Reduction Of Environmental Impact Research Articles

Environmental and Economic Analysis of Reusable and Single‐Use Food Packaging Formats in University Campus Food Services

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to assess the environmental and economic impacts of the various food packaging systems offered in university food services in Canada. Toronto Metropolitan University's food service was chosen as a test case. Three systems exist in this setting: single‐use polypropylene (PP) containers, reusable PP clamshells and compostable bagasse clamshells. The goal is to understand which system has the most favourable impact regarding the Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts' (TRACI 2.1) 10 impact categories and which system is the most financially viable through a cost analysis. The scope includes a cradle‐to‐grave life cycle assessment (LCA) consisting of raw material extraction and production, transportation, usage and end‐of‐life disposal. This study investigates the environmental impact of each packaging system for 10 000 meals consumed by students. This research follows two ISO standards, 14044:2006, and 14040:2006. These standards involve defining the goal and scope, completing a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis, completing a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and interpreting the life cycle. LCI information is extracted using SimaPro v9.0. The study results reveal that the reusable PP clamshell has the least environmental impact when compared to the two other single‐use packaging alternatives for nine of the 10 environmental impact categories. The single‐use PP container has the most significant environmental impact due to its harmful material extraction, production processes and end‐of‐life emissions. The sensitivity analysis determined that if reused a minimum number of 37 times, the reusable clamshell (RU) remains favourable to the single‐use formats in nine of the 10 impact categories. Furthermore, the cost analysis reveals that the reusable packaging format is the most financially favourable when reused 16 times or more. This research concludes that single‐use food packaging options have a more significant environmental impact than reusable PP clamshells. Based on the research findings, purchasing a less harmful detergent, sourcing the packaging locally and reducing the loss rate of reusable PP clamshells could produce an even more favourable environmental impact for the reusable food packaging system.

Enhancing energy efficiency in tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems

This study addresses the pivotal challenge of enhancing power efficiency in tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) for heavy vehicles and trailers. Employing field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and adaptive channel frequency hopping in bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication, the research focuses on mitigating power consumption issues specific to heavy vehicles with multiple tyres. The proposed solution incorporates strategic BLE channel blocking and adaptive frequency hopping on the FPGA platform to alleviate channel congestion and interference, ultimately reducing TPMS power consumption. The FPGA's adaptability tailors frequency hopping strategies to automotive TPMS nuances, optimizing channel selection and minimizing energy-intensive processes. Empirical results showcase a significant reduction in power consumption, with the TPMS operating at 100 MHz during active mode consuming 66 mW, dropping to 11 mW in sleep mode, and reaching 0 mW in hibernate mode for the majority of operational time. This research establishes a practical FPGA-based approach for power optimization in commercial TPMS, promising heightened reliability, safety improvements, and environmental impact reduction in the automotive sector.

Environmental Impact Reduction with Industrial Waste in Pavements by California Bearing Ratio Analysis

La sub-base del pavimento requiere materiales adecuados para el soporte necesario. Tradicionalmente, se ha utilizado material de préstamo, lo que genera un impacto ambiental. Este estudio analizó el potencial de reutilizar cenizas de desecho industrial depositadas en vertederos. Se realizaron ensayos de laboratorio mezclando el suelo con diferentes proporciones de cenizas. Se determinó la relación entre humedad y peso seco del suelo, se realizó el ensayo C.B.R. (California Bearing Ratio) y se calculó el espesor de pavimentos, con un mismo espesor de sub-base. A medida que aumenta el porcentaje de cenizas, la calidad del suelo disminuye, pero sigue cumpliendo los requisitos para ser utilizado como sub-base. Se recomienda considerar las cenizas de desecho industrial como un material de reciclaje viable en la construcción de pavimentos, lo que reduciría el impacto ambiental asociado a su disposición en vertederos.

