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        <title>Frontiers in Sustainability | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Sustainability | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-10T14:25:28.254+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1817308</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1817308</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From labels to legitimacy: consumer expectations from natural baby care sector]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yuvaasree G</author><author>Sujatha Manohar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe growing demand for naturally claimed baby care products has heightened the need to understand how consumers interpret naturalness claims and form pre-purchase expectations within the broader sustainability agenda. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), this study examines consumer expectations and the corresponding business actions required to address them.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative approach was adopted, involving in-depth face-to-face interviews with 25 mothers. The study is grounded in Signaling Theory and Expectancy Value Theory to interpret how consumers evaluate naturalness claims and form expectations.ResultsThe findings reveal that consumer expectations are multidimensional, encompassing product and packaging attributes, emotional and psychological reassurance, and brand communication and positioning. Concerns related to product safety, transparency, and authenticity emerged as key determinants influencing trust and purchase intentions.DiscussionBased on these insights, the study proposes an integrated framework linking consumer expectation domains with organizational responses to enhance perceived quality and trust. By emphasizing product safety, responsible production practices, and credible labeling, the study contributes to advancing sustainable consumption and fostering accountability in the baby care industry.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1737050</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1737050</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Using ethical artificial intelligence (EAI) to achieve sustainable development, Iraq as a case study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rasha A. Waheeb</author><author>Bjørn S. Andersen</author><author>Kusay A. Wheib</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionIraq faces persistent challenges in achieving sustainable development due to decades of conflict, political instability, and infrastructural degradation. These challenges are particularly evident in critical sectors such as energy, water, healthcare, education, and governance, which significantly influence human well-being, social equity, and quality of life. This study proposes an AI-driven, ethically guided, and human-centric sustainability framework to support resilient urban transformation in Iraq.MethodsThe proposed framework integrates Ethical Artificial Intelligence (EAI), machine learning techniques, and a computational decision-support system (DSS). A hybrid modeling approach combining Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and AI is developed to evaluate sustainability performance across interconnected sectors, including clean energy, water security, smart transportation, environmental protection, e-governance, and human development. The system incorporates real-time data analytics and a customized software prototype adapted to Iraq’s socio-economic and environmental context. Ethical principles such as transparency, fairness, accountability, privacy protection, and bias mitigation are embedded throughout the model design and implementation.ResultsThe framework enables dynamic and real-time sustainability assessment across multiple urban sectors. When applied to the Baghdad case study, it demonstrates improved performance in energy distribution efficiency, water resource management, healthcare service delivery, and governance transparency. The results indicate enhanced decision-support capability and optimized resource allocation, while explicitly prioritizing human development indicators within the evaluation and optimization process.DiscussionThe findings highlight the potential of Ethical Artificial Intelligence as a transformative enabler of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 16 in post-conflict contexts. The proposed framework provides a scalable and transferable model for sustainable urban transformation. It further demonstrates that embedding Ethical AI as a governing layer is essential for ensuring transparency, equity, accountability, and long-term resilience in smart city systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1793981</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1793981</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Does corporate sustainability performance foster green innovation? Firm-level evidence]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yuhao Zhang</author><author>Shiyu Liu</author><author>Muhammad Zubair Tauni</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGreen innovation has become a key driver of sustainable industrial development, especially in emerging economies facing increasing environmental regulations and financing pressures. This study aims to empirically examine the relationship between corporate ESG performance and green innovation capability in Chinese A-share listed firms.MethodsUsing panel data from 2010 to 2023, a two-way fixed-effects model is employed to analyze the direct impact of ESG performance on green innovation, as well as the mediating roles of financing constraints and information asymmetry. The study also explores the moderating role of green finance development and the heterogeneous effects across ownership types, regions, and industries.ResultsThe results show that stronger ESG performance significantly enhances green innovation. Mechanism analysis reveals that this effect is primarily driven by alleviating financing constraints and reducing information asymmetry. Additionally, green finance development further strengthens this positive relationship.DiscussionHeterogeneity analyses indicate that the effect is more pronounced for firms in eastern regions, state-owned enterprises, pollution-intensive sectors, and technology-intensive industries. The findings provide theoretical insights and policy-relevant evidence to promote green innovation and sustainable industrial upgrading in emerging markets.