Introduction: The analysis of corporate and consumer sustainability practices is currently the focus of several scientific disciplines due to their environmental impact and diversity. Objective: This research aims to create a hierarchy of consumer perceptions of zero waste thinking that can guide government decisions regarding university communities' sustainability efforts. To achieve the objectives of this study, Hungarian university citizens (students, faculty, staff) as potential zero waste consumers in Győr were involved in a purposive sampling approach. Methods: This study adopted the Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) methodology to prove the hypotheses related to the 7Rs regarding Zero Waste perceptions of university citizens. The rethink element of the hierarchy was defined as the default condition for the 7 R application and therefore remained at the top of the hierarchy as an endogenous variable. Results: The study concluded that it is possible to adapt a business 7 R framework for consumer use, but only 5Rs can be applied. The analysis was conducted at a 90% confidence level, under which condition the independent variables together explain 87% of the variance of the rethink factor. The results show that the four constructs, namely rot (β =0.12, ρ<0.1), reduce (β =0.21, ρ<0.1), recycle (β =0.26, ρ<0.05), and reuse (β =0.43, ρ<0.05) significantly affect rethinking. Based on these regression weights, a hierarchy of importance can be established. In line with the original 7 R business concept, rethink is at the top of the hierarchy, followed by the other elements. Conclusions: The results suggest that the zero waste attitudes of university citizens are currently limited to the 5Rs, which should require government leadership to strengthen these factors or a more consistent presence and support for the 2Rs that are missing from the established model. Governments can use the results of this research in their sustainability-related decisions.

Sustainability is a concept that many people are familiar with, but it also seems elusive and difficult to generalize. Part of this concept is the Zero Waste mindset, which exists in equally diverse forms in people's minds. The research uses the 7R approach of the Zero Waste framework, adapted to consumers, to analyze which consumer groups can be distinguished from each other in terms of Zero Waste thinking. The methodology is based on a questionnaire analysis with the use of an HSD test. The results show that rethinking is the most widespread within the 7R concept, as the effects of most moderating variables (generation, gender, information gathering, product purchase, knowledge of the 7R concept, perceived income) can be measured in its case. In addition, 3 groups (Perfectionists, Adopters, and Rejecters) were created based on the consumers’ mindset of Zero Waste and named according to the means of the variables associated with the 7Rs. The present research is a Hungarian case study, which illustrates the existence of Zero Waste awareness and activities and should be extended to other nations as well.

Our article on the study of the “Resource Curse” in Chinese provinces, was written with two objectives. First, by reviewing the international and Chinese literature and analyzing the economic development of the relevant Chinese provinces, we sought to explore whether the resource curse phenomenon exists or can be demonstrated. And second, we want to draw the reader's attention to the fact that Chinese and Asian economies in general have central planning models, the main purpose of which is to define and focus on national economic development priorities. The sub-divisions of the central development plans include development targets for each region, which naturally take into account the economic performance of each province and the factors that determine it. It follows from the latter line of thinking that the economic development of the four Chinese provinces concerned (Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai and Shanxi) cannot be interpreted in a 'piecemeal' way, based solely on the existence or otherwise of the resource curse phenomenon. In writing this article, we also wish to draw attention to this holistic, comprehensive Chinese (Asian) way of thinking.