Food waste generation is increasing at an exponential rate, affecting the environment, food security, and causing major economic issues worldwide. The main aim of the current research is to investigate a novel composting technology that is still in its early stages of development. The proposed composting technology combining thermophilic composting with the use of advanced automated processing reactors. Starting from a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the waste generated at retail-stores, the most significant difficulties associated to waste management as well as the main characteristics of the discarded waste were identified. The findings allowed to design and evaluate the real operating performance of an automated thermophilic composting prototype (working in a decentralized regime), with the goal of delivering a faster processing system, improving operational efficiency, reducing expenses, and lowering environmental impacts. The proposed operating technique showed a high capacity for pathogens and seeds removal, the waste input mass reduction of 88%, and efficiency in food processing (2235 kg of fruits and vegetables in a 14-days timeframe).

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a key challenge for Eastern Europe, where economic growth, energy investments, and emission reduction policies interact in complex ways. This study employs a spatial econometric approach to assess the effectiveness of renewable energy investments and government environmental spending in mitigating CO₂ emissions across the region. Using panel data and spatial Durbin models (SDMs), we identify significant spillover effects in emissions reduction, revealing those environmental policies in one country influence neighboring regions. The results indicate that renewable investments have a positive but localized impact on emissions reduction, whereas government environmental expenditure exhibits diminishing returns beyond a threshold of 0.01 GDP. Threshold regression analysis confirms that excessive spending may lead to inefficiencies, reversing its expected benefits. Additionally, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) highlights disparities in energy efficiency, with some countries demonstrating stronger optimization strategies than others. These findings underscore the importance of policy coordination and targeted investment strategies to enhance the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts. Strengthening regional cooperation and optimizing environmental expenditure allocation can significantly improve sustainability outcomes in Eastern Europe.

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a key challenge for Eastern Europe, where economic growth, energy investments, and emissions reduction policies interact in complex ways. This study employs a spatial-econometric approach to assess the effectiveness of renewable energy investments and government environmental spending in mitigating CO₂ emissions across the region. Using panel data and spatial Durbin models (SDM), we identify significant spillover effects in emissions reduction, revealing those environmental policies in one country influence neighboring regions. The results indicate that renewable investments have a positive but localized impact on emissions reduction, while government environmental expenditure exhibits diminishing returns beyond a threshold of 0.01 GDP. Threshold regression analysis confirms that excessive spending may lead to inefficiencies, reversing its expected benefits. Additionally, the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) highlights disparities in energy efficiency, with some countries demonstrating stronger optimization strategies than others. These findings underscore the importance of policy coordination and targeted investment strategies to enhance the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts. Strengthening regional cooperation and optimizing environmental expenditure allocation can significantly improve sustainability outcomes in Eastern Europe.

The prerequisite for the smooth functioning of the business risk management is the correct identification. Basically, identifying business risks is fundamental to determine the optimal level of protection for a given activity. If the risk is underestimated, the protection will be insufficient to cover losses and, if overstated, the cost of protection will reduce the excess proceeds of the activity. The objective of this research was to identify the internal and external major factors which influence the present activities and the future of the SMEs from the North East region The method used in this paper work is based on a questionnaire applied to a sample of 120 top managers coming from various fields of activity, operating on the market for more than two years. The management of information and the data collection was conducted in the late 2013. In the first stage, a total of 35 risks was identified. The further evaluation of the results used the probability and the impact of the identified risks, based on questionnaires and by processing information from the documentation provided by the managers of SMEs taken under the analysis.

This paper is a theoretical approach of the importance of functional strategies use by organizations in order to reach set targets. Functional strategies are closely linked to the changing competitive environment. Functional strategies may be the competitive advantage of each company. These strategies contribute to the implementation of the integrated business strategy of the company. They are the foundation for achieving the company's strategic intent. Functional strategies clarify the corporate and business strategies of a company or business unit. In contemporary times, these strategies offer a series of more specific details on the way in which key functional areas shall be managed in the near future by operations managers. Through functional strategies, managers make decisions and carry out actions acquiring higher competencies in different business functions (marketing, financial, operational, human resources) in accordance with corporate strategies and on business level. If corporate strategies and strategies on business level are developed by managers, strategies may be prepared for the functional areas of each business unit. The development of functional strategies may fluctuate from formal to informal. Within larger organizations that carry out complex operations there may be several strategies regarding each major function. Smaller organizations may usually function with lesser policies, and most of them may be informal.