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Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2018) | Viewed by 86197

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Masaharu Motoshita

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National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8569, Japan
Interests: life cycle assessment; planetary boundaries; sustainable natural resource use; environmental footprinting; global supply chain analysis
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Prof. Dr. Matthias Finkbeiner

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Department of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Interests: water footprint; life cycle assessment; resource efficiency and availability; life cycle sustainability assessment
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Dr. Yasuhiro Fukushima

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Department of Chemical Engineering, Tohoku University, Japan 6-6-07 Aramaki-aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-5869, Japan
Interests: assessment of systems technology; distributed energy systems; life cycle assessment; renewable energy; biofuels; industrial symbiosis; mathamatical modeling; chemical process
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Prof. Dr. Shabbir H. Gheewala

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The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Environment, 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bangmod, Tungkru 10140 Bangkok, Thailand
Interests: life-cycle assessment, carbon footprint, water footprint, life-cycle sustainability assessment, environmental labeling
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Dr. Jun Nakatani

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Department of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Interests: life-cycle assessment; life-cycle impact assessment; material flow analysis; supply chain risk management; plastic recycling; consumer preference assessment; conjoint analysis
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Dr. Sonia Valdivia

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1. Faculty of Sustainability, University of Lueneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
2. World Resources Forum, Lerchenfeldstr. 5. 9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Interests: life-cycle sustainability assessment, life-cycle management, circular economy, sustainable consumption and production
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit articles for a Special Issue on Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance”, by August 31, 2017.

The focus of this Special Issue covers discussions on methodologies and practices for sustainability based on life-cycle thinking, which include but are not limited to:

New business opportunities and values through life-cycle thinking
Responsible investment for sustainability
Environmental accounting and disclosure of sustainability information
Hard and soft infrastructures for sustainable lifestyles and consumption
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Advancement toward sustainable energy at the nexus
Resource efficiency: transition to a sustainable circular economy
Sustainability of food value chains
Green ICT and data centers
Life-cycle sustainability assessment: tools, databases, indicators and case studies

We would like to invite you to share a wide range of studies, experiences and knowledge that helps to achieve the sustainability of value chains (not limited only to environmental aspects but also covering social and economic aspects). In recognition of the fact that the benefits sought are diverse, contributions from various sectors are welcome to highlight advantages beyond mere financial considerations in the increasingly globalized supply chain under quickly changing circumstances.

This issue welcomes important studies in the abovementioned context from all researchers and practitioners. Special encouragement goes to the papers that extend the presentations from the 12th International Conference on EcoBalance 2016. The EcoBalance conference has been offering precious opportunities for the worldwide researchers and practitioners who examine how life-cycle thinking can actually make practical steps forward towards sustainability. Its uniqueness has always lied on the presence of various industrial sectors and participants from the non-OECD countries, especially from Asia. Recognizing that the problems currently being encountered in developed regions are the ones that will be faced by the developing regions, this Special Issue hopes to respond to the practices and needs both in developed and developing regions worldwide.

Dr. Masaharu Motoshita
Pof. Dr. Matthias Finkbeiner
Dr. Yasuhiro Fukushima
Prof. Dr. Shabbir Gheewala
Dr. Jun Nakatani
Dr. Sonia Valdivia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

life-cycle assessment and management
product and policy design for sustainability
sustainable agriculture and food
responsible investment and corporate values
sustainable consumption and education
circular economy
energy security

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 18634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Efficiency Assessment of Bioplastics Production Systems and End-of-Life Options

by Kunnika Changwichan, Thapat Silalertruksa and Shabbir H. Gheewala

Sustainability 2018, 10(4), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040952 - 24 Mar 2018

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 17397

Abstract

Bioplastics demand has been increased globally due to concerns regarding environmentally friendly consumption and production. Polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and polybutylene succinate (PBS) are promising bioplastics with bio-based feedstocks and property of biodegradability. They are produced by bacterial fermentation of sugars from carbohydrate sources. With flexibility in their properties, PLA, PHAs, and PBS can potentially substitute conventional plastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS). This study aims at evaluating the environmental and economic sustainability of bioplastics production together with end-of-life (EOL) options. The combination of environmental and economic indicators, eco-efficiency (E/E), was selected to investigate the performance of PLA, PHAs, and PBS from sugarcane and cassava in comparison with PP. The environmental impacts were determined using life cycle assessment. The product cost was used to represent the economic value. The E/E results showed that the environmental and economic sustainability could be enhanced with 100% mechanical recycling of all kinds of studied plastics. It is also important to highlight that mechanical recycling showed a better performance in terms of E/E than composting of bioplastics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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18 pages, 2703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Calculation of Characterization Factors of Mineral Resources Considering Future Primary Resource Use Changes: A Comparison between Iron and Copper

by Ryosuke Yokoi, Jun Nakatani and Yuichi Moriguchi

Sustainability 2018, 10(1), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010267 - 20 Jan 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4908

