Search Results (636)

The growing need to improve the management of end-of-life vehicle (ELV) waste and mitigate its environmental impact is a global concern. One promising approach to enhancing the recyclability of these vehicles is leveraging synergies between the automotive and construction industries as part of a circular economy strategy. In this context, ELV waste emerges as a valuable source of secondary raw materials, enabling the development of sustainable innovations that capitalize on its physical and mechanical properties. This paper aims to develop and evaluate construction industry composites incorporating waste from ELV carpets, with a focus on maintaining or enhancing performance compared to conventional materials. To achieve this, an experimental program was designed to assess cementitious composites, specifically subfloor mortars, incorporating automotive carpet waste (ACW). The results demonstrate that, beyond the physical and mechanical properties of the developed composites, the dynamic stiffness significantly improved across all tested waste incorporation levels. This finding highlights the potential of these composites as an alternative material for impact noise insulation in flooring systems. From an academic perspective, this research advances knowledge on the application of ACW in cement-based composites for construction. In terms of managerial contributions, two key market opportunities emerge: (1) the commercial exploitation of composites produced with ELV carpet waste and (2) the development of a network of environmental service providers to ensure a stable waste supply chain for innovative and sustainable products. Both strategies contribute to reducing landfill disposal and mitigating the environmental impact of ELV waste, reinforcing the principles of the circular economy. Full article

Background: this research presents an integrated approach to enhancing the sustainability of plastic bag supply chains in Indonesia by addressing critical issues related to ineffective post-consumer waste management and low recycling rates. The objective of this study is to develop a combined framework of material flow analysis (MFA) and sustainable supply chain planning to improve demand forecasting and inflow management across the plastic bag lifecycle. Method: the research adopts a quantitative method using the XGBoost algorithm for forecasting and is supported by a polymer-based MFA framework that maps material flows from production to end-of-life stages. Result: the findings indicate that while production processes achieve high efficiency with a yield of 89%, more than 60% of plastic bag waste remains unmanaged after use. Moreover, scenario analysis demonstrates that single interventions are insufficient to achieve circularity targets, whereas integrated strategies (e.g., reducing export volumes, enhancing waste collection, and improving recycling performance) are more effective in increasing recycling rates beyond 35%. Additionally, the study reveals that increasing domestic recycling capacity and minimizing dependency on exports can significantly reduce environmental leakage and strengthen local waste management systems. Conclusions: the study’s novelty lies in demonstrating how machine learning and material flow data can be synergized to inform circular supply chain decisions and regulatory planning. Full article

Although technological innovations are often intended to improve quality and efficiency, they can exacerbate systemic challenges when not aligned with the principles of value-based care. As a result, healthcare systems in many countries face persistent inefficiencies stemming from the overuse, underuse, misuse, and waste associated with the adoption of health technology. This narrative review examines the dual impact of healthcare technology and evaluates how contract mechanisms can serve as strategic tools for promoting cost-effective, outcome-oriented integration. Drawing from healthcare management, and supply chain literature, this paper analyzes various payment and contract models, including performance-based, bundled, cost-sharing, and revenue-sharing agreements, through the lens of stakeholder alignment. It explores how these mechanisms influence provider behavior, patient access, and system sustainability. The study contends that well-designed contract mechanisms can align stakeholder incentives, reduce inefficiencies, and support the delivery of high-value care across diverse healthcare settings. We provide concrete examples to illustrate how various contract mechanisms impact the integration of health technologies in practice. Full article

Marine biomass, particularly from waste streams, by-products, underutilized, invasive, or potential cultivable marine species, offers a sustainable source of high-value biopolymers such as collagen and chitin. These macromolecules have gained significant attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, functional versatility, and broad applicability across health, food, wellness, and environmental fields. This review highlights recent advances in the uses of marine-derived collagen and chitin/chitosan. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we analyze how these applications contribute to sustainability, particularly in SDGs related to responsible consumption and production, good health and well-being, and life below water. Furthermore, we contextualize the advancement of product development using marine collagen and chitin/chitosan within the European Union’s Blue bioeconomy strategies, highlighting trends in scientific research and technological innovation through bibliometric and patent data. Finally, the review addresses challenges facing the development of robust value chains for these marine biopolymers, including collaboration, regulatory hurdles, supply-chain constraints, policy and financial support, education and training, and the need for integrated marine resource management. The paper concludes with recommendations for fostering innovation and sustainability in the valorization of these marine resources. Full article

Biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from biomass, presents a sustainable solution to several pressing challenges in U.S. agriculture, including soil degradation, carbon emissions, and waste management. Despite global advancements, the U.S. biochar market remains underexplored in terms of economic viability, adoption potential, and sector-specific applications. This narrative review synthesizes two decades of literature to examine biochar’s applications, production methods, and market dynamics, with a focus on its economic and environmental role within the United States. The review identifies biochar’s multifunctional benefits: enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity, sequestering carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving water quality. Recent empirical studies also highlight biochar’s economic feasibility across global contexts, with yield increases of up to 294% and net returns exceeding USD 5000 per hectare in optimized systems. Economically, the global biochar market grew from USD 156.4 million in 2021 to USD 610.3 million in 2023, with U.S. production reaching ~50,000 metric tons annually and a market value of USD 203.4 million in 2022. Forecasts project U.S. market growth at a CAGR of 11.3%, reaching USD 478.5 million by 2030. California leads domestic adoption due to favorable policy and biomass availability. However, barriers such as inconsistent quality standards, limited awareness, high costs, and policy gaps constrain growth. This study goes beyond the existing literature by integrating market analysis, SWOT assessment, cost–benefit findings, and production technologies to highlight strategies for scaling biochar adoption. It concludes that with supportive legislation, investment in research, and enhanced supply chain transparency, biochar could become a pivotal tool for sustainable development in the U.S. agricultural and environmental sectors. Full article

Food loss and waste from the European Union’s dairy supply chain, particularly in the management of fresh milk, imposes significant environmental burdens. This study demonstrates that implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled digital decision-support tools can substantially reduce these impacts across the region. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to quantify both the additional environmental burdens from RFID (tag production, usage, and disposal) and the avoided burdens due to reduced milk losses in the farm, processing, and distribution stages. Within the EU’s fresh milk supply chain, the implementation of digital tools could result in annual net reductions of up to 80,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, 81,083 tonnes of PM_2.5-equivalent particulate matter, 84,326 tonnes of land use–related carbon deficit, and 80,000 cubic meters of freshwater-equivalent consumption. Spatial analysis indicates that regions with historically high spoilage rates, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe, see the greatest benefits from RFID enabled digital-decision support tools. These environmental savings are most pronounced during the peak months of milk production. Overall, the study demonstrates that despite the environmental footprint of RFID systems, their integration into the EU’S dairy supply chain enhances transparency, reduces waste, and improves resource efficiency—supporting their strategic value. Full article

Background: Gold mining is a critical part of the industry of Central Asia, contributing significantly to regional economic growth. However, gold production management faces numerous challenges, including adopting innovative technologies such as AI, using improved logistical equipment, resolving supply chain inefficiencies and disruptions, and incorporating modernized waste management and advancements in gold bar processing technologies. This study explores how advanced technologies and improved logistical processes can enhance efficiency and sustainability. Method: This paper examines gold production processes in Kyrgyzstan, a gold-producing country in Central Asia. The case study approach combines qualitative interviews with industry stakeholders and a system dynamics (SD) simulation model to compare current operations with a technology-based scenario. Results: The simulation model shows improved outcomes when innovative technologies are applied to ore processing, waste refinement, and gold bar production. The results also indicate an approximate twenty-five percent reduction in transport time, a thirty percent decrease in equipment downtime, a thirty percent reduction in emissions, and a fifteen percent increase in gold extraction when using artificial intelligence, smart logistics, and regional smelting. Conclusions: The study concludes with recommendations to modernize equipment, localize processing, and invest in digital logistics to support sustainable mining and improve operational performance in Kyrgyzstan’s gold sector. Full article

