Special Issue "Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marzena Smol
E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wybickiego 7a str., 31-261 Cracow, Poland
Interests: environmental management; circular economy; resource management and recovery; water management; waste management; environmental engineering; biotechnology; green deal strategies; climate neutrality
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maria Włodarczyk-Makuła
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa University of Technology, Dabrowskiego 69 str., 42-201 Czestochowa, Poland
Interests: environmental engineering; biotechnology; circular economy; water and wastewater treatment; organic micropollutants in the environment; fates of micropollutants in water and wastewater processes; green deal strategies
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Joanna Duda
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of management. AGH University of Science and Technology, Gramatyka 10 str., 30-067 Cracow, Poland
Interests: management; enterprise management; global market; globalization; internationalization; small and medium enterprises (SMEs); sustainability; green deal strategies
Mr. Ludwig Hermann
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ESPP European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (President) & Proman Consulting, Weingartenstrasse 92 str., 2214 Auersthal, Austria
Interests: circular economy; sustainability; environmental management; raw materials management; waste management; phosphorus recovery; innovative technologies; life cycle assessment (LCA)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The green deal strategies and the circular economy (CE) models indicate the most important directions of changes in all economic processes in the world. The green deal strategies aim to reduce climate change and/or to achieve climate neutrality, while CE models focus on resource efficiency (rational management of resources and wastes) and building of competitive economy. Implementation of the green deal strategies and the CE models is crucial in the pursuit of sustainability, in which environmental, economic, and social aspects are integrated to ensure the survival of present and future generations. Therefore, the purpose of this Special Issue is to present examples of innovative solutions (technological, environmental, economic, and social) that should be introduced in various industries and areas of economy, such as production and consumption, large-scale infrastructure, transport, water, food and agriculture, construction, taxation or social activities.

This Special Issue seeks to contribute to the realization of the green deal strategies and implementation of the CE models through an inventory of multidisciplinary knowledge with high scientific and practical importance, which can contribute to improving the quality of the environment and achieving a balance between human activities and nature. We invite research papers, critical reviews or case studies, which are relevant to a green and circular economy.

Dr. Marzena Smol
Prof. Dr. Maria Włodarczyk-Makuła
Prof. Dr. Joanna Duda
Mr. Ludwig Hermann
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 papers will be 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 1900 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

  • Green deal
  • Circular economy (CE)
  • Sustainability
  • Sustainable development (SD)
  • Biodiversity
  • Bioeconomy
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • From farm to fork
  • Climate action
  • Eliminating pollution
  • Clean energy
  • Sustainable industry
  • Building and renovating
  • Waste management
  • Life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • Globalization
  • Internationalization
  • Enterprise management

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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Article
Monitoring and Assessment of Groundwater Quality at Landfill Sites: Selected Case Studies of Poland and the Czech Republic
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7769; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147769 - 12 Jul 2021
Viewed by 406
Abstract
In order to protect the components of natural environment, each landfill must be properly secured and the monitoring program should be adopted. This study aims to present a comparative analysis of groundwater quality at selected landfill sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, [...] Read more.
In order to protect the components of natural environment, each landfill must be properly secured and the monitoring program should be adopted. This study aims to present a comparative analysis of groundwater quality at selected landfill sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, with a special attention given to the levels and temporal changes of heavy metals (HMs) concentrations measured in collected groundwater samples. A secondary objective was to detect possible leakages of pollutants from the landfill body, into the groundwater, and further into the environment. The assessment of groundwater quality was based on a comparison of HMs concentrations with standards provided by the European environmental laws. On the basis of the long-term monitoring period, it was revealed, for the Polish landfill site, that the groundwater quality is improving over time, especially due to remedial works applied. For the Czech landfill, it was observed that the quality of groundwater is not negatively affected by the operation of the landfill, but in the immediate vicinity of the landfill, the groundwater quality is significantly affected by the agricultural use of neighbouring lands, as well as by the storage of construction and demolition wastes. The results showed that the leachate did not leak outside the landfills, especially due to minimal concentrations of HMs, measured in groundwater samples, taken from the piezometers located in the outflow direction from the landfills. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Effect of Acetic Acid on Compressive Strength and Geometric Texture of the Surface of C20/25 Class Concrete
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5136; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095136 - 04 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 466
Abstract
Concrete is a highly alkaline material; therefore, the presence of organic acids (acetic, butyric, lactic) from agricultural sewage constitutes a threat to the concrete and the environment. The investigations were aimed at simulating the influence of highly concentrated organic acids on concrete elements [...] Read more.