Incorporating sustainable engineering practices into supply chain management for environmental impact reduction

This paper explores the imperative integration of sustainable engineering practices into Supply Chain Management (SCM) as a vital strategy for reducing environmental impact. It delves into the multifaceted challenges hindering this integration, including economic constraints, regulatory and compliance issues, technological and infrastructure limitations, and cultural and organizational barriers. Conversely, it outlines strategic approaches for overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing policy and incentive mechanisms, collaboration and partnerships, technology and innovation, and education and awareness. The review highlights the significant potential of sustainable practices to transform SCM, contributing to environmental sustainability, economic efficiency, and social equity.

Harmonizing Biomass Co-Firing with the Green Economy Paradigm: A Sustainable Approach for Indonesia's Energy Landscape

Objective. To explore the implementation of Biomass Co-Firing in Indonesia, the objective encompasses an analysis of how policies, practices, and investments in Biomass Co-Firing can support desired sustainable development goals. Design/Methodology/Approach. This research utilizes the Library Research methodology, which examines literature, legal documents, and other textual sources to investigate the integration of Biomass Co-Firing into the Indonesian Green Economy. Results/Discussion. The development of renewable energy using biomass and co-firing in power plants offers significant potential for reducing carbon emissions and addressing challenges in clean energy development in Indonesia. With a strong legal foundation as outlined in Article 2 of Law No. 30 of 2007 concerning Energy, the government has provided a solid basis for renewable energy development. However, implementation still faces challenges in permitting regulations and cross-sector coordination. A significant drawback is the lack of specific incentives from the government for biomass co-firing projects, along with uncertainties regarding biomass certification and standardization. To overcome these challenges, concrete steps are needed, such as providing fiscal and financial incentives for industry players and enhancing coordination among the government, private sector, and other stakeholders. Conclusions. The development of renewable energy with biomass and co-firing in power plants promises a reduction in carbon emissions and supports clean energy development in Indonesia, despite facing challenges in permitting and cross-sector coordination. Originality/Value. The harmonization of Biomass Co-Firing projects with the Green Economy paradigm in Indonesia emphasizes resource efficiency, environmental impact reduction, and sustainable economic growth.

Life cycle assessment as a driver for process optimisation of cellobiose lipids fermentation and purification

PurposeCellobiose lipids (CL) are biosurfactants produced by various Ustilaginaceae species in aerobic fermentations. They show high potential for application as alternatives to conventional oleochemical- or petrochemical surfactants. To ensure their environmentally friendly performance, we aimed to assess CL production from a life cycle perspective at an early developmental stage to identify process steps that have the highest impact on the environment. With this information, optimisation approaches can be derived.Materials and methodsFollowing a cradle-to-gate approach, we modelled the CL fermentation and purification process based on experimental data from the lab scale and process simulation data at a 10 m3 scale. For LCA, the impact categories (IC) abiotic depletion potential (ADP), eutrophication potential, photochemical ozone creation potential, global warming potential, acidification potential, and the primary energy demand were calculated for all process steps. Based on the obtained results, process bottlenecks were identified, and alternative process scenarios varying the related process parameters were simulated. These were used to assess the environmental impact reduction potential (EIRP) of an optimised process and draw recommendations for experimental process optimisation.Results and discussionThe obtained results showed that the fermentation caused ~ 73% of ADP and more than 85% of all other ICs. The major contributor was the electricity consumption for continuous fermenter aeration. Thus, reducing the fermentation duration from the initial 14 to 5 days would result in a decrease in all investigated ICs of up to ~ 27–52%. An increase in CL concentration results in a decrease in all ICs of a similar magnitude due to the higher yield per batch at comparable energy and material consumption. Although the share of purification process steps to all ICs is overall relatively small, implementing foam fractionation for in situ product recovery showed an additional EIRP of 18–27% in all purification IC shares.ConclusionsThe conducted LCA showed that overall, more EIRP can be achieved by optimising fermentation process parameters compared to purification process steps. This is mainly due to the long fermentation duration and large energy consumption for fermenter aeration. This highlights the importance of using LCA as a driver for process optimisation to identify process steps with high EIRP. While some of the results are specific to CL, other obtained results can be transferred to other fermentations.

