Towards a green industry through cleaner production development

Big picture thinking of global PM2.5-related COPD: Spatiotemporal trend, driving force, minimal burden and economic loss

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, with increasing evidence linking long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to accelerated lung function decline and exacerbation of COPD symptoms. This study aimed to assess the global burden of PM2.5-related COPD from 1990 to 2021 and project future health and economic impacts. Using Mendelian randomization, the causal relationship between PM2.5 exposure and COPD was confirmed. Data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 dataset was analyzed across 204 countries, considering age, gender, region, and socio-demographic index (SDI). A significant positive correlation between PM2.5 exposure and COPD was observed. In 2021, COPD deaths due to ambient PM2.5 exposure reached 841,466 globally, with an age-standardized mortality rate (ASR) of 10.23 per 100,000 people. DALYs were 17,683,776, with an ASR of 208.27 per 100,000. Both the number of deaths and DALYs significant increased since 1990, primarily driven by population aging and growth. Regional analysis revealed that Asia, especially China and India, bore the highest burden, high SDI regions managed to maintain relatively stable and lower rates, and there are large health inequities. Projections indicate a continued rise in COPD burden, with substantial economic implications, estimating global economic losses of approximately $1.246 trillion by 2050. These findings highlighted the urgent need for public health interventions to mitigate future health and economic impacts of PM2.5 exposure.

Turning Trash to Treasure: The Influence of Carbon Waste Source on the Photothermal Behaviour of Plasmonic Titanium Carbide Interfaces

Pyrolysis of carbonaceous waste material has become an attractive method of recycling to generate value added products. Alongside pyrolytic oil and gas fractions, the thermal degradation forms solid pyrolytic char, which can be further processed. Local waste materials, including birch wood residue (BW), Reynoutria japonica stems (KW), spent coffee grounds (CG), tire rubber (TR), and lobster shells (LS) we assessed to form pyrolytic char. Using a simple acid treatment step on the chars, this study has shown successfully incorporate many of them into the low-temperature synthesis of plasmonic TiC NPs. Each char was shown to display distinctive physical and chemical characteristics, which was exploited to synthesize TiC NPs with unique properties. To study the plasmonic behaviour of each TiC sample, solar driven desalination experiments were conducted. TiC formed from TR char achieved broadband absorbance of ~95 % of the solar spectrum, reaching a near-perfect solar-to-vapor generation efficiency of 95 %, or a water generation rate of 1.40±0.01 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sun illumination. This makes it the best performing of all chars tested, and among the top performers reported in the literature to date. The evaporators maintain activity over time and under strongly hypersaline conditions.

Can ICT investment promote green development? new insights from highly polluting listed enterprises in China

Green development is related to the long-term sustainable development of enterprises, but there is little literature on the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) investment on green development of enterprises. To fill this gap, based on the sample of A-share high-polluting industry enterprises in China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2007 to 2019, this paper uses the dynamic panel threshold model to deeply study the non-linear impact of ICT investment on green development. This paper found that: (1) there is a threshold effect on the impact of ICT investment on green development of enterprises in high-polluting industries, and when ICT investment breaks through the threshold value, it can promote green development. This conclusion remains robust after the estimation of Multi-period DID model and instrumental variable; (2) ICT investment mainly promotes green development of enterprises by improving production efficiency and promoting green technology innovation; (3) ICT investment has a significant impact on green development of enterprises with higher management level, heavy industrial enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises, but has no significant impact on green development of enterprises with lower management level, light industrial enterprises and state-owned enterprises. And digital technology investment has a stronger role in promoting green development than traditional ICT investment. This paper proposes that enterprises in high-pollution industries can increase ICT investment to promote green development.

The microbiota and metabolome dynamics and their interactions modulate solid-state fermentation process and enhance clean recycling of brewers' spent grain

