Footprint Method Research Articles

RNA tertiary structure and conformational dynamics revealed by BASH MaP.

The functional effects of an RNA can arise from complex three-dimensional folds known as tertiary structures. However, predicting the tertiary structure of an RNA and whether an RNA adopts distinct tertiary conformations remains challenging. To address this, we developed BASH MaP, a single-molecule dimethyl sulfate (DMS) footprinting method and DAGGER, a computational pipeline, to identify alternative tertiary structures adopted by different molecules of RNA. BASH MaP utilizes potassium borohydride to reveal the chemical accessibility of the N7 position of guanosine, a key mediator of tertiary structures. We used BASH MaP to identify diverse conformational states and dynamics of RNA G-quadruplexes, an important RNA tertiary motif, in vitro and in cells. BASH MaP and DAGGER analysis of the fluorogenic aptamer Spinach reveals that it adopts alternative tertiary conformations which determine its fluorescence states. BASH MaP thus provides an approach for structural analysis of RNA by revealing previously undetectable tertiary structures.

A Cradle-to-Retailer Environmental Profile of Yellow Lentils (Lens culinaris ssp. Orientalis) as Such or Malted

This study evaluated the environmental impact of malted, decorticated, and split yellow lentils, specifically Moroccan (ML) and Onano (OL) varieties, cultivated in Morocco and Italy, using a cradle-to-retailer Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. An analysis through SimaPro 9.5.0.0 software and the Product Environmental Footprint method revealed carbon footprints of approximately 4.5 and 3.3 kg CO2e per kg for malted, dehulled, and split MLs and OLs, respectively, representing increases of 50% and 52% compared to their untreated dry seed counterparts. The Product Environmental Footprints also rose significantly, by 50% for MLs and 55% for OLs, reflecting the higher water and energy demands, as well as additional waste generation, associated with the malting process. This study emphasizes the importance of focusing mitigation efforts on improving the agricultural phase, particularly in land and water use efficiency. While supplemental irrigation can boost yields, especially in water-limited regions, it significantly increases the environmental footprint, underscoring a trade-off between yield gains and sustainability. Consequently, the optimal environmental strategy may not involve increasing irrigation, but rather developing drought-resistant lentil varieties, which could reduce the overall environmental impact.

Ecological Carrying Capacity and Driving Factors of the Source Region of the Yellow River in China over the Past 30 Years

The source region of the Yellow River (SRYR) serves as a crucial ecological barrier on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China. In recent decades, the ecological condition of the SRYR has deteriorated, resulting in a state of ecological insecurity. This state of affairs endangers the region’s living environment, aggravates poverty, and seriously hinders the region’s sustainable ecological, social, and economic development. Ecosystems, landscape patterns, ecological carrying capacity (ECC), and drivers interact with each other in the region, shaping the regional ecological pattern’s past, present, and future. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these interactions have yet to be elucidated. Based on the land use type data of the SRYR in China for the last 30 years in seven periods (1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020), and combined with the ecological footprint method, we carried out a study of spatial and temporal changes at the county scale and the source region scale, used the landscape pattern index to describe the changes in ECC, and analyzed the main drivers that affect the ECC of the source region. The results indicate the following: (1) Over the past 30 years, the greatest changes in the area have occurred in grasslands and unused lands. Between 2005 and 2010, a significant conversion of unused lands to grasslands occurred in the SRYR, amounting to 7382.33 km2, mainly distributed in Maduo County and Maqin County. (2) The absolute ecological carrying capacity (AECC) of grasslands in the SRYR has shown an upward trend, while that of forests has declined. The ECC of the source region has generally increased, with higher ECC observed in Maqin County, Maduo County, and Xinghai County. (3) The spatial distribution of ECC in the SRYR has shown non-uniform changes, with an increasing trend observed across all county-level areas. The spatial heterogeneity of AECC is high, with minor overall spatial distribution changes. (4) There is a positive correlation between the ECC of the SRYR with SPLIT, PARA_MN, and COHESION (p < 0.05). The impact of landscape pattern indices on ECC ranked as COHESION > PARA_MN > SPLIT. (5) Principal component analysis indicates that the primary driving forces of the SRYR’s ECC are social factors, such as urban population (X5) and per capita GDP (X8), with natural factors being less significant than social factors. This research is crucial for maintaining ECC in the SRYR, protecting and restoring the ecological environment, and ensuring the sustainable development of the economy and society.

