How energy service companies moderate the impact of industrialization and urbanization on carbon emissions in China?

Energy service companies (ESCOs) have emerged to carry out energy efficiency retrofit projects, playing an essential role in mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in China. However, it remains unclear how exactly ESCOs contribute to CO2 mitigation during urbanization and industrialization. We conducted regression analyses on data collected in 29 provinces in China as the first case study to investigate the moderating effect of ESCOs in relationships between urbanization, industrialization, and CO2 emissions. The results indicate that urbanization had a significantly negative influence on CO2 emissions. In contrast, industrialization displayed a statistically significant positive impact on CO2 emissions. ESCOs have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between industrialization, urbanization, and CO2 emissions. The analysis also revealed that ESCOs have a better performance in areas with lower industrialization and greater urbanization. ESCOs may invest more in regions with limited ESCO activities and huge CO2 emission reduction demand, while energy-saving technology innovation should be advocated in regions with sufficient ESCO activities.

A cross-region analysis of commercial food waste recycling behaviour.

To tackle the crisis associated with the rising commercial food waste generation, it is imperative to comprehend how corporates' recycling behaviour is influenced by different industry structures and economies. This study aims to fill in the information gap that various factors might be affecting corporates' recycling behaviour in two different economies due to environmental inequality by comparing upper-middle-income region (Malaysia) and high-income region (Hong Kong), respectively. A questionnaire survey regarding food waste management according to the Theory of Planned Behaviour was conducted with representatives coming from diverse industries of the hotel, food and beverage, and property management. The questionnaire responses were evaluated based on quantitative structural equation modelling and correlation analysis. The analysis results showed that the model fit the data well, explaining 78% of the variance in recycling behaviour. The findings demonstrated that the most substantial factor on individual's recycling intention by Malaysian commercial food waste generators was perceived behavioural control, and logistics and management incentives. Subjective norms demonstrated significant and adverse effects on the behaviour of food waste recycling. The variable of administrative incentives and corporate support presented strong positive correlations with moral attitudes as well as logistics and management incentives. Hotel industries from both Hong Kong and Malaysia have a higher acceptance level on human resources regarding food waste recycling. In comparison, food and beverage industries from both regions have a lower acceptance level. These findings could enrich our knowledge of the concerns in establishing regional policy strategies to encourage economic behavioural changes for sustainable development.

Sustainable food waste management towards circular bioeconomy: Policy review, limitations and opportunities.

Research attention is increasingly drawn on constructing a circular bioeconomy and enhancing the value of material flows. Circular bioeconomy aims to achieve sustainable consumption and production with reduction of greenhouse gas emission. This study identifies research gaps on how circular bioeconomy can be achieved through sustainable food waste management by comparing the similarities and differences in concepts of bioeconomy and circular economy, reviewing the benefits and limitations of the existing policies, and evaluating the global situations of food waste and its management on household and commercial basis to promote circular bioeconomy. Future development on food waste management is expected to capitalise on the multi-functionality of products, boundary and allocation in a circular system, and trade-off between food waste and resources. With future technological advances, food waste management in circular bioeconomy policy can facilitate the accomplishment of sustainable development goals.

Extended theory of planned behaviour for promoting construction waste recycling in Hong Kong.

Changing individual's recycling attitude and behaviour is of utmost importance in achieving sustainable construction and demolition (C&D) waste management, yet it has often been underachieved. To understand the motivations for recycling, this study identifies and prioritizes the key factors that affect C&D waste recycling behaviour of various stakeholders in Hong Kong (i.e., representatives from construction-waste-related organizations, environmental consultants and contractors, and government engineers) in a quantitative manner using statistical tools. Different from traditional C&D waste behavioural determinants studies, this paper utilizes an integrated analytical method through semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaire on the basis of Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative frequency analysis were performed to analyse responses from semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, followed by correlation analysis to quantify the relationships between factors. Results indicated that four key factors: (i) regulatory compliance, (ii) economic incentives, (iii) accreditation scheme, and (iv) logistics and management incentives directly influenced recycling behaviour of individuals. Regulatory compliance was the most determining factor for consultants, contractors, experts, and government officials, whereas economic incentives were of great concern to the public. Under the factor of economic incentives, strong positive relationships were identified between disposal costs and collection and sorting costs, thus increasing waste disposal charging fee may promote recycling behaviour. In comparison, accreditation scheme deserved better recognition to facilitate a closed-loop material flow in the construction industry. These findings help to devise more effective and stakeholder-oriented policy tools to raise awareness and encourage behavioural change towards C&D waste recycling, and assist policy makers to establish regulations and practices for sustainable resource management.