Sustainability Commons^™

Understanding University-Level Food Recovery Programs’ Approaches To Minimizing Food Waste While Combating Food Insecurity In The United States, Ella F. Flesher

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food is wasted every day at each level of the food system from production to consumption. This surplus has significant negative impacts on the environment after food is sent to the landfill and allowed to rot. However, some surplus food can be repurposed and diverted from the landfill. This study served as an initial investigation to explore multiple food waste diversion programs and analyze their structure, best practices, and methods to divert leftover food. This study specifically aimed to compare and contrast food recovery programs by interviewing participants from three food recovery programs from different university institutions. With the key …

The Impact Of Irrigation On Agricultural Land Values In The United States Southeast And An Analysis Of Farmland Prices In South Carolina, Christopher L. Thomas

All Theses

Land is a key component of the agriculture industry in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm real estate (land and buildings) accounted for 82.8% of total US farm sector assets in 2022, consequently making land the largest source of wealth in a farmer’s investment portfolio and the primary source of collateral used for farm operating loans. The Southeastern region of the United States has seen rapid farmland appreciation and intense population growth in recent years. This research investigates the rising farmland prices across the Southeast from both a regional and state-level perspective. Chapter Two …

Biodegradable Active Packaging: Exploring The Antimicrobial Efficacy And Compostability Of Chitosan-Based Films, Rachel Mchugh

All Theses

The overarching purpose of this experiment is to create an active packaging component that has both antimicrobial and biodegradable properties specifically designed for poultry food products. For the scope of this study, the packaging component created would theoretically be used in conjunction with another material, such as a poultry tray which are commonly used for fresh poultry products. Based on the scope and purpose of this experiment, biopolymer films and coatings were considered after the initial literature review. Due to the goals of the packaging component, chitosan, a polysaccharide shown to have antimicrobial properties and an inherent ability to biodegrade, …

Electrochemically Precipitated Struvite Effects On Extractable Soil Nutrients, Owen Collins

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Struvite recovery from wastewater streams may provide an alternative to traditional fertilizer-phosphorus (P) sources, while also providing the benefit of reducing nitrogen and P loads in wastewater effluent and reducing effects of eutrophication in surface waters. Limited research has been conducted to assess the effects of struvite fertilization on concentrations of soil micronutrients and potassium (K) compared to other traditional fertilizer-P sources in historically agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of fertilizer-P source (i.e., synthetically produced electrochemically precipitated struvite [ECST], chemically precipitated struvite [CPST], monoammonium phosphate [MAP], diammonium phosphate [DAP], triple superphosphate [TSP], rock …

Mitigating Nitrogen Losses: The Role Of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers In Sustainable Corn Production, Dipesh Giri

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nitrogen (N) is essential for crop production, but its inefficient use often leads to environmental losses through nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), such as nitrification inhibitors (NIs) and urease inhibitors (UIs), have been developed to minimize these losses and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This research combined a multi-year field experiment and a controlled laboratory study to evaluate how dual-inhibitor fertilizers compare to conventional urea and single-inhibitor formulations in Nebraska cropping systems. The main objective was to understand how nitrogen inhibitors influence N availability, crop performance, and nitrogen losses across different environmental …

Extending Cover Crop Growing Window To Improve The Health Of Environmentally Sensitive Soils, Noshin Ara Tunazzina

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sloping and sandy soils are highly susceptible to degradation. The health of these soils could be improved with cover crops (CCs). However, CC effectiveness in improving soil health mainly depends on CC biomass production, which is often low in temperate regions. The question is: how can we increase CC biomass production? Lengthening the CC growing window can be a potential strategy. This study assessed how 1) interseeded and terminated early (2-3 weeks before crop planting) CC, 2) interseeded and terminated late (at crop planting) CC, 3) drilled (after harvest) and terminated early CC, 4) drilled and terminated late CC, and …

Identification And Environmental Impact Of 35 Different Cut Flower Retail Packages In The U.S.A., Mary Kathryn Gillespie

All Theses

Cut flowers represent 35-billion dollars of global spending with 10-million dollars per day in the U.S.A; each transaction involving packaging. Across the country, cut flower packaging is inconsistently sized, laminated, colored, and unlikely to be recycled. 35 unique cut flower packages were collected across 16 different marketplaces, representing 88% of top grocery retailers. Measuring the materiality of the predominately unlabeled and inconsistent packaging collected required calorimetry equipment, such as Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, and precision gauges. Results unveil five materials representing the cut flower collection: Oriented Polypropylene (OPP), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Paper, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and Nonwoven Polypropylene …

Sustainable Fashion Identified: An Exploration And Education Of Sustainable Apparel, Michaela M. Lentsch

Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Consumers today are searching for and are loyal to companies who support their views and concerns about sustainability. The fashion industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, but one that has many environmental and sustainability concerns. Fortunately, there are many ways the fashion industry and consumers can take steps to make sustainable change and better the planet. Small fashion businesses and boutiques can make positive changes to operate and provide sustainable options and services for customers which can help the planet become more sustainable.

