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Background: Road transport accounts for 73% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions within the EU, 27% of which are attributable to heavy-duty vehicles. In order to reduce emissions in the area of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, electrifying the fleet offers a perspective. As part of a cooperation between TU Berlin, Siemens and BLG Logistics within the Mobility2Grid research campus, an analysis was carried out to determine how an exemplary BLG depot for regional logistics transport with six diesel trucks can be converted to battery–electric trucks. Methods: This analysis was conducted under a fixed depot schedule with defined dwell times and charging opportunities, with the aim of developing practical recommendations for the acquisition of suitable vehicles and infrastructure. To this end, simulations were carried out using the eFlips consumption and depot simulation software developed at TU Berlin. Results and Conclusions The results show that electrification for regional logistics transport can already be fully implemented with the current state of the art technology and that neither very large batteries nor very high charging powers are required for technically feasible and economically balanced operation. Notably, the cost-optimal battery capacities identified (approximately 200–230 kWh) are currently smaller than those of commercially available 40 t electric trucks, revealing a gap between the model-optimal configuration and present market offerings. Based on the identified optimal configuration, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of fleet electrification. Over a 10-year lifetime, the battery–electric fleet reduces cumulative greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 53% compared to the diesel baseline, with operational-phase savings clearly outweighing higher production-related emissions. The combined techno-economic and environmental assessment provides a structured decision basis for depot-centered fleet electrification. Full article

The reuse of small-capacity lithium-ion cells recovered from disposable e-cigarettes is limited by the lack of rapid and low-cost screening methods. This study evaluates a low-complexity 3-30-3 pre-sorting methodology based on a 30 s DC load pulse and a 3 min rest period applied to series connected cells under identical current conditions. Generic 13350-type cells with a nominal capacity of approximately 850 mAh were tested, and cell suitability was assessed from voltage drop, effective direct-current resistance, and stability over repeated load cycles. In the tested batch, the coefficient of variation of the effective resistance reached 28–35%, indicating substantial cell-to-cell variation within this pilot sample. Repeated loading improved discrimination between stable and degraded cells and enabled selection of a compatible subset for assembly into a 3S3P battery pack. The assembled pack operated successfully as a power source for a FläktWoods 227VM pressure controller in biomass drying monitoring. The proposed method does not replace full battery diagnostics, but it provides a practical first-stage filter that can reduce testing time by more than 90% and improve the safety of second-life cell grouping. Full article

Teacher attrition in rural China is commonly framed as exit from schools or the profession. This framing obscures a more consequential form of mobility: the stepwise internal movement of teachers from remote village schools to township and county-seat schools within county governance systems. This study conceptualizes such patterned movement as semi-attrition and examines its mechanisms and consequences in a formerly poverty-designated county in southwest China. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 14 participants and county-level administrative records, and integrating teacher labor market theory, spatial inequality theory, and life-course theory, we find that semi-attrition is directional, normalized, and invisible in official statistics, yet produces cumulative staffing instability in remote schools. Geographic isolation, subject mismatch, and unequal access to career advancement create structural push–pull dynamics, while marriage, childcare, and strategic title-accumulation strategies intensify individual mobility pressures. Together, these mechanisms reproduce spatial inequality through a Matthew effect: county-seat schools accumulate experienced teachers while remote schools cycle through successive early-career cohorts. We propose the County-Based Mobility Ecology Framework (CMEF) to explain how internal redistribution—rather than outright exit—drives staffing inequality in county-based governance systems. Findings call for policies that track internal mobility, address structural root causes, and equalize career advancement opportunities across school types. Full article

The integration of sustainable materials and Industry 4.0 technologies as the overarching paradigm offers significant potential to advance manufacturing sustainability. However, existing research remains fragmented, often focusing on isolated topics such as recycled plastics in additive manufacturing or the use of machine learning and material informatics in material processing. As a result, limited attention has been given to the combined effects of these approaches across the economic, environmental, social, and technological dimensions of sustainability. To address this gap, this study presents a systematic literature review of 156 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 and develops the concept of Sustainable Circular Manufacturing (SCM) as the sweet spot between sustainable materials and Industry 4.0. The review shows that SCM-related studies primarily enhance data acquisition, process transparency, intelligent decision-making, process optimization, automation, and human–technology interaction. The findings also indicate that the literature is strongly weighted toward environmental indicators such as carbon footprint, energy efficiency, and circularity, whereas social sustainability and economic viability remain comparatively underexplored. Building on these insights, the study proposes SCM as an integrative conceptual framework that clarifies the causal pathways linking sustainable material strategies and Industry 4.0 enablers to multidimensional sustainability performance. Finally, the review identifies key implementation barriers and outlines a future research agenda to support digitally enabled circular material strategies. Full article