Macroalgae as a sustainable biostimulant for crop production according to techno-economic and environmental criteria

One of the main hotspots in the agricultural sector is related to the extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to direct environmental impacts, such as eutrophication, and indirect ones, such as the energy demand associated with their production. Faced with these limitations, the use of biostimulants has emerged as a suitable and effective strategy to improve crop productivity, avoid the use of chemicals and promote a more sustainable agricultural sector. This manuscript addresses the valorization of macroalgae for the production of biostimulants for crop cultivation according to three possible scenarios: steam autoclaving (SAE), boiling (BE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). In order to evaluate their ecological potential, both techno-economic and environmental assessments have been developed, following the life cycle assessment methodology. The results obtained show that, from an environmental point of view, the use of energy resources and CO2, in the case of the SFE scenario, makes a significant contribution to the environmental profile. The optimization of the process could contribute to a reduction of the impact in the range of 12 %–41 %, which increases the sustainable potential of the biostimulant production. On the other hand, regarding the economic study, all scenarios are considered economically viable, since a minimum selling price (MSP) similar to the market average is obtained. However, by improving the process yield and the consumption of energy resources and materials, the MSP could be reduced by 19.81 %. In addition, this manuscript also shows that the application of this biostimulant in wheat production contributes to a significant reduction in environmental impact compared to a conventional crop stimulant.

Investigation of hybrid power-to-hydrogen/natural gas and hydrogen-to-X system in Cameroon

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the capacity to generate energy faces significant hurdles. Despite efforts to integrate renewable energy sources and natural gas power plants into the energy portfolio, the desired reduction in environmental impact and alleviation of energy poverty remain elusive. Hence, exploring a spectrum of hybrid technologies, encompassing storage and hydrogen-based solutions, is imperative to optimize energy production while mitigating harmful emissions. To exemplify this necessity, the 216 MW Kribi gas power plant in Cameroon is the case study. The primary aim is to investigate cutting-edge emissions and energy schemes within the SSA. This paper assessed the minimum complaint load technique and four power-to-fuel options from technical, financial, and environmental perspectives to assess the viability of a natural gas fuel system powered with hydrogen in a hybrid mode. The system generates hydrogen by using water electrolysis, with photovoltaic electricity and gas power plant. This research also assesses process efficiency, storage capacity, annual costs, carbon avoided costs, and production prices for various fuels. Results showed that the LCOE from a photovoltaic solar plant is 0.19$/kWh, with the Power-to-Hydrogen process (76.2% efficiency) being the most efficient, followed by the ammonia and urea processes. The study gives a detailed examination of the hybrid hydrogen natural gas fuel system. According to the annual cost breakdown, the primary costs are associated with the acquisition of electrical energy and electrolyser CAPEX and OPEX, which account for 95% of total costs. Urea is the cheapest mass fuel. However, it costs more in terms of energy. Hydrogen is the most cost-effective source of energy. In terms of energy storage and energy density by volume, the methane resulted as the most suitable solution, while the ammonia resulted as the best H2 storage medium in terms of kg of H2 per m3 of storage (108 kgH2/m3). By substituting the fuel system with 15% H2, the environmental effects are reduced by 1622 tons per year, while carbon capture technology gathered 16,664 tons of CO2 for methanation and urea operations, yielding a total carbon averted cost of 21 $/ton.

