How counterfactual thinking affects willingness to consume green restaurant products: Mediating role of regret and moderating role of COVID-19 risk perception

Given the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, one may wonder how this situation might have differed if green consumption had been prioritized. Counterfactual thinking is a psychological concept wherein people ponder alternative outcomes of events that have already happened. This paper presents two experiments to explore (a) the effect of counterfactual thinking on individuals' willingness to consume green restaurant products and (b) the roles that regret and risk perception play in the main effect. Study 1 revealed that consumers who think counterfactually express stronger willingness to consume green restaurant products than those who do not think counterfactually. A partial mediating effect of regret was also confirmed in this process. Study 2 showed that risk perception moderates the impact of counterfactual thinking on one's willingness to consume green restaurant products. Theoretical contributions of these findings to counterfactual thinking theories are discussed, and managerial implications for tourism marketing are provided.

Positive and negative experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic among lonely and non-lonely populations in Germany.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an epidemic of loneliness. Previous studies have shown the differences in positive and negative experiences of lonely and non-lonely people in a non-pandemic setting. However, it is unclear how the drastic alteration of the COVID-19 pandemic may influence peoples' reactions and beliefs, especially among those who feel lonely. Our study aims to examine the positive and negative experiences among lonely and non-lonely people. We undertook a cross-sectional online survey of the general population in Germany (N = 1,758) from May 2020 to May 2022. We assessed their feelings of loneliness with the short eight-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), their positive and negative experience of living in the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their psychological distress regarding the pandemic with the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). We found lonely individuals (ULS-8 score ≥ 16) reported fewer positive experiences of living in the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, less time with loved ones [z (1, 756) = -2.5, p = 0.012] and less sense of togetherness [z (1, 756) = -2.39, p = 0.017] as compared to non-lonely individuals. Meanwhile, they experienced more negative experiences, for example, worry and fear [z (1, 756) = 6.31, p < 0.001] compared with non-lonely individuals. Interestingly, lonely people were less likely to view the pandemic as a conspiracy than non-lonely people were [z (1, 756) = -3.35, p < 0.001]. Our results may give insight into attribution bias and the negative affect of lonely people during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as highlight the experience of non-lonely people and raise the question of differences in conspiracy beliefs. For pandemic preparedness and response, decision-makers may focus on interventions to foster social cohesion, empower people, build resilience, and most importantly provide timely social care.

COVID-19 and sustainability in textile, apparel and fashion use: An assessment of trends

Apart from the many social and health problems it has caused, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on most sectors of the economy worldwide. One of the areas where such impact is noticeable is the textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industry. The lockdowns and limited access to retailer outlets resulted in a considerable drop in consumption, creating problems related to the excess of stock, the decrease of sales, and the disposal of non-used items. This paper outlines the implications of the COVID-19 on the TAF sectors and European retailers. It analyzes how the current supply chains exacerbated stock control problems, and it reports on the changes in consumption during the pandemic. The worldwide restrictive measures implemented to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic were responsible for significant profit losses. Also, the decrease in consumption, caused by several geographically wide lockdowns, prompted a subsequent reduction in orders and sales, resulting in a significant number of constraints. The implementation of more environmentally friendly processes, including sustainable circularity as a competitiveness source to keep the TAF sectors in the loop and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, may help address the problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the sustainability context, as reported in this paper. © The Author(s) 2022.

Public understanding of sustainable diets and changes towards sustainability: A qualitative study in a UK population sample.

Dietary consumption contributes significantly to the environmental impacts of daily life. Changes to consumption are required, but limited work investigates the reasoning underlying relevant dietary choices. This study aimed to explore public understanding of sustainable diets and any willingness or attempts to make changes towards sustainability in a sample of the UK population. A qualitative approach was used. Twenty-one participants (10 males; predominantly young adults; with a range of living circumstances and cooking responsibilities) were interviewed. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified that related to understanding sustainable diets: 'Consistent with the definition by the FAO', 'Multiple benefits', 'Unsure' and 'Competing Interests'. Four themes related to making changes: 'Willing, but unsure', 'Small easy changes', 'Enablers' and 'Barriers'. An additional theme 'COVID-19 pandemic' reflected the period when the work was done (February-May 2021). Within these themes, participants were able to define sustainable eating in a manner that was consistent with and incorporated aspects of the definition by the FAO, could identify sustainable actions that they were undertaking or could undertake, and considered these to be beneficial, but there was a lot of uncertainty, and alternative or competing definitions and actions were also given. Participants were also willing to make changes to make their diet more sustainable, and preferences were expressed for small easy changes of high impact, but there was again considerable uncertainty as to what changes to make. Caution due to the small and select sample is required, but suggestions from this work include increasing awareness and knowledge of the environmental impacts of dietary choices, focusing on small easy changes of likely impact and personal benefit, and increasing availability and accessibility to sustainable diets.

