Carbon Footprint Reduction Research Articles

Recycled plastics based impact noise resilient layer development

Sustainability and the carbon footprint reduction is commonly associated with recycling and secondary use of materials, for example also in the building construction industry. For decades, experts have been dealing with this topic across the entire spectrum of the development of building structures. One of the areas where soft recycled materials find suitable application is the area of building acoustics with a focus on impact noise attenuation. This contribution focuses on resilient layers dedicated for lightweight floating floors. This type of flooring is very often used in the reconstruction of apartments in apartment buildings. There is usually no possibility to realize heavy floating floors or for static reasons or reasons of the structural height of rooms or door openings. The work focuses on the development of floor underlayer mats based on recycled material in several variants. These were experimentally compared with conventional materials used in practice as the so-called impact sound insulation layers under laminate floors in terms of improving the impact noise insulation as well as the dynamic stiffness and the loss factor.

Reducing Carbon Footprint of Pop-Art Chair Designs By Ecodesign Strategies

Reducing Carbon Footprint of Pop-Art Chair Designs By Ecodesign Strategies

Evaluating the impact of industrial wastes on the compressive strength of concrete using closed-form machine learning algorithms

Industrial wastes have found great use in the built environment due to the role they play in the sustainable infrastructure development especially in green concrete production. In this research investigation, the impact of wastes from the industry on the compressive strength of concrete incorporating fly ash (FA) and silica fume (SF) as additional components alongside traditional concrete mixes has been studied through the application of machine learning (ML). A green concrete database comprising 330 concrete mix data points has been collected and modelled to estimate the unconfined compressive strength behaviour. Considering the concerning environmental ramifications associated with concrete production and its utilization in construction activities, there is a pressing need to perform predictive model exercise. Furthermore, given the prevalent reliance of concrete production professionals on laboratory experiments, it is imperative to propose smart equations aimed at diminishing this dependency. These equations should be applicable for use in the design, construction, and performance assessment of concrete infrastructure, thereby reflecting the multi-objective nature of this research endeavour. It has been proposed by previous research works that the addition of FA and SF in concrete has a reduction impact on the environmental influence indicators due to reduced cement use. The artificial neural network (ANN) and the M5P models were applied in this exercise to predict the compressive strength of FA- and SF-mixed concrete also considering the impact of water reducing agent in the concrete. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to determine the impact of the concrete components on the strength of the concrete. At the end, closed-form equations were proposed by the ANN and M5P with performance indices which outperformed previous models conducted on the same database size. The result of the sensitivity analysis showed that FA is most impactful of all the studied components thereby emphasizing the importance of adding industrial wastes in concrete production for improved mechanical properties and reduced carbon footprint in the concrete construction activities. Also, the M5P and ANN models with R2 of 0.99 showed a potential for use as decisive models to predict the compressive strength of FA- and SF-mixed concrete.

Performance of nodal regions of reinforced concrete frame corners subjected to opening bending moments

Design of frame corners in presence of opening moments is a task that has concentrated many research and engineering efforts in the past. It deals with the response of discontinuity regions, where beam theory does not hold valid and the use of equilibrium-based models (such as strut-and-tie models or stress fields) could be a suitable manner to understand the transfer of forces and to lead to consistent reinforcement detailing. However, the assessment of efficiency factors for equilibrium-based models is not straightforward for such details as their response has been observed to be governed in many cases by the tensile resistance of concrete and crack propagation. Furthermore, most efforts so far have been devoted to determining only the resistance of the region as a function of its reinforcement detailing, but limited works have been dedicated to their post-peak response. The post-peak response is nevertheless instrumental for redundant structures, as it governs the level of potential redistributions of internal forces in order to develop the full structural resistance of the system. Such aspect has become even more significant in present days, where the assessment of existing structures with potentially poor nodal detailing has become a need to avoid unnecessary retrofitting or replacement, in an effort to reduce carbon footprint of construction. In this paper, comprehensive research on this topic is presented. It is based on the results of a large database compiled by the authors comprising 126 tests. After filtering of the database, conclusions on the expected response of several details are obtained. Also, a general procedure grounded on an equilibrium-based model is proposed, providing tailored efficiency factors as a function of the mechanical reinforcement ratio and detailing type, but also providing a complete description of the post-peak response. This latter model is based on a kinematically-compatible displacement field for the post-peak phase, allowing to evaluate the opening of the cracks in the nodal region and the associated softening of resistance.

