{"title":"Life cycle assessment of a small-scale and low-input organic apple value chain including fresh fruit, juice and applesauce","authors":"Samuel Le Féon , Thierry Benezech , Gwenola Yannou-Le Bris , Joël Aubin , Imca Sampers , Damien Herreman , Caroline Pénicaud","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Consumers are increasingly interested in knowing the environmental impacts of foods. In addition, producers are interested in receiving recommendations to reduce their impacts. This faces two major challenges: (1) certain systems are not widely studied and (2) not all production stages are included in system boundaries (e.g. only the agricultural stage or the supply chain). Life Cycle Assessment was applied to a specific small-scale and low-input organic apple value chain. The system boundaries included the cultivation, processing and distribution. All transport and waste management were considered. The main contributors to environmental impacts are: cultivation, juice and applesauce production, retail and consumption. Compared to literature, cultivation is efficient. Processing and retail are respectively influenced by the use of glass packaging, the cold storage of fresh apples and the transport to stores. Consumption was influenced by the management of apple waste and the consumer trip. Literature survey and results confirm that the system was not represented in the literature and provides new insights into the entire value chain, as well as new proxy LCIs. Similar specific studies should be repeated in the future to cover the variability. It is an essential step towards applying the environmental footprint fairly to alternative systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100141"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197678","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}
L.G.L.M. Edirisinghe , A.A.P. de Alwis , S. Prakash , M. Wijayasundara , N.A. Arosha Hemali
{"title":"A volume-based analysis method to determine the economic value of mixed industrial waste","authors":"L.G.L.M. Edirisinghe , A.A.P. de Alwis , S. Prakash , M. Wijayasundara , N.A. Arosha Hemali","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, a new method was introduced to analyze industrial mixed waste based on volume. The method was applied to characterize the composition, quantities, and potential economic value of waste generated in the Biyagama Export Processing Zone (BEPZ). It was observed that the composition of industrial mixed waste varied across different industries and processes using the proposed method. Moreover, the investigation into the potential economic value of industrial mixed waste revealed that most waste categories generated were recyclable materials accounting for approximately 89.4% of the total waste generated. As a result, the expected revenue generated from the waste was estimated to vary from USD 0.47–0.67 million per year. The study emphasized the significance of a volume-based approach for analyzing industrial mixed waste, along with the significant potential economic value that can be derived from proper management and valorization of these waste streams within a framework aligned with the principles of Circular Economy. The method will identify the hidden potential to regenerate resource to an optimum utility and value aligned with principles of circular economy potential considering industrial waste. The outcome would be helpful for decision-making on different alternatives as the opportunity cost of not having alternatives gets revealed as an estimated value.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197677","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":"The systematic application of plant dyeing techniques based on sustainable energy systems in ecological textile design","authors":"Shanshan Zong","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Global energy demand is increasing, and non-renewable resources are increasingly scarce. The development and utilization of renewable resources are imperative. In order to enhance the environmental friendliness of ecological textile parks, the study proposes the systematic application of plant dyeing techniques based on sustainable energy systems in the design of ecological textiles. The experiment utilized resources such as solar energy and constructed a sustainable energy scheduling system for the dyeing and weaving park. The ratio of heat/cold, electricity, and hot water varies at different times throughout the day. Among them, the power supply ratio is municipal > photovoltaic > energy storage, and the photovoltaic power supply ratio accounts for about 33%. The daily planned power supply load is 50 KW, and the actual power supply load is approximately 38 KW. The energy dispatch system in the dyeing and weaving park has reduced the actual power supply load by about 24%. The corrected color matching error value of plant dye three color and four-color blends is less than 1.0, and the simulation data of the ratio has significantly improved to a certain extent. This indicates that the addition of a correction coefficient helps to correct the actual production ratio and reduce the impact of blended yarn color during the production process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197672","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":"The greenhouse gas emissions of a German hospital - A case study of an easy-to-use approach based on financial data","authors":"Mattis Keil","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To reduce the impact of anthropogenic climate change, healthcare has to transform to a low greenhouse gas emissions sector. Hospitals are a fundamental part of healthcare provision and can play an important role in mitigating the climate impact of healthcare. To help decision-makers and policy-makers, information on the greenhouse gas emissions of individual hospitals is needed. The aim of this paper is to provide an assessment of a hospital in north-western Germany with a cost-based approach based on financial data from the Profit& Loss Statement. Direct emissions and emissions through energy usage were calculated using quantity-based bottom-up emission intensities. Indirect emissions were calculated using monetary-based top-down emission intensities. To determine these emission intensities for the reported cost groups, 8,772 transactions from the profit and loss