The Main Areas of Development of Organic Agriculture in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The Republic of Kazakhstan has good potential for developing environmentally friendly agricultural production: extensive agricultural land, a large number of farms, and interest in producing environmentally-friendly products. These factors determined the relevance of the study, the main purpose of which was to investigate the main areas of the development of organic agriculture in Kazakhstan. The statistical data and reports of Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement, and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations were analyzed;logical and empirical methods were used;a survey of consumers and producers of environmentally-friendly products in Kazakhstan was conducted. This paper shows the main trends in the development of the organic sector in Kazakhstan and in the world in general. Studies have shown a growing tendency of organic production in the world, however, many countries are still in their infancy regarding this trend. At the moment, the world's land under organic agriculture is 74.9 million hectares, but in Kazakhstan, since 2016, there has been a reduction in such areas. In 2020, they amounted to 114 thousand hectares or 0.1% of all farmland in the country, which is associated with the coronavirus pandemic and the global economic crisis. According to the international organisations Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement, in 2020, out of 190 countries of the world, Kazakhstan entered the lists of 50 producing countries and 20 exporting countries of organic agricultural products, and the export of these products amounted to about EUR 9 million. It is concluded that the necessary conditions for the introduction of ecological agriculture are gradually being created in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which would improve the economic situation of the country. The practical significance of the study was to conduct a sociological survey of consumers and producers of ecological agricultural products in four regions of Kazakhstan to identify the state and main areas of development of the domestic market of organic agriculture. Copyright © The Author(s).

Safety, health and environmental aspects of protective textiles

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to protect against highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Textiles are also necessary shields for protecting human skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Organic blockers and semiconductor oxides, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), silicon dioxide (SiO2), etc. can protect against UV rays. Green technologies such as nano, bio, plasma, supercritical CO2, and ultrasonic have emerged to ensure environmental and social compatibility, ensure safety for human health, and replace traditional chemical textile processes. Multifunctional textiles with different impacts such as UV blocking, antimicrobial, self-cleaning, and waterproof qualities can be obtained through green textile treatments. Using these treatments results in almost no waste of water and energy. Green treatments contain degradable chemicals that are not dangerous to either humans or the environment. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 and sustainability in textile, apparel and fashion use: an assessment of trends

Apart from the many social and health problems it has caused, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on most sectors of the economy worldwide. One of the areas where such impact is noticeable is the textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industry. The lockdowns and limited access to retailer outlets resulted in a considerable drop in consumption, creating problems related to the excess of stock, the decrease of sales, and the disposal of non-used items. This paper outlines the implications of the COVID-19 on the TAF sectors and European retailers. It analyzes how the current supply chains exacerbated stock control problems, and it reports on the changes in consumption during the pandemic. The worldwide restrictive measures implemented to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic were responsible for significant profit losses. Also, the decrease in consumption, caused by several geographically wide lockdowns, prompted a subsequent reduction in orders and sales, resulting in a significant number of constraints. The implementation of more environmentally friendly processes, including sustainable circularity as a competitiveness source to keep the TAF sectors in the loop and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, may help address the problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the sustainability context, as reported in this paper. © The Author(s) 2022.

BIOCOLLABORATIONS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS: A PILOT EXPERIMENT ON THE PRODUCTION OF MASK FROM MICROBIAL CELLULOSE

The growth of cities, the excessive use of natural resources, and the agglomeration of undegradable materials in nature are very common problems in recent years and whose results are seen more and more every day. Latest, with the "Covid-19" pandemic, which was declared as a global epidemic in 2020, petroleum-based medical masks with disposable and non-biodegradable properties became one of the most used products. This situation has led to an increase in the damage to the environment. The aim of this study is to seek for an environmentally friendly alternative to medical masks that are frequently used in daily life by incorporating biocollaborative approaches into the design process. In this direction, the microbial cellulose application obtained by the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast was used to create the surface. The use of microbial cellulose in design-related fields is a topic that is only recently becoming widespread and researched. There is not much academic research in this field, especially on a national scale, and the article aims to contribute to the literature in this context. The recipe of the mask consists of easily accessible materials to be easily produced in the home environment and Kombucha culture was used as a source of microbial cellulose. During the experiment process, different experimental environments and coloring experiments were made, and a mask design with origami folding was carried out to take the shape of the human face more easily as a final product, to enrich the potential for folding and its aesthetic appearance. The medical use of the developed mask, the efficiency of use and the physical properties of the surface require detailed analysis and research. As a result, within the scope of this study, an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods for medical masks has been presented and the potential of microbial cellulose to replace plastic-based masks has been revealed. Using growing biomaterials and incorporating them into the design field can be a unique opportunity to use materials with a truly sustainable production method. © 2022. Tekstil ve Muhendis.All Rights Reserved

