Sustainable Biomaterials & Bioengineering (SBME) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarly publishing. The journal maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, data falsification, duplicate publication, and other forms of research misconduct.
All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism and similarity screening prior to peer review using recognised plagiarism detection software. Editorial evaluation includes assessment for textual overlap, duplicate publication, image manipulation, data fabrication, inappropriate citation practices, and undisclosed reuse of previously published material.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- Direct copying of text without appropriate citation or quotation
- Paraphrasing substantial portions of another work without attribution
- Self-plagiarism or redundant publication
- Duplicate submission to multiple journals
- Misappropriation of ideas, data, images, figures, or graphical material
- Inappropriate use of artificial intelligence-generated content without disclosure
Authors are expected to ensure that all submitted work is entirely original and appropriately referenced. Any material reproduced from previously published sources must be accompanied by proper attribution and, where necessary, documented permission from the copyright holder.
The journal recognises that limited similarity may occur in methodological descriptions, standard scientific terminology, references, and appropriately cited quotations. Editorial assessment of similarity reports is therefore conducted qualitatively and not solely on the basis of percentage similarity scores.
Where substantial plagiarism or unethical overlap is identified, the journal reserves the right to:
- Reject the manuscript immediately
- Suspend editorial consideration
- Request clarification or revision from the authors
- Notify the corresponding author’s institution or affiliated organisation where appropriate
- Retract published articles in accordance with COPE retraction guidelines
Cases of confirmed plagiarism following publication may result in:
- Formal retraction of the article
- Publication of a correction or expression of concern
- Temporary or permanent restriction on future submissions from the authors involved
Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, integrity, and authenticity of all submitted content, including text generated or assisted by artificial intelligence tools. The use of generative AI or language assistance tools must be transparently disclosed within the manuscript, and such tools may not be listed as authors.
SBME follows the ethical principles and recommendations established by:
- The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
- The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
- The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
- The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
The journal is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring that all published research meets internationally accepted standards of ethical scientific communication.