Concrete is a highly alkaline material; therefore, the presence of organic acids (acetic, butyric, lactic) from agricultural sewage constitutes a threat to the concrete and the environment. The investigations were aimed at simulating the influence of highly concentrated organic acids on concrete elements of livestock buildings. Cubic samples 100 × 100 × 100 mm of the ordinary concrete were immersed in 10% acetic acid for 270 days. Then, the compressive strength and mass decrement of the samples were determined as well as using SEM images and a 3D-profilograph to profile the surface roughness and depth of changes evoked in the structure of the samples by penetrating acid. The results were compared with those for a control sample (not subjected to the effects of aggressive agents) as well as for samples placed in a neutral and alkaline environment. The compressive strength of the samples stored in the acidic environment was 22.23% lower than that of the control sample, whereas the compressive strength of those samples stored in an alkaline environment were 44.27% higher. Conclusions from these investigations can be of innovative importance in the preparation of environmental impact reports, which are necessary for obtaining permission for the construction and use of livestock buildings, and afterward in the reduction of the impact of these buildings on the environment and surface and underground water resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Application of Shrimp Waste for the Synthesis of Polyurethane–Chitosan Materials with Potential Use in Sorption of Oil Micro-Spills in Water Treatment
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095098 - 01 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 477
Abstract
Shrimp waste is a common waste in seafood processing. It is used as part of the fish meal which is added to feed. Bearing in mind the Green Deal and sustainability development, it was proposed to use northern prawn shells to obtain chitosan [...] Read more.
Shrimp waste is a common waste in seafood processing. It is used as part of the fish meal which is added to feed. Bearing in mind the Green Deal and sustainability development, it was proposed to use northern prawn shells to obtain chitosan (Ch), which could then be used for polyurethane (PUR) modification. In ports, oil micro-spills often flow into the waters of gulfs and, consequently, into the sea. Systematic chemical and petroleum water pollution may pose a threat to flora and fauna. In this study, chitosan, which was obtained from shrimp shells, was used to synthesize polyurethane–chitosan foams (PUR+Ch) with different chitosan concentrations. Selected physico-chemical and sorption properties in relation to oil and water of these materials were determined. It was found that the amount of Ch added to the foam affected its morphology, hardness, density, and thermal and sorption properties. PUR foam with a 1.5% weight of Ch was characterized as having the highest water and oil sorption. The advantages of the tested material as an innovative product with potentially significant proecological values were estimated using strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) analysis. The conducted preliminary research made it possible to demonstrate the use of these materials in the processes of water treatment with the mentioned micropollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Implementing Regional Circular Economy Policies: A Proposed Living Constellation of Stakeholders
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4916; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094916 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 836
Abstract
The transition towards the circular economy (CE) entails transformative and system-wide changes, implying involvement, alignment, and cooperation between all stakeholders at all levels. However, debate continues around how best to achieve this. Additionally, little attention has been paid to developing models for identifying [...] Read more.
The transition towards the circular economy (CE) entails transformative and system-wide changes, implying involvement, alignment, and cooperation between all stakeholders at all levels. However, debate continues around how best to achieve this. Additionally, little attention has been paid to developing models for identifying and mobilising all relevant stakeholders to implement CE policies at the regional level. This study sought to remedy these issues by analysing the relevant academic literature and policy documents and making the first attempt to adjust existing models—not only for the purpose of stakeholder mapping, but also for the proposition of a living constellation of stakeholders who should be considered when designing the transition towards a CE in a regional scenario. The CE-centric quintuple-helix model developed and proposed here promotes the emergence and deployment of trilateral networks, hybrid organisations, and development/co-operation platforms. This model adopts a balanced, participatory approach that requires a new constellation of stakeholders. Its foundations are built on the traditional industry–government–academia nexus and enlarged by the inclusion of the civil society sphere and the environmental subsystem. The environment is represented as the nucleus of the model, inspiring and triggering actions by the remaining four subsystems. The model is then implemented into two European regions with CE initiatives (Spain and Greece) to demonstrate its practical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Removal of Selected Dyes on Activated Carbons
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4300; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084300 - 13 Apr 2021
Viewed by 473
Abstract
Dyes are widely used in various industries such as those involving paper, food, plastics, and fibers. The produced wastewater has a specific character. Organic substances found in wastewater and when introduced into natural water bodies have a toxic effect on living organisms, causing [...] Read more.