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1794501</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1794501</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A three-lens architecture for circular economy education: technical, economic, and psychosocial]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Himanshu Himanshu</author><author>Christian Wolf</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Circular economy decision-making requires integration of technical feasibility, economic viability, and psychosocial acceptance, yet higher education courses often present these domains without requiring students to resolve cross-lens tensions under real-world constraints. This paper presents a circular economy teaching methodology developed and delivered at TH Köln, centred on a three-lens circular economy teaching architecture grounded in systems thinking accounts of feedback, unintended consequences, and trade-offs. The methodology was implemented through a designed 14-week sequence that combined lectures with embedded micro-interventions and three in-class exercises, with analysis based on group-level artefacts and instructor notes from the three exercises. The analysed outputs show that the exercises elicit lens-specific reasoning and recurring cross-lens tensions, including cases where technically feasible options become fragile under business model constraints or adoption limits, and that later exercises demanded more integration across lenses and stakeholders than earlier exercises. The results also indicate that integration does not emerge spontaneously from content exposure but requires active instructor facilitation and structured scaffolding through a sequenced progression of tasks. The results support the architecture as a transferable decision scaffold that makes integration an explicit performance through standardised lens questions, structured group artefacts, and plenary synthesis, while the evidence base remains qualitative and does not support strong claims about individual learning gains or causal effects of specific sessions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1835639</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1835639</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Modeling the economy-society-environment nexus for resilient growth]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hemanth Kumar Tummalapalli</author><author>Kamal Ganugula</author><author>Venkata Naga Kumari Yedama</author><author>Vinod Mutyala</author><author>Pattabhi Ram Pathalam</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study examines how economic performance, social well-being, and environmental sustainability jointly shape resilient growth within an Economy-Society-Environment (ESE) nexus framework. Using cross-national secondary data comprising 200 country-year observations drawn from multiple countries and years, analyzed as a pooled cross-sectional dataset, standardized composite indices were constructed for each dimension, and regression-based path and mediation analyses were employed to estimate direct and indirect relationships. A preliminary covariance-based Structural Equation Model yielded poor global fit (CFI = 0.640; RMSEA = 0.303) owing to multicollinearity and macro-level heterogeneity, a recognized limitation in cross-national sustainability research (Henseler et al., 2016), and regression-based modeling was adopted accordingly. Results show that economic performance positively influences social well-being and environmental sustainability but does not directly predict resilient growth once mediation pathways are controlled. Social well-being emerges as the dominant mediating channel (indirect β = 0.128, p = 0.036; SOC → RES β = 0.871, p < 0.001), while environmental sustainability plays a supplementary role. These findings challenge growth-centric models of resilience and identify social well-being as the primary mechanism through which economic gains translate into systemic resilience. The study’s cross-sectional design limits causal inference, findings should be interpreted as structural associations rather than directional causal claims. The study contributes an empirically grounded ESE Nexus Model that quantifies triadic mediation dynamics, advancing the nexus literature and informing integrated development policy under conditions of systemic risk.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1785112</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1785112</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Corporate strategy for SDG achievement in Africa: opportunities, challenges, and managerial insights]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Mufaro Dzingirai</author><author>Wilson Mabhanda</author><author>Anantha Raj A. Arokiasamy</author><author>Khine Zar Zar Thet</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study explores the opportunities and challenges facing African businesses in contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within the frameworks of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063, against a context of persistent poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and institutional limitations. A systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2023 and