ANALYSIS OF TIMBERCRETE: SAWDUST-INFUSED CONCRETE MIXTURES

This investigation aims to advance sustainable construction practices by investigating the feasibility and environmental benefits of incorporating sawdust instead of sand in concrete mixtures. By using sawdust, a byproduct of the forestry industry, in the process of making concrete, the investigation addresses the pressing need for resource conservation and waste reduction, since the construction sector is a significant user of raw materials. According to British European Norm Standard BS 8500-2:2023 for C35 grade concrete, the experimental programme examines how different percentages of sawdust (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) substituted for sand affect the physical characteristics of concrete, including its compressive strength, dry density, and water absorption. The workability, consistency, and strength of the sawdust-incorporated concrete mixes were assessed by a combination of techniques including sieve analysis, slump testing, casting and curing procedures, and compression tests. The results indicate a potential reduction in material costs and environmental impact with the ideal sawdust content by showing a negative association between the amount of sawdust and the concrete's density and compressive strength. A larger sawdust content was associated with higher rates of water absorption, highlighting the hygroscopic nature of sawdust and its implications for the durability of concrete. According to the investigation's results, it is possible to substitute concrete with up to 5% sawdust, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional concrete while still having sufficient mechanical properties for use in construction. It is recommended that further research be conducted to improve sawdust's compatibility with cementitious materials, increase the durability of sawdust-incorporated concrete, and create industry guidelines for its use. This investigation contributes to the body of knowledge on environmentally friendly building materials by promoting the use of sawdust and other eco-friendly substitutes in the building sector to reduce negative effects on the environment and increase resource efficiency.

Life Cycle Assessment of Wheat Straw Pyrolysis with Volatile Fractions Chemical Looping Combustion

Among the approaches to facilitating negative CO2 emissions is biochar production. Biochar is generated in the pyrolysis of certain biomasses. In the pyrolysis process, carbon in the biomass is turned into a solid, porous, carbon-rich, and stable material that can be captured from the soil after a period of from a few decades to several centuries. In addition to this long-term carbon sequestration role, biochar is also beneficial for soil performance as it helps to restore soil fertility and improves the retention and diffusion of water and nutrients. This work presents a Life Cycle Assessment of different pyrolysis approaches for biochar production. Biomass pyrolysis is performed in a fixed-bed reactor, which operates at a mild temperature (550 °C). Biochar is obtained as solid product of the pyrolysis, but there are also liquid (bio-oil) and gaseous products (syngas). The pyrolysis gas is partly used to fulfil the energy demand of the pyrolysis process, which is highly endothermic. In the conventional approach, CO2 is produced during the combustion of syngas and emitted to the atmosphere. Another approach to facilitate CO2 capture and thus obtain more negative CO2 emissions in the pyrolysis process is burning syngas and bio-oil in a Chemical Looping Combustion unit. Life Cycle Assessment was performed of these approaches toward biomass pyrolysis to evaluate their environmental impact. The Chemical Looping Combustion approach significantly reduced the values of 7 of the 16 environmental impact indicators studied, along with the Global Warming Potential among them, it slightly increased the value of one indicator related to the use of fossil resources, and it maintained the values of the remaining 8 indicators. Environmental impact reduction occurs due to the avoidance of CO2 and NOx emissions with Chemical Looping Combustion. The CO2 balances of the different pyrolysis approaches with Chemical Looping Combustion configurations were compared with a base case, which constituted the direct combustion of wheat straw to obtain thermal energy. Direct biomass combustion for the production of 17.1 MJ of thermal energy had CO2 positive emissions of 0.165 kg. If the gaseous fraction was burned by Chemical Looping Combustion, CO2 was captured and the emissions became increasingly negative, until a value of −3.30 kg/17.1 MJ was generated. If bio-oil was also burned by this technology, the negative trend of CO2 emissions continued, until they reached a value of −3.66 kg.

Artificial intelligence of things for synergizing smarter eco-city brain, metabolism, and platform: Pioneering data-driven environmental governance