The construction industry in Jordan faces significant economic and environmental challenges due to high material costs, fluctuating market prices, and the continued reliance on a linear economy model that prioritizes material extraction, consumption, and disposal over reuse and recycling. These challenges contribute to substantial construction waste generation and hinder the transition toward a Circular Economy (CE). Therefore, this study aimed to develop a framework for managing construction waste during the construction phase of residential building projects in Jordan and to facilitate the adoption of circular practices within the construction sector. A questionnaire survey was administered to 31 experts, and the collected data were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Subsequently, the proposed framework was evaluated through a three-round Delphi study involving an independent panel of experts. The results identified the principal barriers to implementation as the low demand for reused or recycled materials, limited stakeholder awareness, and difficulties in material disassembly. The findings further revealed that applying visual management and 5S techniques to improve site efficiency, implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) for material and component mapping throughout the building life cycle, and providing tax incentives and grants for recycled materials were among the highest-ranked sub-strategies for supporting circular practices and minimizing construction waste. The Delphi evaluation demonstrated strong expert consensus regarding the framework’s applicability and practicality, indicating that it provides a structured, expert-informed approach that may assist policymakers and construction practitioners in promoting circular practices and reducing construction waste in Jordan. In addition, the framework has the potential to support Jordan’s Vision 2025 and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

HVAC air filtration systems can be designed as either disposable or reusable units, with each approach involving different material, operational, and end-of-life requirements. However, the environmental performance of reusable HVAC filtration systems remains insufficiently characterized. This study conducted a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing reusable and disposable HVAC air filters under equivalent service conditions using the TRACI 2.1 impact assessment method in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The analysis compared one reusable Delta M filter with eight equivalent disposable filters over the same filtration service period. Initial single-cycle comparisons showed that the reusable filter exhibited higher impacts due to increased structural material requirements associated with durable design. However, repeated refurbishment and reuse substantially reduced overall life cycle environmental burdens. At the defined functional unit, the reusable filtration system reduced global warming potential by approximately 69% (6.20 vs. 20.27 kg CO₂ eq) while also reducing ozone depletion, smog formation, acidification, eutrophication, respiratory effects, ecotoxicity, fossil fuel depletion, and non-carcinogenic impacts relative to the disposable filtration system. Environmental break-even analysis indicated that the reusable system began outperforming the disposable alternative after approximately two operational filtration cycles, while end-of-life material recovery further improved environmental performance beyond the baseline landfill scenario. Contribution analysis identified PVC frame production, polyester filtration media manufacturing, and galvanized steel mesh production as the dominant environmental hotspots. The results demonstrate that combining durable product design, repeated reuse, and end-of-life material recovery can substantially improve the long-term environmental performance of commercial HVAC filtration systems while supporting circular economy and sustainable building objectives. Full article

Porous asphalt (PA) mixtures offer multifunctional benefits, yet their long-term durability remains a challenge. This study presents a systematic review of recent developments in waste-modified PA, following PRISMA guidelines and analyzing 123 high-impact documents published between 2015 and 2025 across the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Unlike previous works, this paper adopts a multi-waste perspective to synthesize the interactions between recycled modifiers and the open-graded skeleton. Quantitative analysis reveals that incorporating crumb rubber can improve sound absorption by up to 30%, while specific recycled plastics enhance rutting resistance by 15–20% compared to conventional mixtures. However, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data indicates that these environmental gains, reducing carbon footprints by up to 25%, are highly sensitive to the chosen system boundaries. The review identifies a critical need for standardization in clogging protocols and ‘cradle-to-grave’ environmental modeling to bridge the gap between laboratory results and large-scale engineering practice. Finally, this research demonstrates how the adoption of waste-modified porous asphalt mixtures directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by fostering circular economy principles in pavement engineering. Full article

Offshore floating photovoltaics (OFPVs) offer a promising route for expanding solar energy development from land and inland waters to marine space, particularly in China’s coastal regions where electricity demand, land-use constraints, offshore wind infrastructure, and photovoltaic manufacturing capacity are highly concentrated. This review examines the development status, structural concepts, hydrodynamic challenges, research methodologies, reliability issues, and future pathways of OFPV systems in China from the perspective of marine engineering. Demonstration projects, representative platform concepts, and recent studies on environmental loading, platform motion, multi-body interaction, connector and mooring responses, and hydroelastic behavior are systematically synthesized. The review shows that Chinese OFPV technology has progressed from conceptual exploration to prototype testing and sea-based validation, with flexible membrane, steel-frame, semi-submersible, tensioned floating-island, HDPE modular, and composite-material concepts under active investigation. However, mature and replicable engineering solutions remain limited. Key barriers include survivability under extreme sea states, fatigue reliability of large arrays, corrosion, biofouling, material degradation, insufficient long-term field data, and the lack of dedicated design standards. Future development should emphasize array-level hydrodynamic design, coupled connector–mooring optimization, life-cycle reliability assessment, full-scale monitoring, and integration with offshore wind, wave energy, floating breakwaters, aquaculture, and other marine energy systems. Full article

