Biomass gasification, catalytic technologies and energy integration for production of circular methanol: New horizons for industry decarbonisation

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognises the pivotal role of renewable energies in the future energy system and the achievement of the zero-emission target. The implementation of renewables should provide major opportunities and enable a more secure and decentralised energy supply system. Renewable fuels provide long-term solutions for the transport sector, particularly for applications where fuels with high energy density are required. In addition, it helps reducing the carbon footprint of these sectors in the long-term. Information on biomass characteristics feedstock is essential for scaling-up gasification from the laboratory to industrial-scale. This review deals with the transformation biogenic residues into a valuable bioenergy carrier like biomethanol as the liquid sunshine based on the combination of modified mature technologies such as gasification with other innovative solutions such as membranes and microchannel reactors. Tar abatement is a critical process in product gas upgrading since tars compromise downstream processes and equipment, for this, membrane technology for upgrading syngas quality is discussed in this paper. Microchannel reactor technology with the design of state-of-the-art multifunctional catalysts provides a path to develop decentralised biomethanol synthesis from biogenic residues. Finally, the development of a process chain for the production of (i) methanol as an intermediate energy carrier, (ii) electricity and (iii) heat for decentralised applications based on biomass feedstock flexible gasification, gas upgrading and methanol synthesis is analysed.

Data Science Applications in Circular Economy: Trends, Status, and Future

The circular economy (CE) aims to decouple the growth of the economy from the consumption of finite resources through strategies, such as eliminating waste, circulating materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Due to the rapid development of data science (DS), promising progress has been made in the transition toward CE in the past decade. DS offers various methods to achieve accurate predictions, accelerate product sustainable design, prolong asset life, optimize the infrastructure needed to circulate materials, and provide evidence-based insights. Despite the exciting scientific advances in this field, there still lacks a comprehensive review on this topic to summarize past achievements, synthesize knowledge gained, and navigate future research directions. In this paper, we try to summarize how DS accelerated the transition to CE. We conducted a critical review of where and how DS has helped the CE transition with a focus on four areas including (1) characterizing socioeconomic metabolism, (2) reducing unnecessary waste generation by enhancing material efficiency and optimizing product design, (3) extending product lifetime through repair, and (4) facilitating waste reuse and recycling. We also introduced the limitations and challenges in the current applications and discussed opportunities to provide a clear roadmap for future research in this field.

Pyrolysis, a recovery solution to reduce landfilling of residual organic waste generated from mixed municipal waste

Despite policies to restrict the mixing of organic waste with other general waste and improve its separation at source, municipal solid waste still contains a high proportion of organic waste. The residual organic waste is generated as a by-product of the mechanical treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) and is mainly disposed in landfills after composting. Its reuse and recovery status varies across European countries. Most countries restrict the use of biostabilised residual waste (BSRW) to landfill cover, whereas others have regulated it as marketable compost. Crucially, BSRW is set to lose its "recycled" status under the revised European Union waste framework, with probably tighter restrictions and increased costs imposed for the landfilling of organic waste. Our research aimed to investigate pyrolysis as an alternative technology to treat the 10-40 mm fraction of BSRW (representing 50% of BSRW generated). Pyrolysis at 700 °C was carried out and feedstock and pyrolysis products were characterized. Mass and energy balances showed that pyrolysis produced hot vapour/gas whose combustion may render the pyrolysis process energetically sustainable. Biochar comprises 30-50% of BRSW mass after removal of glass, metal and stones. Our results indicate that pyrolysis has the potential to create options for contributing to reduce the landfilling of BSRW; however, the presence of residual impurities may limit biochar applications.

The FOODRUS index: Assessing suitability for effective food loss and waste prevention management under an integral perspective

The impact of food loss and waste (FLW) generation on food supply chains' (FSC) sustainability represents a challenge embodied in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3. This problem requires a methodology to measure such an impact in a rigorous, holistic, and standardized way that can be applied to any FSC. This paper aims to develop and validate a single index to assess the readiness of FSCs to implement FLW prevention strategies and measure their impact: the so-called FOODRUS index. The co-creation methodology followed incorporates experts and FSC stakeholders feedback. The index has been validated in 3 FSCs: The Slovak pilot scored 74.35%, the Spanish pilot reached 68.79%, and the Danish pilot was rated 61.14%. Its calculation, eased by the FOODRUS index self-assessment tool (described in the Appendix), allows quick diagnosis of the FSC capability to implement FLW prevention strategies considering both the knowledge provided by experts and the experience of the FSC stakeholders that participated in its co-creation process. In this way the FSC can assess its FLW prevention performance at a strategic and management level, with the aim of improving its sustainability impact.

