Promoting sustainable consumption and circular economy:the intention of Vietnamese youth consumers to purchase products made from recycled plastics

Recycling is viewed as a key component in a circular economy and serves as an ideal solution for promoting sustainability.During the global plastic crisis,plastic recycling practices have been adopted worldwide,leading to the production of various products made from recycled plastics(PRP).Nevertheless,a gap persists between consumption and demand for such products,which is primarily attributed to a lack of comprehension from the consumer perspective.Given the pivotal role consumers play in the adoption of these products,this study explores consumers’intentions to purchase PRP.This is particularly significant in Vietnam,which is an emerging economy aspiring to achieve the objectives of a circular economy and sustainable development.Utilizing an integrated cognitive-emotional framework comprising the Valence Theory and the Norm Activation Model,data from 564 Vietnamese students were gathered and analyzed using structural equation modeling.The results show that awareness of consequences is a major driver of consumer purchase intentions,followed by perceived ease of application and monetary incentives.The results also indicate that health concerns have the strongest effect on purchase intention and in the negative side,meaning that the health-related risk is the primary concern for consumers during the decision-making process.This research holds substantial value for academics and managers,as it aids in the theoretical exploration and the formulation of strategies to improve consumer acceptance of PRP.

Approaches to Sustainable Consumption for Circular Economy

Consumer type and consumption need are analyzed in this paper. It is recognized that sustainable consumption accords with human＇s pursuing of well-being. Further, we analyze three types of realization models of sustainable consumption and focus onthe feasibility, realization process and policy measures of product service system.

Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Baltic Sea Region

Economic activity always has an impact on the environment, but the potential degree of this impact depends on consumption and production pattems. The aim of this paper is to analyse the environmental and well being impacts of consumption and production systems in Baltic Sea Region and draw conclusions about transferring of best practises in Latvia. This study is based on indicator analyses, focusing on data of environmental impacts from consumption and production in the region, and analyses drivers behind these impacts. The paper concludes two trends--Scandinavian countries and Germany which have more advanced economies demonstrate much higher ecoefficiency and environmental management practices compared to the new EU member states. The example of the Baltic Sea region shows that high income levels and a stable development path in the old EU member states provide grounds for technology advancement to reduce the environmental impact of production. However Baltic States and Poland on average demonstrate much more sustainable consumption patterns. But the trends in these countries are negative--they try to copy lifestyles and consumption patterns of more advanced economies with higher ecological footprint. Challenge for Latvia is to improve its ecoefficiency but at the same time develop more sustainable consumption patterns.

Planning Sustainable Consumption and Quality of Life in the Baku City

The study of sustainable consumption （SC） and quality of life （QoL） in Baku City was undertaken as part of the Baku Strategic Plan prepared by the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University, and partially supported by the Society of Urbanists of Azerbaijan, Research Group. The key purpose of the research was to provide useful information for developing planning and design strategies that would foster sustainable urbanization through enhancing QoL and consumption, which was one of the most important principles of sustainable urbanization. Another purpose was to explore the impact of environmental, economic, social, physical, and health-related indicators on SC and QoL satisfaction among Baku residents. Ultimately, the research will provide recommendations which will further enhance the SC and QoL in Baku City at a number of levels, from empowering communities at a local level to participate in the evolution of their neighborhoods to influence institutional and corporate objectives and sustainability policies. The information collated will feed into the Baku Strategic Planning Process and help to determine developed strategies for urban development and urban regeneration.

Rheological and physicochemical characteristics of asphalt mastics incorporating lime kiln dust and dolomite powder as sustainable fillers

The filler-bitumen interaction mechanism is one of the most essential phases for comprehending the asphalt mixture's performance.However,despite numerous studies,in-depth knowledge of filler-bitumen reciprocity at a microscale level is yet to be ascertained.The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of the fillerbitumen microscale interaction in terms of the synergy and coaction between the physicochemical and rheological performance of mastics due to filler inclusions.The rheological properties of two sustainable mastics,dolomite powder(DP)and lime kiln dust(LKD),together with a neat PEN 60/70 binder,were analysed based on a temperature sweep at elevated temperature conditions.Meanwhile,frequency sweep and multiple stress creep recovery(MSCR)tests were also conducted at pavement serviceability temperature using the dynamic shear rheometer(DSR).Physicochemical tests using a scanning electron microscope(SEM)and energy dispersive X-rays(EDX)were conducted to analyse the impact of parameters such as particle shape,grain size,texture,and chemical compositions.The DSR test results showcased how the incorporation of fillers in asphalt binder considerably improved the performance of the binder in terms of rutting and fatigue.Likewise,its strain and nonrecoverable compliance parameters were substantially reduced at higher filler and binder concentrations.Physical filler attributes of low rigden voids(R.V),high fineness modulus(FM),and high specific surface area(SSA)led to greater interfacial stiffness and elasticity in LKD mastics compared to DP mastics at different loading frequencies and temperature levels.The SEM/EDX results also indicated that the elemental calcium and carbon composition of each filler component,together with its grain morphology,strongly influenced its rheological performance.

IRP/DSM and Sustainable Development

This paper introduces the energy consumption status in China, elaborate the affects of the unreasonable energy consumption structure on energy environment and sustainable development of economy. Simultaneously, it points out the solution, i.e., to implement integrated resources planning (IRP)/demand side management (DSM), and gives some recommendations on the way of implementing IRP/DSM.

Impact of Business Practices on Individual Energy Consumption

Changing behaviours and attitudes towards more sustainable individual energy consum- ption is a difficult topic to address. After identifying the most recurrent factors influencing bad energy consum- ption-society＇s environmental short- sightedness, a lack of individual responsibility and a tendency to put responsibility upon firms, institutions, and governments, the authors evaluated the effect business practices can have on individual behaviour. By qualifying as highly credible sources of information, positioning themselves as examples to follow and providing its employees with the necessary smart, innovative technology, business communities can have a major impact on changing individual behaviours towards more sustainable energy consumption.