Natural antioxidants are limited in food packaging due to poor stability and compatibility. A multifunctional film was successfully prepared via the incorporation of functional fillers into a guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol (GP) matrix. ZIF-8 was amino-functionalized to enhance rutin (Rt) loading, and the resulting ZIF-8-NH₂@Rt was combined with purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPA) to fabricate a composite film for pork freshness monitoring. Compared with neat GP, the ZIF-8-NH₂@Rt/PSPA/GP film showed a 30.6% increase in tensile strength and an elongation at break of 36.6%. The composite film also imparted exceptional UV-blocking capabilities, with light transmittance plummeting to 3.22% in the UVA region, 0.40% in the UVB region, and 47.53% within the visible light spectrum. The films displayed significant antioxidant properties, with DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities recorded at 73.27% and 67.64%, respectively. During pork storage, the film exhibited stable color changes. The G/R values corresponding to the limit of edibility were determined to be 0.78 and 0.67 for storage at 25 °C and 4 °C, respectively. The film was reusable for four cycles and extended the shelf life of pork by at least one day. These findings highlight the film’s considerable promise in the realm of smart food packaging and dynamic freshness tracing. Full article

Brownfield redevelopment increasingly requires sustainability-oriented frameworks integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Net Present Value (NPV), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and Social Return on Investment (SROI) to evaluate conventional remediation benchmarks and nature-based solutions (NBS) for the restoration of the Vieux-Charmont brownfield (France) into a public ecological park. Eight remediation scenarios were assessed, including combinations of excavation, soil treatment, landfill disposal, soil reuse, and phyto-management. The results demonstrated substantial differences among restoration pathways. The conventional landfill-oriented benchmark generated the highest environmental burdens, whereas the best-performing phyto-management scenario achieved the lowest impacts, reducing climate change and land use impacts by 91.6% and 75.6%, respectively. Scenarios integrating reduced excavation intensity and treated soil reuse consistently improved environmental performance and long-term economic viability. The best-performing phyto-management configuration also achieved the highest NPV after 20 years (1.38 million Euros, 2026). The social assessment results indicated improved socio-economic performance for phyto-management systems within the adopted S-LCA and SROI framework. Overall, the findings demonstrated that remediation strategies should not be evaluated solely according to contaminant removal efficiency or direct operational costs. Instead, integrated sustainability frameworks combining environmental, economic, and social dimensions provide a more robust basis for supporting sustainable brownfield restoration and circular land management strategies. Full article

This study presents a cradle-to-grave Life-Cycle Assessment of a multifunctional building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) skylight system combining a recycled aluminum frame, double-glazing unit, semi-transparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic glass, and an organic phase change material (PCM) for passive thermal regulation. Assessed over a 30-year service life in accordance with EN 15804+A2 using One Click LCA, the system is evaluated across 13 environmental impact categories for a declared unit of 0.72 m². Results show that materials production is the dominant environmental driver across all categories, contributing 72.0% of total GWP (78.00 kg CO₂-eq). Component replacement is the second contributor with 9.8% of GWP. End-of-life burdens account for 7.7% of cradle-to-grave GWP. When Module D credits are included, the system achieves an indicative net GWP balance of −808.34 kg CO₂-eq, that is conditional on a static Romanian grid-mix assumption; under progressive grid decarbonization this benefit is reduced, so the figure should be read as scenario-dependent potential rather than an immutable property of the product. Abiotic depletion of mineral elements is the only category where Module D does not fully offset system burdens, highlighting the relevance of critical raw material considerations for CdTe technologies. These findings demonstrate that BIPV depend on low-impact manufacturing and underscore the importance of multi-indicator LCA as the appropriate evaluation framework for integrated energy-generating building products. Full article

The wood furniture sector, heavily reliant on wood panels, faces supply risks and generates significant waste, which can be managed through recycling or energy recovery. This study investigates the environmental impacts of wood waste end-of-life management and the use of virgin versus recycled raw materials in the wood furniture sector, aiming to identify the most sustainable scenario in wood manufacturing between wood waste recycling as output and recycled wood as input. Environmental impacts of four scenarios were analyzed and compared through the life cycle assessment with the “grave-to-cradle” approach. Inventory was supported by information and data from an Italian furniture company, while the impact assessment was performed using the ReCiPe method and the SimaPro software. The results from the impact assessment and gravity analysis show the main contribution of different scenarios due to the incineration of wood waste and the manufacturing of wood panels; the sensitivity analysis highlights how increasing recycling allows for greater performance improvement than increasing recycled inputs. Although limited by the assumptions related to the case study, this research enriches the discussion on the environmental convenience of recycling manufacturing waste and using recycled materials and confirms the importance of life cycle assessment for implementing circular economy strategies in companies. Full article