sourced from major academic databases, with rigorous screening, data extraction, and bias assessment procedures applied. The findings identify five dominant themes shaping SDG engagement in Africa, namely the integration of SDGs into business strategy, challenges and opportunities confronting firms, multi-stakeholder partnerships, SDG reporting and measurement practices, and SDG finance and investment mechanisms. The review reveals that although African firms are increasingly aligning business strategies with environmental, social, and governance principles and contributing to SDG outcomes through innovations in financial inclusion, renewable energy, agriculture, and social investment, progress remains constrained by short-term strategic orientations, weak institutional capacity, limited access to sustainable finance, fragmented partnerships, and inconsistent reporting practices. While partnerships and innovative financing instruments such as green bonds and blended finance demonstrate strong potential to accelerate SDG progress, their effectiveness is undermined by regulatory weaknesses, high transaction costs, and capacity gaps. Overall, the study concludes that African businesses can play a transformative role in advancing the SDGs if sustainability goals are embedded within core business models, supported by robust governance frameworks, context-sensitive measurement systems, inclusive partnerships, and financing structures that incorporate indigenous knowledge systems and prioritize long-term sustainable development over short-term gains.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1824920</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1824920</link>
        <title><![CDATA[AI-supported dynamic pricing and customer satisfaction in electric vehicle markets: the mediating role of purchasing decisions and moderating effect of trust in emerging market context]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mohammad Mousa Mousa</author><author>Abdullah Saad Rashed</author><author>Lina Shawkat Abu Hantash</author><author>Ahmad M. Zamil</author><author>Abdelrahman A. A. Abdelghani</author><author>Hebatallah A. M. Ahmed</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pricing systems is reshaping global markets, yet its implications for societal sustainability and inclusive growth in emerging economies remain largely overlooked. This study examines how AI-driven dynamic pricing influences customer satisfaction within Jordan’s electric vehicle (EV) sector—a context marked by evolving trust in technology and distinct socio-cultural norms.MethodsA survey of 454 EV users was conducted, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The model tested direct, mediating, and moderating effects among AI-supported dynamic pricing, purchasing decision quality, customer satisfaction, and trust in AI.ResultsThe analysis reveals that algorithmic pricing does not directly enhance customer satisfaction. Instead, its effect is fully mediated by the consumer’s perceived decision confidence. Furthermore, trust in AI negatively moderates the relationship between dynamic pricing and decision quality, suggesting that heightened trust may paradoxically reduce proactive price evaluation in this context.DiscussionThese findings challenge Western-centric narratives and underscore the nuanced, context-dependent role of technology in sustainable consumption. The study highlights that in emerging markets, satisfaction is derived less from price perception and more from the psychological confidence of making an informed choice. For marketers and policymakers, this underscores the need for transparent, confidence-building communication strategies that align algorithmic pricing with broader goals of social inclusion and psychological well-being—key pillars of sustainable business performance in evolving economies. The research offers a rich context-driven model that positions decision confidence as the critical psychological route between algorithmic pricing and satisfaction.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1781864</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1781864</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Machine learning based analysis of travel mode choice for healthcare accessibility in urban and rural areas]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Manlika Seefong</author><author>Panuwat Wisutwattanasak</author><author>Chinnakrit Banyong</author><author>Kestsirin Theerathitichaipa</author><author>Pattarawadee Prasomsab</author><author>Nanthana Jansirisuk</author><author>Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao</author><author>Atthaphon Ariyarit</author><author>Menglim Hoy</author><author>Rattanaporn Kasemsri</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Timely access to public healthcare is fundamental human rights and a key measure of social equity. In Thailand, transportation barriers especially in rural and underserved areas continue to restrict equitable access to medical services, reinforcing existing social disparities. This study investigates the determinants of hospital transport service utilization, focusing on the differences in travel behavior between urban and rural populations. A dataset of 1,200 respondents was analyzed using Categorical Boosting (CatBoost), a gradient-boosting machine learning algorithm known for high predictive accuracy and interpretability. The results indicate that The CatBoost model outperformed traditional statistical approaches, namely the Binary Logit Model, in identifying behavioral and contextual determinants of transport use. Key influencing factors included travel time, waiting time, travel cost, and parking fees, alongside demographic attributes such as age, income, and travel frequency. Findings reveal persistent inequities in healthcare accessibility shaped by transportation infrastructure and socioeconomic status. By integrating interpretable machine learning with a social equity perspective, this study demonstrates how data driven insights can inform inclusive and context sensitive health transport policies. The results contribute to global discussions on mobility justice and equitable healthcare access, emphasizing the need for socially responsive interventions to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and well-being across urban and rural communities.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1751337</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1751337</link>