Exploring the transformative power of AI in art through a circular economy lens. A systematic literature review

Today, technology and sustainability are two strategic axes for the development of any industry. Art is no exception and embodies both principles. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the art world forwards with its applications and algorithms. Additionally, the circular economy (CE) is concerned with resources and the environment in this context. The objective of the present work is to provide an overview of the current state of research on the application of AI in the art world and an analysis of how CE principles are being incorporated, considering the interactions between AI and the CE. To this end, a systematic review of the literature is carried out in which 60 articles related to the subject are selected, analysed, and classified, highlighting the lines of research addressed. The assessment of the current state of research on the subject concludes with the four main axes of classification of works. The first line is related to AI generative content in art, addressing issues of content creation, image and painting, video, and theatre. The second line is related to AI applications for art industry production, considering the sustainability of the supply chain. The third line focuses on how the CE is being applied to art, while the fourth line focuses on other relevant aspects analysed, such as training and design. The topic is still incipient, mandating further research to study the full potential of AI and the CE in the world of art.

Inline classification of polymer films using Machine learning methods

Improving the sortability of plastic packaging film waste (PPFW) is crucial for increasing the recycling rate in Austria as they account for 150,000 t of the annually produced 300,000 t of plastic packaging waste. Currently PPFW is thermally recovered, as it is impossible to separate the mechanically recyclable monomaterial films from the non mechanically-recyclable multimaterial films. In this study, machine learning models capable of classifying inline into monolayer and multilayer films of PPFW according to their spectral fingerprint taken in transflection were created. Feature selection methods, like PCA and MRMR F-Tests, identified the most relevant spectral ranges for classification, that show the least redundancy and highest relevance. This effective subset of features decreases the required complexity of the model while reducing prediction time without compromising accuracy. The resulting models achieved a prediction accuracy of 85 % on unseen specimens with minimal prediction latency, effectively showing the inline applicability of these models in sorting aggregates.

A Review of the Applicability of Current Green Practices in Healthcare Facilities

BACKGROUND

Circular economy (CE) has raised great interest as a concept and as a development model worldwide. This concept aims to provide a substitute for the linear economic model, which was based on production and consumption, continuous growth, and resources depletion. CE allows a greener economy with sustainable development and promotes more balanced societies. The healthcare sector is a major contributor to the climate crisis, with a carbon footprint representing 4.4% of global net emissions. It is thus essential to rethink the applicability of CE in healthcare.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review guided by the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework and utilised PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. A systematic search from MEDLINE complete, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases published between 1992 and 2022.

RESULTS

Through database searching a total of 1018 records were identified and 475 duplicates were removed. From the total search, 543 articles were screened by title/abstract according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After screening, 38 full-text articles were selected and assessed for eligibility. Forty-seven additional records were also identified through other sources and screened for eligibility. Other sources included: 12 articles from snowballing of previous papers; 9 articles following peer-reviewers suggestions; 19 reports from relevant organisations in CE and healthcare; two webpage, and one book.

CONCLUSION

Specific areas were identified where hospitals could reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consequently their negative environmental impact, namely through waste management, energy, water, transportation/travel, hospital design, food optimisation, green procurement, and behaviour. Also, lack of staff awareness and knowledge of the environmental impact of healthcare, and hospitals sustainability were identified as major contributors.

Green illusions in self-reporting? Reassessing the intention-behavior gap in waste recycling behaviors

Improving residents' waste recycling behavior is crucial for enhancing resource efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Previous questionnaire-based studies have reported that individuals exhibit a high willingness to recycle, yet often fail to convert this intention into action. Analyzing 180,417 Internet of Things (IoT) behavior data points, we discovered that the intention-behavior gap might be larger than anticipated. Our findings indicate that: 1) Intentions to recycle alone can predict self-reported recycling behavior (p < 0.01, t = 2.841), but not actual recycling behavior in the absence of other possible moderators (p > 0.1, t = 0.777); 2) Self-reported behavior predicts real behavior, but with limited explanatory power; and 3) The intention-behavior gap primarily results from forgetting or habituation (p < 0.01, t = 2.653), while social desirability plays an insignificant role (p > 0.1, t = 0.246). This study contributes to our understanding of the intention-behavior gap and provides direction for future pro-environmental behavior research.