Using in vivo intact structure for system-wide quantitative analysis of changes in proteins

Mass spectrometry-based methods can provide a global expression profile and structural readout of proteins in complex systems. Preserving the in vivo conformation of proteins in their innate state is challenging during proteomic experiments. Here, we introduce a whole animal in vivo protein footprinting method using perfusion of reagents to add dimethyl labels to exposed lysine residues on intact proteins which provides information about protein conformation. When this approach is used to measure dynamic structural changes during Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression in a mouse model, we detect 433 proteins that undergo structural changes attributed to AD, independent of aging, across 7 tissues. We identify structural changes of co-expressed proteins and link the communities of these proteins to their biological functions. Our findings show that structural alterations of proteins precede changes in expression, thereby demonstrating the value of in vivo protein conformation measurement. Our method represents a strategy for untangling mechanisms of proteostasis dysfunction caused by protein misfolding. In vivo whole-animal footprinting should have broad applicability for discovering conformational changes in systemic diseases and for the design of therapeutic interventions.

Carbon footprint calculating for fruit processing and storage activities

Food production plays a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing these issues in agriculture and production requires strategies that consider regional and national contexts while ensuring food security. There is no universal solution for agro-processing sector; thus, research and adaptable tools must be employed based on local conditions. The research were focused on analysis of fruit paste production technology, refrigerated storage and transport. As a result, a calculating carbon footprint method for these processes was developed. Conclusions of this research can be of great value to agri-food industry, enabling producers to make more informed decisions about energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it possible to move toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly production, while ensuring high quality products throughout their shelf life.

Quantifying and Zoning Ecological Compensation for Cultivated Land in Intensive Agricultural Areas: A Case Study in Henan Province, China

Cultivated land ecological compensation (CLEC) is an important way to solve regional development imbalance and cultivated land problems, and the scientific quantification of the ecological value of cultivated land is the key to CLEC. This study quantified the total amount and urgency of CLEC in China’s main grain-producing region using the cropland ecological footprint (EF) and ecosystem service value (ESV) methods. Furthermore, this study analyzed the comprehensive zoning of CLEC considering natural and economic development. The results showed that the spatial distribution of EFs and the ecological carrying capacity of cultivated land in Henan Province are similar, presenting the spatial characteristics of being high in the southeast and low in the northwest; the cultivated land in most of the counties and districts is in a state of ecological surplus, and the cultivated land resources are sufficient to support their own consumption needs. Henan Province as a whole is an ecologically compensated region, with a compensation amount of CNY 1.39 billion, and the total amount of compensation is in a positive value of 94.94%. The Southwest Yu and North Yu economic zone of Henan are the areas of high and low values of cultivated land compensation. The priority compensation region is the most extensive and widely distributed type in the five regions of Henan Province, accounting for 55% of the counties and districts. The degree of compensation is most urgent in the Huanghuai, Southwest Yu, and North Yu economic zones. This study’s findings provide new ideas for the development of differentiated ecological compensation policies, and provide references for the participation of multiple market participants and the diversification of compensation forms.

Life cycle assessment of common urban trees - The environmental performance of three Mediterranean cities

Given the increasing pressure from extreme events due to climate change, the planting of new trees has become a priority in the political agendas of cities. However, the rush to plant trees often fails to account for the reduced performance and lifespan of trees in heavily urbanized areas and the environmental impact of their production, maintenance, and eventual disposal. By means of the Life Cycle Analysis, this study aims to investigate the potential environmental benefit and impact of trees planted in three European cities located in Mediterranean areas (Perugia, Thessaloniki, and Cascais), that have adhered to the management guidelines of the LIFE Clivut project. The environmental performance of each tree is mainly affected by the tree management operations performed, by the climatic conditions, and by the tree performance in carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake and Particulate matter (PM) capture. The impact assessment obtained by ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) methodology evidenced that the trees' beneficial effects widely overcome the impact of the operations carried out during the tree management. Broadleaved species showed an average environmental performance higher than conifers. The best results have been obtained by Tilia cordata Mill., Quercus ilex L., Populus spp. and Celtis australis L. in the case of broadleaved trees, and by Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin and Cedrus spp. for Conifers. The results of the Environmental Footprint (EF 3.1) method highlighted the urban trees' potentiality to mitigate Human Health problems and to improve Ecosystem Quality. Future studies may explore other management scenarios to optimize energy and materials use, reduce emissions, hence obtaining an increase of the environmental benefit for the urban areas.