The massive yield of brewers' spent grain (BSG) waste inevitably threaten environmental health. Here, solid-state fermentation (SSF) technology featuring multi-strain (MS) inoculation and high-throughput sequencing technology were employed to facilitate the sustainable and clean recycling of BSG waste while revealing the associated underlying microbiological and metabolic mechanisms. MS inoculation displayed a lower pH value (3.91 vs. 4.12) and neutral detergent fiber content (446.24 vs. 476.23 g/kg DM), a higher levels of lactic acid (86.64 vs. 33.07 g/kg DM), acetic acid (6.13 vs. 4.87 g/kg DM), propionic acid (2.78 vs. 2.18 g/kg DM) and crude protein (307.5 vs. 289.15 g/kg DM) than those in the control group. Moreover, MS inoculation inhibited the formation of non-protein-N and ammonia-N, and spoilage microorganism resuscitation, while enhanced substrate preservation. Microbiologically, during the SSF, the group treated with MS inoculation exhibited an increase in the relative abundance of Leuconostoc (0.58%∼6.60%), Weissella (6.22%∼15.42%), Enterococcus (3.15%∼9.08%), Bacillus (17.63%∼31.29%), Lactobacillus (12.89%∼8.29%), Pseudoalteromonas (12.87%∼16.29%), and a decrease in the relative abundance of Acinetobacter (0.79%∼0.02%) and Enterobacteriaceae (0.78%∼0.24%). Metabolically, starch and sucrose metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and phenylalanine metabolism significantly influenced the quality of extruded BSG fermented by MS during SSF. The examination of the correlation between the microbiota, metabolites, and fermentation parameters revealed that complex interactions between microbes and the environment factors impact metabolite production. Collectively, inoculating with MS improved fermentation quality and stability, facilitated the clean recycling of BSG, which is linked to complex interactions among microbes, the environment factors and metabolite production.

Advancing sustainability in the steel industry: the key role of the triple helix sectors

The steel industry, crucial to the global economy, grapples with critical sustainable challenges, including high energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and non-renewable resource utilization, making sustainability imperative for upholding its economic role without compromising the planet or societal well-being. This study proposes a framework aimed at advancing sustainability in the steel industry through the articulation of the triple helix sectors (university, industry, and government). Based on the integrative review scientific method, systematic selection, interpretation, and synthesis of information from various sources were carried out to map a technical-scientific scenario of sustainability in the steel industry. This scenario informed benchmarking which, in light of the scientific theory and the authors' expertise, enabled the proposition of customized actions aimed at the triple helix actors. The main theoretical-scientific contribution lies in deepening and expanding the knowledge that connects sustainability to the steel industry, thus reinforcing the basis for future research and empirical studies. As for the managerial-applied contribution, this work can guide universities in developing sustainable projects and establishing industrial partnerships; steel companies benefit from the best practices and technologies, while also achieving regulatory compliance; and governments can promote public policies that boost sustainability in the steel sector.

Factors Affecting on Environmental Strategy in SMEs manufacturing Firms of a developing country: Mediating role of Green Employee Behavior

Background

Sustainability in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which engage heavily in manufacturing provides them with an essential platform for implementing environmental strategy, which is aimed at reducing environmental damage and promoting environmental protection. This study aims to examine the impact of the reduction in resource use, the greening of processes and products on environmental strategy and the mediating role of green employee behaviour.

Methods

Primary data gathered with the help of questionnaires from employees of SMEs manufacturing in developing countries, Pakistan. The research gathered data from 211 participants by applying a pre-tested instrumental questionnaire and structural equation modelling (SEM) for data analysis.

Results

The results confirmed all direct effects, including a reduction in resource use, the greening of processes and products and green employee behaviour of environmental strategies in small and medium manufacturing firms. Also, confirmed partial mediation effect of green employee behavior between greening of processes and products and environmental strategy.

Conclusion

The current study clearly showed the need for programs and infrastructures that support resource reduction and greening businesses in SMEs. Companies' implementation of green processes and technologies allows SMEs to take an environmentally responsible stand and become part of the movement toward sustainability. The research stresses the importance of green employee conduct as a mediator, the central point being the individual employee being engaged and aware of the subject and willing to participate in environmentally friendly practices. Therefore, small and medium enterprises should enlighten their staff to practice green behaviour, give them what they need and empower them to be change drivers that will trigger sustainability throughout the organisations.

Sustainable utilization of residual grass: effect of anaerobic storage days on chemical composition, fermentation performance, microbial community, and functional profiles of Pennisetum giganteum

The seasonal surplus and putrefactive property of moist forages inevitably increase the pressure on environmental protection and residual grass disposal. In the current work, the anaerobic fermentation approach was adopted to assist the sustainable recycling of leftover Pennisetum giganteum (LP), and its chemical composition, fermentation performance, bacterial community and functional profiles during anaerobic fermentation were studied. Fresh LP was spontaneously fermented for up to 60 d. At the end of anaerobic fermentation, fermented LP (FLP) displayed homolactic fermentation with low pH value, ethanol, and ammonia nitrogen concentrations but high lactic acid concentration. Weissella was dominant in 3-day FLP, yet Lactobacillus was the overwhelming genus (92.6%) in 60-day FLP. The anaerobic fermentation process promoted (P < 0.05) the metabolism of carbohydrate and nucleotide while suppressing (P < 0.05) that of lipid, cofactors, vitamins, energy, and amino acid. The results showed that the residual grass with LP as an example could be successfully fermented even if no additives were added, without signs of clostridial and fungal contamination.