Lowering the Carbon Footprint Through Telehealth Vasectomy Consults: A Retrospective Observational Study.

This study aimed to quantify the impact of shifting in-person pre-vasectomy consultations to telehealth visits on travel time and carbon footprint reduction. Utilizing retrospective chart analysis, we examined men who underwent vasectomy at our institution from November 15, 2020, to November 15, 2021. Using their home address, we estimated the distance and travel time with Google Maps direction services to our institution's outpatient urology clinic. We then quantified the number of miles of gas used by dividing that distance by 25 miles per gallon, based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency market average in 2020. We then estimated the pounds of carbon dioxide produced per gallon of gasoline using the United Energy Information Administration's estimate that each gallon of gasoline produces 18.74 pounds of carbon dioxide. After including 126 cases, the average patient saved 26 miles round trip between their home address and our institution's outpatient clinic. This averaged 43 minutes per round trip. Using our reference values, each trip saved an estimated 1.04 gallons of gasoline and 19.48 pounds of carbon being produced. By transitioning pre-vasectomy consults from an in-person to a telehealth format, patients have added convenience in reduced travel in addition to a lower individual carbon footprint. Impact statement: With an average of 500,000 vasectomies performed per year, transitioning from in-person to telehealth vasectomy pre-consults has the potential to save patients' travel time while reducing their carbon footprint.

Breeding a sustainable future for milk production

Selective breeding in livestock has contributed to a remarkable increase in farm productivity and a reduction in carbon footprint in recent decades. This study evaluated selective breeding for more sustainable dairy cows based on both carbon (carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2-eq) per cow) and economic (pounds sterling (£) per cow) index values derived for 1042 female dairy cows in the UK that had completed their lifespan. Economic and carbon coefficients were attributed to the genetic background of each animal for a range of commonly directly measured production (milk volume, milk fat yield, milk protein yield) and fitness traits (somatic cell count, fertility and lifespan). A high negative rank correlation was found between the economic and carbon index values among cows (rho = −0.72). Benchmarking cows on a carbon index per cow, along with an economic index, can help to reduce the carbon footprint of milk production.

Carbon Footprint and GHG Reduction Potential of Bioethanol Production in the Philippines

Abstract As the Philippine bioethanol industry concluded its first decade, it is in due time to assess whether the objectives of the Biofuels Act of 2006 (Republic Act No. 9367) are being met. Specifically, the law aims to reduce the country’s dependence on oil importation, mitigate toxic and greenhouse gases (GHGs), and promote the use of biofuels from indigenous resources to boost the country’s rural economy, by mandating biofuels blending to fossil-based fuels for transport use. This study examined the contribution of seven bioethanol production systems to the country’s climate change mitigation efforts by assessing the environmental impacts, particularly the carbon footprint and GHG emission reduction potential of each bioethanol distillery through life cycle assessment (LCA). Results of the environmental impact assessment revealed that the weighted average carbon footprint of the seven bioethanol production systems is at 1,415.66 gCO2e L−1, which ranges from 287 to 1,726 gCO2e L−1, translating to an average GHG reduction potential of 47.54% or an average avoided GHG of 268,091.15 tons CO2e yr−1 for CY 2019-2020. With the environmental hotspots identified, recommendations were made to improve the distilleries’ carbon footprints, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to quantify the benefits from the recommended strategies. By applying all strategies, the average GHG reduction potential of the seven bioethanol production systems can get as high as 85.63%, which can be translated to an average avoided GHG of 482,933.91 tons CO2e yr−1.

