<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <rss version="2.0">
      <channel xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
        <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>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-05-14T07:56:32.937+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1780982</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1780982</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Circular economy to circular societies: universities as mindset infrastructures for transformative change]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Opinion</category>
        <author>Sarfraz Aslam</author><author>Sharareh Shahidi Hamedani</author><author>Shervin Shahidi Hamedani</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1833682</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1833682</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The Arabian Peninsula at the forefront of climate change—setting the research agenda]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Logan Cochrane</author><author>Dhabia Al-Mohannadi</author><author>Esra Aleisa</author><author>Noura Al Nasiri</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The countries of the Arabian Peninsula are at the forefront of climate change impacts. The future habitability of the region has been called into question, creating uncertainties regarding adaptation efforts. Governments, research donors and institutions as well as individual researchers have responded by investing in climate change research focusing on the region. The evidence has improved dramatically over the last three decades. This Mini Review takes stock of what is known and conducts a macro-trend assessment of available evidence to identify areas that require greater attention. With the knowledge, resources and infrastructure available to it, the region is well positioned to overcome risks and become a global leader in arid living. We propose a research agenda to guide the next decade. If capitalized upon, this can transition the region from being at the forefront of climate change risks to the forefront of resilient living.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1832491</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1832491</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Corporate voices, sustainable choices: how generation Y shapes the future of ethical business and environmental responsibility]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Syed Muhammad Fahim</author><author>Sana Naz</author><author>Saima Munawar</author><author>Wong Chee Hoo</author><author>Anantha Raj A. Arokiasamy</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study examines how generation Y engages with sustainable consumption, focusing on the impact of corporate communication and green promotion through the lens of Social Practice Theory (SPT). Unlike the Theory of Planned Behavior, which focuses on individual intention, SPT incorporates broader social elements, meanings, materials, and competencies as key drivers of consumption. The study examines the mediating roles of green product knowledge and green purchase intention in the relationship between organizational strategies and consumer behavior. Data from 339 Generation Y respondents were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicate that both corporate communication and green promotion have a significant influence on sustainable consumption. However, knowledge of green products alone does not mediate these relationships. A significant serial mediation path emerges instead: knowledge enhances purchase intention, which, in turn, drives sustainable consumption behavior. The study contributes theoretically by extending SPT to include green purchase intention and empirically by focusing on a key generational group underrepresented in sustainability research. In practice, it underscores the importance of transparent, engaging communication that fosters not only awareness but also behavioral intention. The findings suggest that intention serves as a critical bridge between knowledge and action. Future research should investigate additional mediators, examine longitudinal effects, and conduct cross-cultural comparisons.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1795366</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1795366</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Food waste management in the hospitality sector: a systematic review of the strategies and barriers]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Gideon Walter Mutanda</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The hospitality industry is a major source of food waste (FW) worldwide. This makes it harder to achieve global development goals such as SDG 2 (ending hunger), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action). Given the negative impacts of FW, there is growing pressure for sustainability in the hospitality sector. Research on FW and food waste management (FWM) in the hospitality sector remains limited, geographically uneven, and divergent, with a notable lack of rigorous academic studies that synthesize findings on FWM in this sector. This study conducts a systematic review of the literature, using the PRISMA framework to synthesise findings on FWM practices and challenges in the sector at a global level. Peer-reviewed articles were extracted from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The findings show that procurement and inventory-based interventions dominated the pre-kitchen stage of FWM, suggesting that early-stage planning plays a decisive role in shaping downstream waste outcomes. In the kitchen stage, there is a strong emphasis on food portion and production control, indicating that kitchen operations focus on controlling food preparation processes and improving resource efficiency. Popular post-kitchen practices, such as composting and food donation, highlight the growing adoption of circular-economy principles within the sector. The study’s results further indicate that effective FWM requires coordinated implementation across all phases of food service delivery, rather than fragmented adoption of singular FWM practices. The study recommends that the hospitality sector develop FWM guidelines and regularly equip kitchen staff to follow them, thereby reducing FW. There is a need to adopt technological innovations in kitchen operations to measure and track the source and daily waste volumes. Future studies should prioritise research in understudied regions, particularly in developing countries, to address existing geographical gaps in FW and FWM research and conduct comparative studies across different hospitality players to identify transferable, and scalable best practices. Therefore, by synthesising fragmented global evidence on FWM practices, this systematic literature review provides a comprehensive understanding of contemporary FWM strategies, identifies critical policy gaps, and offers insights to guide future research on FWM and sustainable FWM practices in the hospitality sector.