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This book explores how the circular economy influences product design in today’s business and society. Drawing on contributions from a wide range of expert thinkers, this volume assesses the existing approaches, strategies and tools which facilitate socially and environmentally responsible production and consumption systems. It then goes on to highlight the ways in which the circular economy conceptual framework could be implemented effectively at both micro (product policy) and macro (sustainable consumption) levels in order to alter the industrial landscape and increase its interconnectedness with materials and scarce resources. Highlighting the pros and cons of transitioning to this new model, the book also cautions that it will only be made possible via significant behavior change at both industry and consumer levels. Sustainable Products in the Circular Economy will be of great interest to students and scholars of sustainable manufacturing, sustainable consumption, corporate social responsibility and business ethics. It will also be relevant to industry professionals whose work dovetails with these areas.
Sustainable development is a complex issue and despite many studies and publications in recent years, it remains poorly recognised on best practices in core business areas. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development depends on research and innovation. Therefore, the transition to sustainable development requires investment in technology, new business models, and social and environmental innovations that contribute to shaping new business and promoting sustainable business practices. This book seeks to understand how sustainability affects core business areas, with a focus on strategic and entrepreneurial activities. Given these ...
The radical transformations to which the economy and society have been subjected for decades have gained momentum in recent years, not least because of the coronavirus pandemic, the consequences of which are yet to be fully understood. As a result, certain economic models and business practices are becoming less sustainable. One of the reasons for this is the rapid advance of Revolution 4.0. The issues raised in this book are central to understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its overwhelming impact on emerging socio-economic relations. The book addresses the future and flexibility of the labour market in the era of digital transformation; ...
As in many other oil and gas dependent countries, Brunei Darussalam—a country with a small population but the second highest income per capita in Southeast Asia—has been diversifying its economy in three sectors: from oil and gas to other sectors of export/economic growth; from the dominance of public sector employment to a more balanced public and private sectors employment; and from heavy dependence on foreign labours to development of local talents. This book examines the current socio-economic development in the journey toward a diversified social economy, as targeted in Brunei Vision 2035. By examining the unique context of Brunei, this book fills in the gap on studies focusing on s...
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has led to revolutionary changes in production and service processes. This book explains and examines the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on supply chain solutions. It discusses the concept, design, and implementation of supply chain solutions using Industry 4.0 technologies. Chapters address such topics as supply webs, open innovation practices, lean manufacturing, the Internet of Things, green supply chain solutions, and much more.
The transition towards sustainability is now a major issue that has taken centre stage in public debate, policy circles, scientific forums, and business roundtables. Higher education institutions focusing on educating tomorrow’s managers and leaders and on business practices are doubly challenged by this development. On the one hand, they must be accountable to their internal stakeholders who strongly identify with the new “environmental awakening”. On the other hand, because of their status as research institutions, they must provide answers and propose solutions to face this challenge which is shaping up to be the most crucial issue that humanity has had to face in the modern era. In...
Stories and narratives are powerful tools for explaining the world around us. This book explores storytelling as a way of engaging audiences with sustainable development issues and reflects on the opportunities and limitations of storytelling for sustainability as an innovative approach to sustainability communication. Bringing together voices and perspectives from research and practice, this volume explores the ways in which storytelling can support change toward sustainability. Unlike other anthologies, the book first provides a sound scientific basis by unfolding the storytelling approach and presenting empirical studies on its impact on effects. It clarifies important terms and presents ...
Entrepreneurship is a tool of innovation promotion that supports sound economic environments as it stimulates economic growth and development. The BRICS nations, i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are a group of emerging countries comprising the highest developmental block of the emerging nations. It is imperative to assess the entrepreneurship policies, strategies, and promotional programmes and their implications for, among others, entrepreneurship funding, economic growth, and employment trends. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entrepreneurship environment and equally steered state funding priorities away from entrepreneurship development support worldwide. This re...
Sharma and Leung explore the differences in the national and organizational responses to COVID-19 across various countries. The COVID-19 global pandemic is possibly the worst healthcare disaster ever, and recent studies highlight several differences in the response to COVID-19. Some countries acted quickly with strict measures to successfully contain the initial spread of the COVID-19 and minimize the number of cases and deaths, while others have not been as proactive and have suffered more as a result. The book is organized under distinct themes based on the stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, consisting of (a) discovery and early response, (b) global spread and reactions, (c) early successes and failures, and (d) subsequent waves and new strains. It goes on to analyze the differences in national responses to draw important lessons for managers and governments and concludes with policy recommendations. A useful guide for students, managers, and the general public who are interested in learning about the COVID-19 experience and how such global crises could be managed more effectively in future.
Consuming the Environment explores the environmental impacts of consuming everyday products and explains how we can consume more sustainably. Written in an accessible style, this book begins with our everyday mundane experiences of consuming products – online, in the grocery store, at the mall – and shows how these practices are connected to a global system dependent upon ever increasing consumption. Drawing on the expertise of researchers in topics such as energy, food, water, land, fashion, electronics, eco-tourism, green products, and (micro)plastics, this volume unpacks the complex and largely invisible relationships that consumerism has with resource extraction and manufacturing. By...