High-speed multi-stage gas-steam turbine with flow bleeding in a novel thermodynamic cycle for decarbonizing power generation

In the global pursuit of sustainable energy and reduced carbon footprints, advances in power generation techniques play a crucial role, not only in meeting the ever-increasing energy demands but also in ensuring that environmental standards are maintained and that the health of our planet is prioritized for future generations.In the ongoing quest for sustainable energy solutions, novel high-speed multi-stage gas-steam turbine models were designed to address the challenge of decarbonized power production. The thermodynamic parameters were adopted on the basis of the negative carbon dioxide gas power plant cycle relying on the following main devices, namely: wet combustion chamber, spray-ejector condenser, sewage sludge gasifier and gas-steam turbine. The peculiarities of the present system make the turbine the link of three important devices and its parameters affect the entire thermodynamic cycle. Therefore, it is reasonable to carry out dedicated novel in literature CFD calculations that also take into account the bleeding of the medium for the gasification process.Two distinct turbine models were introduced: a two-stage turbine achieving speeds of 95 000 rpm with an efficiency of more than 80%, and a five-stage turbine reaching 40 000 rpm with an efficiency of less than 70%. A design assumption of a bleed pressure of 100 kPa and a mass flow rate of 0.1 kg/s was adopted for both models. Computational simulations were utilized, and the turbine stages were selected with the aim of reducing energy losses. Through this work, a significant step towards a carbon-negative future using high-speed turbine technologies was demonstrated, laying the groundwork for further advancements in the field.

An MINLP-based decision-making tool to help microbreweries improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint through retrofits

Microbreweries have greater production costs per litre of beer compared to large breweries, as well as higher carbon footprints. Due to the range of different retrofit technologies available and the different capacities and configurations of microbreweries, it is not always clear what retrofits will improve operations. Therefore, this work proposes a novel mixed-integer nonlinear programming decision-making tool to be used by any microbrewery, that determines the technoeconomic feasibility and sizing of energy efficiency-improving retrofits, including solar and wind power, battery storage, anaerobic digestion, boiler type selection, heat integration by heat storage, and carbon capture via dual-function materials. The model was demonstrated on a real UK microbrewery case study. The model gave an optimal configuration of a 10 m3 anaerobic digester, 30 solar panels outputting 380 W each, an 800 W wind turbine and a 2.3 m3 heat storage tank, reducing annual operating costs by 62.9 % and carbon dioxide emissions by 77.1 % with a payback period of 8 years. The tool is designed to be flexible for use by any microbrewery in any location with any brewing recipe and allow the owner(s) to develop more profitable and sustainable microbreweries.Tweetable abstractMicrobreweries can implement mathematically optimised renewable energy, heat integration and anaerobic digestion to reduce operating costs by 62.9 % and carbon emissions by 77.1 %.

TEN QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE ROLE OF URBAN GREENERY IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF URBAN AREAS

Strengthening sustainability starts with maintaining a balanced relationship between society, the environment, and the economy, and one of the pillars of doing this is increasing the amount of green infrastructure and expanding it in urban areas. Densely populated urban areas with fewer greenery are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, storm surge, heat waves, droughts, and changing diseases, and vulnerable populations in urban areas are likely to be disproportionately affected. In addition to providing multidimensional benefits to all ecosystems, urban greenery is influential in developing sustainable lifestyles and healthy eating habits, increasing individual well-being derived from the need for a sense of belonging and social inclusion, as well as reducing carbon footprint. As urban greenery is part of urban development but less attention is paid to it, the benefits of these areas should be further explored and highlighted. Thus, ten questions were raised concerning the contribution of urban greenery to the future of urban areas. The questions not only to address important issues related to urban greenery and to provide guidance for future studies, but also to offer new perspectives for future policies. The answers to the ten questions are based on the expertise of the authors to highlight the importance and the potential of urban greenery in shaping the future.