A dynamic network design model with capacity expansions for EoL traction battery recycling - A case study of an OEM in Germany

The growth of the battery powered vehicle market will lead to an increasing amount of End of Life (EoL) electric vehicle battery systems (EVBSs) in the future. Although pointed out as a future challenge by research as well as industry, the analysis and design of EoL traction batteries' recycling networks have not been conducted extensively. Existing quantitative optimization models do not contain dynamic characteristics that are of importance for a growing market. We present a dynamic EoL battery reverse supply chain optimization model that allows planning over multiple periods and multiple supply chain layers while including capacity expansions of disassembling centers and recycling plants. The model is applied to a case study of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of battery electric vehicles that handles all EoL recycling activities for its batteries in a single stakeholder-driven network in Germany. The average EoL costs per EVBS were estimated to decrease by over 35% from 2030 to 2044 due to using larger processing facilities that benefit from economy of scale and lower transportation costs because more locations exist. The network change is driven by the growth of EoL EVBS supply.

Circular Economy Research in the COVID-19 Era: a Review and the Road Ahead

The onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a major crisis that has severely impacted numerous economic, environmental, and social aspects of human life. During the pandemic, the potential of the circular economy (CE) has gained increasing attention as a prospective remedy for numerous sustainability problems. This systematic literature review charts CE research in the COVID-19 era. To this end, 160 journal articles were selected from the Scopus database. The performance indicators of the literature were determined and described through a bibliometric analysis. Moreover, the conceptual structure of CE research was identified via a keyword co-occurrence network. Based on bibliographic coupling, the focus of CE research in the COVID-19 era revolves mainly around five thematic areas, including: (1) waste management; (2) digitalization and sustainable supply chain management; (3) the impact of COVID-19 on food systems; (4) sustainable development goals, smart cities, and bioeconomy; and (5) closed-loop supply chains. Overall, this review contributes to enriching the literature by determining the main thematic areas and future research directions that can help to advance the transition to the CE and reduce the impact of COVID-19 and similar disasters in the future.

Sustainable Design of Structural and Functional Polymers for a Circular Economy

To achieve a sustainable circular economy, polymer production must start transitioning to recycled and biobased feedstock and accomplish CO₂ emission neutrality. This is not only true for structural polymers, such as in packaging or engineering applications, but also for functional polymers in liquid formulations, such as adhesives, lubricants, thickeners or dispersants. At their end of life, polymers must be either collected and recycled via a technical pathway, or be biodegradable if they are not collectable. Advances in polymer chemistry and applications, aided by computational material science, open the way to addressing these issues comprehensively by designing for recyclability and biodegradability. This Review explores how scientific progress, together with emerging regulatory frameworks, societal expectations and economic boundary conditions, paint pathways for the transformation towards a circular economy of polymers.

Design of biorefineries towards carbon neutrality: A critical review

The increase in worldwide demand for energy is driven by the rapid increase in population and exponential economic development. This resulted in the fast depletion of fossil fuel supplies and unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. To valorize biomass into different bioproducts, one of the popular and carbon-neutral alternatives is biorefineries. This system is an appropriate technology in the circular economy model. Various research highlighted the role of biorefineries as a centerpiece in the carbon-neutral ecosystem of technologies of the circular economy model. To fully realize this, various improvements and challenges need to be addressed. This paper presents a critical and timely review of the challenges and future direction of biorefineries as an alternative carbon-neutral energy source.

Sustainable and Selective Modern Methods of Noble Metal Recycling

Noble metals exhibit broad arrange of applications in industry and several aspects of human life which are becoming more and more prevalent in modern times. Due to their limited sources and constantly and consistently expanding demand, recycling of secondary and waste materials must accompany the traditional mineral extractions. This Minireview covers the most recent solvometallurgical developments in regeneration of Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os, Ag and Au with emphasis on sustainability and selectivity. Processing-by selective oxidative dissolution, reductive precipitation, solvent extraction, co-precipitation, membrane transfer and trapping to solid media-of eligible multi-metal substrates for recycling from waste printed circuit boards to end-of-life automotive catalysts are discussed. Outlook for possible future direction for noble metal recycling is proposed with emphasis on sustainable approaches.

