Search Results (4,089)

Lithium has become one of the key raw materials for the energy transition due to the central role of lithium-ion batteries in electromobility, energy storage, and the integration of renewable energy sources. However, the rapid increase in demand reveals growing environmental, social, geopolitical, and market tensions. The aim of the paper is a critical synthesis of global lithium utilization from the perspective of challenges, technological innovations, and integrative strategies supporting a more sustainable material–energy system. A broad, systematic literature review covering the entire value chain was applied: resources, extraction, processing, end-use applications, second life of batteries, recycling, and governance. The analysis shows that the strategic importance of lithium arises from the increasing demand pressure from electric vehicles and stationary storage, while the sustainability of the current model is constrained by supply concentration, uneven control over downstream stages, the water–carbon footprint of extraction and processing, social conflicts, and incomplete integration of secondary loops. At the same time, innovations such as direct lithium extraction (DLE), recovery from geothermal brines, design for recycling, second life, and battery passports can partially alleviate these tensions, but they do not eliminate the need for primary supply in the short term. The conclusion of the work is that sustainable global lithium utilization requires simultaneous diversification of sources, development of circular value chains, and multi-level governance integrating resource security, environmental efficiency, and social legitimacy. Full article

Lime-based stabilization of clayey soils remains a cornerstone of ground improvement, yet the high carbon footprint of lime production drives the search for sustainable supplementary binders derived from industrial and quarrying wastes. Volcanic tuff waste (VTW), a fine powder by-product of wet cutting of ignimbritic tuff blocks, is an underutilized quarrying residue, already fine enough to use directly without grinding or thermal processing, yet its use as a supplementary binder in lime-stabilized clays has not been systematically investigated. This study evaluates VTW sourced from Ahlat (Bitlis, Türkiye) in kaolin clay stabilized with 6% lime, with VTW added at 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by dry weight. Mixtures were characterized through Atterberg limits, compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at 1–28 days, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), XRD, SEM, and FTIR. VTW reduced plasticity index, increased maximum dry density, and lowered optimum moisture content. The 15% VTW mixture achieved the highest 28-day UCS of 4296 kPa, a 17.2% improvement over the lime-only control, and the highest CBR of 80%. XRD revealed Tobermorite 9 Å formation, while SEM and FTIR confirmed cementitious gel phases consistent with pozzolanic reactions. The findings demonstrate that ignimbritic VTW, used directly without processing, is an effective supplementary binder that partially replaces carbon-intensive lime, supporting low-carbon, cost-effective stabilization and the valorization of quarrying waste within a circular economy framework. Full article

The transport sector plays a significant role in air pollution, and real-world emissions measurements are becoming increasingly important. In this study, emissions from a turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and a port fuel injection (PFI) hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) were compared using a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) under real-world driving conditions. The CO₂, CO, NO_x, and PN emissions of the two vehicles were measured in urban, rural, and motorway sections. HEV CO₂ emissions were ~20% lower than ICE emissions in the entire Real Driving Emissions (RDE) cycle, while in urban operation, they were almost 50% lower. PN emissions were lower for HEV in rural and motorway sections than for ICE, but significant PN peaks occurred during the early urban phase, attributable to the slower engine warm-up of the HEV. Machine learning analysis (Random Forest and Extra Trees Regressor) indicated that coolant temperature was the dominant driver of HEV PN emissions. The results indicate that powertrain characteristics and thermal management strongly influence real-world driving emissions, highlighting their importance for the further development of hybrid vehicles. Full article

Background: The research question explored in this study revolves around the quantitative evaluation of the carbon footprint of cranioplasty surgery, a neurosurgical intervention meant to reconstruct skull defects. Methods: Following a calculation of the emissions pertaining to Scope 1 to 3 of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the authors engaged with various stakeholders to identify possible interventions meant to drive the carbon efficiency of a cranioplasty pathway. The service improvement project (SIP) that ensued was aimed at reducing the volume and weight of the packaging materials for cranioplasty shipping boxes, and decreasing the paper consumption relative to the preparation of user manuals without compromising patients’ safety. Results: Our analysis indicates a cumulative carbon footprint of 104.35 kg CO₂e for a single unilateral cranioplasty operation, where packaging corresponds to 6.4% of Scope 3 emissions and 1.41% of its total emissions. Of note, our SIP led to an overall 76.53% decrease in the number of emissions generated by the packaging equivalent required for a unilateral titanium implant. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a partnership between public institutions and medtech companies in driving carbon net efficiency of a cranioplasty pathway, and we suggest that such approach is scalable to other surgical specialties. Full article