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.prisma-statement.org/.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1811466</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1811466</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Circular economy and input–output impacts of phasing out the coal sector in Muğla, Türkiye: a regional just transition perspective]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Simay Kızılkaya</author><author>Sevil Acar</author><author>Bengisu Özenç</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study evaluates the economic and environmental implications of phasing out the coal sector and discontinuing subsidies for both coal mines and coal-fired power plants in Muğla, Türkiye, with a focus on key metrics such as output, value-added, employment, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis proceeds in two distinct phases. Initially, it explores the direct effects of removing investment incentives for coal mining and capacity payments to thermal power plants within the electricity market capacity mechanism on regional economic indicators and environmental outcomes. Subsequently, it examines three alternative scenarios wherein these subsidies are used as a just transition fund and redirected towards greener energy technologies, investments in the circular economy within selected industries, and lower-carbon sectors in the regional context. This two-pronged approach facilitates a comparative evaluation of the costs and benefits of subsidy reform from the perspective of a just transition. The findings aim to guide regional development strategies that balance economic growth with climate mitigation objectives. By elucidating the distributional and environmental trade-offs associated with coal subsidy removal and the reallocation of funds towards sustainable investments, the study provides valuable insights for designing policies that support equitable decarbonization and promote circular economies at the local level.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1788965</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1788965</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Towards sustainable wearer-centered knitwear systems: a meso-level, investigation of comfort and structural preference in sustainable knitwear manufacturing]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Eleanor L. Scott</author><author>Tracy Bhamra</author><author>Mazher I. Mohammed</author><author>Andrew A. Johnson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study examines knitwear comfort through a systems lens, asking how construction choices in fully fashioned (FF) and seamless (SL) garments influence wearer performance that underpins longevity. In a meso-level wearer trial, 10 female participants rated pleasantness of fit (POF), discomfort and confidence across three range-of-motion (ROM) stances using Likert scales supplemented by open comments. While statistical analysis identified no significant differences in overall comfort ratings between FF and SL garments, integrated qualitative analysis revealed a clear structural trade-off with implications for sustainable design. FF garments provided dimensional stability in static postures but exhibited limited recovery following deformation, whereas SL garments accommodated movement more readily yet increased textile-to-skin contact during motion, before recovering more effectively post-movement. These findings demonstrate that comfort perception emerges from the interaction between structure and movement, rather than from construction type alone. Aligned with the Functional dimension of the FEA model, the study identifies region-specific optimisation as a pathway to reducing discomfort triggers, improving recovery, and extending use-phases. In this exploratory meso-level trial with 10 female participants, micro seam/contact mechanisms are linked to garment-level perception providing actionable guidance for efficient, minimal-waste manufacturing pathways that support comfort, attachment, and circular lifespans. Findings inform scalable, region-specific optimisations within sustainable knitwear systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1790528</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1790528</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Determinants of green purchasing behavior among South African youth: the roles of interpersonal influence, green trust, media exposure, environmental attitude, and price sensitivity]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Adio M. Maadza</author><author>Herring Shava</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Despite growing youth interest in sustainability, there is limited empirical evidence explaining how interpersonal influence, green trust, and media exposure jointly shape green purchasing behavior among young consumers. It also remains unclear whether environmental attitude mediates these relationships and whether price sensitivity conditions the attitude–behavior link. This study adopts a quantitative, explanatory design and analyses data collected via a self-administered questionnaire from 766 youths in Gauteng Province, South Africa, using a non-probability sampling approach, complemented by stratification controls to enhance the sample’s structure. The findings reveal that interpersonal influence, green trust, and media exposure significantly predict green purchasing behavior, both individually and as an integrated higher-order construct conceptualized as external green influence. Environmental attitude partially mediates this relationship, indicating that external influences are internalized into favorable evaluations that motivate behavior, while also exerting a direct effect. Additionally, price sensitivity moderates the relationship between environmental attitude and green purchasing behavior, highlighting the constraining role of economic considerations. The study recommends that businesses and policymakers leverage social networks, strengthen the credibility of green claims, and utilize targeted media strategies, while addressing affordability barriers to promote sustainable consumption. Overall, the results provide a more integrated understanding of the social, informational, and economic drivers of green purchasing behavior among South African youth.