        <title><![CDATA[IoT-enabled indoor environments in smart cities: a systematic review on energy efficiency, user comfort, and environmental sustainability]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Nedim Alici</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionToday, the rapid acceleration of urbanization has made it necessary to reconsider the balance among energy consumption, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Buildings, which account for a significant share of cities’ carbon footprint, play a critical role in efforts to improve energy efficiency and ensure user well-being. In this context, advances in digitalization and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have enabled buildings to evolve beyond mere physical structures into dynamic, data-driven, and user-interactive systems. Within this framework, the present study constitutes a systematic literature review addressing the effects of indoor environment design in smart cities on energy efficiency (E), user comfort (C), and environmental sustainability (S). In recent years, IoT-based sensor and control technologies have reconfigured approaches to energy management in buildings by enabling the continuous monitoring of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, lighting, and movement, while also strengthening user experience through a holistic perspective.MethodsIn this regard, the study examined 76 different works in the literature, including field applications, experimental research, and conceptual models. These studies were evaluated through an inductive thematic analysis approach based on content and classified according to recurring conceptual clusters in the literature.ResultsAn examination of these sources reveals that the contributions of IoT technologies to smart buildings and cities are multidimensional in nature. This extensive body of knowledge in the literature demonstrates that IoT is not merely a technical infrastructure but also an ecosystem that transforms energy, health, the environment, transportation, and social life. It is evident that the data derived from all reviewed studies were synthesized under the headings of energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and comfort, smart city infrastructure, user interaction, security/facility management, and industrial applications. Accordingly, the present study evaluates the contributions of IoT-based solutions to reducing energy consumption, improving environmental conditions, and supporting user-centered indoor design. The reviewed studies show that these technologies not only enhance energy efficiency (maximum savings: smart parking [92.6%] and smart lighting [73.2%]; average building savings: 20–30% through BEMS and IoT systems; HVAC optimization: 30–70% through artificial intelligence), but also support user health and comfort (the use of smart systems is generally expected to produce an improvement of more than 20% in comfort levels, while this rate can reach the 70–90% range with advanced personalized models). Furthermore, they demonstrate that IoT-based systems play a strategic role in achieving environmental sustainability goals, reducing carbon emissions, and implementing smart city policies.DiscussionThe original contribution of this study lies in its systematic synthesis of energy, comfort, and sustainability within an integrated thematic classification framework, thereby revealing trends in the field, research gaps, and potential future directions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1818833</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1818833</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Smart and inclusive sustainability in hospitality: the interactive roles of stakeholder engagement, knowledge digitalization, circular economy, and hybrid intelligence]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ahmed Hassan Abdou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionWhile the hospitality industry faces growing pressure to improve environmental performance, the mechanisms and boundary conditions shaping these outcomes remain unclear. Drawing on the Natural Resource-Based View and Stakeholder Theory, this study aims to investigate how stakeholder engagement influences hotel environmental performance through key internal capabilities, namely knowledge digitalization and circular economy practices. It examines their individual and sequential mediating roles, as well as the moderating effect of AI–Human Intelligence (AI–HI) collaboration on these relationships.MethodsData were collected from 224 managers, executives, and their assistants working in five-star hotels across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).ResultsThe findings show that stakeholder engagement is significantly associated with environmental performance, knowledge digitalization, and circular economy practices. Knowledge digitalization and circular economy practices both positively influence environmental performance and act as individual mediators in the stakeholder engagement–environmental performance relationship. A significant serial mediation effect was also identified, indicating that stakeholder engagement enhances knowledge digitalization, which subsequently improves circular economy practices, ultimately leading to higher environmental performance. Furthermore, AI–Human Intelligence (AI–HI) collaboration significantly strengthens the relationships between stakeholder engagement and knowledge digitalization, and between circular economy practices and environmental performance.DiscussionThis study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that knowledge digitalization and circular economy practices function as interdependent and sequential capabilities linking stakeholder engagement to environmental performance. It also introduces AI–HI collaboration as a key boundary condition, highlighting how the integration of technological and human capabilities enhances sustainability outcomes in the hospitality sector.