Mask Waste: A Sustainable Mask-Based Epoxy Resin/SiO2 Composite for Efficient Purification of Water-in-Oil Emulsions

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a tremendous increase in the production of masks worldwide, with more than 1.5 billion masks having been disposed of during this time. The damage caused by mask pollution is a global threat;highlighting the need to dispose of discarded masks correctly. Herein, we report a recycling approach that uses discarded masks to fabricate a superhydrophobic epoxy resin/SiO2 membrane for separating emulsions. The composite has a high flux value (2123 L. m(-2).h(-1)) and high separation efficiency (>98%). The filter maintained its excellent superhydrophobic property (WCA > 150 degrees) after tape-peel cycles, clamping cycles with tweezers, abrasion cycles with 800 grit SiC sandpaper, pressure with fingertips, and kneading cycles. This study proposes a renewable, eco-friendly, and low-cost product, which can be used for oil spill cleanup and water purification. The filter not only removes oil from oily wastewater (such as oil spills) but also solves pollution caused by discarded masks. This study provides insights for resource recovery that may contribute to the purification of oily water emulsions.

Green Transformation of Anti-Epidemic Supplies in the Post-Pandemic Era: An Evolutionary Approach.

Post-pandemic, the use of medical supplies, such as masks, for epidemic prevention remains high. The explosive growth of medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant environmental problems. To alleviate this, environment-friendly epidemic prevention measures should be developed, used, and promoted. However, contradictions exist between governments, production enterprises, and medical institutions regarding the green transformation of anti-epidemic supplies. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate how to effectively guide the green transformation. Concerning masks, a tripartite evolutionary game model, consisting of governments, mask enterprises, and medical institutions, was established for the supervision of mask production and use, boundary conditions of evolutionary stabilization strategies and government regulations were analyzed, and a dynamic system model was used for the simulation analysis. This analysis revealed that the only tripartite evolutionary stability strategy is for governments to deregulate mask production, enterprises to increase eco-friendly mask production, and medical institutions to use these masks. From the comprehensive analysis, a few important findings are obtained. First, government regulation can promote the green transformation process of anti-epidemic supplies. Government should realize the green transformation of anti-epidemic supplies immediately in order to avoid severe reputation damage. Second, external parameter changes can significantly impact the strategy selection process of all players. Interestingly, it is further found that the cost benefit for using environmentally friendly masks has a great influence on whether green transformation can be achieved. Consequently, the government should establish a favorable marketplace for, and promote the development of, inexpensive, high-quality, and effective environmentally friendly masks in order to achieve the ultimate goal of green transformation of anti-epidemic supplies in the post-pandemic era.

Design, manufacture, and testing of customized sterilizable respirator.

The respirator as one of the personal protective equipment is essential for industrial activities (e.g., mining, painting, woodcutting, manufacturing) for protection from contaminants in the air and during the Covid-19 pandemic to protect the wearer from infection. The respirators nowadays are commonly made of rigid plastic. They are expensive, cumbersome, and not comfortable to wear. The many components with complex structures prevent it from cleaning and reusing. We develop a practical and scalable strategy to create customized respirators with durability using computational modeling and 3D printing. It is shown that by morphing the shape according to the user's photo, the respirator is designed to fit a user's face without air leaks. Using a printing-mold-casting method, this respirator can be manufactured by silicone rubber with accuracy, which is highly durable, with its mechanics primarily not affected by sterilization. These features provide the current respirator adaptivity and convenience in carrying and storing, as well as more comfort for long-time wearing.

The Influence of Infectious Disease Cues on Purchase Intention for Environmentally Friendly Products.

Consumers often come across cues of infectious disease in daily life, such as diners coughing in restaurants, commuters sneezing on the bus, or recent news reports about the spread of infectious diseases. In this study, four experiments were conducted to explore the role of infectious disease cues on consumers' purchase intention for environmentally friendly products (eco-friendly products), as well as the moderating effects of consumers' sense of power and anti-disease intervention. According to the results, infectious disease cues enhance consumers' intent to purchase eco-friendly products, and perceived uncertainty and need to belong played a chain-mediated role in the relationship between infectious disease cues and this purchase intention. Consumers' sense of power moderated the relationship between infectious disease cues and purchase intention. The purchase intention of consumers with a low sense of power (vs. high sense of power) was significantly enhanced when the infectious disease cues were highlighted. Anti-disease interventions also have a moderating effect on the relationship between infectious disease cues and purchase intention. When anti-disease intervention (such as wearing an anti-bacterial mask against airborne diseases) was adopted, consumers' willingness to purchase eco-friendly products decreased.