Income-based environmental effects of family food consumption and the affordability towards healthy diets

Environmentally sustainable diets are attracting increasing attention, but the environmental impact of diets with different income residents is still poorly understood. Based on the environmental footprint method, we explored the environmental impact of food consumption in China from 2000 to 2020, and used the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model to investigate its driving factors. Furthermore, we constructed a multi-objective optimization model, incorporating the affordability indicator, to optimize a healthy diet pattern. The results show that: (1) The food diversity index (FDI) was directly proportional to income, and geographically, the FDIs of economically developed provinces were higher than that of economically developing provinces. (2) The environmental footprint caused by food consumption was gradually increasing, with 60 % of the carbon footprint of low-income residents coming from grain and pork. (3) Dietary affordability was a major factor in increasing environmental footprint. High-income residents had greater access to milk, meat, etc., which had a greater negative environmental impact. We put forward suggestions on dietary optimization and affordability for different income residents, with a view to achieving nutritional and healthy diets of Chinese while generating minimum resource and environmental load, and promoting the transformation of the agro-food system.

A study on ecological sustainable cities based on LCA-emergy-carbon footprint and geographic information system (GIS) approach

ABSTRACT Sustainable cities, as an effective response to global climate aberrations, have increasingly garnered the attention of researchers. However, due to the wide range of interpretations and applications associated with sustainable cities, diverse methodologies can yield starkly contrasting results. This paper adopts ecological and low-carbon perspectives to evaluate and discuss urban sustainability. The core of this investigation involves quantitatively measuring a city’s sustainability based on the lifecycle metrics of emergy and carbon footprint. The findings reveal that Yangzhou, recognized as a model ecological city by authorities, exhibits an emergy sustainability index below the standard benchmark (ESI = 0.02 < 1). GIS mapping reveals that the city’s largest ecological service system is situated in the northwest water region. Both the emergy and carbon footprint analyses indicate that urbanized areas exert a detrimental influence on the city’s overall sustainability. Additionally, the administrative authorities in Yangzhou have implemented proactive measures to transition the city towards sustainability. Currently, the impacts of clean energy adoption and urban wetland restoration are particularly pronounced. The application of lifecycle emergy and carbon footprint methods offers a holistic approach for urban managers, enabling sustainable urban planning that harmoniously integrates ecological emergy and low-carbon considerations. This approach is instrumental in the realization of sustainable cities.

RNA tertiary structure and conformational dynamics revealed by BASH MaP.

The functional effects of an RNA can arise from complex three-dimensional folds known as tertiary structures. However, predicting the tertiary structure of an RNA and whether an RNA adopts distinct tertiary conformations remains challenging. To address this, we developed BASH MaP, a single-molecule dimethyl sulfate (DMS) footprinting method and DAGGER, a computational pipeline, to identify alternative tertiary structures adopted by different molecules of RNA. BASH MaP utilizes potassium borohydride to reveal the chemical accessibility of the N7 position of guanosine, a key mediator of tertiary structures. We used BASH MaP to identify diverse conformational states and dynamics of RNA G-quadruplexes, an important RNA tertiary motif, in vitro and in cells. BASH MaP and DAGGER analysis of the fluorogenic aptamer Spinach reveals that it adopts alternative tertiary conformations which determine its fluorescence states. BASH MaP thus provides an approach for structural analysis of RNA by revealing previously undetectable tertiary structures.

Evaluation of water resource balance in the Urmia Lake Basin: Integrating carrying capacity and water footprint model for sustainable management