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1694847</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1694847</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Investigating medical practitioners’ healthcare waste management in Liberian hospitals: a case study of Margibi and Bong counties]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Josephine Brent Yeanga</author><author>Kenichi Matsui</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionEffective healthcare waste management is crucial for improving hospital safety and services. In African countries, the quality of healthcare waste management largely depends on the knowledge and attitudes of in-site medical practitioners. Among increasing studies on healthcare waste management, relatively little is known about practices in African countries like Liberia.ObjectiveThis paper investigates medical practitioners’ perceptions and practices of healthcare waste management in Liberian hospitals. In particular, it examines two major referral hospitals with high patient intake and easy-to-reach areas by donations.MethodologyThe primary data were collected by administering a questionnaire survey among 200 medical practitioners from October to November 2024. The questionnaire is designed by drawing on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and WHO healthcare waste management guidelines. The analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and STATA 17.Results and discussionThe results revealed that 89% of the respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge, but significant barriers existed in terms of compliance. The absence of regular drills was identified by 43% of the respondents. Within hospital premises, 55% reported that the hospital did not have a registration record book for tracking healthcare waste related injuries. About 90% had observed policies for sorting waste into coded color bins, although our field observation found widely varied practices. Confidence in handling infectious waste, including Ebola and COVID-19 materials, was low due to inadequate personal protective equipment. These findings highlight critical gaps between guidelines and actual practices, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to strengthen compliance and safety practices in Liberian hospitals.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1806432</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1806432</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Human-centered barriers to green supply chain management in fossil fuel-dependent logistics systems: an ISM-based analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Islam El-Nakib</author><author>Sara Elzarka</author><author>Nermin Gouhar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGreen supply chain management (GSCM) barriers are widely documented, yet prior studies often treat them as isolated constraints rather than interdependent drivers within transition systems. This limitation is particularly relevant in fossil-fuel-dependent logistics systems.MethodsThis study employs a mixed-method design combining survey data from logistics professionals in Saudi Arabia with interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis to identify hierarchical relationships among GSCM barriers.ResultsThe results reveal that human capability, training, and managerial support function as primary driver barriers influencing technological, financial, and policy-related constraints. Technological and financial barriers act as linkage factors, while policy-related barriers emerge as dependent outcomes.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that sustainability challenges in fossil-fuel-dependent logistics systems are structurally interdependent rather than independent obstacles. The study highlights the importance of addressing human and organizational capabilities as upstream drivers to enable effective sustainability transitions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1792465</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1792465</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A spatiotemporal analysis of the human-induced ecological deficit in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hamdi El Asli</author><author>Safae Chakhte</author><author>Youness Jannani</author><author>Hamou Bouifrane</author><author>Imane Ahdil</author><author>Mohamed Azeroual</author><author>Youssef Jamil</author><author>Ikram Imad</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study scrutinizes and compares the impact of the human-induced ecological deficit in 27 countries from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, by measuring the inverted load capacity factor (ILCF), linked to 14 human factors driving this deficit, using the TOPSIS method, and explores the spillover effects and regional clustering patterns from 1994 to 2024. Final rankings show that high-income and petroleum-producing countries, such as Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, are largely affected, with non-petroleum-producing countries like Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine being notable exceptions, mainly due to their intense geopolitical conditions. Except for Turkey, countries with low incomes, such as Yemen, Nepal, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, and Bangladesh, experience fewer effects. Countries like India, the Maldives, Algeria, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Iran are mid-ranking. Spatial analysis shows that countries highly impacted by ecological deficit, already identified by the TOPSIS method, exhibit high autocorrelation patterns and cluster together in the hotspot of ecological deficit, followed by mid-ranking positioning in the tied spot of ecological deficit, while those less affected occupy the low-low quadrant. Additionally, the three cross-country dependence tests reveal high spillover effects of ecological deficit across the MENASA region.