Avaliando a economia circular nas indústrias brasileiras pelo processo de hierarquia analítica

O desenvolvimento sustentável tem sido buscado por organizações em todo o mundo desde que as questões ambientais e sociais entraram nas agendas institucionais. Nos diversos setores da economia, os fatores que influenciam as decisões sustentáveis são multidisciplinares, sistêmicos e abordam o conceito de economia circular (EC). O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver um método para medir o nível de comprometimento de empresas e setores com a EC. O método permite investigar fatores institucionais relacionados ao desenvolvimento sustentável e avaliar a profundidade das práticas de EC. Foi gerado um índice de circularidade que pode auxiliar os tomadores de decisão no desenvolvimento de estratégias, planos de investimento e políticas específicas capazes de orientar as organizações para o alcance da EC. A metodologia proposta foi então aplicada a 75 empresas brasileiras reconhecidas por suas iniciativas de sustentabilidade, analisando-se as práticas relacionadas às ações de EC, bem como sua profundidade. Os resultados, utilizando o Processo Analítico Hierárquico (PAH), mostram que os setores analisados não apresentam diferença significativa entre si, e que a maioria das empresas analisadas (80%) não pratica ação circular alguma, apesar de afirmar o contrário. Sendo assim, a EC ainda é incipiente no país. A aplicação do método proposto em uma grande amostra mostrou seu potencial de uso global, podendo também ser empregada para orientar ações de empresas isoladas ou de setores inteiros na direção do desenvolvimento sustentável, por meio da EC.Sustainable development has been pursued by organizations around the world ever since environmental and social issues were introduced into institutional agendas. In the various sectors of the economy, the factors that influence sustainable decisions are multidisciplinary and systemic, and address the concept of Circular Economy (CE). This study aimed to develop a method to measure the level of commitment of companies and sectors to CE. The method allows investigating institutional factors associated with sustainable development and assessing the depth of CE practices. A circularity index is originated that can assist decision makers in the development of specific strategies, investment plans, and policies to guide organizations towards the achievement of a CE. The proposed method was then applied to 75 Brazilian companies recognized for their sustainability initiatives, analyzing practices associated with CE actions, as well as their depth. The results, using the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP), indicate that the sectors analyzed do not have a significant difference among them and that the majority of the companies analyzed (80%) do not practice any circular action despite claiming the opposite. Therefore, CE is still incipient in Brazil. The application of the proposed method to a large sample showed its potential for global use, and that it can also be employed to guide actions of single companies or entire sectors towards sustainable development using a CE path

The Internet of Things, dynamic data and information processing capabilities and operational agility

WWhilst there are promising links between the Internet of Things (IoTs), dynamic data and information processing capabilities (DDIPCs), and operational agility, scholars have not conducted enough empirical studies that offer convincing evidence for the use of the IoTs and relevant linkages. This study therefore examines the links between such constructs and provides managerial implications for contemporary data and information driven managers who adopt evidence-based decision making for better operational outcomes. The results obtained from structural equation modelling indicate that the use of the IoTs is the key determinant for operational agility and also plays a vital role in establishing DDIPCs that further reinforce it. Additionally, DDIPCs mediate the relationship between the use of the IoTs and operational agility. By persuasively building these links based on theoretical arguments and testing them by using a unique dataset, this study contributes to the deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which the use of the IoTs and DDIPCs strengthen operational agility

Ecolux Communities

Seven years, 103 days, 40 minutes and 17 seconds... On September 17, 2020, Artists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd displayed a clock in Manhattan Square. This clock, however, displayed exactly how long we have until an irreversible climate disaster occurs, not regular time. Unless greenhouse gases are significantly reduced, the time we have before something like this occurs is limited. It is very easy to see the repercussions of our actions already happening. Many areas of the planet have already seen the 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit average above pre-industrial levels. The consequences of this, are also showing. Storms are increasingly getting worse, droughts are getting longer and heatwaves are getting more extreme. The planet is getting sick and we are feeling the effects, but we can also help heal it. The path to a healthier and more sustainable way of living can be paved by architects of today. Currently, buildings generate, on average, 40% of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The incorporation of new construction techniques, building materials and technologies could significantly help reduce that average. Sustainable design is a necessity in this endeavor and should immediately be incorporated into all types of design whether it be residential, commercial, or industrial. This thesis project will focus mainly on how to incorporate sustainable design into smaller communities. A proposed self-sufficient neighborhood will convey how altering our lifestyles can not only help improve the life of the planet, but also the physical and emotional well-being of humans as well. The community will focus on finding the balance between modern technology and traditional living methods to create a healthy, comfortable and unique environment where individuals and families can thrive

An Assessment of Sustainable Banking Regulations in Emerging Economies

The drive for sustainable finance practice is growing globally. This development is being driven by the growing global interest in Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) which has compelled banks to take Environmental and Social (E&S) considerations seriously in their business decisions and relationships with clients. Though this started as voluntary corporate efforts, particularly among leading players in the global financial sector, it soon became popular in leading economies, evolving into collaborations and frameworks that have helped set new standards, codes and legislations. However, this success was not replicated in developing and emerging markets due to several mitigating factors. Interestingly, in the last few years, African, Asian and Latin American financial institutions are beginning to show increasing interest in developing and embedding E&S considerations and governance into their internal system and lending processes. One remarkable deviation here is the involvement of regulators in the design and implementation of ESG standards that drive this process. This is contrary to the voluntary practices that are common among leading economies. This research is focused on assessing the development of this evolving ESG practices, by undertaking an analysis of existing regulations in emerging economies and the role of regulators in the integration of E&S considerations in the banking sector. It also takes a look at the key drivers of the practice, the state of implementation, its strengths and weaknesses, future and if this can be applied to leading global financial systems

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World is the first comprehensive report on the emergence of a “green economy” and its impact on the world of work in the 21st Century

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World

[Excerpt] Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World assembles evidence—quantitative, anecdotal, and conceptual—for currently existing green jobs in key economic sectors (renewable energy, buildings and construction, transportation, basic industry, agriculture, and forestry) and presents estimates for future green employment. The pace of green job creation is likely to accelerate in the years ahead. A global transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy can create large numbers of green jobs across many sectors of the economy, and indeed can become an engine of development. Current green job creation is taking place in both the rich countries and in some of the major developing economies