Emerging smarter eco-cities, inherently intertwined with environmental governance, function as experimental sites for testing novel technological solutions and implementing environmental reforms aimed at addressing complex challenges. However, despite significant progress in understanding the distinct roles of emerging data-driven governance systems—namely City Brain, Smart Urban Metabolism (SUM), and platform urbanism—enabled by Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), a critical gap persists in systematically exploring the untapped potential stemming from their synergistic and collaborative integration in the context of environmental governance. To fill this gap, this study aims to explore the linchpin potential of AIoT in seamlessly integrating these data-driven governance systems to advance environmental governance in smarter eco-cities. Specifically, it introduces a pioneering framework that effectively leverages the synergies among these AIoT-powered governance systems to enhance environmental sustainability practices in smarter eco-cities. In developing the framework, this study employs configurative and aggregative synthesis approaches through an extensive literature review and in-depth case study analysis of publications spanning from 2018 to 2023. The study identifies key factors driving the co-evolution of AI and IoT into AIoT and specifies technical components constituting the architecture of AIoT in smarter eco-cities. A comparative analysis reveals commonalities and differences among City Brain, SUM, and platform urbanism within the frameworks of AIoT and environmental governance. These data-driven systems collectively contribute to environmental governance in smarter eco-cities by leveraging real-time data analytics, predictive modeling, and stakeholder engagement. The proposed framework underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making, optimization of resource management, reduction of environmental impact, collaboration among stakeholders, engagement of citizens, and formulation of evidence-based policies. The findings unveils that the synergistic and collaborative integration of City Brain, SUM, and platform urbanism through AIoT presents promising opportunities and prospects for advancing environmental governance in smarter eco-cities. The framework not only charts a strategic trajectory for stimulating research endeavors but also holds significant potential for practical application and informed policymaking in the realm of environmental urban governance. However, ongoing critical discussions and refinements remain imperative to address the identified challenges, ensuring the framework's robustness, ethical soundness, and applicability across diverse urban contexts.

Problems and development prospects of “green” logistics of maritime transport in the Russian Federation

Shipping is one of the industries that lags far behind others in environmental sustainability, especially when it comes to reducing the harmful impact on the environment, which makes the problem relevant. The article presents the concept of “green” logistics and its principles used in business practices. Current key problems of maritime transport related to environmental logistics and new requirements of the International Maritime Organisation are described. The experience of applying “green” technologies by foreign companies in the maritime industry has been analysed. It shows that electrification and decarbonisation can be successfully introduced into business practice and lead to improved environmental performance. The state of seaport infrastructure and vessels in the Russian Federation was studied. Certain Russian projects following “green” logistics trends are presented with description of the implemented systems, technologies, and new equipment. Conclusions are made about the potential of “green” logistics in Russia in the future: reduction of negative environmental impact, increase of competitiveness of Russian companies and new opportunities for business development.

Advances in the Design of Functional Cellulose Based Nanopesticide Delivery Systems.

The advancement of science and technology, coupled with the growing environmental consciousness among individuals, has led to a shift in pesticide development from traditional methods characterized by inefficiency and misuse toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach. Cellulose, as the most abundant natural renewable resource, has opened up a new avenue in the field of biobased drug carriers by developing cellulose-based drug delivery systems. These systems offer unique advantages in terms of deposition rate enhancement, modification facilitation, and environmental impact reduction when designing nanopesticides. Consequently, their application in the field of nanoscale pesticides has gained widespread recognition. The present study provides a comprehensive review of cellulose modification methods, carrier types for cellulose-based nanopesticides delivery systems (CPDS), and various stimulus-response factors influencing pesticide release. Additionally, the main challenges in the design and application of CPDS are summarized, highlighting the immense potential of cellulose-based materials in the field of nanopesticides.

Thermodynamic, environmental, and exergoeconomic analysis of multi-ejector expansion transcritical CO2 supermarket refrigeration cycles in different climate regions of Türkiye

Restrictions on high-GWP refrigerants have made the use of transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems widespread. Using transcritical booster refrigeration cycle in warm climates is unsatisfactory due to its high energy consumption. This paper presents theoretical analysis and performance comparison of three different transcritical CO2 supermarket refrigeration cycle configurations with ejector expansion in Türkiye, which has different climatic regions. Bin-hour data were derived using hourly dry-bulb temperature values for provinces from 7 different regions in Türkiye. The applicability of multi-ejectors to each modeled cycle was also investigated. Annual energy consumption and environmental impact reductions of up to 17% were obtained using ejector expansion cycle compared to booster cycle. Ejector expansion cycles achieved higher performance than booster cycle up to 46% in terms of exergy efficiency at investigated ambient temperatures. Unit product exergy costs of the ejector cycles were found up to 28% lower than booster cycle.