Characterization and life cycle assessment of alkali treated abaca fibers: the effect of reusing sodium hydroxide

The increasing demand for natural fibers, driven by their advantageous attributes such as low density, sustainability, and high specific strength, has promoted the adoption of sustainable alternatives in composites. Although alkali treatments are known to improve fiber properties, they entail challenges regarding NaOH consumption and environmental impact, making it necessary to explore cleaner production strategies. This study evaluated the effects of implementing a circular economy approach through the recirculation of an NaOH solution on the treatment of abaca fibers. The fiber properties were assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile strength testing, along with an evaluation of the carbon footprint through a life cycle assessment. New life cycle inventories were developed to reflect the NaOH recirculation process. Comparative analyses were conducted using polypropylene fibers. The findings indicate that the recirculation of the NaOH solution remains effective for up to eight cycles, producing consistent TGA, SEM, and tensile strength results while achieving a 25 % reduction in the carbon footprint compared to conventional treatment. Additionally, this study highlights the environmental advantages of abaca over synthetic fibers, with increased tensile strength (8–46 %) and carbon footprint reduction (55–86 %) compared to polypropylene fibers. These results highlight the potential of abaca fibers to contribute to the circular economy, enhance resource efficiency, and mitigate climate change.

Unlocking net-zero supply chain performance system through life cycle assessment: Empirical evidence from rubber industry

The ongoing transition from a supply chain (SC) to net-zero emission (NZE) in SC performance must align with Sustainable Development Goal 13 to address climate change using life cycle assessment (LCA). Effective management of LCA significantly impacts an organization's competitiveness. With a lack of technology oversight and its connections with other enabling parameters that increase competitiveness, practices in the manufacturing industry remain limited. This study identifies and evaluates key enablers for LCA adoption in the manufacturing industry to achieve NZE in SC. Based on 123 responses, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed, followed by the Best-Worst Method (BWM). Further, a Fuzzy-Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (Fuzzy-DEMATEL) was used. The results revealed ‘organizational integration’, ‘data availability and quality, and ‘policy and regulation’ as significant group enablers that support NZSC to compete in the market. It provides insights for industry practitioners and policymakers on optimizing sustainable SC practices. The essential practical recommendations for resource optimization and carbon footprint reduction are also suggested.

Energy consumption modeling in industrial sewing operations: A case study on carbon footprint measurement in the apparel industry

In the textile supply chain, the apparel manufacturing industry heavily relies on energy consumption (EC), contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding and optimizing energy usage in apparel manufacturing is crucial for sustainable and energy-efficient manufacturing. The EC in the industrial sewing operations is directly linked with sewing parameters, including fabric seam length, standard sewing speed, and stitching time. In general, the carbon footprint of an apparel industry is measured by considering the standard minute value (SMV) and specific energy consumption (SEC). However, these metrics include non-productive time and do not accurately measure actual EC or assess the industry’s carbon footprint. To address these limitations, this case study tackles this technical issue by calculating the stitching time of an industrial sewing machine based on its actual EC derived from the sewing machine’s motor power. This study employs EC modeling for industrial sewing parameters, including fabric seam length, standard sewing speed, and stitching time. This proposed model utilizes real-time data collected during the garment-making process, including fabric spreading, cutting, sewing, and ironing. The study allocates eleven sewing machines for a specific garment style to stitch a basic knit fabric t-shirt. The total EC for the entire garment-making (t-shirt) process at a single line is 0.1052 kWh, equivalent to 59.97 g of CO2 emissions (Bangladesh’s CO2/kWh emission factor). This study explores that a direct-drive servo motor consumes approximately five times less than its maximum motor load power, making it more energy-efficient than other sewing machines. Therefore, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of EC modeling by incorporating industrial sewing parameters and selecting energy-efficient sewing machines to reduce carbon footprints and enhance environmental sustainability in the apparel manufacturing industry.

Soybean oil-based green diesel production via catalytic deoxygenation (CDO) technology using low-cost modified dolomite and commercial zeolite-based catalyst