Drivers for circular economy development: making businesses more environmentally friendly

Stakeholders have been pressuring companies to develop more environmentally friendly strategic and operational solutions. In this sense, companies are seeking alternatives that reduce the negative impacts of organizational activities, Circular Economy (CE) is one of the solutions with the greatest potential for success. Thus, the goal of this paper is to provide drivers for organizations' transition from a linear to a CE. For this reason, content analysis was used as the scientific method, for being appropriate for the interpretation of qualitative data and the identification, clustering, and systematization of themes in a given field of knowledge. In the case of this work, a set of 30 articles with information related to the implementation and development of CE were analyzed, allowing the identification of 19 key elements of CE. These key elements were then grouped and systematized into four drivers: decision-making; capacity and training; sustainable practices; and green supply chain. Scientifically, this work contributes to the improvement and increase of the block of knowledge about the CE, because the drivers can be used to advance the state of the art and as a starting point for the development of new research. In an applied way, the drivers proposed in this article provide a range of actions for managers to make their companies greener and improve their organizational performance, thus contributing environmentally and socially to the planet.

Effects of citric acid and heterofermentative inoculants on anaerobic co-fermentation of Chinese cabbage waste and wheat bran

The effects of Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus hilgardii and citric acid on organic acid production, substrate consumption, protein degradation and microbial community were investigated in this study. The results indicated that combined inoculants induced a significant increase in levels of lactic acid (43 g/kg dry matter), acetic acid (14 g/kg dry matter), butyric acid (5 g/kg dry matter), total organic acid (60 g/kg dry matter) and ammonia nitrogen (20 g/kg total nitrogen). Furthermore, citric acid addition into the combined inoculants caused a significant increase in levels of acetic acid (12 g/kg dry matter), water-soluble carbohydrate (12 g/kg dry matter) and a reduction in ammonia nitrogen formation (22 g/kg total nitrogen). Microbiologically, combining inoculants and citric acid enriched Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus hilgardii and upregulated the functional pathways related to acid production and resistance. Collectively, combining citric acid and heterofermentative inoculants was beneficial to recycle Chinese cabbage waste in producing organic acids.

Investigating the prospect of cleaner production in informal enterprises: A scientific assessment of environmental burdens and economic efficiency

The present study aims to assess the prospects for cleaner production (CP) and sustainable development (SD) of informally operated small manufacturing enterprises, which are frequently blamed for uncontrolled waste disposal and causing pollution to the environment. The economic efficiency level of these firms has been explored to this end, and the metallic pollution loads in the surrounding environment have been scientifically analyzed to investigate the nexus between these two. DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis)-Tobit analysis has been employed, and a pollution load index (PLI) of heavy metal pollution comprising two environmental compartments (soil and water) has been constructed based on the concentration level of metalloid pollutants in the samples collected from the surrounding areas of the studied informal firms in Bangladesh. The study disproves CP practice in majority of the informal firms in Bangladesh by observing a positive relationship between firm-level efficiency and pollution load sourced from their production activities. Afterwards, this study estimates the eco-efficiency level of firms by considering pollution load as an undesirable output and minimizing its impact in an input-oriented DEA model. Applying the eco-efficiency scores in censored Tobit regression analysis, the outcome endorses the prospect of CP for informally operated enterprises in Bangladesh. However, the CP prospect can only materialize if and only if firms are provided with adequate technical, financial, and strategic support for achieving eco-efficiency in their production. The informal and marginal nature of the studied firms restricts them from getting access to the facilities and support services needed for implementing CP and moving towards sustainable manufacturing. Therefore, this study recommends green practices in informal manufacturing and limiting the informal firms by bringing them gradually under the coverage of formalization, which is in line with the achievement of the targets mentioned in Sustainable Development Goal 8.

