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In this study, we examine the sustainable production and consumption of wine products. We aim to determine whether respondents consume non-alcoholic or other value-added products and, in the case of value-added products, which characteristics are important to them. When identifying directions for product development, it is also essential to assess whether consumers are willing to pay more for such products and, if so, what price they consider realistic for products with their preferred characteristics. Our researc...

Sustainable public space design has become a central concern in contemporary urban planning as cities face increasing pressures from rapid urbanization, social fragmentation, climate change, and demographic transformation. Public spaces, including parks, squares, streets, pedestrian zones, waterfronts, and community gathering areas play a critical role in fostering social interaction, civic engagement, environmental quality, and urban resilience. Their design directly influences the inclusiveness, accessibility, a...

In recent years, growing consumer interest in traditional and minimally processed foods has encouraged the development of artisanal meat products with improved nutritional characteristics. Among these, pork pate remains a widely consumed product whose quality is strongly influenced by formulation and raw material selection. The sustainable use of animal-derived resources, including nutrient-rich organs, has gained increasing relevance in food production, as these materials are still insufficiently valorized, their...

Soil liming is an essential component of sustainable soil management, affecting both crop yields, nutrient uptake efficiency, and environmental quality. Therefore, the research aims to assess the economic and environmental efficiency of soil liming in Latvia. This research compared the economic and environmental efficiency of crushed lime and limestone flour in Latvia, analysing the costs, benefits, and impacts of a six-year liming cycle on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and phosphorus leaching. The research resul...

The development of sustainable and energy-efficient transportation systems has become an important aspect of modern urban planning and future smart mobility concepts. This project presents the initial structural design work carried out for a Hyperloop pod intended to operate in a low-pressure transportation environment as part of an innovative high-speed transport system. The research focused on the development of two alternative load-bearing frame concepts: a welded steel structure and a modular aluminum structur...

The increasing amounts of agro-food waste generated globally represent a major challenge for environmental protection and sustainable development. Among these, onion peels resulting from processing, storage, and commercialization constitute an important source of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, quercetin, and sulfur-containing compounds, with high potential for valorization in the field of green nanotechnologies. The study aims to valorize the extract obtained from onion peels in the green syn...

Two variants of roof construction were compared. It is a non-green roof and the extensive green roof. The analysis of surface temperature of flat roof was provided by the simulation in DesignBUILDER v7. The surface temperature of extensive green roof was lower up to 28 K in comparison with the non-green roof. The results from DesignBUILDER were used as data input for the CFD model in ANSYS CFX. The results from CFD model showed that the outside air temperature close to the surface of non-green roof can rise to 3.7...

Sustainability in the energy sector depends not only on technological change and renewable energy development, but also on the capacity to ensure an adaptable and future-oriented workforce. Although forecasting methods are widely used in operational workforce planning, their role in supporting sustainable human capital development remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this study is to assess how forecasting-based approaches can support sustainable human capital development in the energy sector by identifying...

Historical and old buildings with their distinctively decorated facades constitute an integral part of city centers or villages and create unique architecture. Most of these important buildings are attacked by refurbishment interventions with the use of incompatible modern rendering materials affecting appear of facades and causing their different service life-related problems. To ensure material compatibility between historical rendering materials and newly prepared alternatives requires special attention. Techni...

One of the most complex structural transformation processes currently unfolding in Europe is the phase-out of coal mining and coal-fired power generation. This transition is embedded within the broader framework of international and European climate commitments and the ongoing energy transition, particularly under the environmental policies promoted by the European Union and the European Green Deal. The process entails profound economic, social, technical, and geopolitical implications, especially for single-indus...

The statistical characteristics of section discrepancies and standardized section discrepancies derived from the Third Levelling of Bulgaria are examined in detail. The computed excess kurtosis values are minus 0.44 and minus 0.56, respectively, with standard deviations of 0.07. These results clearly indicate a notable departure from the normal distribution, for which the excess kurtosis is equal to zero. This finding suggests that the conventional methodology for defining permissible limits between measurements, ...

Purpose Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, posing urgent environmental and social challenges, particularly in emerging economies where recycling infrastructure is underdeveloped and informal recycling practices dominate. This article examines how circular economy (CE) principles can be applied to enhance e- waste supply chains and promote sustainable management. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) of 50 peer-reviewed articles published betw...