Abstract

The future availability of mineral resources has attracted much attention; therefore, a quantitative evaluation of the potential impacts of resource use on future availability is important. Although the surplus cost model is often recommended among the existing endpoint characterization models of mineral resources, it has a shortcoming as it does not consider the changes in future primary resource use. This paper introduces a new characterization model considering future primary resource use changes, due to future changes in total demand and secondary resource use. Using material flow analysis, this study estimated time-series primary resource use for iron and copper for five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) and a constant total demand scenario. New characterization factors, i.e., demand change-based surplus costs (DCSC), are calculated for each resource. In all of the SSPs, the calculated DCSCs are larger than the conventional surplus costs (SC) for both iron and copper. The DCSC, relative to the SC of copper, is larger than that of iron for all of the SSPs, which suggests that the potential impacts of copper use, relative to iron, will be underestimated, unless future primary resource use changes are considered. In calculating DCSC for other resources, it is important to choose an appropriate approach for forecasting future total demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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1683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implications of Water Use and Water Scarcity Footprint for Sustainable Rice Cultivation

by Thapat Silalertruksa, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Rattanawan Mungkung, Pariyapat Nilsalab, Naruetep Lecksiwilai and Wanchat Sawaengsak

Sustainability 2017, 9(12), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9122283 - 8 Dec 2017

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 6789

Abstract

Rice cultivation is a vital economic sector of many countries in Asia, including Thailand, with the well-being of people relying significantly on selling rice commodities. Water-intensive rice cultivation is facing the challenge of water scarcity. The study assessed the volumetric freshwater use and water scarcity footprint of the major and second rice cultivation systems in the Chao Phraya, Tha Chin, Mun, and Chi watersheds of Thailand. The results revealed that a wide range of freshwater use, i.e., 0.9–3.0 m³/kg of major rice and 0.9–2.3 m³/kg of second rice, and a high water use of rice was found among the watersheds in the northeastern region, like the Mun and Chi watersheds. However, the water scarcity footprint results showed that the second rice cultivation in watersheds, like in Chao Phraya and Tha Chin in the central region, need to be focused for improving the irrigation water use efficiency. The alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method was found to be a promising approach for substituting the pre-germinated seed broadcasting system to enhance the water use efficiency of second rice cultivation in the central region. Recommendations vis-à-vis the use of the water stress index as a tool for agricultural zoning policy were also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inventory Analysis and Social Life Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Waste-to-Energy Incineration in Taiwan

by Yu-Tsang Lu, Yuh-Ming Lee and Chien-Yu Hong

Sustainability 2017, 9(11), 1959; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9111959 - 27 Oct 2017

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 8926

Abstract

Waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration technology is widely used to solve the energy supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation problems in urban areas. In Taiwan, there are new laws and regulations that would affect greenhouse gas management of WtE incineration plants. This research aims to identify or raise key issues to be promoted for WtE incineration plants due to existing management systems and complex issues mixed with GHG, energy, and solid waste treatment. This study utilizes inventory analysis and social LCA (SLCA) approach on GHG management of WtE incineration plants in Taiwan to systematically identify materiality issues to be promoted. According to the results of materiality analysis for SLCA, this study generalizes four stakeholders, nine subcategories, and their 15 inventory indicators; and concludes that, among assessment results of 15 inventory indicators, three indicators are at a high level, four at a medium level, and eight at a low level. In total, 12 materiality issues are recognized. This study suggests WtE incineration plants should consider the following materiality issues with respect to priority: a systematic database and calculation methods, the goal and criteria of the laws and regulations, technology development toward circular economy and promotion activity or opportunity for local community and organization level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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946 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Impact and Nutritional Improvement of Elevated CO₂ Treatment: A Case Study of Spinach Production

by Yuna Seo, Keisuke Ide, Nobutaka Kitahata, Kazuyuki Kuchitsu and Kiyoshi Dowaki

Sustainability 2017, 9(10), 1854; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101854 - 16 Oct 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6707