Proposal of a Machine Learning Predictive Maintenance Solution Architecture

This article proposes an architecture model for a predictive maintenance solution that can be used to detect degradation of equipment in industrial units. This platform is compliant with Industry 4.0 standards and employs machine-learning algorithms alongside with data analytics methodologies to model the kinetics of equipment degradation. This serves the overarching aim of Industry 4.0 by enabling real-time, data-driven decision-making and complex asset management. To model the deterioration of the equipment, advanced data analysis techniques and machine learning were used, thus allowing for the early identification of imminent failures and reducing system downtime. The proposed solution was validated through numerous experiments and a comprehensive analysis of data. The results indicate not only enhanced operational reliability but also a reduction in environmental impact, thereby highlighting the value of intersecting Industry 4.0 and Sustainability paradigms in the field of industrial systems.

Learning by doing using the Life Cycle Assessment tool: LCA projects in collaboration with industries

Active learning, also called "learning by doing" (LbD), has resulted in positive learning outcomes in several higher education degrees. This paper describes an LbD experience within Chemical Engineering education aiming to enhance learning and transferable competencies using a Life Cycle Assessment course as a vehicle. This compulsory course belongs to the European Project Semester (EPS) program taught in the fourth year of the Chemical Engineering Degree at the University of Cantabria. From the beginning, the activity has targeted LCA practice with a strong emphasis on performance and its application as a decision-making tool in real case studies through close collaboration with regional companies. Working in partnership with industrial companies has favoured a win-win-win situation as students could apply knowledge as future LCA specialists. In contrast, companies gained valuable insights to improve their environmental performance, and lecturers enhanced their industrial networks. A public session carried out at the end of the activity created an enriching debate on subjects from a diversity of points of view (e.g., the selection of impact categories, the proposed improvements for environmental impact reduction, etc.). According to the lecturers, the competencies acquired by students through this LbD experience in life cycle assessment have notably evolved, demonstrating not only an enhanced understanding of environmental impacts across a product life cycle but also a significant improvement in critical thinking, team collaboration, and practical problem-solving skills, thereby bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and its application in real-world scenarios. This is in line with the student’s perception that considered, such as "problem resolution", "capacity for analysing" and synthesis and "capacity for information" management. These are essential not only for future LCA practitioners but for chemical engineers.

High-resolution electricity generation mixes in building operation: A methodological framework for energy and environmental impacts and the case study of an Italian net zero energy building

Temporal fluctuations of the electricity grid generation composition, variability of electricity consumption in building operation over the year and of the on-site renewable energy systems are factors that should be properly considered, using high-resolution data in the building energy and environmental performance assessment.In this study a methodological framework is developed to model high-resolution electricity mixes in building operation and to assess the related energy and environmental impacts over the year, by means of a life cycle approach.For most impact categories, the imported electricity generation mixes, to meet the residual building demand, show impact variations not higher than +20 % and not lower than −38 % at seasonal and daily time compared with the annual average values.Temporal variations are even more relevant in building consumption electricity mixes, which are significantly characterized by self-consumption and show noticeable reductions compared to the annual electricity generation mix in both assessed scenarios.As an example, summer and spring energy generation mixes show the best results for climate change (0.09 kgCO2eq/kWh) compared to the annual ones, while in winter and autumn mixes the contribution to climate change overcomes the respective annual results. Both summer day-mixes contribute to climate change for about 0.12 kgCO2eq/kWh, with a reduction of nearly 30 % if compared the annual data. Conversely, in the winter day-mixes the contribution to climate change is about 0.20 kgCO2eq/kWh and comes mostly from the grid.The results highlight that assessed temporal variations are significant through the year for the most assessed environmental indicators. Furthermore, the use of high-resolution electricity generation mixes allows to optimize efficiently the temporal use of electricity in buildings, in sight of energy and environmental impact reduction also thanks to the employment of life cycle oriented approaches. The results also highlight the relevance of the storage system in fulfilling periods of peak demand or low renewable generation.

