Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100469
Anggie Thalya Villanueva-Linares , Jose Alberto Aguilar-Franco , Marvin Marco Chambi-Peralta , Carlos Renzo Rivera Calcina , Teófilo Donaires Flores , Jeanette Fabiola Díaz-Quintanilla
{"title":"Physical, mechanical and chemical characterization of a composite from leather shavings and scrap office paper for potential packaging application","authors":"Anggie Thalya Villanueva-Linares , Jose Alberto Aguilar-Franco , Marvin Marco Chambi-Peralta , Carlos Renzo Rivera Calcina , Teófilo Donaires Flores , Jeanette Fabiola Díaz-Quintanilla","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A composite material with potential applications in the packaging industry was developed using leather shavings, scrap office paper, thermoplastic resin, and distilled water. The production process consisted of raw material preparation, the production of recycled paperboard sheets, and sheet finishing. An extreme vertex mixture design generated 13 samples to optimize the proportions of paper, leather shavings and resin, using tensile strength (ASTM D828–22) as the dependent variable. The optimal recycled paperboard formulation was 70 wt% paper, 5 wt% leather shavings, and 25 wt% resin. Physical tests were conducted to measure grammage (ISO 536), thickness (ISO 534), moisture content (TAPPI T 412), and water absorption (ISO 535–2023). Chemical analyses included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with attenuated total reflectance (ATR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and elemental chemical composition of the composite material. Compared with reference paperboard, the recycled paperboard exhibited lower moisture absorption but also reduced tensile strength. FTIR spectra confirmed cellulose-related bands and revealed the presence of collagen from leather, while TGA/DTG curves indicated slight shifts in degradation temperatures, reflecting reduced thermal stability due to leather incorporation. The recycled paperboard shows potential for sustainable packaging applications that demand moderate mechanical performance. However, the lower thermal stability and tensile strength may limit its use in high-stress demanding applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100469"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Magnetically-responsive starch nanocomposites for potential recovery of plastic waste: Characterization of starch/clay/Fe3O4/TiO2 film","authors":"Armin Rasouli , Iman Shahabi-Ghahfarrokhi , Majid Namdari , Maryam Shaterian","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the environmental and economic challenges of plastic waste recycling by developing magnetically recyclable starch-based bionanocomposites (SCFT). The hypothesis that intercalating Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles within a layered clay matrix (CFT) would maintain magnetism while reducing dark coloration was tested. Structural analysis confirmed SCFT formation, with uniform dispersion at low CFT content and aggregation at higher concentrations. Increased CFT content reduced moisture absorption, water solubility, and contact angle, but did not significantly alter mechanical properties and water vapor permeability. The composites retained a dark color, indicating the intercalation strategy was insufficient to overcome this limitation. However, SCFT films exhibited effective magnetic separation and UV-blocking capability. Therefore, while clay intercalation does not mitigate the dark coloration of the magnetic particles, it yields a functional, magnetically recoverable packaging material with UV-blocking properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100492"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100486
Lukas Zeilerbauer , Johanna Langwieser , Karin Fazeni-Fraisl , Magdalena Pflügl , Johannes Lindorfer , Dominik Schneeberger , Christian Ehrengruber , Nikolai Kuhn , Hannah Aster , Christian Paulik , Jörg Fischer
{"title":"Life Cycle Assessment of plastic film recycling comparing kerbside and separate collection on laboratory and industrial level","authors":"Lukas Zeilerbauer , Johanna Langwieser , Karin Fazeni-Fraisl , Magdalena Pflügl , Johannes Lindorfer , Dominik Schneeberger , Christian Ehrengruber , Nikolai Kuhn , Hannah Aster , Christian Paulik , Jörg Fischer","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Life cycle assessment was used to analyse and compare the environmental impacts of an individual drop-off system for plastic waste recycling against a kerbside collection system. Despite good primary data, several methodological questions were identified. Allocation by mass of transported waste plastics film revealed the yellow bag to be the superior alternative over the individual drop-off. However, results were sensible to methodological choices. Afterwards, the collection results were extended to 1 kg of recycled LDPE, using laboratory and industrial recycling scenarios. The industrial scenario yielded much lower impacts, proving that laboratory scale recycling is hardly able to predict industrial results. Findings were confirmed by statistical analysis from 1000 Monte Carlo runs by using discernibility and overlap area analysis. Ultimately, 23 possible recycling product designs were derived, using mechanical properties obtained from the laboratory and were compared to four commercially available benchmarks. Properties were hard to match from the laboratory recycling design, producing