Abstract

The agriculture sector is known to be the one of the major contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, global climate changes have affected the agriculture sector. In order to strengthen the sustainable development of agriculture, it is important to promote environmentally friendly farming and simultaneously increase the economic value. To improve the productivity of agriculture, technical advancements have occurred. Among those, we have focused on CO₂ treatment in cultivation. We aimed to clarify the effectiveness of the elevated CO₂ treatment of spinach based on GHG emission and the economic value using the eco-efficiency score. We assumed that nutrition could represent the value of the vegetable. We measured weights, vitamin C, and CO₂ emissions of elevated CO₂ treatment and conventional production. We used life cycle assessment (LCA) to estimate CO₂ emissions. CO₂ emissions of a 100-g bouquet of spinach were estimated from agricultural inputs, farming, transport, and distribution center processes at a model spinach farm in Japan. CO₂ emission of elevated CO₂ treatment was 29.0 g-CO₂, and was 49.0 g-CO₂ for conventional production. The net weight of a bouquet of elevated CO₂-treated spinach was 1.69-fold greater than that of conventional production. Vitamin C per 100 g spinach produced via elevated CO₂ treatment was 15.1 mg, and that of conventional production was 13.5 mg on average. Finally, based on the above results, we assessed the eco-efficiency scores of the elevated CO₂ treatment and conventional production of spinach, enabling integration of the nutritional value and the environmental impact. The score showed that elevated CO₂ treatment (0.76) was 2.9-fold more efficient than conventional production (0.26). This study suggested that elevated CO₂ treatment could enhance growth and nutritional value of spinach, and further contribute to CO₂ reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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422 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated Assessment Framework of Offshore Wind Power Projects Applying Equator Principles and Social Life Cycle Assessment

by Yu-Che Tseng, Yuh-Ming Lee and Shih-Jung Liao

Sustainability 2017, 9(10), 1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101822 - 11 Oct 2017

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7804

Abstract

This paper reviews offshore wind power project finance and provides an integrated assessment that employs Equator Principles, life cycle assessment, risk assessment, materiality analysis, credit assessment, and ISAE 3000 assurance. We have not seen any comprehensive review papers or book chapters that covers the entire offshore wind power project finance process. We also conducted an SWancor Formosa Phase 1 case study to illustrate the application of integrated assessment to better assist policymakers, wind farm developers, practitioners, potential investors and observers, and stakeholders in their decisions. We believe that this paper can form part of the effort to reduce information asymmetry and the transaction costs of wind power project finance, as well as mobilize green finance investments from the financial sector to renewable energy projects to achieve a national renewable energy policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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1034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scenarios of Phosphorus Flow from Agriculture and Domestic Wastewater in Myanmar (2010–2100)

by Chery Myo Lwin, Kyaw Nyunt Maung, Mari Murakami and Seiji Hashimoto

Sustainability 2017, 9(8), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081377 - 4 Aug 2017

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4250

Abstract

Transfer of nutrients from agriculture and wastewater to the hydrosphere attracts attention of policymakers and scientists due to an increasingly important influence on the water environment. Crop and livestock production and fisheries predominantly support the Myanmar economy. However, phosphorus (P), which is used in cultivation and is also present in domestic sewage, is a major source of biogenic pollutants and eutrophication in Myanmar. It is therefore necessary to elucidate P flows from agricultural and domestic wastewaters to formulate a series of cost-effective policies and best-management practices (BMPs). This paper describes P flows to the hydrosphere, as driven by agricultural and domestic wastewater use in Myanmar during 2010–2100. The results reveal that total P flow from farmland and livestock occurred at 55 thousand Mg/year (thousand million grams per annum) in 2010 but is expected to be 128–141 thousand Mg/year in 2100. Urban population growth is the main factor contributing to the gradual increase in P flow from domestic wastewater; however, most of the P flow is derived from agriculture, suggesting that marked reductions in fertilizer use are necessary. This research provides basic information for the appraisal of P utilization and facilitates the identification of important objectives for sustainable P management in Myanmar. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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2063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selecting Persuasive Strategies and Game Design Elements for Encouraging Energy Saving Behavior

by Li-Hsing Shih and Yi-Cin Jheng

Sustainability 2017, 9(7), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071281 - 21 Jul 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7958