Anaerobic fermentation featuring wheat bran and rice bran realizes the clean transformation of Chinese cabbage waste into livestock feed

Rapid aerobic decomposition and a high cost/benefit ratio restrain the transformation of Chinese cabbage waste into livestock feed. Herein, anaerobically co-fermenting Chinese cabbage waste with wheat bran and rice bran at different dry matter levels (250, 300, 350 g/kg fresh weight) was employed to achieve the effective and feasible clean transformation of Chinese cabbage waste, and the related microbiological mechanisms were revealed by high-throughput sequencing technology. The bran treatments caused an increase in pH value (4.75-77.25%) and free amino acid content (12.09-152.66%), but a reduction in lactic acid concentration (54.58-77.25%) and coliform bacteria counts (15.91-20.27%). In addition, the wheat bran treatment improved the levels of short-chain fatty acids, nonprotein nitrogen, water-soluble carbohydrates and antioxidant activity and reduced the ammonia nitrogen contents. In contrast, the rice bran treatment decreased the levels of acetic acid, water-soluble carbohydrates, nonprotein nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and antioxidant activities. Microbiologically, the bran treatments stimulated Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterobacter, and Weissella but inhibited Lactococcus and Leuconostoc, which were the primary organic acid producers reflected by the redundancy analysis. In addition, Chinese cabbage waste fermented with wheat bran at 350 g/kg fresh weight or with rice bran at 300 g/kg fresh weight increased the scale and complexity of bacteriome, promoted commensalism or mutualism and upregulated the global metabolism pathways, including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms. Furthermore, the bran treatments resulted in an increase in bacterial communities that were facultatively anaerobic, biofilm-formed, Gram-negative, potentially pathogenic and stress-tolerant. Collectively, the bran treatments inhibited effluent formation and protein degradation and improved nutrient preservation but reduced organic acid production during the anaerobic fermentation, which is linked to the variations in the bacteriome, indicating that the constructed fermentation system should be further optimized.

Environmental innovation ambidexterity and customer relationship performance: evidence from the manufacturing industry in China

Cleaner production and pollution prevention are not only essential for enterprises to improve resource utilization efficiency and competitiveness, but also realistic requirements for enterprises to comply with green manufacturing policies and regulations. Many previous studies have investigated the impacts of environmental innovation on products and environmental performance, but few of them have explored the impact of environmental innovation on customer relationships. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the basic strategies to enhance customer relationship in the context of green development. Building upon the resource-based view, the dynamic capability perspective, and the upper echelons theory, this study develops a conceptual model focusing on the effects of environmental innovation ambidexterity (EIA) on customer relationship performance (CRP), the mediating effects of green product innovation (GPI), and the moderating role of top management's environmental awareness. The results of a survey of 285 high-tech manufacturing enterprises in China show that EIA has a positive effect on CRP. The results of the study also indicate that GPI mediates the relationship between EIA and CRP, and top management's environmental awareness moderates the impact of EIA on CRP. The results offer novel insights for suppliers to improve CRP, and provide theoretical guidance for high-tech manufacturing enterprises to effectively implement pollution prevention and GPI.

Sufficiency, Consistency, and Efficiency as a Base for Systemizing Sustainability Measures in Food Supply Chains

Due to severe biodiversity and climate crises, there is now a need for sustainable supply chains. Food supply chains contribute to biodiversity loss, especially through land use and agriculture. In addition, energy-intensive storage for refrigeration and intercontinental transportation lead to high emission along chains due to seasonality. Selecting and prioritizing decarbonization actions is a key task for decision makers along food supply chains this decade. Often, modernizing supply chains by integrating information and digital technologies is seen as beneficial for environmental goals. The aim of this work is to develop a new systematization of sustainability measures based on archetypal sustainability strategies (sufficiency, consistency, and efficiency) that support the prioritization and thus the selection of decarbonization measures. Existing measures will be researched through a structured literature review. At the same time, it is recorded how they are categorized or systematized. Forty-eight different systematizations are analyzed. The majority relate to specific sectors and are not generally transferable. Sustainability is often addressed using the triple bottom line. In particular, efficiency and consistency measures are often included in the categories found but are rarely used for systematization. A new systematization of sustainability measures is proposed and applied to a set of digitalization and logistics 4.0 measures using the example of a fresh apple supply chain. The advantages of the proposed systematization are discussed, and further research directions are given. The presented method has not been examined in the literature so far; this concerns both the width and depth of the consideration of supply chains.