mostly inferior LCA results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100486"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Water hyacinth vermicompost tea supplementation improves the productivity of fish and vegetables in aquaponics system in Batu, Ethiopia","authors":"Gemechu Tolera, Abebe Getahun, Akewake Geremew, Seyoum Mengistou","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing human population, resulting from rapid urbanization, is leading to a shortage of land for food production. This has led to the emergence of various production methods, such as Aquaponics, which combine aquaculture and hydroponics in a single recirculating system. Aquaponics is a pioneering farming system that involves the production of both plants and fish. This research was carried out in an aquaponic system that is part of the Batu Fish and Other Aquatic Life Research Center, Oromia Regional Agricultural Research Institute (longitude 88º33' E, latitude 23º24' N) from the start of December 2021 to the end of February 2022. A study was conducted to evaluate the use of Water hyacinth-based liquid fertilizer in aquaponics conditions and investigate the effects of foliar applications of compost tea on lettuce growth and yield, compared to a hydroponic system. The experimental setup consisted of a fully operational aquaponics system, featuring fish tanks, hydroponics, bacteria, fish, and plants as its main components. To effectively conduct aquaponics production, it's crucial to monitor water parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and temperature. In three rearing tanks, each with a diameter of 1.2 m, a depth of 0.75 m, and a volume of 840 L, Nile tilapia fingerlings weighing an average of 20 g were stocked at a combined biomass of 3.2 kg. They were fed at 3 % of their body weight with a diet that contained 35 % crude protein. The tanks were linked to replicate plant trays, and two hydroponic containers were also connected to replicate plant trays. After 21 days, lettuce seedlings were transplanted into both aquaponics and hydroponics systems. Foliar nutrient applications began 30 days post-transplant using five treatments: FAA (T1), UA (T2), LSA (T3), UH (T4), and FAH (T5), with biweekly sprayings. The result of water quality parameters recorded during the experiment was permissible except for pH and EC in the aquaponic system. Variance analysis (ANOVA) and Duncan’s test (p > 0.05) revealed that the number of leaves was similar between systems, but significant differences in leaf fresh weight (p < 0.05) (p < 0.05) were observed. T1 showed the highest weight at 82.80 ± 2.353 g, while T2, T3, T4, and T5 had lower weights. Significant differences in root weights were also noted, with T5 leading at 23.60 ± 1.088 g. The average number of leaves per treatment was around 37 for T1 and T5. The ash content of the lettuce from both systems ranged from 20 % to 33 %. As the data on fish growth indicate, the final fish weight was not significantly different (p > 0.05) across all treatments. The results suggest that foliar application can effectively address nutrient deficiencies, promoting better growth and yield in both aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Generally, the study found that using water hyacinth vermicompost tea in an aquaponics system in Batu, Ethiopia, helps both fish and vegetables grow b","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100451"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100495
Linus Ekman Burgman
{"title":"How a certification turned sewage sludge from an undesirable waste to a demanded good","authors":"Linus Ekman Burgman","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reducing the disposal of wasted materials and increasing their usage has been argued by international organizations like the UN to be pivotal for sustainable production and consumption. Sewage sludge is such a material that could replace mineral fertilizers and increase humus in the soil. However, research on sewage sludge (and other waste) utilisation has identified that the main barrier is to raise demand and establish a market. This paper focuses on the remarkable increase in agricultural use of sewage sludge from 6 % to 60 % between 2002 and 2024 in Sweden. The hypothesis is that the establishment of a certificate (Revaq) for wastewater treatment plants played an important role in marketing sewage sludge. Based on minutes from the Revaq steering board, the paper uses qualitative analysis to scrutinise how exchange, representation, and normalisation of sewage sludge were practiced. The hypothesis is partially confirmed, where the establishment of the certificate’s stricter rules gained farmers’ support. However, and more importantly, it is not by establishing the certificate alone that support increased, but through relationship building and negotiations to bridge the tensions between market-shaping practices. Revaq had to balance the number of treatment plants with the strictness of rules, a human excrements-only norm with societal embeddedness, and supporting increased agricultural use while enforcing certified sludge as the only option. Understanding how a certificate can enhance waste-derived materials marketing is key to reducing the dependence on new raw materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100495"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100468
Suzana Márcia Marangoni , Pedro Brancoli , Andréa Rossi Scalco
