{"title":"Life cycle assessment and role of circular economy: The case of fertilizer industry in India","authors":"Abhinav Katiyar, Vidyadhar V. Gedam","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Life cycle assessment (LCA) and circular economy (CE) are becoming crucial tools in minimizing the impact of the industrial system. The proposed work explores the LCA of the fertilizer industry (FI) engaged in urea and NPK fertilizer manufacturing in the western and southern parts of India. Further, the 11R-based CE framework and material circularity approach are proposed to minimize the environmental impacts (EIs) of FI for a successful transition toward sustainable development. The study shows significant EIs of FI, such as freshwater ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial eutrophication, marine eutrophication, aquatic acidification, climate change, and ionizing radiation. The carbon footprints during fertilizer manufacturing were 7.092245E+03 kg CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent and 7.87000E+03 kg CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent for each ton of urea and NPK produced. Focusing on each stages of FI, the proposed 11R CE framework provides an action plan for better environmental management during urea and NPK fertilizer manufacturing. The adoption of the developed 11R CE framework and material circularity approach can help minimize the impact associated with FI and can bring considerable environmental benefits. The study further provides in-depth policy and managerial insights for FI decision-makers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"813-827"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Toward efficient mitigation solutions: Source-based carbon pricing and economic implications in China","authors":"Xiaokun Wang, Lin Zhu, Hua Liao","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The introduction of carbon pricing policies has emerged as a critical global strategy to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the effectiveness of these policies depends on the accuracy of carbon emissions data and their alignment with the social costs of emissions. Traditional carbon pricing mechanisms, often focused on downstream emitters, face challenges such as data inaccuracies, limited coverage, and implementation complexities. This paper explores an alternative approach: source-based carbon pricing, which targets emissions at their origin—primarily from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes. By imposing charges at the source, this method enhances emissions coverage and simplifies implementation compared to conventional emitter-focused models. Using a social accounting matrix) model, this study conducts a detailed economic analysis of carbon pricing's effects across various sectors. The findings highlight significant impacts on production costs and consumer prices, particularly in carbon-intensive industries such as electricity generation and transportation. However, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, these price effects are expected to moderate over time. The study also identifies critical economic sectors and mechanisms through which carbon pricing policies influence broader economic dynamics, providing insights into the transmission pathways of these policies. In conclusion, the paper offers policy recommendations tailored to China's implementation of source-based carbon pricing. These recommendations aim to support the government's ambitious carbon neutrality goals while addressing the economic challenges associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"794-812"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claudia R. Binder, Aristide Athanassiadis, David Bristow, Helmut Haberl, Christopher Kennedy
{"title":"Tipping points toward sustainability: The role of industrial ecology","authors":"Claudia R. Binder, Aristide Athanassiadis, David Bristow, Helmut Haberl, Christopher Kennedy","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70000","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The discussion of tipping points (TPs) is getting increasing attention when addressing the climate and energy crisis. While industrial ecology (IE) has been playing a role in the climate and energy debates, it has so far fallen short of substantially adding to the research on TPs. This forum input highlights how the current contributions from IE have impacted the scientific community's understanding of TP. It highlights potential areas where IE engagement could be more prominent and points out avenues for achieving this. In particular, five fields of action seem pertinent: (i) engaging in theory building; (ii) closer collaboration with social sciences and economics; (iii) identifying and defining new indicators; (iv) making use of new modeling techniques; and (v) open science.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"622-633"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70000","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dan Wang, Zhuo Chen, Reetik Kumar Sahu, Taher Kahil, Ting Tang, Yuli Shan, Wei Zhang, Weili Ye, Guangxue Wu, Huimei Li, Klaus Hubacek
{"title":"Impacts of water conservation, wastewater treatment, and reuse on water quantity and quality stress mitigation in China","authors":"Dan Wang, Zhuo Chen, Reetik Kumar Sahu, Taher Kahil, Ting Tang, Yuli Shan, Wei Zhang, Weili Ye, Guangxue Wu, Huimei Li, Klaus Hubacek","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wastewater treatment plays a crucial role in removing pollutants. Water conservation and reuse of wastewater help to reduce freshwater use and to alleviate water stress. However, the extent to which water conservation, wastewater treatment, and reuse can contribute to water stress mitigation is not clear. This study aims to investigate the impact of water conservation, wastewater treatment, and reuse on both water quantity and quality stress mitigation in China. The investigation is based on a dataset mapping water quantity and pollutant flows across 32 sectors in 31 provinces in 2017 and a dataset of 7411 wastewater treatment plants containing information on wastewater quantity and quality. The findings show that wastewater reuse can reduce provincial water quantity stress by less than 10% and alleviate water stress in 4 out of 25 water-stressed provinces. In contrast, water conservation can contribute to water quantity stress