This article examines how the impacts of climate change are assessed during the formulation of adaptation strategies and sustainable investment decisions. The purpose of this discourse is to determine, based on thorough analysis, the most effective methods for mitigating the detrimental effects of climate change. The analysis identified notable disparities in the climate change adaptation strategies implemented across various regions. It was concluded that sustainable investments depend on the integration of scien...

This article examines the new corporate sustainability reporting requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which represents a significant regulatory step towards strengthening transparency and accountability regarding the environmental impact of businesses in the European Union. Growing regulatory pressure, stakeholder expectations, and the urgent need to address climate change in recent years have driven the need for more comprehensive, standardized, and credible non-financial re...

Green finance has become a central instrument in the global transition toward sustainable economic growth, addressing the urgent need to align financial systems with environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and long-term development goals. As economies face increasing pressures from climate change, resource depletion, environmental degradation, and social inequality, traditional financial models are being re-evaluated to incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Green finance inc...

Accounting is not just an activity, it is a reflection of traditions, values, it even represents the language of business for the respective era and carries within itself the messages of each economic unit that presents itself to outsiders. There is no enterprise that does not perform accounting activities and does not have an accountant. The accounting profession has been much discussed in recent years, not only due to the influence of digitalization and digital technologies, but also due to the fact that the eco...

The generation of leachates containing heavy metals, salts, and organic contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) makes municipal solid waste landfills a major contributor to soil and water degradation. Because traditional remediation techniques are often cost-prohibitive, sustainable approaches such as phytoremediation have gained considerable attention. This research investigates the efficacy of Paulownia tomentosa (Oxytree) in restoring soils impacted by landfill leachates. In a controlled green...

Europe is undergoing a transition toward renewable heating and cooling, and borehole heat exchanger systems play a critical role in this energy shift. However, their efficiency depends heavily on site-specific and local climatic conditions. This study evaluates BHE design and performance across 11 European capital cities that represent diverse climatic conditions, from hot/dry (Nicosia, 21.56 C, undisturbed ground temperature) to cold/humid (Helsinki, 6.76 C). A representative university building was virtually rel...

This study examines the thermal control of the lower boundary of seismicity in the Lena Delta, eastern Russian Arctic, using the depth distribution of local earthquakes recorded by temporary seismic networks in 2016–2018 together with temperature–depth curves derived from crustal heat-flow modeling. This study contributes by comparing the observed lower cutoff of local seismicity with modeled crustal temperatures, thereby adding a seismological constraint to previous seismic, thermal, and magnetic interpretati...

As part of this study, a comprehensive thermogravimetric analysis of biomass oxidation was conducted to study its thermal decomposition and determine its kinetic characteristics in an oxidative environment. This work is of great importance for the development of sustainable energy, the optimization of combustion and co-combustion processes, and the minimization of environmental damage through more efficient use of biomass. The experiments involved measuring the mass change of biomass samples (sawdust from hardwood...

Rapid warming along the Antarctic Peninsula has intensified surface melting on maritime glaciers, accelerating ablation and contributing to increasingly negative surface mass balances, particularly on Livingston Island, South Shetlands Islands, Antarctica. Continuous, weather-independent monitoring of snow and ice conditions is therefore essential for assessing seasonal variability and its implications for glacier evolution. A multi-temporal dataset of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery acquired bet...

Abstract This study examines the tourist valorization of speleological heritage in the Republic of Kosovo. Owing to its geological, geomorphological, hydrological, cultural-historical, and biological heritage, as well as favorable climatic conditions, Kosovo possesses significant potential for the development of speleotourism, ecotourism, and tourism more broadly. In recent years, ecotourism has gained increasing importance within the tourism sector and is widely regarded as a key component of sustainable developm...

The transition to sustainable agriculture in Europe depends on farming systems that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and measurable. Meeting the targets of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy requires tools that translate sustainability into quantifiable, comparable, and actionable data at the farm level. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one way that offers this capacity, yet methodological gaps and data limitations continue to constrain its wider use. This study inve...

Rising urbanization and consumption are accompanied by increasing volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW). This fact requires improved economic mechanisms for regulating waste management. Under these conditions, it is important to harmonize the interests of the state and business. Recently, waste management costs and investments in fixed assets have been rising. The key factors influencing MSW generation for Russian regions were identified and their impact was assessed. The urbanization rate and food consumption ar...