Green diesel derived from sustainable biomass is an alternative and potential energy source to petroleum fossil fuel replacement in response to reducing carbon footprint and achieving a circular economy, which has sparked public interest and concern in advancing renewable energy development. Catalytic deoxygenation (CDO) is a promising method because it can process a wide variety of feedstocks and produce a diverse range of fuels. The CDO of soybean oil (SO) was executed using a modified low-cost dolomite catalyst denoted as NiO-CD catalyst and its performance has been compared with commercial zeolite heterogeneous-based catalysts such as ZSM-5, HY-zeolite and FCC. The NiO-CD catalyst exhibited exceptional deoxygenation ability, attaining an 88.6 % removal efficiency of oxygenated compounds, markedly surpassing all commercially available zeolite catalysts. The highest degree of CDO of SO via decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCOx) reaction was achieved due to improvement in particle size, mesoporous structure and the presence of the synergistic effect of modified bi-functional acid-base properties of NiO-CaO/MgO catalyst. To investigate the effect of NiO-CD catalyst loading ranging from 1 to 7 wt%, a One Factor At a Time (OFAT) optimisation study was performed. The current study found that an optimised NiO-CD catalyst loading of 5 wt% yielded the highest green diesel (50.5 wt%) with an 88.63 % hydrocarbon composition. The influence of catalyst loading on deoxygenation activity is significant in green diesel production using NiO-CD catalyst.

Environmental behaviour of synthetic and natural fibre reinforced composites: A review

There has been an increasing interest in natural fibre-reinforced composites as viable alternatives to typical synthetic fibre composites as a result of increased environmental consciousness, which has led to the quest for materials that are more sustainable. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental performance of both natural and synthetic fibre-reinforced composites by summarizing relevant information. The article begins by discussing the advantages of natural fibres. These advantages include the fact that natural fibres are eco-friendly, Natural fibre composites demonstrate a significantly reduced carbon footprint and energy usage over their entire life cycle when compared to their glass fibre-reinforced counterparts. Furthermore, the biodegradability of natural fibres provides the opportunity for end-of-life recycling or disposal options that are more ecologically benign than those for synthetic fibre composites. This is because natural fibres are biodegradable and the research acknowledges that various factors, such as the specific fibre and matrix used, and the manufacturing procedures employed, can influence the environmental performance of natural fibre composites. Additionally, further research and development to optimize their performance and ensure their widespread adoption as sustainable alternatives to traditional composite materials. Natural fibre-reinforced composites are more environmentally friendly than traditional composite materials.

Life cycle assessment and cost analysis of innovative agar extraction technologies from red seaweeds

Developing efficient and sustainable extraction technologies for valuable biocompounds from seaweed is crucial to overcome the limitations of conventional technologies. This study aims to compare three innovative technologies for agar extraction from two red seaweed species, G. sesquipedale and G. vermiculophylla: subcritical water extraction (performed at 125 °C, 2.5 atm, 1 min, and at 140 °C, 3.8 atm, 1 s), moderate electric fields (applied at 85 °C for 120 min and 95 °C for 180 min), and a combination of both methods. The comparison used life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methodologies, considering a gate-to-gate approach. The combined technology demonstrated the lowest energy consumption, with 67 MJ/kgagar for G. vermiculophylla and 100 MJ/kgagar for G. sesquipedale. A carbon footprint reduction of up to 94 % was obtained when compared to the control, with 15.9 kgCO2 eq. /kgagar for G. vermiculophylla and 20.4 kgCO2 eq. /kgagar for G. sesquipedale. Using photovoltaic panels as alternative energy further cut carbon emissions by 50 %. The cost analysis showed that the combined technology was the most cost-effective extraction method.

Fire safety characteristics of natural gas with hydrogen admixture

The increasing pressure to decarbonise energy production leads to the need to use low or zero carbon fuels or energy carriers. One of the promising fuels of the future is hydrogen, which is carbon-free if renewable energy sources are used for its production. However, the capacity for hydrogen production is currently insufficient to make it applicable on a large scale. Adding hydrogen to natural gas allows for a reduced carbon footprint without costly modifications to pipeline distribution network. However, changing the composition of gas in transport and distribution facilities requires a thorough assessment of the impact on operational safety. Fire safety of flammable mixtures is commonly assessed on the basis of explosive limits and other parameters. Although methods are available to calculate these parameters based on the composition of the mixtures being evaluated, the final safety assessment should rely on actual measured values. The scope of this work is to determine the explosion limits of natural gas from the transit system and changes in the limits caused by the addition of hydrogen at the concentration levels of 10% and 20% (v/v). Obtained experimental results were further compared with theoretically calculated values. Attention was also paid to the change in maximum explosion pressure, maximum pressure rise rate and oxygen concentration limits (LOC). As a result, valuable data on the expansion of the explosion limits of natural gas after the addition of hydrogen are presented.

