Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

Eduardo Guilherme Satolo; Felipe A. Calarge; Paulo Augusto Cauchick Miguel

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-10-2012-0068

Purpose – Over recent the past decades, integrated management systems (IMS) have emerged as one of the major tasks for practising managers and the academic community. In this context, this paper aims at identifying relevant practices related to an IMS in an organisation that belongs to the sugar cane and ethanol agricultural industrial sector in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – A review of mainstream literature on IMS is conducted followed by case‐based research used as the methodological approach. Data were gathered through a questionnaire as well as face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews. The analysis was done a posteriori to construct the case description and perform the analysis. Findings – Issues that motivated the IMS implementation were identified. The paper also highlights the difficulties experienced and benefits accrued during implementation. The existence of a previous quality management system facilitated the implementation of the IMS. Nevertheless, a longitudinal study is desirable to assess further results in the long term. Research limitations/implications – This work is limited to a single unit of analysis. Therefore, empirical replications in other samples are needed to validate current findings. Originality/value – This is one of the first known studies to investigate the implementation of an IMS in a manufacturing unit that produces sugar and ethanol.

Norazah Mohd Suki

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-02-2013-0010

Purpose – This study aims to examine the effects of environmental knowledge, healthy food and healthy way of life of on young consumer ecological behaviour. The influence of control variables (i.e. gender and age) on young consumers’ ecological behaviour is also investigated. Design/methodology/approach – The research used a hierarchical regressions for data analysis across a sample of 200 young respondents that practising ecological behaviour such as recycling, buying green products, etc. Their participation is purely voluntary. Findings – Empirical analysis via hierarchical regressions confirmed that a healthy way of life and environmental knowledge jointly influenced young consumer ecological behaviour. Demographic profiles such as gender and age showed contradictory results. Research limitations/implications – Respondents were randomly drawn from the students in a public higher learning institution in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia that practising ecological behaviour such as recycling, buying green products, etc. Thus, may not represent the entire population of Malaysia. Practical implications – This research should contribute significantly to manufacturers, retailers and marketers in boosting young consumer ecological behaviour and environmental knowledge by promoting positive perceptions towards organic products and quality for increased green product market sustainability and acceptance which is helpful for better market segmentation, targeting and positioning of green products that are not harmful to the environment and could promote consumer demands. Originality – The results of this study offer a new forward motion to the findings of prior studies on young consumer ecological behaviour, which is not much covered in the literature in Malaysia context by examining the effects of environmental knowledge, healthy food and healthy way of life on young consumer ecological behaviour, within the Malaysian context.

Daniel Rolph Schneider; Mislav Kirac; Andrea Hublin

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-09-2012-0057

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction potential from different waste management practices in Croatia. Energetic, environmental and economic benefits can be accomplished by utilizing municipal solid waste (MSW) and landfill gas as fuel in industry and energy sector, which is emphasized in this paper. The paper gives an overview of measures for energy recovery from MSW and landfill gas that could be implemented in Croatia. These measures also represent measures for an additional GHG emission reduction by decreased use of fossil fuels. Design/methodology/approach – A methodology used for emission calculation (kinetic model) is explained. Three different scenarios of GHG reduction in waste management were defined. Implementation of best available techniques in waste management is envisaged by cross‐sectoral impact and effect of respective measures. Findings –This paper gives maximum achievable potential of GHG emission reduction with defined measure implementation dynamics. It was calculated that around one million ton of CO 2 can be avoided in 2020, which is 2.7 percent of projected GHG emissions in Croatia. The energy that could be recovered from waste (8.34 PJ in 2020) is relatively small in relation to the total final energy consumption in Croatia (about 3 percent). Originality/value – The novelty of this work is achieved through integrated approach to GHG emission reduction and energy potential from MSW management in Croatia. The GHG reduction potentials are calculated by taking into account dependencies and interactions between the measures.

