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Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Waste and Recycling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 61039

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto

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Guest Editor

Business Administration and Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, FEI University, Tamandaré Street, 688-5 Floor, 01525-000 Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Interests: cleaner production; sustainability; sustainable development; circular economy; Industry 4.0
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Wagner Cezar Lucato

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Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), 01504-001 Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Interests: sustainable manufacturing; sustainability; sustainable development

Prof. Dr. Marlene Amorim

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Department of Economics Management Industrial engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-192 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: service operations; service quality; innovation; digitalization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Vikas Kumar

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Guest Editor

Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Interests: sustainability; supply chain management; Industry 4.0; circular economy; operational excellence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Conceptually cleaner production (CP) aims to embed environmental concerns in the specification and management of production processes, products, and services in order to increase efficiency while minimizing the risks for humans and the environment, according to UNEP (2015). The purpose of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) created in 1972 is to coordinate the international actions for protection of the environment and promotion of sustainable development. The call for the adoption of cleaner production principles is a key tool develop production systems that meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have been put forward in 2015 and subscribed by all United Nations countries. Building on the concept of Sustainable Development as an expansion that meets the current needs without impairing the potentials of the future generations, countries have agreed upon the creation of a global agenda for sustainable development, with specific targets for each sustainable development goal addressing an ample range of issues including climate change, and environmental degradation.

According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, business plays a critical role in the achievement of these goals. However, a great challenge in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda is the need to achieve effective transformation in business attitudes to accommodate the adoption of new sustainability practices, technologies, and business models. The societal calls for business change are increasing, fostering “businesses to incorporate SDG reporting into their existing processes, empowering them to act and make the achievements of the SDGs a reality” (UNGC, 2018). Technology offers good prospects on this direction. There are growing expectations about the potential offered by digitalization for pursuing the SDGs, and the ability to set up more efficient and collaborative digital production ecosystems.

Despite the burgeoning body of literature devoted to the SDGs that has emerged in recent years, a further understanding is still needed to link the adoption of cleaner production principles with achievements in the economic, social, and ecological dimensions of sustainable development, including fighting poverty and improving sustainable development in the same agenda.

Therefore, the objective of this Special Issue is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge about the adoption of cleaner production practices across different business sectors in industrial and service production and its contribution to the SDGs from a holistic perspective. This Special Issue will bring together recent research work addressing the transformation of business practice associated with the adoption of cleaner production, offering a fresh view on the enablers and the contexts of adoption, documenting the transformation of business processes, product specifications and value models, and exploring the effective implications for multiple SDGs. Research work that explores how diverse social stakeholders, including governments, private companies, academic institutions, and other organizations are engaging the development of sustainable infrastructure, technologies, and processes to advance sustainable transformation are welcome.

The Special Issue aims to attract research work addressing the following topics:

Relationship between cleaner production and sustainable development;
Impacts of cleaner production for SDGs;
Cleaner production technologies and SDGs;
Experiences in the adoption of cleaner production and SDGs;
Impacts of CP for sustainability goals;
Digital technologies for cleaner production and SDGs;
Collaboration and stakeholder involvement in cleaner production and SDGs.

Some relevant references on the subject:

de Oliveira Neto, G.C., Correia, J.M.F., Silva, P.C., Sanches, A.G.O., Lucato, W.C. (2019). Cleaner Production in the textile industry and its relationship to sustainable development goals. Journal of Cleaner Production. 228, 1514-1525.

de Oliveira Neto, G.C.,; Tucci, Henrricco Nieves Pujol ; Correia, José Manuel Ferreira ; Da Silva, Paulo Cesar ; Da Silva, Dirceu ; Amorim, Marlene . Stakeholders’ influences on the adoption of cleaner production practices: A survey of the textile industry. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION, v. 26, p. 126-145, 2021.

Munguia, N.; Esquer, J.; Guzman, H.; Herrera, J.; Gutierrez-Ruelas, J.; Velazquez, L. Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings: A Step toward the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1212.

Leite, Roberto ; Amorim, Marlene ; Rodrigues, Mário ; Oliveira Neto, Geraldo . Overcoming Barriers for Adopting Cleaner Production: A Case Study in Brazilian Small Metal-Mechanic Companies. Sustainability, v. 11, p. 4808, 2019.