The rapid evolution of geographic information technologies has significantly transformed the field of regional atlas cartography, shifting the paradigm from static, paper-based publications to dynamic, interactive web environments. This paper introduces the methodological framework, structural design, and practical execution of the combined print and web-based geographical atlas of the Kvemo Kartli region, Georgia. Developed by the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, this project synthesizes centuries of ...

Medicinal plants offer diverse health benefits through biological active compounds, anti microbial effects that help treat diseases. Polluants contaminate medicinal plants through polluted soil, water, and air, or poor processing, with different concentrations.Different contributors include industrial emissions, pesticides, irrigation with polluted water, and environmental pollution e.g. Toxic/heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr), mangan...

The aim of this work is twofold: to identify the dominant types of anthropogenic impact on SWQ in the Chepinska and Chepelarska River basins to localise the hot spots of pollution; and to obtain the main land cover units from Very High Resolution (VHR) Airbus Pléiades-1A and SPOT 6 imagery. The assessment of anthropogenic impacts on SWQ is based on an analysis of more than 10 physicochemical parameters, and the CCME WQI, WAWQI, and HPI indices were used. The results show different types of water pollution in the ...

The territory surrounding the Tekeli polymetallic tailing storage facility (SE Kazakhstan) represents a highly transformed technogenic landscape where natural ecosystems have been replaced by heterogeneous ecotopes with distinct abiotic constraints. This study aims to classify technogenic ecotopes and characterize their abiotic parameters to provide a scientific basis for ecological restoration. Four major ecotopes were identified based on geomorphology, substrate origin, granulometric structure, moisture regime, ...

The government electrical company – ESO manages and monitors 16 000 km powerlines in Bulgaria. In this paper the main focus is on monitoring forestry corridors, which are used to provide free of encroachment space for safe electrical power transmission. Those open spaces ensure that no tree or such can be near the conductor enough to cause induction of energy between a tree and a conductor, which is the main reason for wild fires and electrical power shortages. This paper presents a methodology for systematic mo...

In the current nano-tech-era and smart agricultural solutions, the nanoformulations (NFs) application can elicit unpredictable responses, potentially impacting environmental components, human health, and crop performance. Accordingly, this study aimed to quantify the effects of selected nanoformulations (NF) and their conventional agrochemical counterparts on the grain-quality attributes, their technological properties, and physiological responses of crop-wheat. Specifically, selenium-species in nanoformulation (S...

Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) are emerging as one of the most transformative technologies in contemporary urban planning, environmental monitoring, and smart city governance. By creating dynamic virtual replicas of physical urban environments through the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), real-time sensor networks, and big spatial data, Urban Digital Twins enable advanced simulation, predictive analysis, and evidence-based decis...

The role of urban planning as a driver of land value creation is examined, with particular attention to the mechanisms through which this value may be captured for public benefit. The study analyses the relationship between planning decisions, the regulatory framework, and land value dynamics in the Bulgarian context, applying the OECD-Lincoln analytical framework to systematically examine the processes of value creation, capture, and redistribution.To this end, the theoretical foundations of land value formation ...

In recent years, natural fibres have gained attention as an effective means of enhancing the performance of composite materials. By forming a reinforcing network within the matrix, fibres can limit crack propagation and improve cohesion. This approach is particularly relevant for lime-based mortars used in the repair of historic masonry, which often suffer from low mechanical strength during early curing. The presented study investigates the effect of increasing animal fibre content in natural hydraulic lime-based...

Biochar of the waste from seed cleaning to produce can improve soil fertility and carbon sequestration. Chemical properties of biochar are affected by input biomass (feedstock) type. Biochar production from wood pellets, pelletized sweet clovers, poppy residues, hay, straw, grass-seed and alfalfa is discussed. Micro-elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B) in biochars prepared from different types of pelletized biomass are evaluated. All materials exhibited higher element contents. The highest Fe and Cu were in biochar from p...

The foundry industry is a major producer of industrial waste, with used foundry sands (UFS) representing the largest share. While bentonite-bonded sands can be reused multiple times, sands with organic binders are typically single-use and are often landfilled due to limited regeneration capacity. Their valorization in construction materials represents an important pathway toward circular economy. This study evaluates the use of UFS from three different foundries, including bentonite- and furan-bonded systems, as p...