reduction by 31% on average. When water conservation measures and reuse are jointly implemented, quantity stress levels can significantly be alleviated in 19 out of 25 water-stressed provinces, with quantity stress reductions ranging from 25% to 74%. The contribution of wastewater treatment to water quality stress mitigation varies between 6% and 86%, with an average of 29%. Nevertheless, wastewater treatment cannot sufficiently safeguard most regions against water quality stress. This is evident as 25 out of 29 water quality-stressed provinces continue to suffer from quality stress despite implementing wastewater treatment and water conservation practices. Additional measures such as non-point-source pollution control should be implemented alongside wastewater treatment to eliminate provincial quality stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"777-793"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jing Guo, Ruiqiao Li, Ruirui Zhang, Jianchuan Qi, Nan Li, Changqing Xu, Anthony S. F. Chiu, Yutao Wang, Hiroki Tanikawa, Ming Xu
{"title":"Shedding light on the shadows: Transparency challenge in background life cycle inventory data","authors":"Jing Guo, Ruiqiao Li, Ruirui Zhang, Jianchuan Qi, Nan Li, Changqing Xu, Anthony S. F. Chiu, Yutao Wang, Hiroki Tanikawa, Ming Xu","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Life cycle assessment (LCA) hinges on the transparency and reliability of inventory data. However, the transparency of background life cycle inventory (LCI) data sources remains unexamined. This research assesses data transparency in mainstream LCI databases using a two-step examination system based on source findability and accessibility. Six major databases (ecoinvent, GaBi, U.S. Life Cycle Inventory Database, European Life Cycle Database, Inventory Database for Environmental Analysis, and Chinese Life Cycle Database) were analyzed by sampling processes and tracing their sources. The results reveal widespread transparency issues, with only 40%–60% of sampled processes having findable sources and <5% being fully accessible in certain databases. Incomplete documentation and complex cross-referencing between processes and sources posed key barriers. The lack of transparency undermines LCA credibility and necessitates reconstructing databases for enhanced traceability. Although a preliminary study, these findings highlight the challenge of data transparency and provide a methodology to evaluate databases. This drives collective action to uphold transparency standards, restoring trust in LCA as a sustainability decision-making tool.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"766-776"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Palagonia, Laura Michelini, Caroline Mattelin-Pierrard
{"title":"Spanning the industrial symbiosis within the circular economy: Critical issues and future research agenda","authors":"Chiara Palagonia, Laura Michelini, Caroline Mattelin-Pierrard","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Industrial symbiosis (IS) is a business strategy that implements the principles of the circular economy (CE) at the level of cooperating firms. IS is identified as a set of relationships that, given the involvement of a plurality of different actors, risks appearing disharmonious and intricate in its management and functionality. So far scholars have identified the main enablers of and barriers to IS, interpreting their results by reference to practical recommendations, but neglecting the wider configuration of connections between actors and failing to define future research agenda. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted on 137 articles. Applying the Gioia methodology, eight categories of critical issues emerged: (1) action policy, (2) collaboration, (3) management, (4) market, (5) economy, (6) logistic, (7) technology, and (8) society and environment. The study contributes to the ongoing discussion on IS by providing a multi-level framework showing how critical issues extend the IS beyond the meso level and span the entire spectrum of CE implementation, encompassing the micro, meso, and macro levels. This means that units of research—consumer, enterprise, supply chain, ecosystem, and government—that belong to different implementation levels are interconnected and share common responsibilities. By combining the results of the SLR with the main recommendations of international institutions and organizations, research areas have been identified that may require further investigation in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"746-765"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144255986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Global supply chains and domestic climate policy: Addressing the substantial material-related carbon footprint of final consumption in France","authors":"Antoine Teixeira, Julien Lefèvre","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the Global North, materials production accounts for a limited share of territorial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and national low-carbon strategies typically focus on direct emissions in the energy, transport, buildings, and agricultural sectors. However, GHG emissions from materials production represent a significant portion of global emissions and are predominantly embodied in imports for these countries. This paper estimates and maps the carbon footprint of materials production (CFM) for France, serving as a representative case study of the Global North, for both the current situation and future scenarios. Our findings indicate that in 2015, the CFM accounted for 3 tCO<sub>2</sub>eq per capita, of which almost 90% were indirect emissions embodied in imports, while emissions from domestic materials production accounted for only 0.7 tCO<sub>2</sub>eq per capita. The CFM is notably distributed across all final consumption sectors, including purchased services, with heterogeneous contributions from different material types. Moreover, the latest national net-zero emissions strategy is projected to reduce the total French carbon footprint by only half by 2050, with 60% of the remaining GHG emissions corresponding to an unchanged CFM from 2015 to 2050. Based on a detailed mapping of present and projected carbon footprints across supply chains and trade, we identify critical areas for policy intervention. Beyond standard international collaborations and incentives aimed at reducing the carbon content of imports (e.g., Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, climate clubs, and climate finance), domestic policies fostering greater circularity and reindustrialization, coupled with shifts toward lower-demand lifestyles, emerge as essential strategies for effectively diminishing the CFM.