Through this manuscript, an assortment of sustainable methods and practices will be shared …

Ghosts In Glass: Ghost Crabs As Judges Of Glass Sand For Coastal Restoration, Emily Parrish

Honors Theses

Over 60% of the Gulf of Mexico coastline is actively eroding, which has resulted in thousands of miles of lost coastline over the last 100 years. This drastic loss of coastal land highlights the dire need for coastal restoration across the entirety of the Gulf Coast. A vital aspect of restoring these eroded areas is replenishing eroded substrate, traditionally conducted through offshore dredging of substrates which comes with high economic and ecological costs. Recycled glass sand may be able to fill this role and reduce our reliance on dredging while lowering the amount of glass waste entering landfills each year. …

Pastoral Land Condition: Kimberley Land Condition Standards, Robert Sudmeyer, Rick Fletcher, Kathryn Ryan, Matthew Fletcher, Charles Martin, Philip Thomas, Karen Holmes, Karyn Reeves, Wayne Fletcher

Natural resources published reports

This report outlines the conceptual basis and quantitative land condition standards that define acceptable pastoral land condition for the Kimberley, Western Australia (WA), to meet the regulatory requirements of the Land Administration Act 1997 and the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) develops regional-level pastoral land condition standards for WA to implement the Framework for sustainable pastoral management – Revised edition, which is designed to address the Office of the Auditor General’s recommendations to improve the management of pastoral lands in WA. The application of these standards is expected to …

Landscape Effects On The Beneficial Arthropod Community In Agriculturally Dominated Environments, Hannah E. Stowe

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Ecosystem services in agriculturally dominated regions rely, at least in part, on arthropods. Environment and biodiversity influence beneficial arthropods in population size, community structure, diversity, and ecosystem service provisioning. Predation is among the most important services provided by arthropods in agroecosystems. Understanding what alters predation and predator activity can support the successful application of biological control and, more broadly, integrated pest management. Land use and edge adjacency, field characteristics, landscape, seasonality, and diel period all alter predatory behavior. Crop fields dominate Nebraska agroecosystems, although interspersed perennial grasslands persist through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Such grasslands supply crucial resources and …

Community Voices, Climate Action Choices: Working Towards A Resilient Monterey County, Lesley A. Solano Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Vulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. …

Cover Crop-Induced Improvements To Soil Hydraulic Properties And The Role Of Termination Time In Mitigating Negative Soil Moisture Impacts, Fabrizio Javier Pilco

Theses and Dissertations

In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, water scarcity and drought pose ongoing challenges for farmers. Although cover crops are promoted for improving soil health and moisture, their effects on soil hydraulic properties in this region remain understudied. This thesis addresses both long-term (Chapter 2) and short-term (Chapter 3) impacts of cover crops on soil hydraulic properties and soil moisture. Long-term effects were evaluated through a three-year participatory field trial across four farms using a BACI design, while short terms were evaluated using a complete randomized block design. Soil hydraulic properties (residual water content θr, saturated water content …

Evaluating Free Merchandise Use At Coastal Carolina University, Ally Murphy, Ciara Cassady, Joseph Dumars

Goal 13: Climate Action

No abstract provided.

Zero Waste Initiatives Across Three Institutions: Local Government, An Academic Institution, And A Retail Business, Soren G. Gray

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Petm: A Window Into Earth's Future Climate, Jacalyn M. Wittmer Malinowski

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is not just an event that occurred in Earth’s distant past (~55 million years ago) but is a crucial lesson for today’s meteoric climate change. The PETM offers a historical parallel of rapid flux of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that caused global warming, ocean acidification, dramatic changes in weather, and extinctions. This global warming event was the result of 20,000 years of “rapid” warming (in geological terms) however, we are experiencing rates of warming that are 5-10x higher than PETM levels. We are not experiencing rapid warming today, in comparison to the past, we …

The Human Legacy: Agriculture, Civilizations, Strife, And Pandemics Changing Our Climate, Jacalyn M. Wittmer Malinowski

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

For most of human history, climate has shaped our lives, while our influence on it remained minimal. However, the notion that early humans had no measurable impact on the climate before industrialization is inaccurate. Early in human history, activities – such as the rise of agriculture, the growth of civilizations, periods of conflict, and pandemics – altered greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. These changes contributed to significant periods of climate change long before the burning of fossil fuels set us on the path to today’s global climate crisis.