Assessing the relation between waste management policies and circular economy goals

The European Union has recently prioritized waste policies by embedding them in the new Horizon Europe work programme. Here, circular economy (CE) and digitalization are matching together in order to support all the industrial sectors in increasing their sustainability level. One of the main impacts expected from the EU is a better exploitation of wasted resources. However, waste streams are very different in terms of volumes, embedded materials and management policies. Considering only those waste streams with highest volumes, this study focuses on End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV), Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Starting from some policy recommendations and analyses identified through a literature review and the support of the experts, a survey has been conducted to identify the most critical items for each waste stream. Results of the survey show that, on the one hand, end of waste strategies has the highest importance for WEEE and ELV categories. On the other hand, social change has the highest importance for MSW. Consequently, end of waste strategies and social change should be considered as enablers of reuse and recycling practices in their reference contexts. In order to counteract the significant socio-economic issues already caused by delays in taking clear decisions about climate change mitigation strategies, policymakers should focus on these policy implications urgently if even more imminent environmental catastrophes are to be avoided.

Biosolids: The Trojan horse or the beautiful Helen for soil fertilization?

The simultaneous requirement to manage resources and wastes in more rational way has meant that many communities worldwide have begun to search for long-term alternative solutions. Reuse and recovery of biosolids is considered to be a constant solution of circular sustainability, as waste disposal without further reuse background like fertilizer is no longer an alternative to be promoted. There have been developed many treatment methods over the years for the stabilization and sanitization of biosolids. However, the literature concludes that none of them is fully integrated by meeting all the basic criteria. Each method has its Achilles heel, and the appropriateness of the method lies in what is the goal each time. There are conventional methods with positive reciprocity in terms of sustainability, reuse indicators and technological maturity, but have high risk of microorganisms' reappearance. New advanced sustainable technologies, such as cold plasma, need to be further studied to apply on a large scale. The reuse of biosolids as construction materials is also discussed in the context of circular economy. Biosolids reuse and management legislation frame need to be revised, as a directive adopted 30 years ago does not fully meet communities' current needs.

Wastewater treatment using bamboos in constructed wetlands: experiences and future perspectives

Wastewater treatment using constructed wetlands (CWs) based on natural wetlands constitute a viable alternative with excellent cost and benefit, presenting themselves as efficient technologies in the secondary and tertiary treatment of wastewaters with low implementation, operation, and maintenance costs. The present study aims to evaluate the use of bamboo species, as an alternative to macrophytes, frequently used in CWs, through bibliometric analysis, besides to a review based on case studies. The maps generated by the VOSviewer software and by the analyses of the Web of Science and Scopus databases allowed for a review of typical concepts of CWs, in addition to revealing potential benefits of using bamboos in CWs, such as their hyperaccumulation capacity and bioproduct generation. Other promising aspects were identified, for example the use of bamboo charcoal as a substrate used in subsurface wetlands and the application of ornamental bamboo species for landscape improvements, among other observations. The efficiencies found in six case studies showed values between 89-99.7%, 47.6-99.7%, 58.3-99.9%, and 85.5-99.8% for BOD₅, COD, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), respectively. Despite the promising results, the lack of studies using bamboos in CWs for the treatment of wastewaters limits an assertive statement about the use of this technology, requiring further research, focusing on the morphological functions of bamboos in this treatment with landscape integration and resources recovery.

Challenges in the context of single-use plastics and bioplastics in Brazil: A legislative review

Plastic has been present in our lives for the past century as an essential material for many commodity items. However, the same properties that make plastic convenient are also responsible for the current dramatic environmental pollution. As an alternative, most of the world has been working with technological innovations, and one of its strategies is the use of bioplastics. Despite being considered environmentally beneficial by some people, there are still developments and discussions that need to be made. This article aims to present a legislative review and discusses the difficulty in implementing policies related to the incentive of the bioplastics market, as well as presenting some state and municipal laws, already prohibiting single-use plastics in Brazil. These laws aim to encourage the substitution of these plastics for biodegradable ones. However, it still has gaps and a lack of clarification on how the banning of disposable plastics and their substitution will be beneficial since composting is still an incipient process in the country. It is also the purpose of this article to discuss the challenges in the context of the Circular Economy, as well as the potential solution based on the creation of public policies aimed at improving waste management, in addition to clearer legislation on alternatives to single-use plastics.