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"733-745"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144255985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synergies between corporate social responsibility precedence and sustainable development goals: A pathway to corporate-led change","authors":"Ran Zhang, Qian (Jan) Li","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study examines the intersection of corporate social responsibility (CSR) precedence, circular economy (CE) practices, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the theoretical frameworks of the organizational culture and dynamic capabilities theory. We explore how historical CSR commitments influence firms’ resource utilization, emissions, waste management, and integration of sustainable practices such as renewable energy consumption and water recycling, using panel regressions with fixed effects and Heckman two-stage regressions, analyzing data from 1072 public traded US firms from 2007 to 2017. Our findings suggest that firms with a robust history of CSR activities are better positioned to reduce their environmental footprint and enhance their alignment with specific SDG targets, particularly those related to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13). Through a comprehensive analysis grounded in organizational culture theory, we demonstrate that firms with a strong CSR precedence foster a green organizational culture, which supports sustainable operational strategies and increases the capability to achieve sustainable outcomes. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, this study underscores the role of CSR precedence in strengthening a firm's capability to adapt and reconfigure resources in response to changing environmental demands, promoting a transition toward a CE, and thereby contributing to the broader objectives of environmental sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"698-718"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jun Hong Clarence Ng, Pradeep Vyawahare, Pahola Thathiana Benavides, Yu Gan, Pingping Sun, Richard Boardman, Jason Marcinkoski, Amgad Elgowainy
{"title":"Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with nuclear power generation in the United States","authors":"Jun Hong Clarence Ng, Pradeep Vyawahare, Pahola Thathiana Benavides, Yu Gan, Pingping Sun, Richard Boardman, Jason Marcinkoski, Amgad Elgowainy","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70008","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, tax credits of up to $3/kgH<sub>2</sub> are available to hydrogen producers if they generate emissions at levels below 0.45 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e/kgH<sub>2</sub>, spurring producers to explore how hydrogen production via electrolysis using electricity generated by nuclear power may qualify for such tax credits. With uranium as a primary fuel for nuclear power plants (NPPs) and no on-site emissions, the <i>upstream</i> emissions associated with nuclear fuel supply chains largely determine the carbon intensity of nuclear energy. Using the GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies) model, we evaluated the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of uranium production and the use of uranium to generate electricity in light water reactor (LWR) NPPs. We evaluated the process chemicals and energy inputs throughout the nuclear fuel supply chain to identify the major contributors to nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions. Such emissions are estimated at 3.0 gCO<sub>2</sub>e/kWh at NPPs in the United States. The greatest share of nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions—comprising 53% of total emissions—are associated with electricity consumption throughout the fuel supply chain. We extended the analysis to include an evaluation of the carbon intensity of H<sub>2</sub> production via electrolysis using nuclear power from LWRs. Finally, we examined the impact of future (2035 and 2050) electricity supply chain scenarios on nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions. Our analysis revealed a decrease of 33% (2035) and 46% (2050) in the carbon intensity of nuclear electricity relative to current nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"719-732"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70008","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Accounting for learning in prospective LCA: Theory and practical guidance","authors":"Sander S. van Nielen, René Kleijn, Arnold Tukker","doi":"10.1111/jiec.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Learning is important for the development of industrially deployed technologies, and learning curves have been used to determine future production costs. Although the effect of learning on costs has been extensively studied, little evidence exists for its effect on environmental impacts, and a conceptual underpinning is lacking. Based on a review of theoretical foundations and empirical evidence, this study presents a procedure for assessing learning of industrial processes in ex ante and prospective life cycle assessment (LCA). We argue that learning involves operational or organizational changes, which are motivated by incentives. Therefore, environmental impacts may follow a learning curve trend if the origins of impacts coincide with dominant incentives. A key observation is that the results may vary by impact category, and certain impacts may not decline at all. Therefore, we developed guidelines that consider these differences when evaluating environmental learning effects and rates, as illustrated with examples in an LCA context. Further research is needed to expand the evidence base for environmental learning, by re-interpreting datasets of existing technologies to determine their learning rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":16050,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Industrial Ecology","volume":"29 3","pages":"683-697"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jiec.70002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}