Life cycle assessment is increasingly applied in healthcare, yet the healthcare-specific standardisation landscape and its relation to current practice remain unclear. This study maps existing frameworks and analyses their alignment with published healthcare LCA to identify standardisation gaps. Healthcare-specific standards and product category rules were identified through grey literature searches. Published healthcare LCA studies were quantitatively analysed and compared with the identified frameworks to assess methodological convergence and divergence. Six healthcare-specific frameworks were identified: five address medical products, one addresses services, and none cover organisational assessment. Product-level applications showed strong alignment in structural modelling elements including system boundaries and life cycle stages, while substantial heterogeneity persisted in functional unit definitions and impact assessment approaches. Service and organisational assessments showed broader variability in modelling approaches, functional units, and system boundary conceptualisations, indicating distinct modelling logics of healthcare delivery across assessment levels. Healthcare LCA practice is consistent with ISO-based principles but lacks a shared conceptual modelling logic for healthcare delivery systems. Rather than reflecting a single methodological paradigm, healthcare LCA combines product-, intervention-, pathway-, and organisational-oriented approaches. Standardisation efforts should therefore focus not only on harmonising calculation methods but also on developing healthcare-specific modelling conventions for products, services, and organisational structures. Full article

Background: Sustainable head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery is challenged by environmental impact, workforce shortages, inequitable access to advanced techniques, and policy constraints. Addressing these areas is critical for equitable, high-quality care. Methods: This structured narrative review synthesizes evidence on environmental sustainability, workforce development, technological innovation, health policy, and socioeconomic determinants in HNC surgery, without aiming to provide a systematic or exhaustive evidence synthesis. Sources included peer-reviewed literature, global workforce surveys, and international policy reports, with a focus on disparities between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Results: Operating rooms produce up to 70% of hospital solid waste and consume 3–6 times more energy than other units; reusable instruments and improved waste segregation can reduce carbon footprints by over 50%. Workforce shortages are severe in LMICs, where subspecialty training is scarce; global partnerships, bidirectional education, and simulation-based learning can expand local capacity. Telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and three-dimensional printing enhance surgical planning, training, and access but may widen disparities without equitable deployment. Policy tools—including diagnosis-related groups, bundled payments, and universal coverage—affect access and innovation uptake. Pandemic preparedness underscores the value of resilient systems with flexible staffing and telehealth integration. Conclusions: HNC surgery requires coordinated action across environmental, workforce, technological, socioeconomic, and policy domains; however, future systematic reviews are needed to comprehensively map the evidence base and assess its methodological quality. Embedding sustainability in clinical practice, ensuring equitable innovation access, and aligning reimbursement with high-value care can strengthen system resilience, improve outcomes, and support long-term surgical service viability. Full article

The valorization of industrial mining and organic wastes in construction materials constitutes a key strategy for reducing the environmental impact of the sector. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the sustainability of innovative Artificial Lightweight Aggregates (ALAs) manufactured from mixtures of inorganic industrial wastes—such as granite and slate cutting sludge and aggregate washing sludge—together with organic wastes, like cork dust, coffee grounds, and olive pits. The methodology included a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), considering different waste compositions and manufacturing conditions. The results show that the developed ALAs exhibit favorable environmental performance as their bulk density decreases, with an overall environmental impact lower than that of conventional lightweight aggregates made from expanded clay, achieving a reduction in the carbon footprint of up to 7%. Likewise, the comparative analysis reveals that the process stage with the greatest environmental impact is the heat energy required during the sintering stage in the rotary kiln, which in some cases accounts for more than 90% of the total impact. In summary, the results demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining ALAs manufactured solely from waste with a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional expanded clay aggregates. Furthermore, the study highlights that the process stages with the highest contributions to environmental impact are the transport of raw materials and the high-temperature sintering of the ALAs in the rotary kiln. Thus, their production from waste contributes to the valorization of by-products, fostering circular economy strategies and supporting decarbonization processes within the construction sector. Full article

Supplier selection in healthcare is a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) challenge requiring a balance of sustainability, resilience, and operational efficiency. Traditional methods struggle with scalability and subjectivity when applied to large administrative datasets. This study introduces a transparent hybrid Machine Learning–MCDM (ML–MCDM) framework, validated using a U.S. Medicare dataset of 661 suppliers. The framework integrates eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for criterion prioritization, the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) for mathematically consistent weighting, and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for final ranking. As the dataset lacks direct sustainability metrics, seven indicators were synthetically generated; thus, the results serve as proof-of-concept demonstration of the framework’s architecture. Specifically, XGBoost–SHAP is trained to predict a synthetically constructed Overall Performance Score (OPS), meaning that the resulting feature importance output constitutes an algorithmic consistency check—confirming that the pipeline correctly recovers importance signals deliberately embedded in the training target. For interpretability, suppliers were segmented into five performance profiles via K-Means: Strategic Partners (17.7%), Green Leaders (18.6%), Reliable Emergency Suppliers (18.2%), Balanced Performers (20.4%), and Developing Suppliers (25.1%). Carbon Footprint Score (0.408) and Emergency Response Capability (0.316) achieved the highest feature importance. FUCOM-derived weights prioritized On-Time Delivery Rate (0.272), Carbon Footprint Score (0.222), and Emergency Response Capability (0.220). The top supplier attained a TOPSIS closeness coefficient of 0.800, showing strong discrimination. Sensitivity analysis across four scenarios confirmed ranking robustness, maintaining Spearman correlations ρ ≥ 0.977. This ML–FUCOM–TOPSIS approach provides an auditable, scalable, and policy-relevant decision-support tool, enabling procurement managers to navigate high-dimensional data while ensuring operational continuity and environmental responsibility in healthcare supply chains. Full article