{"title":"Environmental impacts caused by food waste: A case study in Brazilian supermarkets","authors":"Suzana Márcia Marangoni , Pedro Brancoli , Andréa Rossi Scalco","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing global demand for food, alongside with an increase in the environmental pressures and food insecurity, highlights the urgency of addressing food loss and food waste. This study investigates the magnitude and environmental impact of fruit and vegetable waste in three Brazilian supermarkets located in the State of São Paulo. Using waste composition analysis and life cycle assessment, 2160.3 kg of unsold fruit and vegetables were quantified over one week per store, corresponding to an estimated 2366.3 kg of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions. The products with the highest waste were bananas, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and oranges — accounting for nearly half the total waste mass. Emissions were highest for fruits, followed by vegetables, and tubers, bulbs and roots. Unlike many studies that rely on secondary data or literature, this research provides original, primary data from supermarket waste, offering valuable insights into retail-level food waste and its environmental consequences. The study emphasizes the importance of targeting high-impact waste categories and implementing context-specific interventions, including improved cold chain infrastructure, employee training, and flexible product specifications. Findings offer actionable insights for retailers to reduce food loss and food waste and associated emissions, contributing to national and international sustainability goals. The integration of waste quantification with life cycle assessment represents a robust approach to identifying environmental hotspots and informing food loss and food waste mitigation strategies in supermarket retail.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100468"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100490
Ya Wang , Wenbo Zhu , Hongyu Wang
{"title":"Study on the effect of ultrafine powder prepared by coactivation of ternary industrial solid waste on concrete properties","authors":"Ya Wang , Wenbo Zhu , Hongyu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Addressing the dual challenges of high emissions and low utilization rates associated with industrial solid waste (ISW), this study pioneers a strategy for high-value resource recovery by developing a highly active ultrafine powder through the compounding and grinding of coal gasification slag, fly ash, and slag powder (mass ratio 2:3:5). The efficacy of this tri-component solid waste synergistic activator was evaluated by producing C50 concrete specimens with cement replacement levels of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, and 40 %. Results demonstrate that while early (7-day) compressive strength decreases with increasing replacement ratio, a 10 % ratio yields superior later-age strength. Notably, the 30 % replacement ratio conferred optimal resistance to both carbonation and chloride ion penetration. Microstructural analyses (XRD, SEM) revealed that the ultrafine powder refines the pore structure of the hydration products, thereby enhancing the concrete's mechanical properties and durability. This approach presents significant potential for advancing the resource-efficient utilization of ISW and promoting green, low-carbon, and sustainable development within the construction sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100490"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100478
Kwame Anokye
{"title":"Green building materials in the construction sector in Ghana: A narrative review of environmental and economic viability","authors":"Kwame Anokye","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The construction industry in Ghana faces a critical challenge in balancing environmental sustainability with economic feasibility. This narrative review evaluates the environmental and economic viability of Green Building Materials (GBMs) using a life cycle approach. Synthesized findings from existing literature indicate that conventional building materials contribute significantly to carbon emissions, with cement production alone accounting for approximately 8 % of global CO₂ emissions. In contrast, GBMs such as compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) and geopolymer concrete demonstrate lower embodied carbon and energy consumption. Additionally, buildings constructed with GBMs reported 26–30 % cost savings due to reduced material costs, lower maintenance, and enhanced thermal performance. Despite these benefits, the adoption of GBMs in Ghana remains constrained by high initial costs, limited market availability, and inadequate policy support. The study identifies key barriers, including the absence of financial incentives, underdeveloped supply chains, and a shortage of skilled labor. The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions such as tax incentives, subsidies, local manufacturing investments, and sustainability education programs to facilitate GBM adoption. This study provides novel insights by integrating environmental impact assessments with life cycle cost analyses, bridging a critical knowledge gap in sustainable construction. This research highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to align Ghana’s construction sector with global sustainability targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100478"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100456
