Search Results (49)

Electric passenger vehicles are set to dominate the European car market, driven by EU climate policies and the 2035 ban on internal combustion engine production. This study assesses the sustainability of this transition, focusing on global warming potential and Critical Raw Material (CRM) extraction throughout its life cycle. The intensive use of CRMs raises environmental, economic, social, and geopolitical concerns. These materials are scarce and are concentrated in a few politically sensitive regions, leaving the EU highly dependent on external suppliers. The extraction, transport, and refining of CRMs and battery production are high-emission processes that contribute to climate change and pose risks to ecosystems and human health. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted, using OpenLCA software and the Ecoinvent 3.10 database, comparing a Peugeot 308 in its diesel and electric versions. This study adopts a cradle-to-grave approach, analyzing three phases: production, utilization, and end-of-life treatment. Key indicators included Global Warming Potential (GWP100) and Abiotic Resource Depletion Potential (ADP) to assess CO₂ emissions and mineral resource consumption. Technological advancements could mitigate mineral depletion concerns. Li-ion battery recycling is still underdeveloped, but has high recovery potential, with the sector expected to expand significantly. Moreover, repurposing used Li-ion batteries for stationary energy storage in renewable energy systems can extend their lifespan by over a decade, decreasing the demand for new batteries. Such innovations underscore the potential for a more sustainable electric vehicle industry. Full article

Because of their many health benefits, blueberries are highly sought after as superfoods. There are also ongoing initiatives to enhance sustainability in blueberry packaging by selecting appropriate materials. Ideal packaging should ensure the safe delivery of the fruit to consumers while maintaining product quality, addressing environmental concerns, and promoting circularity. The environmental impact of four different packaging materials was assessed using a comparative cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment. The materials evaluated included a cardboard package (CB), a cardboard package with a cellulose lid (CBC), a polypropylene (PP) as a control, and a punnet made from rice straw topped with polylactic acid (RPLA), a bio-based plastic. The evaluation considered all environmental impact categories, utilizing Sphera GaBi software and the CML 2016 method. Special attention was given to various end-of-life scenarios, determining energy resources and fossil abiotic depletions. The results indicate that RPLA is the most eco-friendly option, with the lowest carbon footprint and energy resources. CB has a larger carbon footprint but less overall impact than traditional incineration, while CBC has the highest impact during recycling, mainly due to marine ecotoxicity. PP has a relatively low impact on energy resources and fossil abiotic depletion compared to CB and CBC packaging materials. Full article

This study analyses the environmental sustainability of using wooden boxes (WBs) compared to corrugated cardboard boxes (CCBs) for the transport of fruit and vegetable products, where the same box size between WB and CCB is assessed and compared. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) followed ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards, using the ReCiPe 2016 MidPoint methodology. The following impact categories analysed for sustainability impact, evaluation and monitoring are included: global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity and abiotic resource depletion. The study covered all the stages of packaging life through cradle-to-grave analysis. The study results show that CCBs have a higher environmental impact across most categories despite being single-use packaging systems. The comparison between both packaging systems shows that WBs are a more sustainable alternative, with lower overall environmental impacts in fruit and vegetable packaging and transport. As a general conclusion, WBs have a lower overall environmental impact than CCBs, especially in the key impact criteria of global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, human non-carcinogenic toxicity, fossil resource depletion and water consumption. Due to that, the wooden box is a more sustainable material for fruit and vegetable packaging, logistics and transport than the corrugated cardboard box, considering the scope and destination analysed. Full article

While agricultural crops remain at the forefront of addressing global food demands and malnutrition, depleting resources, fluctuating climatic conditions, and the adverse impact of biotic/abiotic stresses define a major challenge. Plant seeds comprise an important starting material for plant propagation, in vitro generation, and conservation, and are crucial factors in determining the quality and yield of the desired crops. The expanding horizon of precision agriculture suggests that high-quality seeds could promote crop productivity up to 15–20 percent, attributed to emerging biotechnological innovations in seed science and research. In addition, seed science comprises an integral aspect of sustainable development goals (SDGs), and plays a crucial role in Climate Action (SDG 13) and Zero hunger (SDG 2). While synthetic seed technologies highlight prospects in the propagation and conservation of key plant species, seed biopriming to address environmental stresses is innovative in climate-smart agriculture. The article discusses key developments in advanced seed biotechnologies, ranging from nano-enabled seed treatments to the non-coding RNA-mediated determination of seed traits and genetic manipulation of seeds for quality improvement. Research employing multi-omics, bioinformatics, and seed biopharming for the enhanced production of high-value metabolites is opening new avenues in seed biology and biotechnology research. Full article