This study investigates the psychological and contextual mechanisms through which consumers’ awareness of agriculture’s contribution to climate change translates into a willingness to pay (WTP) for low-carbon agricultural products. Drawing on data from Eurobarometer 93.2 (ZA7739; N = 24,193), the research applies a moderated mediation model (Hayes’ PROCESS Model 14) to examine the mediating role of support for mandatory environmental labelling and the moderating effect of residential context. The results indicate that climate change awareness is significantly and positively associated with WTP. Moreover, support for mandatory labelling partially mediates this relationship, suggesting that institutionalized transparency may serve as a key mechanism through which environmental concern becomes economically actionable. The findings further reveal that this indirect effect is moderated by the level of urbanization, being stronger in urban areas than in rural settings. This highlights the importance of socio-spatial context in shaping consumer responses to sustainability information. Overall, the study contributes to the literature on sustainable consumption by demonstrating that willingness to financially support low-carbon agriculture depends not only on environmental awareness but also on trust-enhancing policy instruments and contextual factors. The findings offer important implications for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable food systems through information-based regulation. Full article

Background: This systematic review evaluates the evidence on sustainable practices in dentistry. It focuses on effective measures, innovative technologies, strategies for reducing the carbon footprint, life cycle assessments (LCA), attitudes toward “green” dentistry, and educational approaches. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in five databases (Cochrane Library, Embase, LILACS, MEDLINE via PubMed, and Scopus) without language restrictions in accordance with PRISMA. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251056821). Results: A total of 2395 records were identified; after removing 394 duplicates, 2001 remained for screening. After title and abstract screening, 154 full-text articles were evaluated, of which 51 studies were included. The included studies addressed life cycle assessments of dental materials, sustainable clinical practices, and educational measures. Environmentally friendly materials and procedures, such as reusable personal protective equipment and water-saving technologies, demonstrate significant potential for reducing environmental impact. Despite generally high acceptance among dentists and patients, implementation is often limited by financial and knowledge-related barriers. Conclusions: The implementation of sustainable materials and procedures is crucial for reducing environmental impact. Equally important are the integration of ecological content into education and appropriate financial and political frameworks to promote sustainable dentistry. Full article

The synergistic transition toward digital transformation and green development has been widely regarded as a core pathway to achieving sustainable development in knowledge production. Using balanced panel data from 39 economies covering 2018–2024, this study employed a two-way fixed-effects model to examine the associations of the energy efficiency of digital infrastructure and the energy structure with carbon intensity (CI). The findings showed that: (1) Reductions in Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) values were significantly associated with higher macro-level CI (coefficient = −2.1564, p < 0.05), which is consistent with the possibility of a rebound effect in the digital sector. Further, time-series discontinuity tests further suggested that the surge in AI computing power, especially in 2023–2024, may have coincided with a structural shift in this relationship (Chow test, p < 0.05). (2) A Panel Threshold Regression (PTR) identified an optimal renewable energy threshold at 59.82%. Crucially, the carbon rebound effect remained highly significant across both high and low green power regimes, demonstrating that supply-side energy transition alone cannot fully absorb the exponential carbon footprint of digital expansion. Furthermore, Instrumental Variable (IV-2SLS) and Placebo Break Tests confirmed the strict validity of these findings. (3) The emission-reduction benefits related to digital knowledge spillovers appeared to be subject to time lags and a possible energy lock in effect, while current environmental policies and carbon pricing mechanisms appear to impose insufficient constraints. This study provides a crucial quantitative framework for monitoring and evaluating the environmental sustainability of the ICT sector. By highlighting the limitations of pure supply-side greening and the necessity of absolute carbon caps, our findings offer integrated policy approaches to align the exponential growth of Generative AI with global sustainable development goals. Full article