Mohammad Main Uddin , M. Meherul Islam Khan , Md. Tazul Islam , Md. Asaduzzaman Babu
{"title":"From waste to worth: How environmental accounting translates sustainability practices into organizational value","authors":"Mohammad Main Uddin , M. Meherul Islam Khan , Md. Tazul Islam , Md. Asaduzzaman Babu","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100456","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100456","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental accounting and reporting address public environmental issues and demonstrate a company's commitment to sustainability, which is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, especially in Bangladesh. Despite the increasing focus on sustainability reporting, there is a lack of research on the systematic translation of specific environmental management practices into organizational value through environmental accounting and reporting. These practices include solid waste, wastewater, energy, emissions, and monitoring. Accordingly, the study's primary aim is to identify the factors that influence an organization's environmental accounting and reporting and how these factors impact its goodwill, reputation, financial performance, and environmental sustainability. After gathering the data, several discrepancies were identified in the questionnaire, and 400 participants were selected following the data-cleaning process of 450 respondents. The research employed Smart PLS (4.1.0.0) with a PLS-SEM approach. The results support most of the hypothesized relationships. Specifically, SWM has a significant influence on EAR (β = 0.128), as do WWM (β = 0.256), EC (β = 0.568), and EA (β = 0.152). However, the relationship between PIM and EAR was not statistically significant (β = 0.053, p = 0.289), indicating that internal monitoring does not always translate into external environmental disclosures. Likewise, EAR was found to significantly enhance organizational outcomes, as it positively impacts OGR (β = 0.186), OFP (β = 0.139), and OES (β = 0.586). These findings underscore the importance of environmental initiatives and transparent reporting in achieving both reputational and financial benefits, as well as sustainability benefits. This research extends the legitimacy and stakeholder theory by demonstrating how strategic environmental practices and disclosure behaviors converge to enhance corporate performance, particularly in developing country contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100456"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cleaner Waste SystemsPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100480
Sadaf Noshin , Wasim Abbass , Sajjad Mubin , Raja Rizwan Hussain , Jitendra Kumar Singh , Hyun-Min Yang
{"title":"Synergistic carbonation pretreatment for performance enhancement and CO₂ uptake in limestone–blended cement","authors":"Sadaf Noshin , Wasim Abbass , Sajjad Mubin , Raja Rizwan Hussain , Jitendra Kumar Singh , Hyun-Min Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High proportions of carbonated supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) are needed to decarbonize the cement industry but the traditional technologies frequently negate the workability and long-term strength, constraining industry use. This research fills an important knowledge gap regarding the influence of carbonation on particle surface texture and the time when the CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration process starts to slow down the kinetics of hydration. A two-step carbonation pretreatment and curing method was designed to improve environmental as well as mechanical properties of cementitious pastes. Limestone powder (LP) was pretreated under 0.5 bar CO<sub>2</sub> pressure using a dry carbonation process after 0.5, 3 and 5 h and replaced with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at 5–25 % proportions. The cementitious pastes were subjected to carbonation curing to determine CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration, hydration and strength development. The characterization by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and particle size analysis showed gradual conversion of portlandite to stable calcite with an increase in carbonation period. A major finding is a surface-polishing mechanism, carbonation pretreatment decreases the surface roughness of the LP particles, reducing the water adsorption and enhancing the flowability of the paste. The 5 % HCLP/3 h mixture proved to be the most effective with a 47.7 % increase in 28-day compressive strength. This has been explained by synergistic action in which nanocrystal calcite seeds from pretreatment catalyzes a heterogeneous nucleation in the later hydration and curing. On the contrary, kinetic threshold was observed to be at 5 h where excessive generation of surface carbonates results in a thick passive film that halts the hydration. Life Cycle Assessment showed a 21 % decrease in Global Warming Potential, offset by a decrease in clinker and possible use of renewable energy in precast environments. This study represents a scientifically based concept of sustainable, high-performance cementitious systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100256,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Waste Systems","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100480"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}