Parks have multiple functionalities in the urban environment, from ornamental, ecological, cultural, historical and other perspectives. This study analyzed the vegetation in “Justice” Park, Timisoara Municipality, Romania. The study evaluated the vegetation based on specific parameters, height (H, m), crown diameter (CD, m) and structural volume (SV). The crown projection area (CPA) was evaluated. The ecological value (EV), and landscape value (LV) indices were determined. Based on the inventory of plant speci...

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional higher education practices, particularly in GeoScience disciplines where fieldwork, site observation, and direct environmental interaction are essential components of learning. Travel restrictions, social distancing measures, and limited access to outdoor learning environments accelerated the adoption of digital teaching methods and created strong demand for alternative experiential learning models. Among these, Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) emerged as an inno...

This paper proposes the concept of the virtual perimeter as an innovative approach for determining the average velocity of ventilation flow in tunnels. Average velocity is a fundamental parameter that defines volumetric and mass flow rates, energy losses, and thermal regimes. Classical methods, based on multipoint measurements with anemometers, are difficult to apply in large tunnels and, in many cases, practically impossible. The virtual perimeter identifies the zone of the tunnel’s cross-section where the loca...

This study explores the spatial distribution and functional characteristics of visitor centres within the system of national natural parks of Ukraine, with a particular focus on the potential of virtual visitor centres as an innovative development pathway. Visitor centres are key elements of park infrastructure that provide information services, regulate visitor flows, and promote the conservation value of protected areas while supporting environmental education and community engagement. The research is based on a...

This study examines the potential of chemically modified spent coffee grounds (SCG) as reinforcement for epoxy bio-composites. SCG was subject to three different modifications - citric acid, acetylation with acetic acid, and potassium permanganate oxidation. Modified SCG was incorporated into epoxy resin at an 80/20 weight ratio, and the resulting composites were evaluated using flexural and impact tests. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data revealed that each chemical modification induced distinct structural mo...

The abstract addresses Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies and their significance in the context of sustainable development and the circular economy. The aim of the article is to analyze current technological approaches to the treatment of municipal and industrial waste, with a focus on their energy potential, environmental impacts, and economic efficiency. The study is based on a comparative analysis of key technologies, such as incineration with energy recovery, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, e...

The WatHer project – Water Heritage in European Rural Mediterranean: Re[dis]covering Water Heritage Systems to face climate challenges learning from our past – is funded by the European Union under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme and aims to promote climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention through ecosystem-based approaches. Running from 2025 to 2029, the project is structured around eight pilot cases across the Mediterranean Basin, from Cyprus to Portugal, focusing on the study, restoration, and...

This study compares multiple approaches for surface water mapping using multi-sensor satellite data. Open-access imagery from Sentinel-2 (optical) and Sentinel-1 (SAR) was used for three study sites in Bulgaria. The optical dataset consisted of three Level-2A images acquired under near cloud-free conditions, while the radar dataset included three Ground Range Detected images acquired on dates closest to the optical imagery. Surface water extraction was performed using single- and multi-index approaches for the opt...

Climate change is a major challenge for offshore energy infrastructure, as it alters environmental conditions and increases operational risks. This paper analyzes the vulnerability of offshore platforms to climate-related factors, with a focus on wave climate variability and operational conditions in European seas, distinguishing between fixed platforms, floating installations, Arctic facilities affected by permafrost degradation, and coastal terminals exposed to sea level rise. The study is based on a systematic ...

The geomagnetic field varies in time and space, being a signal composed of periodic and non-periodic elements and is monitored in a triaxial system at observatories around the world. Based on data from INTERMAGNET observatories, we analyze the strongest storm of 2026, which occurred during January 19-21. The methodology used is spectral evaluation (Fourier, wavelet, signal decomposition into approximations and details with various functions on different levels, etc.). The wavelet technique allowed us to analyze th...

Albania, situated in the Mediterranean basin, represents a fire-prone environment where climatic conditions, vegetation heterogeneity, and human pressure interact to shape complex wildfire dynamics. While several studies have focused on meteorological fire-danger forecasting, the frequency of observed wildfire occurrence, and fire severity in terms of burned area extent, considerably less attention has been given to the year-to-year variability of biomass loss. This study examines the impact of wildfire activity o...