Given the scarcity of water resources and the ever-growing demand, effective water flow management becomes crucial. The Lake Urmia Basin, a critical region in Iran, faces severe water scarcity exacerbated by climatic changes, land use alterations, over-extraction of groundwater, and mismanagement. This study evaluates the water resource balance by integrating carrying capacity and water footprint models to assess sustainable water management practices. Utilizing the InVEST model, water provisioning ecosystem services have been estimated as the supply, while the ecological footprint method quantifies water demand across various sectors. Three scenarios are evaluated: continuation of the current situation, an ideal scenario with substantial reductions in water consumption and pollution, and implementation of operational programs. The findings reveal significant water deficits in certain sub-basins, highlighting the need for a fundamental revision of resource allocation based on each region’s ecological capacity. Lake Urmia, the central nucleus of the basin, has experienced a significant size reduction, approximately 10 % of its original size, from the early 1990s to 2018, due to climatic changes, land use alterations, over-extraction of groundwater, and mismanagement. The environmental deficit in some sub-basins raises serious concerns, even in the best scenario where ecological footprint reduction is considered. These results underscore the effectiveness of ecosystem-based comprehensive capacity analysis for sustainable watershed development. This research offers a unified spatial system for quantifying ecological footprints and land resilience, providing critical insights into addressing water scarcity and supporting holistic regional planning.

Life cycle assessment of a circular textile value chain: the case of a garment made from chemically recycled cotton

Abstract Purpose The textile industry faces major challenges in reducing environmental impacts along the whole value chain. The overall aim of this paper was to assess the potential environmental benefit of a circular textile value chain, by evaluating a garment partly made from a chemically recycled cellulose carbamate fibre. The cellulose carbamate technology is a novel technology that turns cotton-rich textile waste into a cotton-like regenerated fibre. Methods Life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of a garment made from the chemically recycled fibre, considering the whole life cycle. The evaluation also considered that the garment was part of a take-back system, meaning that the garment is collected for recycling after consumer use and thereby helps in closing the loop of the circular textile value chain. The focus of the assessment was on climate impact, water scarcity impact and land use impact. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were included to test parts of the European Commission’s product environmental footprint method, e.g. the impact of applying the circular footprint formula. Results and discussion The results showed that (1) using a recycled cellulose carbamate fibre over primary conventional cotton showed benefits in all considered environmental impact categories; (2) compared to organic cotton, the benefits were also shown for the land use impact category; (3) the cradle to gate processes were the main hotspots for the garment’s life cycle, meaning that using a recycled feedstock is not the only measure needed to reduce environmental burdens; (4) the use phase, and in particular using the garment to its full life length, is crucial for mitigating the environmental impact per garment use; and (5) methodological choices related to the use of recycled feedstock, and sending materials to recycling at end-of-life, affect the outcome of the study. Conclusions Selecting a chemically recycled cellulose carbamate fibre over primary fibres showed environmental benefits for the evaluated garment, but there are however trade-offs between different environmental impact categories and fibre types. Furthermore, using recycled fibres is one important step in reducing the environmental concerns of garments, but it is important to also make improvements along the whole textile value chain.

Pork meat production: Proposal for monitoring indicators based on life cycle assessment

This study carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the pork production process based on a detailed Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of inputs and outputs of 3 years of the process, from the entrance of the live animal to the final packaged products. The Life Cycle Impact Analysis (LCIA) was carried out using the Environmental Footprint method to observe which impact categories are most relevant in environmental terms, excluding impacts related to production of the living animal. The results of the LCIA made it possible to identify the most relevant impact categories, such as Acidification, Climate change, Freshwater ecotoxicity, Freshwater and Marine eutrophication, Resource and Water use. The impacts detected supported the definition of critical Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Process Performance Indicators (PPIs) in environmental aspects, establishing a cause-and-effect relationship with the organization's strategic objectives. A model for monitoring environmental impacts with established indicators was developed based on the LCA study of the pork processing. The proposed monitoring indicators were identified based on the environmental impacts and this industrial sector can utilize these findings to adopt a more sustainable process.

Data-Independent Acquisition Represents a Promising Alternative for Fast Photochemical Oxidation of Proteins (FPOP) Samples Analysis.

Fast Photochemical Oxidation of Proteins (FPOP) is a protein footprinting method utilizing hydroxyl radicals to provide valuable information on the solvent-accessible surface area. The extensive number of oxidative modifications that are created by FPOP is both advantageous, leading to great spatial resolution, and challenging, increasing the complexity of data processing. The precise localization of the modification together with the appropriate reproducibility is crucial to obtain relevant structural information. In this paper, we propose a novel approach combining validated spectral libraries together with utilizing DIA data. First, the DDA data searched by FragPipe are subsequently validated using Skyline software to form a spectral library. This library is then matched against the DIA data to filter out nonrepresentative IDs. In comparison with FPOP data processing using only a search engine followed by generally applied filtration steps, the manually validated spectral library offers higher confidence in identifications and increased spatial resolution. Furthermore, the reproducibility of quantification was compared for DIA, DDA, and MS-only acquisition modes on timsTOF SCP. Comparison of coefficients of variation (CV) showed that the DIA and MS acquisition modes exhibit significantly better reproducibility in quantification (CV medians 0.1233 and 0.1494, respectively) compared to the DDA mode (CV median 0.2104).