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1857748</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1857748</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Integrating social aspects to improve resource recovery]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Kamran Rousta</author><author>Isabel Ordónez</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1786975</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1786975</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Implications to reduce food waste and enhance sustainable food supply: results from a choice experiment with professionals and lay consumers]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zinaida Catruc</author><author>Louis Backmann</author><author>Finn Ehlerding</author><author>Stephan Meyerding</author><author>Vanessa Wulf</author><author>Hannah Jilani</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundToday's consumers are accustomed to purchasing visually flawless fruits and vegetables from a globalized market. However, it remains unclear whether they are willing to buy produce with visual imperfections to reduce food waste. This choice experiment investigated which product attributes influence consumers' willingness to purchase “imperfect” apples. The analysis compared professionals from the food and health sectors with lay consumers.MethodsIn early 2024, a nationwide online survey was conducted in Germany, including a choice experiment implemented using Sawtooth software. The experiment assessed preferences for various apple attributes: regional origin, cultivation method, price per kilogram, promotional claims, and appearance. Responses from professionals in the food and nutrition sectors were compared with those from laypersons across different age groups. Latent class analysis (LCA) was applied to identify consumer segments based on the relative importance of these attributes in their purchasing decisions.ResultsA total of 118 individuals participated in the study (74.6% female). The majority were aged 20–29 years (35.9%), and 14.1% were aged 60 years or older. More than half (55.1%) reported working in the food or health sector. LCA revealed four distinct consumer segments: (1) multi-criteria-focused, (2) sustainability-focused, (3) price-driven, and (4) claim/appearance-focused. Professionals were predominantly classified as rationalists, assigning importance to all attributes except promotional claims. Accordingly, they were underrepresented in the claim/appearance segment. Female participants were most prevalent in the sustainability-focused segment, while male participants were more frequently found in the price-driven segment.ConclusionEfforts to promote the purchase of visually imperfect produce should be tailored to specific target groups. Consumers oriented toward price, regionality, or sustainability may be more receptive to purchasing such products. Professionals in the food and health sectors demonstrated a more comprehensive, multi-criteria-based approach to product evaluation, indicating that education remains a valuable strategy. These findings provide insight into consumer preferences and offer practical implications for food producers aiming to develop more sustainable food systems. Future research could build on these results to further explore effective interventions for reducing food waste.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1735012</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1735012</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The impact of the digital economy on high-quality economic development in the Silk Road Economic Belt]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yue Wang</author><author>Arifur Rahman</author><author>Abu Hashan Md Mashud</author><author>Xiaowen Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This paper examines the mechanisms and regional heterogeneity in the impact of the digital economy on high-quality economic development within the Chinese section of the Silk Road Economic Belt. We construct a comprehensive evaluation system for high-quality economic development based on the five dimensions of “innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing,” as well as a digital economy development index covering four dimensions: “digital infrastructure, digital industrialization, industrial digitization, and digital economic environment.” Using panel data from 74 prefecture-level cities from 2013 to 2022, we conduct empirical tests. The findings confirm that the digital economy significantly promotes high-quality economic development. Industrial structure upgrading, technological innovation, and the level of openness to the outside world are three important transmission channels through which the digital economy enables high-quality development. Among these, industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation exhibit more prominent mediating effects. However, the impact of the digital economy shows significant regional heterogeneity. Its promoting effect is more pronounced in the southwestern region but weaker in the northwestern region, reflecting a regional “digital divide.” The conclusions remain valid after addressing endogeneity issues and conducting robustness checks. In advancing the “Digital Silk Road,” the paper recommends focusing on strengthening digital infrastructure development, deepening the integration of the digital and real economies, implementing regionally differentiated policies, and emphasizing human capital development, to achieve higher-quality, sustainable, and balanced growth in the Silk Road Economic Belt.]]></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.2026.1817308</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>
      </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.2026.1793981</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.2026.1737050</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.2026.1785112</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.2026.1781864</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.2026.1824920</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.2026.1751337</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>
      </item>
      </channel>
    </rss>