Abstract

Design for sustainable behavior has become more important for product or service design considering environmental sustainability in the use stage. The goal of this work is to specifically help design for encouraging energy-saving behavior in selecting effective persuasive design strategies and game design elements by considering users’ differences. The work begins with screening commonly employed persuasive strategies based on literature and the analysis of existing cases in design for energy-saving behavior. Secondly, a questionnaire survey is conducted to investigate the possible demographic differences on the persuasiveness of the selected persuasive strategies. Thirdly, the selected persuasive strategies are mapped to twenty-nine useful game design elements via an affinity diagram method. The results could help designers choose effective persuasive strategies and game design elements for different user groups. At the end, an illustrative example is presented to show the application potential in design for energy-saving behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Support Phosphorus Recycling Policy with Social Life Cycle Assessment: A Case of Japan

by Heng Yi Teah and Motoharu Onuki

Sustainability 2017, 9(7), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071223 - 12 Jul 2017

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5359

Abstract

Producing phosphorus (P) fertilizers with recycled P is desirable for efficient use of P resource. However, the current cost of P recycling facilities in Japan strongly discourages the government from adopting this practice. To expand consideration for a P recycling policy, the concept of social externality was introduced. Social issues, such as the violation of human rights in P mining in the Western Sahara, have been identified in recent studies; nevertheless, a systematic approach towards accountability was lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to support a P recycling policy with a social life cycle assessment (SLCA) by contrasting the social impacts associated with mineral and recycled P fertilizers using the case study of Japan. We developed a framework based on the UNEP-SETAC SLCA Guidelines with a supplementary set of P-specific social indicators. The results showed that the marginal social impact associated with recycled P was much less relative to mineral P; however, even if we factored in the maximum recycling capacity, a mandate of P recycling policy in Japan would not mitigate the impacts significantly relative to the current situation because only 15% of P rocks could be substituted. In short, we showed that a semi-quantitative SLCA framework would be useful to communicate the wide spectrum of social impacts to policymakers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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3173 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Vulnerability of an Energy Intensive Sector to the EU ETS under a Life Cycle Approach: The Case of the Chlor-Alkali Industry

by Isabel Garcia-Herrero, Maria Margallo, Jara Laso, Raquel Onandía, Angel Irabien and Ruben Aldaco

Sustainability 2017, 9(5), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9050837 - 17 May 2017

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5948

Abstract

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which is a cornerstone of the EU’s policy to combat climate change, has been criticised by its effects on the competitiveness of intensive energy demanding industries, and in particular, of the chlor-alkali sector. The main chlorine application in Europe is the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from ethylene dichloride (EDC) as intermediate. Since chlorine is mainly traded in terms of derivatives, the aim of this work is to assess the vulnerability of the European chlor-alkali industry to chlorine replacement by imported EDC. An Energetic, Economic and Environmental Sustainability Assessment (EEESA) methodology is proposed based on the main variables affecting EDC production. Moreover, the influence of the EU ETS compensation measures and the emission allowance price in the current (mercury, diaphragm and membrane) and emergent (oxygen-depolarized cathodes (ODC)) technologies is studied. The most vulnerable scenarios become mercury and diaphragm technologies due to energy consumption. However, the salt price dependency on the quality requirements substantially influences the EEESA results. This analysis also shows the importance of hydrogen valorisation, whose major impact is observed in ODC scenario. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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Review

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1481 KiB

Open AccessReview

Environmental Indicators for the Evaluation of Wood Products in Consideration of Site-Dependent Aspects: A Review and Integrated Approach

by Nadine May, Edeltraud Guenther and Peer Haller

Sustainability 2017, 9(10), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101897 - 21 Oct 2017

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7763

Abstract

On the way towards a more biobased economy, the sustainable use of global wood resources remains a challenge as several trade-offs arise, e.g., from an increased energetic use of wood, an increased use of innovative but probably less recyclable wood composites, or from the need to conserve other forest ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to identify existing environmental indicators and methods for an evaluation of the sustainability of wood products in consideration of all life cycle stages, site-dependent aspects and later use in corporate decision-making. We chose a systematic literature review to answer the research questions explicitly and comprehensively. Qualitative content analysis was used to code indicators and scientific methods according to the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework. The sample (N = 118) is characterized by a high number of life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies. In 51% of all studies, the study authors use a combination of different methods. A total of 78 indicators and 20 site-dependent aspects could be identified in the sample. The study findings represent a first step towards a holistic environmental assessment of wood products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responsible Value Chains for Sustainability: Practices and Challenges from EcoBalance)

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