Sustainability Practices of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in China: Basis for Strategic Plan

The study presents a comprehensive analysis of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) situated in Rizhao City, Shandong, China, focusing on their profiles, sustainability practices, challenges, and a proposed strategic plan. The respondents, SME managers, play a crucial role in shaping sustainability strategies. Among the key findings, 70% of surveyed companies adopt a corporate organizational structure, while 45% primarily operate in the manufacturing sector. SMEs in China exhibit a strong commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability practices, with notable percentages actively seeking cost reduction through sustainability, monitoring financial impacts, and investing in research and development for sustainable innovation. Economic challenges, including difficulties in securing funds for sustainable projects, dominate the SME landscape (88%). Social challenges emphasize meeting community expectations (80%), and environmental challenges center on reducing carbon footprints (90%). The proposed strategic plan advocates phased sustainability investments, diversification of funding sources, talent management, and a circular economy approach to address economic, social, and environmental challenges collectively. The study recommends internal reviews of organizational structures, cross-industry collaboration, exploration of alternative financing, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems to enhance SMEs' success in China's dynamic business environment. These recommendations underscore the importance of adaptive, innovative approaches to foster sustainability and resilience in SMEs while contributing to societal well-being and environmental conservation.

Dual carbon economy modeling in advanced economies

Utilizing the cross-sectional fully modified OLS (FMOLS) method, this paper tackles the pressing need to address climate change disasters, particularly in the context of recent COVID-19 restrictions. By developing an econometric model specifically for advanced economies, the study aims to enhance understanding and reduce carbon emissions. Examining ten advanced economies from 1995 to 2019, it identifies a significant gap in the literature concerning the integration of demographic, social, economic, and political (DSEP) factors in dual carbon economy models. The results show that a 1% improvement in good governance is associated with a 0.23% reduction in carbon footprint, due to stricter environmental regulations. In contrast, a 1% increase in economic growth results in a 0.17% rise in carbon footprint, driven by industrial activities. Similarly, a 1% rise in electricity consumption leads to a 0.32% increase in carbon footprint, reflecting dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, a 1% increase in population size corresponds to a 0.21% rise in carbon footprint, linked to higher urban energy consumption. Finally, a 1% increase in the poverty ratio results in a 0.17% rise in carbon footprint, underscoring the influence of socio-economic factors on sustainability. The paper advocates for a comprehensive approach to fostering a dual carbon economy, emphasizing green economic growth, smart, sustainable cities, social sustainability literacy, and sustainable governance.

Carbon footprint reduction in an e-commerce market: impacts of logistics service sharing

In the e-commerce market, green technology investment and carbon offset purchase are two widely-used approaches for reducing the carbon footprint of logistics services. However, implementing carbon footprint reduction in logistics services generally incurs heavy costs. To distribute heavy costs and improve resource utilization, a novel strategy of logistics service sharing has played an important role. Nevertheless, it is still unclear, in a co-opetitive e-commerce market, how to make use of different approaches and what the impacts of logistics service sharing are. To answer these questions, we develop an analytical model where an e-commerce platform and a third-party seller compete for consumers who care about both the selling price and the logistics service carbon footprint. We assume that the platform builds his own logistics service system and can adopt two different approaches to cut carbon footprint, while the seller needs to outsource logistics services to the TPL service provider or the platform. The analysis shows that without logistics service sharing, the platform may be more willing to purchase carbon offset as the offset cost increases, and the availability of carbon offset can prompt the platform to increase his investment in green technology. By contrast, with logistics service sharing, the platform will be less willing to purchase carbon offset as the offset cost increases, and the usage of carbon offset will induce him to invest less in green technology. These findings highlight that logistics service sharing can change the platform's preference toward the two approaches and modify the relationship between them. Furthermore, we find that logistic service sharing can provide a win-win outcome for the platform and the seller, but is not necessarily helpful for reducing the total carbon footprint in the e-commerce supply chain as well as increasing consumer surplus and social welfare.