Baltazar, J., Reis, J., & Amorim, M. (2020). Sustainable economies: Using a macro-economic model to predict how the default rate is affected under economic stress scenarios. Sustainable Futures, 2, 100011.

Prof. Dr. Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto
Prof. Dr. Wagner Cezar Lucato
Dr. Marlene Amorim
Prof. Vikas Kumar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

cleaner production
sustainability
goals of sustainable development
circular economy
stakeholder influences

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Economy, R&D Investment, and Regional Green Innovation—Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data in China

by Debao Dai, Yaodong Fan, Guangyu Wang and Jiaping Xie

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6508; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116508 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 4351

Abstract

The digital economy plays an important role in promoting regional green innovation. Based on the panel data of 30 provincial administrative regions in mainland China (except Tibet) from 2011 to 2018, this paper constructs a comprehensive development index of the digital economy and explores the potential path of the digital economy affecting regional green innovation through factor analysis and regression analysis. The results show the following: Firstly, the digital economy can effectively promote regional green innovation capability. The causal relationship is mainly realized through scientific research funds and human resources. Secondly, in terms of regional heterogeneity, the role of the digital economy in promoting green innovation and R&D investment in eastern China is stronger than that in central and western China. Thirdly, further analysis showed that the digital economy has a significant nonlinear influence on regional green innovation capability. This feature is mainly reflected in the influence of R&D personnel on regional green innovation. Therefore, the rational allocation of R&D resources is conducive to the development of regional green innovation. Finally, it is suggested to improve the two mechanisms of R&D funds and personnel investment to actuate regional green innovation development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 2644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Assessment of Cleaner Production Practices for Sustainable Development: The Five-Sector Sustainability Model Applied to Water and Wastewater Treatment Companies

by Biagio Fernando Giannetti, Fábio Sevegnani, Roberto R. M. García, Feni Agostinho, Cecília M. V. B. Almeida, Luca Coscieme, Genguyan Liu and Ginevra Virginia Lombardi

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4126; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074126 - 30 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2594

Abstract

The world’s water resources are under pressure due to human activities. The challenges surrounding water resources management include enhancing long-term water security and minimizing undesirable economic, social, and environmental impacts, along with the production chain. Since water and wastewater treatment plants are designed to maintain and conserve freshwater provisioning services, understanding how they operate—prior to proposing options for sustainability—is of paramount importance. The diagnostic phase calls for scientifically-based, systemic, and more objective methods to provide information for decision-makers regarding strategic management of water resources. This work applied the FIVE SEctor SUstainability (5SEnSU) model to assess twenty major water and wastewater treatment companies (WWTC) in Brazil, to quantify sustainability levels that allowed ranking procedures, and to establish benchmarks for improvements. On a comparative basis, the results identified the top-three sustainable companies—CORSAN, CASAN, and SANEPAR—which should be considered as examples of best practices. Specifically, the following best-ranked companies in each sector within 5SEnSU should be used as benchmark patterns for more oriented best practices: SANEAGO, sector 1; AGESPISA, sector 2; CORSAN, sector 3; CASAL, sector 4; MA, sector 5. This work contributes toward the advancement of sustainability assessment modeling in human-managed systems (applied in WWTCs in this present study) from systemic- and epistemologically-rooted approaches, avoiding shortcomings and misleading discussions on the sustainability issue. Quantifying sustainability of WWTCs using the 5SEnSU model allows for the identification of those sectors/indicators that require immediate cleaner production practices by decision-makers, to improve overall sustainability, as well as to identify which companies are more aligned with the requirements of UN SDGs. The decision-makers would be able to visualize balanced or unbalanced relationships among all sectors and propose actions that would improve the performance in a given sector, realizing what effects a given action would cause in the other sectors of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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14 pages, 465 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Overcoming Barriers to the Implementation of Cleaner Production in Small Enterprises in the Mechanics Industry: Exploring Economic Gains and Contributions for Sustainable Development Goals

by Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto, Roberto Rodrigues Leite, Wagner Cezar Lucato, Rosangela Maria Vanalle, Marlene Amorim, João Carlos Oliveira Matias and Vikas Kumar

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2944; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052944 - 3 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7083