Fostering Design for Sustainability through the Adoption of Computer-Aided Engineering Tools in the Development of Energy-Related Products

The main challenge to face in the development of energy-related products is represented by the adoption of effective design for sustainability strategies that encompasses the adoption of engineering design tools, knowledge collection, and reuse/sharing in technical departments. This present paper proposes an engineering design for sustainability methodology that assists engineers in developing energy-related products in compliance with ecodesign standards. The methodology uses virtual prototyping tools to assess energy consumption in compliance with energy labeling directives and analyze different use scenarios. The results obtained by numerical simulations (e.g., Finite Element Method—FEM, Computational Fluid Dynamics—CFD) are used to create specific design eco-knowledge in the field of energy-related products. Numerical results are linked with design configurations to understand the benefits introduced by engineering design choices. This knowledge is stored in a structured database with the aim of being reused when a new product is developed or improved/upgraded. The case study of an induction hob, belonging to the household appliance product family, is investigated to understand the potential and drawbacks of the presented approach in a real application. The results show that potential energy and environmental performance benefits are achieved (e.g., reduction of energy losses, achievement of A+ energy class, and overall life cycle environmental impact reduction). Additionally, a new set of ecodesign guidelines are defined for this product family and employed in developing new compliant products belonging to the same family.

Effect of a nutritional intervention based on an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet on environmental impact

ObjectiveTo estimate the environmental impact of a dietary intervention based on an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) after one year of follow-up. MethodsBaseline and 1-year follow-up data were used for 5800 participants aged 55–75 years with metabolic syndrome in the PREDIMED-Plus study. Food intake was estimated through a validated semiquantitative food consumption frequency questionnaire, and adherence to the MedDiet was estimated through the Diet Score. Using the EAT-Lancet Commission tables we assessed the influence of dietary intake on environmental impact (through five indicators: greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), land use, energy used, acidification and potential eutrophication). Using multivariable linear regression models, the association between the intervention and changes in each of the environmental factors was assessed. Mediation analyses were carried out to estimate to what extent changes in each of 2 components of the intervention, namely adherence to the MedDiet and caloric reduction, were responsible for the observed reductions in environmental impact. ResultsWe observed a significant reduction in the intervention group compared to the control group in acidification levels (−13.3 vs. -9.9 g SO2-eq), eutrophication (−5.4 vs. -4.0 g PO4-eq) and land use (−2.7 vs. -1.8 m2).Adherence to the MedDiet partially mediated the association between intervention and reduction of acidification by 15 %, eutrophication by 10 % and land use by 10 %. Caloric reduction partially mediated the association with the same factors by 55 %, 51 % and 38 % respectively. In addition, adherence to the MedDiet fully mediated the association between intervention and reduction in GHG emissions by 56 % and energy use by 53 %. ConclusionsA nutritional intervention based on consumption of an energy-reduced MedDiet for one year was associated with an improvement in different environmental quality parameters.

Advancing the circular economy and environmental sustainability with timber hybrid construction in South Korean public building

Timber is attracting attention as an alternative to conventional materials owing to the carbon sequestration effect during the growth process and the low carbon impact of timber use. Recently, carbon reduction, environmental impact reduction, and circular economy (CE) have been considered for sustainable development. There is a need to evaluate effective buildings in terms of CE and environmental impact, and timber has advantages in terms of circularity and environmental impact. However, few studies have quantified both environmental impact and circularity of timber buildings. In this study, environmental impact was introduced into the Building Circularity Indicators (BCI; a method of evaluating the circularity of materials and buildings). Then, the material circularity and environmental impact were verified through a timber hybrid case study of an actual public building using LCA and BCI. Environmental impact reductions of −13.5 %, −11.5 %, and −5.0 % were achieved by the hybrid alternative that applied timber to the structure, the alternative that excluded the core, and the alternative that applied it only to the exterior wall, respectively. Furthermore, the BCI improved from 0.26 for the concrete structure to 0.31, 0.29, and 0.25, for the respective timber hybrid buildings mentioned above. The research results would aid designers and policymakers in their initial planning by verifying the realistically quantified environmental impact savings and circularity. In addition, as an example of introducing environmental impact into the BCI, it would contribute to the reduction of the disparity between the circularity indicators and environmental impact.