statement of a German hospital were assigned to industry sectors provided by two input-output databases. In the final model, the emission intensities of cost groups with large differences between the two databases were substituted with bottom-up data. In total, between 10,398 and 11,147 t CO<sub>2</sub>eq were emitted by the hospital in 2019. Direct emissions sources were responsible for 37%–40%, electricity production was responsible for 13%–14%, and upstream and downstream processes were responsible for 47%–50% of total emissions. The production of medical supplies accounted for 32%–52% of those processes and was the largest emitter among cost groups. The study shows that the calculation of the carbon footprint of a hospital is possible using a hybrid model based on standardized financial data. The study's results are limited by the chosen system boundaries, by methodological limitations of the chosen top-down approach, and data availability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100140"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197673","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}
E.O. Oke , O.E. Aru , I. Nzeribe , O. Adeyi , B.I. Okolo , J.A. Adeyi , K.K. Salam , J.A. Adeniran , D.O. Araromi
{"title":"Computer-aided batch process design, techno-economic and uncertainty analyses of bio-clarified water recovery from south-eastern Nigerian brewery wastewater","authors":"E.O. Oke , O.E. Aru , I. Nzeribe , O. Adeyi , B.I. Okolo , J.A. Adeyi , K.K. Salam , J.A. Adeniran , D.O. Araromi","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biocoagulation-flocculation-sedimentation (bioclarification) is one of the main wastewater treatment techniques. Despite its effectiveness in treating brewery wastewater for water reuse, the scale-up process for the reclaimed brewery water from wastewater has rarely been documented in the literature. This study presents the computer-aided process design, techno-economic and uncertainty analyses of bioclarified water production from brewery wastewater. The base-case simulation model, process scale-up design and economics were performed in Aspen Batch Process Developer. Process profitability indices (Net Present Value: (NPV), Internal Rate of Return: (IRR) and Payback Time: PBT) were evaluated in a user-defined developed Microsoft-excel version 2018. Monte-Carlo-Simulation in Crystal-Ball-Oracle software was used to perform the sensitivity and uncertainty analyses. The process scale-up simulation results gave annual production capacity (45,000,000 L/year), batch size (9800 L/batch) and annual number of batches produced (4564 batches/year). Base case capacity results showed that the total capital investment, NPV, IRR and PBT are $2,416,358.62, $2,790,608, 36% and 3.27years respectively. Sensitivity analysis shows that production capacity and product selling price have the highest contribution for both NPV and IRR respectively. Certainties of base-case model were 90.27% for the IRR and 99.51% for the NPV. This study showed that brewery wastewater bioclarification scale-up design is feasible.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100138"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197690","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}
Daniel Granadero , Aida Garcia-Muñoz , Renate Adam , Francisco Omil , Gumersindo Feijoo
{"title":"Evaluation of abatement options to reduce formaldehyde emissions in vehicle assembly paint shops using the Life Cycle methodology","authors":"Daniel Granadero , Aida Garcia-Muñoz , Renate Adam , Francisco Omil , Gumersindo Feijoo","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Recuperative thermal oxidizers, consisting of a single combustion chamber where volatile organic compounds are oxidized, and regenerative thermal oxidizers comprising several ceramic beds where the oxidation takes place, are the most common abatement technologies applied in vehicle paint shops to reduce formaldehyde emissions. In this work, a “cradle-to-grave” Life Cycle Assessment and an eco-efficiency analysis were carried out for a real paint shop to compare these two abatement technologies and identify the most environmentally sustainable option. The results show that the regenerative oxidizer leads to a decrease of the human toxicity impact category from 1329 kg 1,4-DB eq. in the initial situation without abatement to 1284 kg 1,4-DB eq., while an alternative with recuperative oxidizers achieves a significantly higher reduction to 1176 kg 1,4-DB eq. Considering the most relevant selected impact categories, the results demonstrate that the recuperative oxidizers cause a reduction from the initial situation of 2.6% of the normalized index, whereas the regenerative oxidizer implies a raise of 3.1%. This indicates that the installation of recuperative oxidizers is the most environmentally sustainable alternative from the two investigated technologies. Nevertheless, the eco-efficiency analysis confirms that the costs of the recuperative oxidizers option are 2.2 times higher.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100139"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197689","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":"A review of greenwashing and supply chain management: Challenges ahead","authors":"Ana Inês , Andreia Diniz , António C. Moreira","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As being environmentally responsible is a potential source of competitive advantage, incorporating genuine environmental practices across the supply chain may help firms capitalize on the growing demand for corporate accountability and consumer awareness. Therefore, it is important to understand to what extent firms are using greenwashing to mislead their stakeholders in the supply chain. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature regarding greenwashing in supply chain management (SCM) to shed light on the main thematic groups addressed in the literature, understand its challenges and develop a framework that highlights the key drivers that companies need to tackle to prevent greenwashing in supply chains. For this purpose, we have conducted a systematic literature review, following a three-stage method. It was possible to identify possible solutions to prevent greenwashing across four main dimensions of SCM: consumers/customers; relationships between focal firms and suppliers; certification programs and reporting assessment; and corporate leadership. We provide a framework to help firms develop their sustainable strategy and prevent greenwashing along the supply chain. This paper synthesizes the challenges that firms face when implementing a sustainable supply chain, suggests solutions to prevent greenwashing and provides future research avenues.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100136"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197687","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}