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the economic and environmental gains that result from the implementation of cleaner production in a small enterprise (SE) from the metal and mechanics industry, allowing for overcoming barriers and contributing to sustainable development goals. The research work builds on a case study that involved several data sources, including semi structured interviewing and non-participant observation. Data analysis involved the calculation of mass balance, building solid and liquid waste that were minimized in the process. The results suggest that cleaner production led to economic gains, by allowing for reduction in losses and promoting a better use of raw materials. It also led to environmental improvements by means of the implementation of a wastewater treatment station that allowed for the reuse of water in the manufacturing process. It was concluded that the economic gain in the project played a determinant role for the SE to overcome the barriers for the implementation of CP and leading to the reduction of the environmental impact in the abiotic, biotic, water and air compartments, as estimated with the Mass Intensity Factor. The study offers a timely and relevant contribution for the literature in the field, while offering insights for o managerial practice, and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations Development Program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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21 pages, 1166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Circular Economy, Industry 4.0 and Supply Chain Performance: A Combined ISM/Fuzzy MICMAC Approach

by Moacir Godinho Filho, Luiza Monteiro, Renata de Oliveira Mota, Jessica dos Santos Leite Gonella and Lucila Maria de Souza Campos

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2772; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052772 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3991

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the relationship between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the circular economy that could contribute to supply chain management performance. To achieve this, a combination of the interpretative structural modelling (ISM) and (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) MICMAC approach was used to establish the interrelationships between these topics. The developed analysis reveals that there are 19 constructs capable of elucidating this relationship and that there is a hierarchy between these constructs, which are presented in a structural model. Further, the different levels of dependency and driving power are compared in a cluster diagram. As the main result, it was found that there is a strong mutual relationship between the basic technologies. The use of Internet of Things and cloud computing technologies influences the collection of large amounts of data, leading to big data, which in turn influence the use of data analytics tools to obtain competitive advantages. These outcomes may contribute to managers’ more assertive decision-making regarding the selection, implementation, and evaluation of projects adopting Industry 4.0 technologies and circular economy approaches in supply chains. Moreover, our study could be the basis for future empirical research to investigate how companies incorporate Industry 4.0 technologies into their processes and how this influences the quest for sustainable supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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19 pages, 867 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Embedding Product-Service System of Cutting Tools into the Machining Process: An Eco-Efficiency Approach toward Sustainable Development

by Cledson Oliveira Lanzilotti, Luiz Fernando Rodrigues Pinto, Francesco Facchini and Salvatore Digiesi

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031100 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3789

Abstract

Product-Service System (PSS) is a sustainable strategy that shifts the focus of the business from selling physical products to providing service by using the product. The innovation proposed in the PSS, focused on sustainable production and consumption, is consistent with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The scientific literature on PSS in machining showed studies that address the economic factor of PSS contract, machine maintenance and logistics and operational process improvement. Then, there is a lack of studies on the assessment of the PSS in machining under a sustainability factors perspective. Thus, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the economic, environmental, and social advantages of PSS cutting tools in machining. Consistent with this aim, the research focused on a case study in a diesel engine parts machining company. From an economic point of view, the results indicated a reduction in operating costs of US$ 1,206,080 per year, which allowed a nine-month return on investment. From an ecological perspective, the recovery of 602 kg of carbide per year mitigated the environmental impact of tungsten and cobalt exploration. These results are even more expressive because it deals with scarce metals. Furthermore, technological advances reduced the risk of injury to operators. This research increased knowledge on PSS in machining by presenting an original study that led the analysis under a sustainability perspective. Moreover, this study contributes to managers by showing the business model’s advantages that reduce operating costs and socio-environmental impacts, enhancing sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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27 pages, 738 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Degree of Contribution of Digital Transformation Technology on Company Sustainability Areas

by Ivanir Costa, Rosangela Riccotta, Paola Montini, Eduardo Stefani, Roberto de Souza Goes, Marcos Antonio Gaspar, Fellipe Silva Martins, Aguinaldo Aragon Fernandes, Celso Machado, Rodrigo Loçano and Cláudio Luís Carvalho Larieira