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1717610</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1717610</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The sustainability of palm oil farming by certified independent smallholders in Jambi]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Fuad Muchlis</author><author>Resti Prastika Destiarni</author><author>Dompak M. T. Napitupulu</author><author>Ahmad Zainuddin</author><author>Muhammad Abdul Aziz</author><author>Araz Meilin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPalm oil plantation certification is important in promoting sustainable practices, but its implementation among independent smallholders often faces obstacles. Suboptimal readiness, limited insight, knowledge, human resources, and audit costs cause some stallholders to view certification, whether Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) or Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), as merely an administrative obligation. This study aims to assess the sustainability level of smallholder oil palm plantation certification systems in three districts in Jambi Province, namely Batanghari District (ISPO-certified group), Tanjung Jabung Barat District (RSPO-certified group), and Merangin District (ISPO and RSPO-certified group).MethodsThe research sample consisted of 225 smallholder’s selected using multistage random sampling. Sustainability analysis was conducted using the Rapfish method across five dimensions of sustainability.ResultsThe results of the study showed differences in sustainability levels between locations. Batanghari Regency, represented by KUD Mutiara Bumi, scored 65.88 (fair category), Tanjung Jabung Barat Regency, represented by FPS–MRM, scored 78.10 (good category), and Merangin Regency, represented by Gapoktan Tanjung Sehati, scored 90.55 (very good category). The economic dimension was the lowest aspect, followed by the institutional dimension, making both priorities for improvement.DiscussionThese findings confirm that the sustainability of certification depends on formal compliance and on strengthening smallholder capacity, economic support, group institutions, and multistakeholder collaboration. The practical implication is that an integrated strategy covering economic incentives, audit cost facilitation, and strengthening of smallholder organizations is needed to ensure that ISPO/RSPO certification is sustainable and provides tangible benefits for independent smallholders.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1810166</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1810166</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Toward holistic sustainability assessment of motorcycles: a systematic review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Melanie Arzberger</author><author>Marzia Traverso</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Motorcycles are a significant mode of transportation worldwide, serving both as leisure and luxury goods in industrialized countries and as affordable everyday mobility solutions in many emerging and developing regions. In the context of a more sustainable transport future, all three dimensions of sustainability, namely environmental, economic, and social must be considered. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) following established review protocols, screening five major scientific databases for peer reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 to critically analyze existing research on the sustainability assessment of motorcycles using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC), with a focus on social aspects. Findings reveal that environmental LCA dominates existing research, with 30 of the 33 SLR studies evaluating environmental impacts, primarily comparing internal combustion engine motorcycles with electric two wheelers. Findings show lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for electric motorcycles, though battery production and electricity mix significantly influence overall results. While environmental LCAs and LCCs primarily address vehicle use and environmental impacts and costs, no dedicated full S-LCA of motorcycles as a product system was identified. Additional non-LCA social studies highlight road safety, noise, and local socioeconomic impacts as prominent social issues. The industry review shows that while some manufacturers use life cycle methodologies for carbon accounting, only two companies publicly report motorcycle LCAs, and none disclose S-LCA results. The findings reveal a significant methodological imbalance: environmental dimensions of motorcycle sustainability are increasingly studied, whereas social aspects are underexplored and treated in a fragmented context specific manner, and rarely assessed across the full life cycle. This gap is especially critical considering the globalized, resource intensive supply chains of motorcycle production and the socio-economic importance of motorcycles in low and middle income countries. The rise of electric motorcycles further amplifies the need for integrated LCSA approaches that consider human rights, working conditions in battery supply chains, and user safety. Future research, such as next steps of this research project (doctoral thesis), should focus on developing standardized social indicators for motorcycles, collecting supply chain data, and aligning sustainability communication with robust LCSA frameworks.