This study aims to assess the environmental impacts of different construction systems employed in a single-story low-income housing development utilizing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The LCA was applied to the roof, wall, coating, and floor systems, considering the initial and recurring impacts from extraction to material replacement. Data were quantified using the CML 2001 method with OpenLCA 1.9 software. The analyzed impact categories are the potential for the depletion of abiotic resources—non-fossil (ADP); potential for the depletion of abiotic resources—fossil (ADP f); soil and water acidification potential (AP); eutrophication potential (EP); global warming potential—100 (GWP); stratospheric ozone layer depletion potential (ODP); and photochemical oxidation potential (POCP). The results highlight the impacts related to the maintenance and replacement of materials as the most significant, with walls being the system with the highest concentration of impacts, presenting the highest results among five of the seven categories. In the GWP category, the wall system resulted in 42% of total impacts (initial + recurring impacts). These findings show that the selection and definition of construction materials in the design phase can either mitigate or exacerbate environmental burdens. Therefore, this research contribution lies in pinpointing the environmental impacts of each construction system of low-income housing to support architects and engineers in addressing environmental impacts when making project decisions. Full article

Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) can overwhelm some of the environmental challenges of a low-carbon power sector through self-consumption with standalone photovoltaic (PV) systems. This solution can be adapted for different applications such as residential, commercial, and industrial uses. Furthermore, the option to employ second-life batteries derived from electric vehicles represents a promising opportunity for preserving the environment and improving the circular economy (CE) development. Nowadays, the industrial sector is progressively applying CE principles in their business strategies, and focusing on the potential positive consequences of CE eco-innovations on climate change mitigation. With the aim to promote the transition to an open-loop circular economy for automotive batteries, this study assesses and quantifies the potential environmental benefits resulting from the integration of a second-life battery-based BESS (SL-BESS) connected to an industrial machine. For this purpose, various scenarios involving the use of BESS, SL-BESS, and a standalone PV system are compared with a base case, where the machine is entirely powered by electricity from the grid. The examination of life cycle stages follows the life cycle assessment (LCA) cradle-to-grave methodology as outlined in ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006/Amd 1:2017. Simapro^® 9 is utilized as the software platform. Results demonstrate that the combination of the SL-BESS with a standalone photovoltaic (PV) system represents the optimal solution in terms of global warming potential (GWP) reduction, with a saving of up to −74.8%. However, manufacturing and end-of-life stages of PV and batteries contribute to abiotic depletion and human toxicity, resulting from the use of chemicals and the extraction of resources essential for their manufacture. Indeed, when BESS is made of new batteries, it demonstrates the most significant impacts in terms of AD at 1.22 × 10⁻¹ kg Sb eq and human toxicity (HT) at 3.87 × 10³ kg 1,4-DB eq, primarily attributable to the manufacturing stages of both BESS and PV systems. The findings represent a significant breakthrough, highlighting the substantial capacity of incorporating SL-BESS alongside renewable energy sources to mitigate GWP resulting from industrial applications, and the criticality of repurposing decommissioned batteries from the automotive industry for secondary use. Full article

Sri Lanka is a top producer of premium quality concentrated latex (CL), which becomes a base material for dipped rubber products such as gloves and condoms. The processing of CL is resource-intensive, requiring significant amounts of energy, fuel, water, and chemicals. This process leads to various environmental issues such as wastewater pollution, malodor, and greenhouse gas emissions. Several environmental life cycle assessments (LCA) have been conducted at international and local levels to address the aforesaid issues. However, LCAs encapsulating different environmental impact areas on CL processing in Sri Lanka are absent. The study revealed that electricity usage was the main hotspot of the environmental burden, significantly impacting abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), global warming potential, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidation, and acidification. Heavy reliance on coal in the Sri Lankan power grid was identified as the root of this trend. The study suggested two viable options to mitigate the environmental impact: installing inverters to centrifuge separators and solar systems in the factories. The second option was deemed more effective, reducing acidification, photochemical oxidation, and global warming potential by approximately 37%, 36%, and 28%, respectively. Relevant officials may immediately consider these improvement options and collaborate to pave the way to a sustainable natural rubber industry. Full article