The global food industry is facing growing pressure to enhance food safety, extend shelf life, minimize waste, and adopt environmentally sustainable packaging solution. Nanotechnology offers innovative ways to meet these demands by enabling the creation of smart and sustainable food packaging systems. Due to their unique properties, nanomaterials can significantly enhance the functional performance of packaging by boosting mechanical strength, barrier efficiency, antimicrobial activity, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nanomaterials used as smart and sustainable food packaging, focusing on their role in active and intelligent packaging systems. By integrating nanomaterials like metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, and nano-biopolymers, packaging can now perform real-time sensing, spoilage detection, and traceability. These systems improve food quality management and supply chain transparency while supporting global sustainability goals. The review also discusses potential risks related to nanomaterials’ migration, environmental impact, and consumer safety, as well as the current regulatory landscape and limitations in industrial scalability. Emphasis is placed on the importance of standardized safety assessments and eco-friendly design to support responsible innovation. Overall, nano-enabled smart packaging represents a promising strategy for advancing food safety and sustainability. Future developments will require collaboration across disciplines and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe and practical application of nanotechnology in food systems. Full article

The concept of the circular economy aims to develop systems for reusing, recovering, and recycling products and services, pursuing both economic growth and sustainability. In many countries, legislation has been enacted to create frameworks ensuring environmental protection and fostering initiatives to implement the circular economy across various sectors. The wind energy industry is no exception, with industries and institutions adopting strategies to address the forthcoming challenge of repowering or dismantling a significant quantity of wind turbines in the coming years reaching a total of global wind power capacity by 2024. This also involves managing the resulting waste, which includes materials with high economic value as well as others that have considerable environmental impacts but that can be reused, recycled, or converted. In parallel, the research activity in this field has increased significantly in response to this challenge, leading to a vast body of work in the literature, especially in the last three years. The aim of this paper is to conduct a bibliometric study to provide a global perspective on the current literature in the field, covering the period from 2009 to 2024. A total of 670 publications were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus, with 57% of them published in the last three years, highlighting the growing interest in the field. This study analyzes the research product, the most relevant journal, the most cited authors and institutions, their collaborative patterns, emerging trends, and gaps in the literature. This contribution will provide an up-to-date analysis of the field, fostering better understanding of the direction of the research and establishing a solid foundation for future studies Full article

Sustainability in the non-alcoholic beverage industry requires effective metrics to assess environmental, social, and economic performance. However, the lack of standardised indicators for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hinders the implementation of sustainable strategies. This study aims to select a set of sustainability indicators for small and medium-sized non-alcoholic beverage industries in Brazil. Seventy-four indicators were identified based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, which were subsequently evaluated and refined by industry experts for prioritisation. Statistical analysis led to the selection of 31 final indicators, distributed across environmental (10), social (12), and economic (9) dimensions. In the environmental dimension, priority indicators include water management, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and waste recycling. The social dimension highlights working conditions, occupational safety, gender equity, and impacts on local communities. In the economic dimension, key indicators relate to supply chain efficiency, technological innovation, financial transparency, and anti-corruption practices. The results provide a robust framework to guide managers in adopting sustainable practices and support policymakers in improving the environmental, social, and economic performance of small and medium-sized non-alcoholic beverage industries. Full article

In response to growing environmental pressures and material constraints, circular economy principles are gaining traction across manufacturing sectors. However, most existing frameworks emphasize design and supply chain considerations, with limited focus on how circularity can be operationalized within internal manufacturing systems. This paper proposes a conceptual model that embeds circular operations at the core of production strategy. Grounded in circular economy theory, operations management, and socio-technical systems thinking, the model identifies four key operational pillars: circular input management, looping process and waste valorization, product-life extension, and reverse logistics. These are supported by enabling factors—digital infrastructure, organizational culture, and leadership—and mediated by operational flexibility, which facilitates adaptive, closed-loop performance. The model aims to align internal processes with long-term sustainability outcomes, specifically resource efficiency and operational resilience. Practical implications are outlined for resource-intensive industries such as automotive, electronics, and FMCG, along with a readiness assessment framework for guiding implementation. This study offers a pathway for future empirical research and policy development by integrating circular logic into the structural and behavioral dimensions of operations. The model contributes to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 and SDG 12, by positioning circularity as a regenerative operational strategy rather than a peripheral initiative. Full article

