancing both theoretical understanding and practical knowledge in the field.
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Anne H. Swearingen, Danielle Ailts Campeau, Nathaniel Siats and Matthew J. Nowakowski
The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of ten (10) product innovation employees in medical device firms’ sustainability initiatives, considering…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of ten (10) product innovation employees in medical device firms’ sustainability initiatives, considering leadership, organizational and employee factors within the healthcare industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Phenomenology was chosen as it supports an in-depth analysis of the lived experience of several individuals, who are experiencing a similar phenomenon. This methodology permitted the researcher to “view experience and behavior as an integrated and inseparable relationship of the subject and object and of parts and whole.”
Findings
The intersection of employee, leader and organizational factors should be considered to further organizational citizenship behavior to the environment. Within each theme, cognitive dissonance is present. Understanding and acknowledging the choice required by the individual, leader and/or organization may impact overall environmental organizational citizenship behavior.
Practical implications
When implementing sustainable activities, three key areas should be evaluated: leaders, organizations and employees.
Social implications
This study provides insight into employee experiences and sustainable activities.
Originality/value
This research adds to the literature on organizational citizenship behavior to the environment within medical device firms as it provides insight into how sustainability programs within firms could be approached. Healthcare’s climate impact contributes to emissions which are equivalent to having 75 million vehicles on the road, annually. In addition, this study provided an initial understanding of the lived experiences of employees within the medical device industry when themes are analyzed. The results may help organizations understand the experiences of employees to further advance their vision and mission, by understanding the phenomenon of how sustainability initiatives are perceived.
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Annika Herth and Kornelis Blok
The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), including direct and indirect emissions…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), including direct and indirect emissions from utilities, logistics and purchases, as well as a discussion about the commonly used method. Emissions are presented in three scopes (scope 1 reports direct process emissions, scope 2 reports emissions from purchased energy and scope 3 reports indirect emissions from the value chain) to identify carbon emission hotspots within the university’s operations.
Design/methodology/approach
The carbon footprint was calculated using physical and monetary activity data, applying a process and economic input-output analysis.
Findings
TU Delft’s total carbon footprint in 2018 is calculated at 106 ktCO2eq. About 80% are indirect (scope 3) emissions, which is in line with other studies. Emissions from Real estate and construction, Natural gas, Equipment, ICT and Facility services accounted for about 64% of the total footprint, whereas Electricity, Water and waste-related carbon emissions were negligible. These findings highlight the need to reduce universities’ supply chain emissions.
Originality/value
A better understanding of carbon footprint hotspots can facilitate strategies to reduce emissions and finally achieve carbon neutrality. In contrast to other work, it is argued that using economic input-output models to calculate universities’ carbon footprints is a questionable practice, as they can provide only an initial estimation. Therefore, the development of better-suited methods is called for.
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Anne-Sophie Gousse-Lessard, Philippe Gachon, Lily Lessard, Valérie Vermeulen, Maxime Boivin, Danielle Maltais, Elsa Landaverde, Mélissa Généreux, Bernard Motulsky and Julien Le Beller
The current pandemic and ongoing climate risks highlight the limited capacity of various systems, including health and social ones, to respond to population-scale and long-term…
Abstract
Purpose
The current pandemic and ongoing climate risks highlight the limited capacity of various systems, including health and social ones, to respond to population-scale and long-term threats. Practices to reduce the impacts on the health and well-being of populations must evolve from a reactive mode to preventive, proactive and concerted actions beginning at individual and community levels. Experiences and lessons learned from the pandemic will help to better prevent and reduce the psychosocial impacts of floods, or other hydroclimatic risks, in a climate change context.
Design/methodology/approach
The present paper first describes the complexity and the challenges associated with climate change and systemic risks. It also presents some systemic frameworks of mental health determinants, and provides an overview of the different types of psychosocial impacts of disasters. Through various Quebec case studies and using lessons learned from past and recent flood-related events, recommendations are made on how to better integrate individual and community factors in disaster response.
Findings
Results highlight the fact that people who have been affected by the events are significantly more likely to have mental health problems than those not exposed to flooding. They further demonstrate the adverse and long-term effects of floods on psychological health, notably stemming from indirect stressors at the community and institutional levels. Different strategies are proposed from individual-centered to systemic approaches, in putting forward the advantages from intersectoral and multirisk researches and interventions.
Originality/value
The establishment of an intersectoral flood network, namely the InterSectoral Flood Network of Québec (RIISQ), is presented as an interesting avenue to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and a systemic view of flood risks. Intersectoral work is proving to be a major issue in the management of systemic risks, and should concern communities, health and mental health professionals, and the various levels of governance. As climate change is called upon to lead to more and more systemic risks, close collaboration between all the areas concerned with the management of the factors of vulnerability and exposure of populations will be necessary to respond effectively to damages and impacts (direct and indirect) linked to new meteorological and compound hazards. This means as well to better integrate the communication managers into the risk management team.
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Sheetal Gounder, Abid Hasan, Asheem Shrestha and Abbas Elmualim
Although the adverse effects of construction activities on the environment and the need for sustainable construction practices are recognised in both research and practice, any…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the adverse effects of construction activities on the environment and the need for sustainable construction practices are recognised in both research and practice, any significant shift in the selection and use of construction materials from the sustainability perspective has not taken place in many building projects. Still, conventional construction materials are widely used in building projects in both developed and developing countries. This study attempts to identify the main barriers to the use of sustainable materials in building projects in an advanced economy such as Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a questionnaire survey approach to examine the main reasons behind the low usage of sustainable materials in building projects. Based on the relative importance index, exploratory factor analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis, the study examined the main barrier measures and barrier factors to the use of sustainable materials in building projects.
Findings
The findings reveal that critical barriers to the use of sustainable materials are related to cost and profit considerations, the unwillingness of the key stakeholders to incorporate these materials into building projects, lack of incentives and government policies. The factor analysis reduced the critical barrier measures into three factors: techno-economic considerations, cost and delay concerns and resistance to use. Furthermore, multinomial regression analysis based on the extracted factors identified techno-economic considerations as the main barrier factor to the use of sustainable materials in building projects.
Practical implications
The empirical results of this research can inform construction practitioners, organisations and policymakers on how to increase the use of sustainable building materials in the construction industry.
Originality/value
Identification of barriers to the use of sustainable building materials is a prerequisite to improve their uptake and use in the construction industry. The study fills a gap in the existing research on the use of sustainable materials in building projects in Australia.