Study on the sustainable utilisation of water resources in semi-arid megacities of China based on water footprint

ABSTRACT As urbanisation continues to accelerate in China, the contradiction between rapid economic development and water scarcity in semi-arid cities is becoming increasingly evident. Consequently, the study of the relationship between water resources use and economic growth is of particular importance. Lanzhou City was selected as the study area, an evaluation index system was established to comprehensively evaluate the status of water resources utilisation, meanwhile, the water footprint method and Tapio decoupling model were adopted to measure the decoupling status between water utilisation and economic development from 2002 to 2021. The result showed that the total water footprint and per capita water footprint followed an increasing and then decreasing trend. The water footprint varied significantly by industrial sector, with agriculture accounting for 72.87% of total water use. The self-sufficiency rate of water resources was above 96.5%. The economic value increased substantially from 22.25 CNY/m3 in 2002 to 183.99 CNY/m3 in 2021. The water scarcity index and the pressure index were high, with annual mean values of 0.96 and 1, respectively. Water consumption and economic growth are generally decoupled weakly and strongly, with the number of strong decoupling occurrences increasing significantly from 2011 to 2021.

Multi-period optimization of water planning for a sustainable agriculture: carbon footprint and water footprint assessment

Abstract The State of Qatar has undergone significant changes impacting water resources in recent years, with rapid population growth being a significant factor. The government has implemented several policies and initiatives to manage water resources effectively, including introducing a water conservation strategy investing in desalination plants and wastewater treatment facilities. However, the expansion of the agricultural sector has driven up demand for water resources, placing additional pressure on limited supplies. Effective decision-making processes are crucial to sustainable water resource management, particularly in water-scarce countries, and multi-period optimization is an important tool for such decision-making. This study presents a five-year period for multi-period optimization of water planning in the agricultural sector to consider short-term and medium-term dynamics. The aim is to minimize the carbon footprint associated with agricultural water allocation, and assess water pollution using the Water Quality Index grey water footprint indicator. The water budget considered includes desalinated water, brackish groundwater, and treated sewage effluent, while the agricultural sector comprises dairy, egg and poultry, red meat production, outdoor farming, and indoor farming. Considering the water conservation importance in the State of Qatar, the three levels of water stress that were considered are 0%, 25% and a base scenario carbon footprint-based water stress. The latter is calculated such that the improved scenario’s carbon footprint is lower than that of the base scenario while keeping a safe annual water stress. Results show that it possible to reduce the water stress from an unsafe average to as little as 13.7%. Similarly, the water pollution estimated using the grey water footprint method is significantly lower compared to the base scenario.

The water footprint of pig farms in Ireland based on commercial farm data

Livestock production is getting increased attention due to its impact on natural resources, and freshwater is one such limited resource. To reduce the pressure on freshwater use and develop sustainable livestock systems from farm-to-fork we need to study the whole production cycle, and look for hotspots of major freshwater use. Considering this, we chose intensive pork production as our focal livestock system, since it is one the most eaten meats globally. We focused on pork production in Ireland and studied the freshwater use (green and blue) from cradle-to-farm gate using the water footprint (WFP) method. Detailed farm data (e.g. diet composition, production data) were combined with on-farm water meter data to explore variations in water consumption between farms, and potential explanatory variables for differences in consumption between farms. So far, there have been no WFP studies in pork production that explored this, and insight into variation could help to identify options for improvement. We analyzed the direct (on-farm) and indirect (off-farm) green and blue water footprint of 10 Irish pig farms. Our results show that the average total WFP, including the direct and indirect water footprint, was 2537 L/kg pork, which is at the low end of previously published studies. The indirect green water footprint related to the production of purchased feed was responsible for the largest share (99 %) of the total WFP. The direct blue water footprint formed only a minor component of the total WFP (14 L/kg pork), with drinking water playing the major role. We can conclude from this study that variation in WFP between the least and most efficient farms was small (Q3-Q1 = 181 L/kg pork); nevertheless, this indicates that efficiencies of around 7 % could be gained by the least efficient cohort of farms by adjusting on-farm management practices. We also found a weak negative correlation between WFP and farm size, and WFP and meat produced. Overall, this study suggests that to reduce the burden on freshwater resources and reduce the pork WFP, future research should focus on the feed related impacts.

