This study explores the transformative role of IoT in enhancing efficiency across the food value chain. It combines secondary and primary research to identify factors that influence IoT adoption in the food sector. A thematic–bibliometric analysis (2010–2024) highlights key themes related to IoT use in the industry, particularly in food packaging and supply chain optimization. The primary research, based on 162 questionnaires, examines factors influencing IoT adoption, such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, self-efficacy, and personal innovativeness. Results show that IoT awareness strengthens the impact of personal innovativeness on attitudes toward IoT. Additionally, a positive attitude significantly influences the intention to use IoT. These findings underline IoT’s potential to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and positively impact the food industry, emphasizing the importance of increasing awareness to foster its adoption.

Deposit Refund Systems (DRS) are widely adopted in many European countries as effective mechanisms for increasing recycling rates and promoting circular-economy practices. Greece is currently preparing for the introduction of a national DRS for beverage containers, a transition expected to reshape existing waste-management structures. This study investigates the systemic challenges that may hinder the successful implementation of the upcoming Greek DRS. Focusing exclusively on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum, and glass beverage containers, this study adopts a multi-stakeholder qualitative approach involving 28 semi-structured interviews with beverage producers, retailers, recyclers, logistics actors, consumer representatives, and regulatory authorities. Thematic analysis reveals four interdependent barriers: restricted consumer accessibility due to uneven distribution of return infrastructure; fragmented governance and unclear institutional responsibilities; weak coordination and operational misalignment among supply-chain actors; and low consumer participation shaped by behavioral and cultural factors. These findings underscore that Greece’s DRS readiness is constrained not by technological limitations but by systemic gaps in governance, infrastructure planning, and stakeholder collaboration. This study contributes to the DRS literature by providing one of the first pre-implementation, multi-actor assessments in a Southern European context and offers policy-relevant insights to support an effective, equitable, and transparent rollout of the national DRS.

Regional multimodal transportation hubs are strategic infrastructures for enhancing intermodal connectivity, regional competitiveness, and supply-chain resilience. Their development through Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), however, requires coordination across institutional, infrastructural, financial, technological, and stakeholder domains. This study examines stakeholder perceptions of the critical success factors (CSFs) influencing the planning and development of a potential regional multimodal logistics hub through a PPP-type governance arrangement in Central Macedonia, Greece. An exploratory qualitative design was employed, based on questionnaire responses from 23 stakeholders and professionals across public authorities, business organizations, logistics and transport companies, construction and engineering firms, consultancies, and transport-infrastructure organizations. Responses were analyzed using theoretically informed reflexive thematic analysis. Six interrelated themes emerged: location and accessibility; infrastructure and technology; institutional and legal framework; financial sustainability and investment environment; stakeholder legitimacy and regional development; and adaptive sustainability. Findings highlight Central Macedonia’s strategic geographic advantages, particularly Thessaloniki’s gateway position, while distinguishing geographic potential from operational readiness. Successful development depends on reliable multimodal infrastructure, digital interoperability, institutional coordination, regulatory stability, credible demand and financing, effective public–private cooperation, stakeholder legitimacy, and adaptive capacity. In the Central Macedonia case, perceived implementation readiness emerges from the interaction of these conditions rather than from any single factor in isolation.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the concepts of green marketing, green consumer and green product, which have become increasingly popular at present and to offer practical recommendations to the management of the American Farm School (AFS) of Thessaloniki in regards to green marketing strategies. The strong presence of green marketing in today’s business landscape has its roots in the promotion of eco-marketing from the academic community and from the involvement of many citizens in environmental movements which have highlighted environmental issues and entrepreneurship as matters of particular importance. In this study, primary data in regards to the Greek consumers’ perceptions on AFS products’ eco-friendly characteristics are gathered through a questionnaire survey and an interview with the AFS Farm Manager. Next, the research results are presented in detail. Finally, the study ends with the analysis of the findings and concluding comments.