From Basel (1989) To Busan (2024): Developments And Contradictions In The Global Plastic Waste Trade, Megan E. Hughes

Honors Theses

In 1989, the international community convened in Basel to adopt groundbreaking, legally binding legislation on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. Plastic waste was notably absent from the initial Basel Convention due to the perceived economic value in plastic recycling despite social, economic, and environmental harms. Consequently, the transboundary sale of plastic waste for recycling– known as the Global Plastic Waste Trade (GPWT)– has proceeded largely unregulated, enabling unsustainable plastic consumption while exacerbating environmental justice divides between developed and developing nations. Recent commitments in the GPWT, such as the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan (2015), China’s National Sword policy …

The Future Of Fashion: A Systematic Literature Review On Consumer Willingness To Pay For Green Apparel, Emma Clark

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, consumers have become highly aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, specifically of apparel products. Accordingly, apparel brands have increasingly focused on enhancing the sustainability of their product offerings to attract environmentally conscious consumers and elevate their brand image (Dangelico et al., 2022). Furthermore, most sustainably produced products are priced higher for consumers compared to standard alternatives (Elmanadily & El-Deeb, 2022). Research has shown that consumers can accept higher prices for products that do less harm to the environment (Gomes et al., 2023), but it has yet to be determined in which cases this is consistently …

Heathy Aging In A Sustainable Manner, Karin Volkwein-Caplan

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Karin Volkwein-Caplan, Kinesiology, presents "Healthy Aging in a Sustainable Manner".

The Oaks Vs. Other University Dining Facilities: Does Architecture Affect Food Waste?, Sydney Bezich

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study was to find a connection between food waste and architecture and determine how food waste can be mitigated using architectural solutions and methods. Food waste is an important issue worldwide and is present in university dining facilities. This study focuses on university dining facilities’ preventable food waste at both the pre-consumer and post-consumer levels. Architecture, in this project, is defined as all aspects of the built environment. This includes, but is not limited to, design and layout, materials, systems, building operations, marketing displays, and sustainability. Methods for this study included researching sustainability, architecture, and food …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Research On Underground Coal Gasification From 2023 To 2024: A Systematic Review, Qin Yong, Yi Tongsheng, Wang Lingxia

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The industrialization of underground coal gasification (UCG) technology presents a potential solution for securing the supply of clean energy. The latest wave of exploration into UCG is currently gaining momentum. Methods This review systematically organizes domestic and international literature, expatiates the advances in research on UCG from 2023 to 2024, analyzes the primary challenges in its development, and proposes key areas for future exploration. Advances Transformative technological advancements in the development and utilization of coal energy based on UCG have been proposed. The development of an integrated, synergistic UCG – coalbed methane – carbon capture, utilization, and storage (UCG–CBM–CCUS) …

Evolutionary Pattern And A Calculation Method Of In Situ Gas Pressure Based On Pressure-Retaining Coal Cores, Gao Mingzhong, Song Jie, Cui Pengfei, Li Yongcheng, Wang Zhipeng, Zhou Xuemin, Li Ju, Hao Zongxin, Hao Haichun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods The in situ gas pressure of coal seams represents a crucial parameter for the safe production of coal mines and the assessment of coalbed methane (CBM) resources. To overcome current limitations in determining the in situ gas pressure, such as prolonged measurement cycles and the influence of multiple parameters on the measurement results, this study conducted isothermal adsorption and volumetric expansion desorption experiments on pressure-retaining coal cores with varying moisture contents using a self-constructed experimental system for gas pressure evolution in pressure-retaining coal cores. As a result, the evolutionary pattern of gas pressure in pressure-retaining coal cores …

Key Technologies For Surface Control Of Gas Dynamic Disasters In Coal Mines And Their Application, Wang Bo, Xu Fengyin, Liu Wenge, Shao Sihua, Wang Ning, Wen Jiandong, Cheng Guoxi, Qu Zhenghui, Xie Yadong, Han Jiaye, Li Zhi, Xu Bo, Yang Weihua, Zhang Yiteng, Li Changxing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Significance As the coal mining depth increases, coal mining faces increasingly prominent challenges including coal and gas outbursts, rock bursts, and compound dynamic disasters. Deepening the understanding of disaster-causing mechanisms and developing diversified prevention and control technologies are significant for the safe production of coal mines. Employing the key technologies for coalbed methane (CBM) production to control gas-related dynamic disasters is an inevitable course for the safe production of coal mines. However, large-scale, suitable technology systems are yet to be developed. Methods From the perspective of the application of key technologies for surface CBM production, this study systematically …