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is a native fruit of the Amazon, and its production chain is centered in the state of Pará. The processing of açaí fruits generates large amounts of solid waste, which can pose serious risks to the environment if not used and managed properly. The novelty of this research lies in the fact that until this moment, no research had been reported in the literature on the pyrolysis of açaí fibers and the chemical composition of the aqueous phase, making possible a broad set of applications including biogas production. The present research proposes a study of the pyrolysis of açaí seeds and fibers and the physicochemical and compositional characterization of the aqueous phase products. In this way, açaí processing residues were collected in the city of Belém, PA. The seeds and fibers were dried and impregnated with NaOH solutions, and subsequently subjected to pyrolysis on a laboratory scale. The liquid products from pyrolysis were characterized through acidity index analysis, FT-IR, and gas chromatography. The increase in the concentration of the impregnating agent led to an increase in bio-oil yield from both the seeds (ranging from 3.3% to 6.6%) and the fibers (ranging from 1.2% to 3.7%). The yield in the aqueous phase showed an inverse behavior, decreasing as the concentration of NaOH increased, both in the seeds (ranging from 41% to 37.5%) and the fibers (ranging from 33.7% to 21.2%). High acidity levels were found in the liquid products studied, which decreased as the concentration of the impregnating agent increased. The increase in the concentration of the impregnating agent (NaOH) influenced the chemical composition of the obtained liquid products, leading to a decrease in oxygenated compounds and an increase in nitrogenous compounds in both experimental matrices, which was also evidenced by the reduction in acidity. Full article

Despite advances in automation, the global manufacturing sector continues to rely heavily on manual package inspection, creating bottlenecks in production and increasing labor demands. Although disruptive technologies such as big data analytics, smart sensors, and machine learning have revolutionized industrial connectivity and strategic decision-making, real-time quality control (QC) on conveyor lines remains predominantly analog. This study proposes an intelligent package integrity monitoring system that integrates waste reduction strategies with both narrow and Generative AI approaches. Narrow AI models were deployed to detect package damage at full line speed, aiming to minimize manual intervention and reduce waste. Using a synthetically generated dataset of 200 paired top-and-side package images, we developed and evaluated 10 distinct detection pipelines combining various algorithms, image enhancements, model architectures, and data processing strategies. Several pipeline variants demonstrated high accuracy, precision, and recall, particularly those utilizing a YOLO v8 segmentation model. Notably, targeted preprocessing increased top-view MobileNetV2 accuracy from chance to 67.5%, advanced feature extractors with full enhancements achieved 77.5%, and a segmentation-based ensemble with feature extraction and binary classification reached 92.5% accuracy. These results underscore the feasibility of deploying AI-driven, real-time QC systems for sustainable and efficient manufacturing operations. Full article

Despite growing interest in integrating Lean Construction (LC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to advance sustainability in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, research remains fragmented and lacks a unified implementation framework. This study bridges this gap by conducting a systematic literature review (2010–2024) of 96 journal articles to (1) analyze research trends in BIM-LC integration; (2) evaluate its benefits for sustainable built environments; and (3) identify barriers to adoption. A key contribution is the development of a novel four-dimensional BIM-LC integration framework, encompassing information integration, supply chain management, waste management, and life cycle management, which synergizes LC principles with BIM’s technical capabilities to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and support carbon neutrality goals. The findings reveal that while BIM-LC integration significantly improves construction productivity and reduces environmental impacts, technical challenges in data interoperability and fragmented lifecycle management persist. Actionable solutions are further proposed, including semantic model standardization, AI-driven supply chain resilience, and circular economy integration. This framework provides both scholars and practitioners with a roadmap to advance BIM-LC adoption for sustainable construction. Full article

Addressing the challenges of Industry 4.0 in Thailand’s agri-food logistics (AFL), this study develops a structural logistics management model grounded in the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, Resource-Based View (RBV), and Dynamic Capabilities (DC) theory. The model integrates four key constructs: standardization, operations management, smart technology, and wastage management targeting cold chain logistics (CCL) systems. Using a mixed-methods design, the study combines in-depth expert interviews with a quantitative survey of 300 logistics firms certified under the Q Cold Chain standard. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis confirms the robustness of the model (CMIN/DF = 1.151; GFI = 0.928; RMSEA = 0.022), supporting all five hypotheses. The findings show that standardization significantly enhances both operational performance and the adoption of digital technology, while waste reduction acts as a key mediator linking organizational processes to technological transformation. By highlighting institutional certification as a policy instrument, this research addresses existing gaps in logistics innovation literature. The results inform both theory and practice, supporting Thailand’s strategic transition toward sustainable, digitally enabled agri-logistics ecosystems. Full article