To improve solid waste resource utilization and environmental sustainability, an alkali-activated material (AAM) was prepared using steel slag (SS), fly ash, blast furnace slag and alkali activators in this work. The evolutions of SS content (10–50%) and alkali equivalent (4.0–8.0%) on workability, mechanical strength and environmental indicators of the AAM were investigated. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were adopted to characterize micromorphology, reaction products and pore structure, and the reaction mechanism was summarized. Results showed that the paste fluidity and setting time gradually increased with the increase in SS content. The highest compressive strength was obtained for the paste at 8.0% alkali equivalent due to the improved reaction rate and process, but it also increased the risk of cracking. However, SS was able to exert a microaggregate filling effect, where SS particles filling the pores increased the structural compactness and hindered crack development. Based on the optimal compressive strength, global warming, abiotic resource depletion, acidification and eutrophication potential of the paste are reduced by 76.7%, 53.0%, 51.6%, and 48.9%, respectively, compared with cement. This work is beneficial to further improve the utilization of solid waste resources and expand the application of environmentally friendly AAMs in the field of construction engineering. Full article

The search for alternatives that can replace conventional materials extracted from nature is crucial for environmental sustainability. This is especially the case for construction and geotechnical engineering, as this sector is a major consumer of the planet’s natural resources. This paper explores the use of ore sand (OS) tailings with fine aggregate characteristics, which are generated during exploration of iron ore and usually stored in stacks, in terms of their potential for replacing conventional aggregates (gravel, natural sand, and limestone sand) used in interlocking paving blocks for light-traffic pavement. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA, cradle-to-gate) approach was applied for aggregates in interlocking blocks produced using OS compared to blocks produced with conventional aggregates. The OS was able to replace 24wt% of conventional aggregates (100% limestone sand and 13.3% natural sand), while maintaining compressive-strength performance similar to that of the conventional block (35 MPa). For all eleven environmental-impact categories evaluated in the LCA, the block with OS has improved environmental performance compared to the conventional block. Through the creation and use of a scoring indicator (SI), it was possible to determine that the transport distance of the OS is a limiting factor for the environmental efficiency of the alternative block. Nonetheless, the incorporation of OS mitigates the impacts of block production on eutrophication, acidification, fresh water, human toxicity, and abiotic depletion. The use of tailings reduces the demand for natural resources, decreasing the environmental impact of production and promoting sustainable construction practices. Full article

The construction industry plays a significant role in resource consumption and environmental degradation, making it crucial to analyze the sustainability aspects of construction materials and their transportation processes. This paper focuses on conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis of building materials, specifically considering the environmental impacts associated with their transportation to construction sites. By incorporating the transport phase into the assessment, a more holistic understanding of the environmental implications of construction materials can be achieved. The study aims to quantify the environmental burdens of both material production and transportation, providing valuable insights for sustainable decision making in the construction industry. The analysis revealed that transport of building materials for the studied house by diesel lorry, covering a distance of 150 km, contributed 16% to climate change and a significant 53.5% to abiotic resource depletion. Additionally, it had a 15–18% impact on acidification and photo-oxidant formation. Full article

This paper utilizes a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate three heating systems’ energy resources and environmental impacts. The first system uses an electric heat pump that exclusively relies on geothermal energy. The second system operates on a gas boiler system that utilizes non-renewable electricity and natural gas. Lastly, the third system incorporates an absorption heat pump utilizing geothermal energy and natural gas. In the first step, cradle-to-gate assessments were prepared for the renewable, conventional, and mixed systems. The second step involved comparing the system scenarios based on their loads and energy resources. Primary energy, material resources, emissions, and impact categories were normalized and weighted using the CML, ReCiPe, and EF 3.0 methods. Finally, models for environmental reliability and complex decision support were developed. The novelty of this research lies in analyzing the ecological burden and energy usage of a mixed energy system that incorporates both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The results show that the gas boiler system has a higher load, primarily due to the depletion of abiotic fossil fuels. However, the acidification is higher when an electric heat pump is used. The absorption heat pump system falls between the renewable and conventional systems in terms of both fossil depletion and acidification. Full article