Wagner Cezar Lucato; Milton Vieira Júnior; José Carlos da Silva Santos

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-10-2012-0063

Purpose – Industrial growth has positively influenced the economic development but has also generated adverse effects on the environment. To minimize the environmental burdens resulting from industrial activity, new practices and management tools have been developed, including the concept of ecoefficiency which has aided the response to manufacturing environmental issues. However, traditional ecoefficiency measurement involves the use of multiple indicators that are individually evaluated over time to verify if the ecoefficiency is improving or worsening. This practice is procedurally difficult because ecoefficiency indicators can vary in opposite directions. To assess this issue, this paper suggests a procedure to appraise the ecoefficiency level of a manufacturing process by means of a conceptual proposal of a single measure that could reflect the process’ global progress, even if the selected ecoefficiency indexes move in opposite ways. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed concepts were developed through a theoretical approach to gauge the ecoefficiency level of a single piece of equipment, which was then expanded to the whole production process area. This work can be categorized as a conceptual paper using literature review and theoretical developments as basic tools to support the concepts proposed. Complementarily, one practical example is presented to illustrate the application of the suggested procedure to a real‐life situation. Findings – Initially the paper proposed a manner to evaluate the ecoefficiency level of a single machine combining the selected ecoefficiency indicators into a single index. Next, this concept was extended to consider the whole production process area by merging the ecoefficiency level of each equipment existing in a given production area with another single quantity named ecoefficiency level of the manufacturing process under consideration. The concepts developed were applied to a case study to show its use in a real‐life scenario. Research limitations/implications – Although the suggested technique could in principle be used in most common manufacturing situations, its widespread utilization cannot be assured based on the developments made in this paper. This could be a possible limitation to the concepts suggested. However, additional empirical research considering other types of production conditions could resolve this problem. Practical implications – For the practitioners and managers dealing with environmental matters in manufacturing, this paper makes a relevant contribution because it permits the utilization of a single measure to appraise the ecoefficiency level in a single piece of equipment or in the entire production process, allowing challenging areas and the associated actions required to improve them to be identified. Originality/value – Although the integration of environmental pressures into a single environmental performance measure has been a major challenge, this paper conceptualizes the ecoefficiency level of a production process by suggesting of a single measure that could reflect its global evolution, even if the selected ecoefficiency indicators move in opposite directions.

O.B. Okedere; J.A. Sonibare; B.S. Fakinle; L.A. Jimoda

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-10-2012-0062

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to provide basic information on the types of particulate cyclones separators used in the chemical and process industries, their principles of operation and factors affecting their performance. Design/methodology/approach – A general review of the types of particle cleaning cyclones used in the chemical and process industries was carried out and the principles guiding their operation and performance discussed. Information which could aid the choice of cyclone for new applications is also discussed. Findings – It was concluded that the choice of cyclone for any application is associated with a trade‐off between two contrasting performance indicators (collection efficiency and pressure drop). Adequate and accurate data gathering is essential right from the design stage for smooth operation of cyclone. Originality/value – The paper highlights the general principle of operation of cyclone separators and the factors that affect their performance.

T. Ramayah; Elham Rahbar

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-07-2012-0054

Purpose – This research was carried out to assess the recycling behaviour of university students, as they are the future consumers of the country. Design/methodology/approach – A model based on the Theory of Reasoned Action was developed and tested using the variance‐based structural equation modelling technique of Partial Least Square (PLS). Findings – The findings indicate that the attitude towards recycling is significantly influenced by perceived value, awareness and actual gains perceived by the consumers. Recycling behaviour was significantly influenced by resistance to change and attitude towards recycling. Originality/value – The paper enables the policy makers target these variables in their future action plans in order to enhance recycling behaviour.

Gulsan Ara Parvin; S.M. Reazul Ahsan

2013 Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/MEQ-04-2013-0033

Purpose – It is well recognized that the poor who are already vulnerable and food insecure are likely to be more vulnerable to climate change. Especially the poor and marginal in developing nations are highly exposed and vulnerable as they have limited resources to adapt with climate uneven. For example most of the coastal communities in Bangladesh are poor and highly exposed to extreme climate evens and half of the coastal population is women, who are considered as most vulnerable to climate change impacts comparer to others as noted in (Dankelman et al. , 2008). Social, economic and political context for women in Bangladesh makes them more vulnerable to climate change and food security. Furthermore, they suffer more than men during and after climatic disasters (FAO, 2008). Design/methodology/approach – Through empirical studies among the rural poor women in south‐western coastal areas of Bangladesh, this study explores their hardship and perceptions about climate change impacts. Findings – It also scrutinizes the impact of climate change on the food security of rural poor women through examining the changes in food availability, consumption pattern and women's daily working pattern and changing lifestyle to ensure household food security. Understanding – This study would help the development workers to realize the nature and extent of the problems and thus facilitate to undertake effective policies and actions.