Graphene-based nanosheets (GNS), including graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), have attracted increasing attention for developing high-performance and sustainable cementitious composites. Compared with conventional dispersion strategies, graphene-based coating strategies enable the targeted localization of GNS at critical interfacial transition zones (ITZs), thereby maximizing their reinforcing efficiency while mitigating agglomeration issues. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in GNS coating technologies for cementitious composites, including physical adsorption, chemical assembly, electrophoretic deposition, and in situ growth. The effects of GNS coatings on interfacial engineering, mechanical performance, durability enhancement, and smart functionalities are critically discussed. Existing studies indicate that GNS coatings can improve strength, crack resistance, impermeability, and resistance to chloride ingress, freeze–thaw cycles, and other degradation processes mainly through ITZ densification and microstructure refinement. However, these benefits are strongly dependent on the coating method, substrate type, and stability of the graphene–substrate interface in calcium-rich alkaline pore solutions. In particular, physically adsorbed GO coatings may suffer from desorption or Ca²⁺-induced aggregation, chemically assembled coatings require further validation beyond laboratory-scale systems, and electrophoretic deposition is mainly applicable to electrically conductive substrates. In addition, localized conductive networks created by GNS coatings facilitate multifunctional properties such as self-sensing, electromagnetic shielding, and electrothermal performance. From a carbon-neutrality perspective, the improvements in mechanical properties and durability provide opportunities to reduce material consumption, extend service life, and lower life-cycle carbon emissions. Nevertheless, their carbon-neutral contribution should be verified through quantitative life-cycle assessment rather than inferred directly from strength or durability enhancement alone. Finally, the remaining challenges associated with large-scale implementation, long-term stability, cost-effectiveness, and field-scale validation are discussed. Particular attention is given to the fact that most existing evidence is derived from laboratory-scale specimens rather than real structural elements exposed to service environments. Full article

Reducing carbon emissions while carrying out urban renewal has put existing residential buildings in the spotlight for low-carbon transformation. These buildings typically consume large amounts of energy and offer significant savings potential, making them a priority in the building sector. Addressing the challenges of limited capital, long payback periods, and inadequate comprehensive benefit assessment in building energy retrofits, this study introduces a carbon trading mechanism and develops a priority decision-making framework based on life-cycle cost–benefit analysis and net present value rate (NPVR). Five typical retrofit measures (grouped into four simulation categories), including external wall insulation, roof insulation, window replacement, lighting upgrade, and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system, are evaluated through TRNSYS energy simulation applied to an aging residential building in Xi’an, China. The results demonstrate that lighting system upgrades and rooftop PV installation yield the highest economic returns and investment efficiency, while building envelope insulation measures, despite delivering substantial energy savings, exhibit lower NPVR due to high initial investment. Sensitivity analysis reveals that electricity price is the dominant factor influencing economic viability, whereas carbon price under current market conditions exerts limited influence on retrofit prioritization. The proposed framework provides a quantitative decision-support tool for building owners and policymakers to optimize retrofit investment strategies under budget constraints. Full article

3D concrete printing (3DCP) is an emerging modern method of construction with potential to improve construction efficiency, reduce labour requirements, and support the delivery of sustainable housing. In Ireland, its recent adoption coincides with increasing policy emphasis on modern methods of construction and the introduction of stricter European requirements for assessing the climate impact of buildings. The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) introduces progressive requirements for the calculation and reporting of whole-life Global Warming Potential (GWP) for new buildings, creating a need for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies aligned with current regulatory requirements and capable of capturing the specific characteristics of emerging construction technologies. This paper reviews the applicability of the EPBD, EN 15978, EN 15804, Level(s), and relevant Irish methodologies to 3DCP buildings. It also examines existing LCA studies on 3DCP and evaluates their methodological scope, system boundaries, functional units, data sources, and alignment with current regulatory requirements. The review shows that most existing 3DCP LCA studies remain focused on materials, components, or limited life-cycle stages, with cradle-to-gate assessments being particularly common. Consequently, many published studies do not fully align with the whole-building, cradle-to-grave assessment framework introduced under the revised EPBD.. The review also identifies a lack of LCA methodologies specifically tailored to 3DCP buildings, particularly in relation to printable material design, construction-process energy consumption, material efficiency, reinforcement strategy, durability, maintenance, and end-of-life scenarios. These gaps limit the comparability and regulatory relevance of current sustainability assessments. The paper concludes that EPBD-compliant whole-life carbon assessments of complete 3DCP buildings are urgently needed, alongside the development of 3DCP-specific methodological guidance and data to support reliable environmental benchmarking and wider adoption of the technology in Ireland and Europe. Full article