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010462 - 2 Jan 2022

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6112

Abstract

The impact of new digital technologies creates challenges for the digital transformation process in company sustainability areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of contribution of digital-transformation-enabling technologies to company sustainability areas of three pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Brazil and relate it to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA method, we sought to assess the key concepts of sustainability and the implementation of digital transformation (DT) through its enabling digital technologies. A field study was conducted in three Brazilian pulp and paper companies to assess the degree of contribution. They are leading companies in the paper and cellulose industry in Brazil. The results obtained indicate that the companies in this sample are still in a growth process regarding the use of digital technologies in their sustainability areas. Only one digital technology, cloud computing, appears relevant in one of the companies studied, which differs from the theoretical framework presented by the literature. To achieve the SDGs goals, countries, especially emerging ones, need to develop their technologies and their business and improve the results that relate to sustainability. The research method applied in this study can be replicated to other companies where the impact of digital transformation technologies on company sustainability is critical. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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32 pages, 3935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Near Real-Time Carbon Emission of Roads in Urban Agglomeration of China to Improve Sustainable Development under the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

by Gengyuan Liu, Zining Huang, Yuan Gao, Mingwan Wu, Chang Liu, Caocao Chen and Ginevra Virginia Lombardi

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010385 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2171

Abstract

In order to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality and explore the impact of COVID-19 on urban road carbon emission, this study applied and improved a near real-time road carbon emission estimation method for typical Chinese urban agglomeration to improve the rapid evaluation of sustainable development. As a result, we recorded the daily road carbon emission for 12 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (JJJ) region under the impact of the epidemic, exploring the road carbon reduction effect caused by COVID-19. Singular value decomposition method was used to analyze the temporal and spatial characteristics of road carbon emission changes among cities and to explore the urban resilience oriented to public events. The results show: (1) In the JJJ region, the carbon reduction effect caused by COVID-19 is significant, but it lasted for a short time. In the three periods—before the epidemic, strict lockdown period, and post-lockdown period for prevention and control—the total daily road carbon emissions in the 12 cities were 170,000–190,000 tons, 90,000–110,000 tons, and 160,000–180,000 tons, respectively. (2) Cities in the JJJ region showed different road carbon reduction potential under short-term administrative control. During the “strict lockdown period” (23 January–25 February 2020), the average change rate of road carbon emissions in Beijing was −78.72%, which had great potential for reduction. However, the average change rates of Xingtai and Zhangjiakou were only −7.53% and −8.66%, respectively. (3) There are spatiotemporal differences in carbon emissions of urban roads in the JJJ region under the impact of the epidemic. During the gradual reduction of COVID-19 restrictions, great differences between cities on weekends and holidays arise, showing the road carbon emissions in Beijing on weekends and holidays are far lower than that in other cities. (4) In the face of public emergencies, the larger the city is and the more complex the function of the city is, the more difficult for the city is to maintain a steady state. This study not only provides an idea for the dynamic monitoring of urban carbon emissions to improve the rapid evaluation of urban sustainable development in post- and pre-lockdown but also fills the gap in the research on the differences in the response of cities to sudden security incidents from the perspective of road carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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28 pages, 751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Digital Technologies to the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: A Perspective from Brazil and Portugal

by Angélica Pigola, Priscila Rezende da Costa, Luísa Cagica Carvalho, Luciano Ferreira da Silva, Cláudia Terezinha Kniess and Emerson Antonio Maccari

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13669; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413669 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5990

Abstract

Innovativeness is a characteristic of digital technologies (DT), and they have been assuming an important role in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Therefore, DT are relevant contributors for sustainable development goal (SDG) achievements. This study aims to compare the preference for artificial intelligence-driven digital technologies (AI-Driven DT) to achieve SDGs in Brazil and Portugal. An independent sample t-test analysis and Levene test are performed to identify potential artificial intelligence-driven digital technologies (AI-Driven DT) as favorable facilitators for SDG achievements in Brazil and Portugal. Based on the findings, a broader analysis is provided, to (i) indicate potential favorable SDGs, (ii) discuss differences between the countries in AI-Driven DT preferences in each SDG, and (iii) make recommendations for potential technologies that could receive more attention and investments in both regions to make emergent digital technologies succeed, with a particular emphasis on cleaner production. The analysis is organized into three dimensions: economic, social, and environment. At the end, a closing discussion is provided about the key guidelines and prospects that could be adopted to keep a strong and positive shift of AI-Driven DT developments and applications towards fully supporting the attainment of the SDG of United Nations Organization (ONU) Agenda 2030. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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30 pages, 2109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

(Re)layout as a Strategy for Implementing Cleaner Production: Proposal for a Furniture Industry Company

by Patrícia Soares Lins, Asher Kiperstok, Rita Dione Araujo Cunha, Áurea Luiza Quixabeira Rosa e Silva Rapôso, Eugenio Andrés Díaz Merino and Sandro Fábio César