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1804950</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1804950</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Examining the socio-technical foundations of digital transformation in sustainable finance: global bibliometric evidence with insights from Indonesia’s Bank 5.0 transition]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author> Neviana</author><author>Dezie Leonarda Warganegara</author><author>Sekar Wulan Prasetyaningtyas</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Digital transformation is reshaping financial ecosystems, yet organizations and regulators continue to face challenges in aligning rapid technological innovation with institutional change, sustainability, and resilience objectives. This study presents a systematic bibliometric review examining the intellectual, conceptual, and thematic foundations of research at the intersection of socio-technical systems, digital transformation, and sustainable finance, with particular attention to institutional resilience in digital financial systems. A dataset of 284 peer-reviewed publications (2015–2025) indexed in Scopus and Web of Science was screened using PRISMA procedures. Bibliometric and science-mapping techniques were applied to identify publication trends, thematic structures, and patterns of conceptual evolution. The results reveal a pronounced increase in scholarly output after 2019, reflecting the growing convergence of digital banking, fintech, sustainability, and resilience agendas. Three dominant thematic clusters structure the literature, focusing on digital transformation, sustainability transitions, and socio-technical adaptation encompassing governance, institutional learning, and adaptive capability. Temporal analysis indicates a shift from efficiency-oriented digitization toward resilience-oriented approaches that emphasize ethical governance, inclusivity, and institutional robustness in digital financial systems. By synthesizing fragmented research streams, this review reconceptualizes digital finance as a socio-technical institutional system in which resilience emerges from the co-evolution of digital innovation, governance arrangements, and organizational adaptation. Illustrative insights from Indonesia’s Bank 5.0 framework and the Financial Services Authority’s Digital Resilience Guidelines demonstrate how these principles are being operationalized in regulatory practice, offering pathways toward responsible and resilient digital finance.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1779578</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1779578</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Unveiling Critical Success Factors of Triple Bottom Line in the light of sustainability—an empirical study of Indian manufacturing SMEs]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>T. K. Murugesan</author><author>Jaheer Mukthar KP</author><author>Jeremy Ko</author><author>Chun Kai Leung</author><author>Mohammad Ridwan</author><author>Wai Kit Ming</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study aims to identify the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in evaluating sustainability aspects of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Indian manufacturing sector. Primary data were collected from 146 industry practitioners using a structured questionnaire designed in Google Forms. Respondents were selected through judgmental sampling, ensuring that participants had engaged in at least one environmental, economic, or social sustainability initiative aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A newly developed survey instrument was employed, and the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to identify and analyze the CSFs of TBL within Indian manufacturing SMEs. This study identified 15 CSFs grouped into three key latent constructs: Economic Sustainability Benefits (EcoSBs), Social Sustainability Benefits (SSBs), and Environmental Sustainability Benefits (EnvSBs). Six CSFs were identified under EcoSBs, four under SSBs, and five under EnvSBs. The study findings reveal that Indian manufacturing SMEs actively pursue at least one dimension of sustainability within the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework. Moreover, the 15 CSFs of TBL identified in this study are directly or indirectly integrated with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The PLS-SEM results further indicate positive and statistically significant relationships among the three sustainability dimensions, confirming their mutual interdependence for achieving SDGs. The study contributes novel insights to the manufacturing and sustainability literature by providing an empirically validated TBL-based framework tailored to SMEs in emerging economies like India, highlighting their significant contributions in achieving the SDGs.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1748959</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1748959</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Assessing ISO 14001:2015 implementation in Jordanian industry: an exploratory factor analysis of sustainability performance dimensions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Safwan Altarazi</author><author>Sarah Haddaden</author>