While rapid digital transformation has significantly optimized sectors such as finance and e-commerce, maintenance management in industrial environments has historically received lower levels of technological and capital investment. This lag creates critical gaps in operational efficiency and asset longevity, particularly within renewable energy infrastructures where sustainability and resilience are paramount. Addressing this technological disparity is essential for minimizing ecological footprints and maximizing the viability of net-zero systems. This paper introduces an advanced multi-platform digital solution designed to optimize the operation and maintenance of renewable energy systems and smart infrastructures. The platform addresses traditional management gaps by implementing standardized protocols that integrate real-time remote monitoring, sensor networks, and cloud-based data acquisition. By centralizing historical and real-time data from solar, wind, and hybrid grids, it facilitates advanced analytics, such as predictive modeling of component degradation. Real-world validation across photovoltaic plants and wind farms demonstrates significant impacts: a 30% reduction in unplanned outages and a 20% to 25% decrease in operational and maintenance costs. The results confirm that digitalizing maintenance processes is a strategic pillar for the energy transition, aligning industrial performance with global low-carbon pathways. Full article

Changes in consumer behavior have intensified the demand for alternative protein sources, driving changes in food consumption patterns. At the same time, the increasing consumer awareness considering the health and environmental impacts in food systems, has stimulated interest in more functional and sustainable products. In this context, plant-based beverages (PBBs) have gained attention as potential alternatives to milk. This study was aimed at evaluating plant-based beverages as alternatives to cow’s milk, focusing on their nutritional composition, environmental impact, and technological challenges. Although cow’s milk has a high biological value and nutritional density, plant-based beverages present variable compositions, generally with lower levels of protein and minerals. However, they stand out for the presence of bioactive compounds and have a nutritional quality which can be improved through fortification strategies. From an environmental perspective, their production is associated with a substantially lower carbon footprint compared to dairy farming. Despite these advantages, the sector still faces technological challenges related to physicochemical stability and sensory acceptance due to complex residual flavors. This review highlights the need for improvements in terms of manufacturing processes and regulatory frameworks to establish these beverages as safe, nutritious, and sustainable options in the global market. Full article

Bandpass filters based on through-silicon-via (TSV) interposers offer advantages such as compact footprint, excellent radio frequency (RF) performance, simplified processing, and low cost. However, as power densities in three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits continue to rise, thermal management has become a critical performance bottleneck. In this work, we present a TSV-based bandpass filter design where the TSVs feature annular Cu conductors with carbon nanotube (CNT) cores. The annular Cu structure provides the required vertical electrical connectivity, while the high-thermal-conductivity CNT core facilitates inter-layer heat dissipation. RF simulations confirm that the RF characteristics of the filter remain comparable to those of filters based on conventional TSVs with Cu-pillar conductors or TSVs with annular Cu conductors and polymer cores such as benzocyclobutene (BCB). In addition, multiphysics simulations demonstrate that the proposed filter exhibits a maximum steady-state temperature of only 89.1 °C with a 5 W constant heat source attached to the interposer surface and a heat sink at the bottom side, presenting an efficient reduction compared to the other two types. The filter also shows reduced thermally induced surface deformation, confirming the thermal benefits of the CNT cores. Furthermore, comprehensive parametric analyses involving the influences of critical TSV structural parameters on the TSV-based capacitors and inductors are performed, providing guidelines for customized filter design. We believe the proposed design highlights a promising pathway for addressing the thermal management challenges in high-density RF integrated microsystems. Full article

Although Industry 4.0 has successfully advanced lean manufacturing through digitalization and automation, its primary focus on operational efficiency leaves emerging strategic priorities—human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience—outside its original scope. The Industry 5.0 agenda explicitly elevates these three pillars, creating new potential to drive lean transformation. However, how Industry 5.0 can systematically drive lean manufacturing transformation remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, this study develops a strategic roadmap. First, a content-centric literature review identifies 12 key enablers for Industry 5.0-driven lean manufacturing. Second, Fuzzy Interpretive Structural Modeling (FISM) and expert opinions determine hierarchical relationships among the enablers and construct a multi-level structural model. Third, Matrices d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement (MICMAC) analysis evaluates the driving power and dependence of each enabler. Finally, a strategic roadmap is developed based on expert synthesis. The findings reveal that “government regulation and incentives” and “employee skill training” are the most critical enablers, while “value chain design and improvement” and “resource input and return” are the most complex and difficult to develop. The roadmap highlights the mediating role of “stakeholder participation and collaboration.” Importantly, the roadmap addresses potential tensions in lean implementation—such as the carbon footprint trade-off of frequent small-batch transport—by embedding sustainability assessment into value chain design and technology governance. This study offers a practical guide for manufacturers to prioritize investments and sequence actions toward lean transformation in the Industry 5.0 era. The main contribution of this study is a strategic roadmap that explains how Industry 5.0 can enable lean manufacturing transformation through prioritized actions and hierarchical enablers, while reconciling efficiency with sustainability and resilience goals. This roadmap offers a practical guide for manufacturers and policymakers to sequence investments and actions toward lean transformation in the Industry 5.0 era. Full article