Dyes are widely used in various industries such as those involving paper, food, plastics, and fibers. The produced wastewater has a specific character. Organic substances found in wastewater and when introduced into natural water bodies have a toxic effect on living organisms, causing increased chemical and biological oxygen demand. Some dyes, even in very low concentrations, cause intense colouring. To remove dyes from wastewater, methods such as flotation, oxidation, ozonation, filtration or coagulation with metal compounds are used. Unfortunately, when these methods are used, very large amounts of sludge are produced, which is another problem for the environment. Therefore, one of the methods that can effectively remove dyes from wastewater without creating large amounts of waste is activated carbon adsorption. Adsorption methods in the treatment of wastewater from the dye industry are of particular importance due to their high efficiency, ability to operate over a relatively wide range of concentrations, and availability. The most common adsorbent is activated carbon, which has a high adsorption capacity against many organic compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of filtration rate and type of activated carbon on the removal efficiency of selected cationic (anilan yellow) and anionic (tartrazine) dyes from aqueous solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Fly Ash from Thermal Conversion of Sludge as a Cement Substitute in Concrete Manufacturing
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4182; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084182 - 09 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 569
Abstract
Striving for reduction of production costs and constraints on natural resources cause the use of waste materials as substitutes of traditional raw materials to become increasingly important. Dynamic development of sewerage systems and sewage treatment plants observed over the recent years leads to [...] Read more.
Striving for reduction of production costs and constraints on natural resources cause the use of waste materials as substitutes of traditional raw materials to become increasingly important. Dynamic development of sewerage systems and sewage treatment plants observed over the recent years leads to increase of mass of the produced sewage sludge. According to the Waste Law, the municipal sewage sludge can be used if it is properly stabilized, e.g., through thermal processing. This process results in significant quantities of fly ash which must be properly utilized. The paper presents results of investigations of influence of partial replacement of cement by the fly ash from sewage sludge on concrete parameters. It was designed as a C20/25 class concrete mix, based on the Portland cement CEM I 42.5R with various ash content. Physical and chemical properties of the ash as well as frost resistance and the compressive strength of the concrete after 28, 56 and 365 days of curing were investigated. The obtained results of investigations confirm the possibility of application of fly ash wastes as a cement substitute in the concrete manufacturing. If a predefined quantity of cement is replaced by the fly ash, then one can obtain cement composite with good strength parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Remediating Agricultural Legacy Nutrient Loads in the Baltic Sea Region
by , and
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3872; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073872 - 31 Mar 2021
Viewed by 493
Abstract
The Baltic Sea is considered the marine water body most severely affected by eutrophication within Europe. Due to its limited water exchange nutrients have a particularly long residence time in the sea. While several studies have analysed the costs of reducing current nutrient [...] Read more.
The Baltic Sea is considered the marine water body most severely affected by eutrophication within Europe. Due to its limited water exchange nutrients have a particularly long residence time in the sea. While several studies have analysed the costs of reducing current nutrient emissions, the costs for remediating legacy nutrient loads of past emissions remain unknown. Although the Baltic Sea is a comparatively well-monitored region, current data and knowledge is insufficient to provide a sound quantification of legacy nutrient loads and much less their abatement costs. A first rough estimation of agricultural legacy nutrient loads yields an accumulation of 0.5–4.0 Mt N and 0.3–1.2 Mt P in the Baltic Sea and 0.4–0.5 Mt P in agricultural soils within the catchment. The costs for removing or immobilising this amount of nutrients via deep water oxygenation, mussel farming and soil gypsum amendment are in the range of few tens to over 100 billion €. These preliminary results are meant as a basis for future studies and show that while requiring serious commitment to funding and implementation, remediating agricultural legacy loads is not infeasible and may even provide economic benefits to local communities in the long run. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Polish Rural Designing System Used for the Implementation of the Ideas of Green Deal and Sustainability—Comparison of Landscape and Agricultural Areas Planning, on the Example of Strzelce Wielkie and Kamionka Wielka
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020886 - 17 Jan 2021
Viewed by 575
Abstract
Issues related to the system of protection and planning of rural landscape undoubtedly differ from the topics concerning the transformation of agricultural areas and their proper management. These are separate specialties, studied by researchers representing different disciplines, although they often relate to the [...] Read more.
