The global e-waste problem is becoming increasingly serious. China, as one of the largest producers and consumers of electronic products, still has a low formal recycling rate. Consumers, as the owners of waste electronics, are the key to successful reverse logistics. However, many choose to store or dispose of e-waste at home rather than use official recycling channels. While many previous studies focus on factors that encourage recycling, fewer examine what stops people from taking part. This study applies Valence Theory to identify the factors that increase consumers’ psychological resistance to recycling small e-waste in China’s first-tier cities. It also examines how these factors influence social value and resistance behavior. The research model includes perceived price unfairness, perceived inconvenience, perceived benefits, and information publicity, with social value as a mediator. Data were collected through an online survey of 303 residents in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for analysis. The results show that perceived inconvenience and perceived benefits significantly influence social value. Perceived price unfairness, perceived inconvenience, and social value significantly affect consumer resistance. These findings expand the application of Valence Theory in e-waste research and address gaps in the Theory of Planned Behavior by considering both perceived risks and benefits. Practically, this study suggests that manufacturers, recyclers, and policymakers should improve recycling facilities, make the process more convenient, ensure fair and transparent pricing, and create targeted measures to reduce consumer resistance and encourage participation in formal recycling systems.

The development of high specific surface area and mesoporous activated carbons is required to improve the electrochemical performance of EDLC. In this study, kenaf-derived activated carbons (PK-AC) were prepared for high-power-density EDLC via phosphoric acid stabilization and steam activation. The pyrolysis behavior of kenaf with respect to the phosphoric acid stabilization conditions were examined via TGA and DTG. The textural properties of PK-AC were studied with N2/ 77 K adsorption–desorption isotherms. In addition, the crystalline structure of PK-AC was observed via X-ray diffraction. The specific surface area and mesopore volume ratio of PK-AC were determined to be 1570–2400 m2/ g and 7.7–44.5%, respectively. In addition, PK-AC was observed to have a high specific surface area and mesopore volume ratio than commercial coconut-derived activated carbon (YP-50F). The specific capacitance of PK-AC was increased from 77.0–99.5 F/g (at 0.1 A/g) to 49.3–88.9 F/g (at 10.0 A/g) with activation time increased. In particular, K-P-15-H-9–10 observed an approximately 35% improvement in specific capacitance at a higher current density of 10.0 A/g compared to YP-50F. As a result, the phosphoric acid stabilization method was confirmed to be an efficient process for the preparation of high specific surface area and mesoporous biomass-derived activated carbons, and the kenaf-derived activated carbons prepared by this process have great potential for application as electrode active materials in high-power EDLC.

The aim of this study is to enhance understanding of government and association-led fashion support programs through in-depth interviews with program managers, identifying areas for improvement. A phenomenological approach, which explores the essence of a particular phenomenon as it manifests in human life to obtain an in-depth understanding of how individuals who have experienced the phenomenon perceive it and its meanings, is adopted. Evaluation criteria for receipt of supports included qualitative factors such as design, branding, product viability, market potential, and completeness, assessed by a panel of academics, buyers, stylists, media critics, distribution experts, press personnel, and designers. Some support programs provided stage-specific assistance based on revenue or business duration, while others required brands at vastly different stages—for example, in their fifth year or over twenty years since launch-to compete within the same program. Challenges faced by designer brands included limited budgets, timing constraints, poor inter-agency communication, and administrative burdens. Suggested improvements involved engaging fashion industry experts in policy planning, integrating export data from overseas production, simplifying documentation, revising regulations, fostering cross-industry collaboration, and establishing fashion venture funds to support competitive brands and accelerate growth. Future plans include expanding support through cultural content and material innovation to boost global recognition of Korean fashion brands. Findings indicate that strategies for vitalizing emerging Korean fashion designers include cross-industry collaboration, expert-led policy development, securing specialized investment funds, and elevating Seoul Fashion Week’s significance as a global platform to increase brand visibility and facilitate domestic and international orders.

This study explores the operational challenges of emerging fashion designers in South Korea through in-depth interviews. The findings reveal significant challenges across key components of brand operation: product and image development, production, sales, promotion, and finance. Designers sought to express original narratives through their collections each season but encounter significant obstacles, such as limited production capacity, lack of marketing resources, and financial instability. Small order volumes hinder securing manufacturers, forcing designers to reinvest most revenue into sample development, with little left for labor or growth. Based on these insights, the study proposes three strategies to strengthen designer brand growth. First, it is necessary to ensure the efficient operation of numerous institutions and associations in Korea through systematic and continuous support at each stage of their programs. Each institution and association should independently run their own separate support programs to improve their expertise, optimizing the government’s limited budget. Second, adopting an agency model for emerging fashion designers, similar to entertainment agencies, can be effective. In this model, agency-affiliated celebrities act as muses for clothing lines and merchandise, enhancing sales via strategic promotion and marketing while encouraging mutual growth through revenue sharing. Third, the Korean fashion designer industry’s distribution structure needs reform.