Antonia D’Amico, Annalisa De Boni, Giovanni Ottomano Palmisano, Claudio Acciani, Rocco Roma
{"title":"Environmental analysis of soilless tomato production in a high-tech greenhouse","authors":"Antonia D’Amico, Annalisa De Boni, Giovanni Ottomano Palmisano, Claudio Acciani, Rocco Roma","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Soilless farming systems are currently considered a viable production technique reducing environmental impacts due to use of chemical factors, soil and water This study analysed the first high-tech hydroponic greenhouse in Southern Italy, using a Life Cycle Assessment approach. The environmental performances of equipped with automated systems for monitoring the growth environment (high-tech) and soil based without automation of climate and lighting (low-tech) greenhouses were compared. The analysis of high-tech greenhouse was based on primary data from field surveys. For low-tech greenhouse, secondary data from literature were used. The system boundary was from ‘cradle-to-farm-gate’, the functional unit 1 ha of cultivated area. Soil-based cultivation had the highest overall environmental impacts primarily attributable to consumption of fossil fuel and the fertilisers. The results showed that in the high-tech greenhouse, the use of renewable energy and soilless closed-loop cultivation system electronically controlled and managed, significantly reduced the environmental burden. Results suggest solution for the expansion of greenhouse farming improving their environmental performances by renewable energy and closed-loop systems. This study regarding an advanced and almost unique reality is suitable to be reapplied in any context vocated to greenhouses vegetable farming with the foresight to appropriately complement it by economic and social assessments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100137"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50197688","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":"How cereal yield is influenced by eco-environmental factors? ARDL and spectral causality analysis for Turkey","authors":"Yılmaz Köprücü, Hakan Acaroğlu","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Food crop production and energy consumption scenarios through environmental factors are a critical concern for humanity. To this end, this study focuses on cereal yield in Turkey influenced by climate change, energy consumption, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and eco-environmental factors. The objective is finding evidence for an influence level of cereal yield through its determiners, which has not been effectively discussed in literature yet. To fill the gap, a time-series autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) analysis and spectral causality relationships are conducted in the short-run, medium-run, and long-run. Data is collected annually by various institutions, from 1960 to 2019. The ARDL findings reveal that there is a cointegration between the variables and a long-run correlation between cereal yield and eco-environmental variables. While, energy consumption positively affects cereal yield, climate change has varying effects, and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions negatively affect it. This study shows that environmental and economic factors in Turkey are critical for cereal yield. The Turkish government should encourage agriculture incentives for productive cereal supply. Increasing renewable energy consumption can be a powerful strategy in Turkey not only for increasing cereal yield but also for the negative influences of climate change. Therefore, the used economic model can serve an example for any countries.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100128"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45483011","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":"Roles and capabilities of stakeholders in open design-driven distributed value creation for localised circular economies","authors":"Yekta Bakırlıoğlu","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Open design and distributed production present potentials for empowering individuals and communities to create, share, access and produce diverse, sustainable designs that can meet their own local needs and the needs of future generations. The literature on distributed production and value creation deploys various sustainable future visions, along with matching assumptions on the roles of various stakeholders who can engage in these open and distributed processes of design, production, and post-use, who operate at varying scales (i.e., individual, local, regional, and global) and with different intentions for creating and recapturing value (i.e., for self and for others). This paper presents the outcomes of a survey conducted as part of a research project on exploring open design-led business models that can establish resilient and adaptive distributed value creation networks and localised circular economy loops, with a particular focus on electrical household appliances. The survey aimed to understand the varying roles stakeholders can take, their existing capabilities, and the kinds of knowledge, skills, and resources they would require to actively participate in such distributed production and value creation networks in Turkey. The results provide comprehensive insights into the types of stakeholders involved in the process, the knowledge, skills, and resources required, and the gaps in accessing them in Turkey. The paper identifies various directions for future research, including exploring secondary raw materials for individual fabrication, individualised post-use practices of reuse, refurbishing and recycling, and codesigning post-use.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100129"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42273487","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}