Issues related to the system of protection and planning of rural landscape undoubtedly differ from the topics concerning the transformation of agricultural areas and their proper management. These are separate specialties, studied by researchers representing different disciplines, although they often relate to the same village and they are aimed to implement the ideas of the Green Deal and sustainability. The experience from independent research projects in Kamionka Wielka (agricultural areas), and Strzelce Wielkie (landscape of rural and green areas) confirm the variety of individual issues and topics discussed. Nevertheless, the comparison of these projects also points to similar methods of analysis and planning applying a Polish four-stage landscape designing system: ‘resources—valorization—guidelines—design’. The research results indicate that this system, almost identical to the European ones, can be also useful for planning agricultural areas. In practice, this will allow local authorities to realize the idea of the Green Deal—draw up a more perfect development project for the whole village and simultaneously standardize project documentation. Designers and scientists will achieve better cooperation and fitting spatial planning solutions; this way, interdisciplinary activities and final design will implement the ideas of sustainability and Green Deal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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Article
Joint Pricing and Ordering Problem with Charitable Donations
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6950; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176950 - 26 Aug 2020
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Finding the correct pricing strategy for a product with multiple versions is an issue for retailers from various industries. In this paper, joint pricing and ordering problem is considered for a product that has two versions at each selling period. Two models, namely [...] Read more.
Finding the correct pricing strategy for a product with multiple versions is an issue for retailers from various industries. In this paper, joint pricing and ordering problem is considered for a product that has two versions at each selling period. Two models, namely with or without the donation option, are analyzed and optimality conditions and monotonicity properties of the decision variables are characterized. When demands of products depend on prices of both versions, donating part of old product inventory would be more profitable for the retailer. Moreover, the donation model would result in less wasted inventory, contributing to sustainability and goals of green economy. Analytical results are supported with numerical analysis of a realistic case. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)

Review

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Review
Recent Advances in Carbon Dioxide Conversion: A Circular Bioeconomy Perspective
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6962; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126962 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2021
Viewed by 458
Abstract
Managing the concentration of atmospheric CO2 requires a multifaceted engineering strategy, which remains a highly challenging task. Reducing atmospheric CO2 (CO2R) by converting it to value-added chemicals in a carbon neutral footprint manner must be the ultimate goal. The latest progress [...] Read more.
Managing the concentration of atmospheric CO2 requires a multifaceted engineering strategy, which remains a highly challenging task. Reducing atmospheric CO2 (CO2R) by converting it to value-added chemicals in a carbon neutral footprint manner must be the ultimate goal. The latest progress in CO2R through either abiotic (artificial catalysts) or biotic (natural enzymes) processes is reviewed herein. Abiotic CO2R can be conducted in the aqueous phase that usually leads to the formation of a mixture of CO, formic acid, and hydrogen. By contrast, a wide spectrum of hydrocarbon species is often observed by abiotic CO2R in the gaseous phase. On the other hand, biotic CO2R is often conducted in the aqueous phase and a wide spectrum of value-added chemicals are obtained. Key to the success of the abiotic process is understanding the surface chemistry of catalysts, which significantly governs the reactivity and selectivity of CO2R. However, in biotic CO2R, operation conditions and reactor design are crucial to reaching a neutral carbon footprint. Future research needs to look toward neutral or even negative carbon footprint CO2R processes. Having a deep insight into the scientific and technological aspect of both abiotic and biotic CO2R would advance in designing efficient catalysts and microalgae farming systems. Integrating the abiotic and biotic CO2R such as microbial fuel cells further diversifies the spectrum of CO2R. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies toward a Green Deal and Circular Economy)
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