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13109; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313109 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4982

Abstract

This article includes the proposal of a (re)layout project as a strategy to implement Cleaner Production (CP) practices, with a furniture manufacturing company in the Brazilian municipality of Palhoça (Santa Catarina, Brazil) as a case study. This work is characterized as applied research, using a multi-methodological approach, being subdivided into two different steps: literature review and case study. The (re)layout project led to an increase of the administrative area by 25.18%, having had a positive impact on the management areas, aiming towards the integration of Environmental Management, ecodesign, Production Planning and Control sectors. The project led to a decrease of the total stock area of raw materials/storage by 70.01 m², representing a reduction of 25.59% when compared to the previous area. The project resulted in an increase of the plant production capacity, increasing the production area by 33.33%, thus optimizing areas and sectors, combining those which are inter-related. The byproducts also stood out in the layout mapping, with the areas allocated to byproducts being reduced by 51.69%. Therefore, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were fulfilled. The removal of physical waste and production losses can be achieved from a (re)layout project integrated with CP by optimizing, areas, sectors, flows and processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 1639 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementing Industry 4.0 through Cleaner Production and Social Stakeholders: Holistic and Sustainable Model

by Walter Cardoso Satyro, Jose Celso Contador, Jose Luiz Contador, Marco Aurélio Fragomeni, Sonia Francisca de Paula Monken, Ana Freitas Ribeiro, Anderson Ferreira de Lima, Jansen Anderson Gomes, José Roberto do Nascimento, Josiane Lima de Araújo, Rogério Glaser Prado, Gilberto Gomes Soares Junior and Victor Henrique Martins de Souza

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12479; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212479 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4278

Abstract

Although Industry 4.0 has received much attention in recent years due to the possibility of increasing companies’ productivity, the implementation process is complex. The aim of this study is to present a holistic model for implementing Industry 4.0 based on cleaner production as a fundamental tool for the development of production systems that meet the Sustainable Development 04026-002Goals (SDGs), and social stakeholders that cooperate with this implementation process, helping to develop sustainable infrastructure, processes and technologies to increase the sustainable transformation of these companies towards Industry 4.0. The method used was literature research, and the Delphi technique was used to ask specialists to contribute with their experience to evaluate and propose improvements to the model, in the form of a consensus. The model contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals 9, 12 and 15. This holistic and sustainable model is a contribution to theory and practice, helping executives, technicians, entrepreneurs and those involved with Industry 4.0 to base the implementation process in the needs and specificities of each company, avoiding the “one fits all” models, considering the peculiarities of each company and the complexity of the implementation process in a more efficient and collaborative digital production ecosystems base, seeking to reduce inequalities, through the joint effort of social stakeholders to find ways to restore and/or improve social harmony, impacted by Industry 4.0. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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14 pages, 2428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic and Environmental Assessment Using Emergy of Sheep Production in Brazil

by Beatriz Queiróz dos Reis, Danny Alexander Rojas Moreno, Rafael Araújo Nacimento, Vitória Toffolo Luiz, Laya Kannan Silva Alves, Biagio Fernando Giannetti and Augusto Hauber Gameiro

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11595; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111595 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2412

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of a Brazilian sheep production system (in the São José do Rio Preto (SJRP) region). The cost of production and the emergy indicators were calculated, and compared with other scientific results. The study was divided into three stages: (i) construction of the conceptual model; (ii) transformation of all resources and stocks by unit emergy value; and (iii) analysis of emergy indices. For emergy analysis, imported purchased inputs (P) represented 59.84% of all emergy, in which soy and corn contributed 16.14% and 11.38%, respectively. These inputs also contributed significantly to the economic cost of production as 14.63% and 12.55% of the total cost, respectively. Compared to other production systems, the SJRP system presented a lower emergy production rate and a higher environmental load rate, reducing the emergy sustainability index. In addition, it had the highest level of investment in emergy, suggesting that its sustainability is inferior to other referenced production systems. However, the SJRP system had the lowest emergy exchange ratio, indicating that this system is the closest to a fair price. In conclusion, the system must be reconsidered to become more sustainable; mainly with regard to the confinement of lambs that consume large amounts of concentrate (corn and soybean) from outside the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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25 pages, 2907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clean Production of Biofuel from Waste Cooking Oil to Reduce Emissions, Fuel Cost, and Respiratory Disease Hospitalizations

by José Carlos Curvelo Santana, Amanda Carvalho Miranda, Luane Souza, Charles Lincoln Kenji Yamamura, Diego de Freitas Coelho, Elias Basile Tambourgi, Fernando Tobal Berssaneti and Linda Lee Ho