Environmental life cycle assessment of UV-C LEDs vs. mercury lamps and oxidant selection for diclofenac degradation

This study is the first environmental comparison between a UV-C LED lamp (emitting at 265 nm) and mercury lamps employed in a lab-scale photoreactor for water treatment purification purposes, using the removal of diclofenac as a case study. Ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used as a robust method to identify hotspots and recommendations at the early stage of the UV-C LEDs technology. The functional unit was defined as “the treatment of 1 L of polluted water with 20 mg L−1 of diclofenac to achieve a 90% removal of the contaminant”, while the system boundaries include the production and the operation of the photoreactors, following a cradle-to-gate approach. Several scenarios were explored, and overall, the UV-C LED lamp shows a promising environmental performance, with less or similar potential impacts than the mercury lamps in the 16 categories selected from the Environmental Footprint (EF) method. In particular, it reveals less impact in “human toxicity non-cancer” and “resource use minerals and metals” and presents electricity as the main source of impact. Given the higher efficacy of the UV-driven advanced oxidation processes compared to the UV irradiation alone, and since no studies have previously been conducted on the sustainability of free chlorine (FC) as an oxidant in water treatment, a comparison between UV-C, UV-C/H2O2, and UV-C/FC while employing the 265 nm UV-C LED lamp was also assessed. UV-C/H2O2 was more sustainable than UV-C/FC for the same treatment time, but both led to an overall impact reduction of 35% and 30%, respectively. To increase sustainability, employing cleaner energy sources such as photovoltaic or wind energy also resulted in an 80% and 93% reduction in the “climate change” category. Overall, this study demonstrates that using UV-C LEDs and the selected oxidants for water purification is beneficial and encourages the scale-up of the system.

Life cycle assessment of the production of an extruded dog food in Brazil

Sustainability is the current focus of the scientific community, governments, and companies in various market segments, such as pet food. Pet food production has increased rapidly in recent years, with a trend toward the development of environmentally friendly products and processes. The first step in creating strategies for mitigating environmental impacts is to assess key points in manufacturing processes. Given this, this study aimed to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) to estimate the environmental impacts associated with the formulation, production, and distribution phases of an extruded dog food produced in Brazil. System boundaries were from cradle-to-gate, encompassing extraction of raw materials, transportation, processing, production, packaging, and distribution. Estimates were based on the amount of food required to meet the energy requirements for maintenance of a 10 kg dog (functional unit = 2.59 MJ day−1, reference flow = 177.3 g day−1). Environmental impacts were calculated by the environmental footprint method (EF 3.0 v. 1.00) using SimaPro software (v. 9.1.1.1). Product ingredients and packaging materials were modeled under Brazilian conditions using ecoinvent 3.7.1 and Agri-footprint 5.0 databases. Data regarding transportation, processing, distribution, electric and thermal power generation, water usage, and waste generation were obtained from the company's records (2019–2020). In this study, as expected, formulation was the most relevant factor, accounting for 70%–90% of the total environmental impacts. The main impact categories were terrestrial and marine eutrophication, acidification, particulate matter, and climate change (80% of total impacts). Production of the evaluated dog food was associated with the emission of 88.73 kg CO2 eq year−1 or 1.37 kg CO2 eq kg−1 distributed food. The use of animal meals (poultry by-product meal and meat and bone meal) and vegetable by-products (wheat bran and rice bran) contributed to reducing environmental impacts. Therefore, in this study, ingredient selection was considered the most important factor in mitigating the environmental impacts of pet foods. As the overall impact of the formulation depends on data on the use stage, such as nutrient excretion after consumption, future studies should adopt a cradle-to-grave approach for a better comprehension of the feasibility of applying animal and vegetable by-products in the eco-design of pet food products.

Assessing the sectoral water-energy-emissions nexus in North China: An input–output framework combining intersectoral footprint and SDA method

Assessing the sectoral water-energy-emissions nexus in North China: An input–output framework combining intersectoral footprint and SDA method