Microseismic Monitoring And Assessment Of Segmented Hydraulic Fracturing Of Horizontal Wells In Coal Seam Roofs, Li Quangui, Peng Shuyue, Liang Yunpei, Li Wenxi, Qian Yanan, Cheng Chunhui, Yu Changjun, Zhan Jinfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Microseismic monitoring, a non-destructive monitoring technique, has been extensively applied in the hydraulic fracturing performance assessment of coal seams. However, little attention is paid to the vertical wave velocity gradients in media in the same layer during the construction of layered wave velocity models. This leads to limited precision of travel time calculation and microseismic source localization, thus affecting the assessment accuracy of the hydraulic fracturing of coal seams. Objective and Methods Based on the coal seam segmented hydraulic fracturing project in a mine in Anhui, this study proposes an improved velocity model based on the Universal Kriging interpolation …

Reflections And Implementation Strategies For Constructing A Standard System For Deep Coalbed Methane Exploration And Exploitation, Chen Xinjun, Liu Zengqin, Shen Baojian, Zhao Shihu, Zhang Jiaqi, Ye Jincheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Deep coalbed methane (CBM; burial depths: > 1500 m) in China holds considerable resource potential. As a strategic clean energy, deep CBM is exhibiting increasingly high value of exploitation and utilization. This is of great practical significance for China’s energy structure transformation and the achievement of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality in the country. In recent years, breakthroughs have been made in deep CBM exploration in basins such as Ordos, Sichuan, and Junggar, with a single-well daily gas production exceeding 100 000 m³, marking the initial achievement of large-scale deep CBM exploitation. However, the existing standard …

Dynamic Gas Supply Mechanism And Theoretical Production Modes Of Free Gas-Rich Deep Coal Reservoirs, Chen Shida, Zhang Taiyuan, Tang Dazhen, Xu Hao, Tao Shu, Li Song, Tang Shuling

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods The production processes of adsorbed and free gases and the dynamic partitioning mechanism behind the production efficiency of both gas types are critical scientific issues to be addressed urgently in the exploration and production of deep coalbed methane (CBM). Based on the test and assay data of cores from exploration wells, this study systematically analyzed the theoretical production of deep CBM resources. By integrating the building of mathematical and numerical models, carbon isotope monitoring of methane, and the analysis of production curves, this study revealed the spatiotemporal evolutionary processes of production-induced pressure drop expansion, adsorbed gas desorption, …

An Experimental Study Of Ch4 Displacement By Co2 Under Varying Initial Reservoir Pressures, Xu Jiang, Jiang Shiyu, Peng Shoujian, Wang Zhonghui, Chen Jiaxuan, Niu Huiting

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective This study aims to reveal the evolutionary patterns of reservoir parameters during the CO₂-enhanced coalbed methane (CO₂-ECBM) recovery and the impact of initial reservoir pressure on CBM recovery by gas injection. Methods Based on the multi-field coupling-based physical simulation experiment system of gas injection into coal seams for production growth, this study conducted experiments of CH₄ displacement by CO₂ under a constant gas injection pressure of 2.0 MPa and initial reservoir pressures of 1.5 MPa, 1.0 MPa, and 0.5 MPa. Accordingly, this study explored the spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns of multiphysical field parameters such …

Parameter Optimization For Multistage Horizontal Well Fracturing Based On Multi-Cluster Perforation For Deep Coal Measure Gas: A Case Study Of The Jurassic Baijiahai Area In The Junggar Basin, Wang Bo, Jin Chenghong, Liu Jiang, Wang Zhiwei, Li Shenjian, Sheng Mao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The multistage horizontal well fracturing based on multi-cluster perforation has emerged as an effective approach for the efficient production of deep coal-measure gas (CMG). However, deep coals feature unique rock mechanical properties, fluid loss characteristics of reservoirs, and microfracture developmental characteristics, which differ significantly from those of unconventional shales, tight sandstones, and shallow coals. As a result, existing fracturing experience cannot be directly applied, highlighting the investigation of fracturing parameter optimization tailored for deep CMG production.Methods Focusing on deep CMG reservoirs in the Baijiahai area within the Junggar Basin, this study constructed a model of multistage horizontal well …