        <description><![CDATA[PurposeThis study examines how ISO 14001:2015 implementation shapes environmental, economic, and social performance in Jordan's industrial sector. It maps these hierarchical impacts to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and extends theoretical frameworks, namely the natural resource-based view and institutional theory, in a resource-constrained, developing-economy context.Design/methodology/approachA stratified random sample of 50 ISO 14001:2015-certified organizations across manufacturing, services, and construction sectors completed a 29-indicator questionnaire. Data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis to identify the latent dimensions of sustainability performance.FindingsExploratory factor analysis revealed three latent dimensions. Environmental performance emerged as the dominant dimension, driven primarily by circular economy practices including increased reuse and recycling and waste reduction, followed by energy efficiency improvements. Economic performance constituted the second dimension, anchored in direct and indirect cost efficiencies with modest revenue-enhancement effects. Social and organizational benefits formed the third dimension, centered on occupational health and safety and employee engagement. This hierarchy demonstrates a context-specific prioritization reflecting Jordan's resource constraints and energy import dependence.Practical implicationsIndustrial practitioners should prioritize waste management and energy efficiency initiatives, supplemented by targeted employee engagement programs to generate salient environmental benefits and measurable economic savings. Policymakers can amplify ISO 1401's impact through performance-based incentives aligned with national SDG targets, particularly SDG 12.5 (waste reduction), SDG 7.3 (energy efficiency), and SDG 8.8 (labor protections).Originality/valueThis is the first empirically validated hierarchy of ISO 14001:2015 impacts in Jordan, extending the natural resource-based view and institutional theory in a developing economy context. The findings demonstrate that pollution prevention capabilities dominate in resource-scarce settings, product stewardship remains underdeveloped due to weak regulatory enforcement, and sustainable development capacities emphasize internal workforce welfare. The study provides context-specific insights for researchers and decision-makers in developing economies seeking to leverage environmental management systems for sustainable development.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1815978</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1815978</link>
        <title><![CDATA[One Health approach to tilapia welfare: public policies for sustainable aquaculture in Papaloapan indigenous communities, Oaxaca, Mexico]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Eleazar Gutiérrez-Cubillas</author><author>Héctor Hugo Sánchez-Hernández</author><author>Diana Matías-Pérez</author><author>Luis Miguel Hernández-Pérez</author><author>Gildardo Oswaldo García-Montalvo</author><author>Luis Alberto Martínez-Santiago</author><author>Heriberto Cruz-Martínez</author><author>Iván Antonio García-Montalvo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Following the construction of reservoirs in the Papaloapan region of Oaxaca, the indigenous communities living there shifted their economy from agriculture to tilapia aquaculture, thereby making better use of these previously underutilized bodies of water. Today, they face major challenges related to the emergence of diseases due to high densities and excessive antibiotic use in tilapia. Despite this, several sustainable opportunities can be exploited and implemented through animal welfare, monitoring technologies, and, above all, public policies that can promote food security, a solidarity economy, and environmental resilience in this region of the state. The objective of this work is to highlight the issue of farmed tilapia welfare in these indigenous communities and to propose sustainable management strategies that balance production intensification with animal health, the environment, and regional socioeconomic development.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1809399</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1809399</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Extending value-belief-norm theory in green hotel marketing: the role of sustainability claims, eco-guilt, and pride in shaping visit intentions and price premium willingness]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Priyanka Shrivastava</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This literature review synthesizes recent scholarship (2018–2026) on green hotel marketing and consumer behavior to establish the theoretical foundation for extending Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory. The review examines five interconnected domains: (1) green hotel visit intentions and willingness to pay price premiums, (2) applications and limitations of VBN theory in tourism contexts, (3) the role of eco-guilt in pro-environmental behaviors, (4) green pride and its authentic versus hubristic dimensions in sustainable consumption, and (5) hotel sustainability claims and their effects on consumer trust and responses. The synthesis reveals that while VBN theory has been successfully integrated with other frameworks to predict green hotel patronage, significant gaps remain in understanding the emotional mechanisms, particularly anticipated eco-guilt and differentiated forms of pride, that mediate between sustainability communications and behavioral outcomes. Current research demonstrates that sustainability claims, certifications, and message characteristics significantly influence consumer trust and willingness to pay, yet the psychological pathways through which these communications activate moral emotions remain underexplored. Conceptually, the review extends VBN by integrating anticipated eco-guilt and differentiated forms of green pride into the VBN pathway and by explicitly modelling how hotel sustainability claims trigger these moral emotions to shape visit intentions and price premium willingness.]]></description>
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