This research combines technical, environmental, and economic aspects regarding the utilization of Bege Bahia marble waste (BB) in clinker production. Three different eco-friendly clinkers were produced, investigated, and compared with one that is commercially available. BB was used to replace 49.2%, 77%, and 80.3% of the limestone by total amount of clinker. Two clinkers were selected to produce cement pastes, and their impact on compressive strength at 28 days was examined. The results suggest that substituting limestone with BB does not adversely affect the compressive strength of cement paste. Moreover, employing 77% or 80.3% BB in clinker production does not significantly influence the alite and belite contents but slightly increases the tricalcium aluminate and ferrite phases while reducing the periclase content. A life cycle analysis was conducted to assess the effects of replacing limestone with marble waste. The results revealed a substantial decrease in abiotic depletion, leading to conservation of substantial natural resources. Consequently, the utilization of BB in clinker production makes a significant contribution to environmental preservation while providing an effective alternative to limestone. In addition, the resulting clinkers serve as useful repositories, providing a permanent and sustainable destination for waste that is currently deposited in landfills. Finally, the economic viability was also examined under various scenarios based on the distance between marble and cement plants. The results highlight the transport distance of marble waste as the primary determinant of economic feasibility in utilizing this residue as a limestone replacement. Full article

Small-scale artisan chocolate producers target environmentally conscious consumers and must work with their supply chain partners to measure and improve their environmental impacts. This research evaluates the environmental impact along the supply chain of artisan dark chocolate products in Indonesia and creates an action plan to reduce environmental impact. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was used. The analysis considers cocoa production from the farm level to the processing of cocoa beans into bars in three stages for 1 kg of dark chocolate: the farm maintenance and harvesting stage; post-harvesting stage; and processing stage. At the farm maintenance and harvesting stage, the significant contributions are 72.5% of total abiotic depletion (AD), 47.2% of total global warming (GW), 80.2% of total eutrophication (EU). The significant contributions at the post-harvesting are 31.2% of total AD, 51.8% of total GW, 83% of total EU, 26.4% of total ozone layer depletion (ODP), 20.1% of total cumulative energy demand (CED) and non-renewable fossil (NRF), and 36.9% of total CED renewable biomass (RB). And at the processing stage, the significant contributions are 20.5% of total AD, 15% of total GW, 4% of total ODP, 13.1% of total acidification (AC), 12% of total EU, 10% of total fossil resource scarcity (FRS), and 1.6% of total CED NRF. Changes to the farm maintenance and harvesting stages contributed the most to environmental impact reduction by improving waste utilization and the treatment and selection of environmentally friendly materials. Full article

This article presents the results of analyzing environmental impact indicators of thirteen ceramic tile adhesives (CTAs). The analyzed data came from ten third-party-verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) created in 2016–2022. The paper examines seven environmental impact indicators for modules A1–A3 (cradle-to-gate). Significant differences were observed between the values of environmental indicators, which, in the case of Global Warming Potential (GWP), differed by almost 270% in the most extreme case. For the depletion of abiotic resources (elements) (ADP_e), the values of products differed by nearly fourteen thousand times. Results are discussed from the perspective of the CTAs’ manufacturer assessing the product. The analysis focused on issues such as the historical dimension of data, which is the basis for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the need for their constant updating, and the subject of uncertainty—usually wholly omitted in the considerations on the environmental impact of construction products. The results of the analysis were also evaluated in terms of the planned introduction of the new 3+ assessment system in connection with the future amendment of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). The results of the CTAs’ analysis of environmental indicators showed that, despite the EPDs functioning for a decade, the obligatory assessment of construction products in terms of sustainability using the 3+ system did not create the conditions for its proper occurrence. This analysis showed that, without obtaining reliable data on the environmental impact of CTAs, correct AVCP is not possible, and the consumer is not able to make proper choices. Full article

Buildings and constructions are responsible for a great amount of global energy and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Because of these negative impacts, there is an increase in Life cycle assessment research in the construction sector to measure these effects and evaluate the sustainability performances. Life cycle assessment is a tool that can facilitate the decision-making process in the construction sector for material selection, or for the selection of the best environmentally friendly option in the building component level or building level. In this study, a comparative life cycle assessment analysis is conducted among 12 roof coverings of 1 square meter in the 60-year lifetime of a building. Impact categories that are available in environmental product declarations and included in this study are the global warming potential, ozone depletion potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, photochemical ozone creation potential, abiotic depletion potential of non-fossils and abiotic depletion potential of fossils resources. To facilitate the decision-making process, panel and monetary weightings are applied to convert environmental product declaration data of seven impact categories into one single-score. Monetary weightings applied in the study are in Euro ₂₀₁₉, differentiating itself from other comparative life cycle assessment studies. The single-score results are ranked and compared. R04 has the best performance for all panel weightings, while for monetary weightings, R03, R07 and R08 have the best performance for EPS, MMG and EVR, respectively. As a result, for 12 roof coverings, the weighted results could not address one single roof-covering material for numerous reasons. Among the weighting methods, panel weighting sets show more similarity in ranking results, while monetary-weighting sets results are more diverse. Full article