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9185; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169185 - 16 Aug 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4051

Abstract

Renewable energies are cleaner forms of energy, and their use, has intensified in recent decades. Thus, this work presents a proposal for reducing the emissions, fuel cost, and respiratory disease hospitalizations using environmental cost accounting principles to produce biodiesel production from waste frying oil. In our methodology, we conducted surveys, and collected waste cooking oil samples from local households and restaurants in São Paulo city, Brazil. Then, we produced biodiesel using these samples. Data on air pollutants were collected and correlated with the number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases and their costs. Our results indicate that 330,000 respiratory disease hospitalizations were recorded in São Paulo city between 2009 and 2018, and the total cost for the Brazilian government reached US $117 million. Improving the city air quality by switching from fossil fuels to biodiesel could reduce the annual number of hospitalizations to 9880 and cost US $3.518 million, because the amount of pollutants emitted from burning fossil fuels was positively correlated with the number of respiratory disease hospitalizations and their costs. Moreover, the emission rates of particulate matter with particles less than 10 and 2.5 µm in diameter exceeded the World Health Organization limits throughout the study period. Using the survey data, we estimated that the average monthly quantity of waste cooking oil was 9794.6 m³, which could generate 9191.2 m³ of biodiesel and produce 239,713 t CO₂ of carbon credits. Environmental cost accounting revealed that it would be possible to achieve an annual profit of approximately US $300 million from the sale of excess biodiesel, carbon credits, and glycerine, and fuel acquisition savings which could improve the image of São Paulo city and quality of life of its residents. Thus, we present this as a way to reduce cost and hospitalizations, and increase the number of available hospital beds for other diseases, such as COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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18 pages, 2032 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Hotspots and Trends in the Literature on Cleaner Production: A Visualized Analysis Based on Citespace

by Yuguo Jiang, Min Li, Asante Dennis, Xin Liao and Enock Mintah Ampaw

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9002; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159002 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2542

Abstract

Cleaner production (CP) has emerged as a new concept to cope with the astronomical environmental degradation associated with the expanding scope of industrialization. We conducted a review of the scientific data on the conceptualization of “cleaner production” using published documents from the 2011–2021 period. Data were extracted from the CNKI and WOS databases—two major databases based in China and the United States, respectively. Citespace software was used to track the developmental process and trend of future research on cleaner production. We report the following findings: (1) While the literature on cleaner production in CNKI is decreasing, the literature in WOS has been increasing annually. (2) Even though clear instances of different research priorities exist between WOS and CNKI, the research problems addressed in the two databases, however, are mostly common. In terms of research collaboration, WOS is more likely to accept papers with cross-institutional authorship. The study further identified that there is no aggregation effect between Chinese research institutions. (3) In WOS, the Journal of Cleaner Production is the most popular journal for researchers, and in CNKI the Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning leads in CP publications. (4) Regarding the research hotspots, there are obvious differences between WOS and CNKI. Finally, we put forward the future prospects for cleaner production research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 1309 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

What Are the Stimuli to Change to a Sustainable Post-COVID-19 Society?

by Cecilia M. V. B. Almeida, Biagio F. Giannetti, Feni Agostinho, Gengyuan Liu and Zhifeng Yang

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 12939; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132312939 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1806

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how inadequately prepared humanity is to manage global disasters. Conversely, this crisis also offers an exceptional opportunity to move towards a more equitable and sustainable future. This paper explores three stimuli that can lead people to the change towards sustainable Post-COVID-19 societies: crises, knowledge, and alternative paradigms. From a theoretical approach, the paper addresses the roles of each stimulus and the capacity they may have, individually or together, to encourage the debate about the relationship between environmental conditions and human crisis. This study contributes to the discussions on the importance of strategic transformations of the global consumption and production systems. It takes this unique opportunity to move towards a more sustainable future. Moreover, it urges that this transformation process be articulated with alternative paradigms that seek to go beyond inequalities, conflicts, imbalanced development, and ecological deterioration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production Practices and Sustainable Development)

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