Regulation and competition in the extended producer responsibility models: Results in the WEEE sector in Europe

The application of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Europe has followed different patterns, with varying intensity of competition among producer organisations responsible for meeting take-back and recycling obligations. The literature has suggested possible reasons in favour or against the creation of dedicated compliance organisations, and arguments in support or against having many alternative recycling schemes competing on the market. However, little has been done on the empirical side to test these hypotheses. Our study contributes to filling this gap in the empirical literature by analysing the effect of competition and regulation in the field of waste from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). We exploit an original database to provide an econometric assessment of the effects of competition and regulation on the cost of dealing with WEEE. The European case is interesting since all member country are subject to the same policy targets imposed by EU directives but enjoy significant degrees of freedom in choosing the policy mix and the industrial structure to which the achievement of policy targets is devoted. Our results are several. First, we provide valuable details on EPR models. Second, we present collection and economic results achieved by compliance organisations. Third, with a statistical analysis based on the panel data structure, we provide significant evidence that a more competitive market structure allows achieving the same collection outcomes at a lower cost. This result is potentially relevant for waste management policies since it encourages the search for a more articulated market architecture for the design of EPR systems.

Lutein production by microalgae using corn starch wastewater pretreated with rapid enzymatic hydrolysis

The main purpose of this study was to explore the pretreatment process of corn starch wastewater (CSW) and engineered microalgae cultivation strategy to improve the nutrient recovery from wastewater and the yield of microalgae lutein. One-stage enzymatic hydrolysis utilizing α-amylase and glucoamylase simultaneously was established to efficiently harvest a maximum concentration of reducing sugar content of 7.26 g/L from CSW in 50 min. Lutein yield of 10.96 mg/L was obtained under 24 h continuous illumination with 2200 Lux light intensity. Furthermore, a cyclic feeding cultivation strategy was developed to improve lutein accumulation and COD removal up to 25.9 mg/L and 50.7%, respectively, after three cultivation cycles. Lutein yield of 14.86 mg/L and COD removal efficiency of 73.2% was achieved with further implementation in actual wastewater. This work provided a new perspective in developing the potential of cultivating microalgae with corn starch wastewater to produce high-value lutein.

One-Pot Biocatalytic In Vivo Methylation-Hydroamination of Bioderived Lignin Monomers to Generate a Key Precursor to L-DOPA

Electron-rich phenolic substrates can be derived from the depolymerisation of lignin feedstocks. Direct biotransformations of the hydroxycinnamic acid monomers obtained can be exploited to produce high-value chemicals, such as α-amino acids, however the reaction is often hampered by the chemical autooxidation in alkaline or harsh reaction media. Regioselective O-methyltransferases (OMTs) are ubiquitous enzymes in natural secondary metabolic pathways utilising an expensive co-substrate S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) as the methylating reagent altering the physicochemical properties of the hydroxycinnamic acids. In this study, we engineered an OMT to accept a variety of electron-rich phenolic substrates, modified a commercial E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) to regenerate SAM in vivo, and combined it with an engineered ammonia lyase to partake in a one-pot, two whole cell enzyme cascade to produce the l-DOPA precursor l-veratrylglycine from lignin-derived ferulic acid.

Bioeconomy and Circular Economy: Implications for Economic Evaluation in the Post-COVID Era

The objective of this paper is to review selected insights about the current economic research on the Bioeconomy and circular economy, with a particular focus for the role of primary sector, and to derive implications for organisation, evaluation and valuation practice in the context of the post-COVID era. A framework for the analysis of optimal level of circularity and related economic and evaluation concepts is developed for this purpose. We highlight how higher focus on circularity will increase the complexity of market relationships, contributing to flexibility, but also to uncertainty. The paper argues that these issues will become more important in the post-COVID era, due to the plea for increasing Bioeconomy resilience. New organisational concepts and models are hence needed. Evaluation, on the other hand, will need to be embedded even more in the decision-making processes, in spite of the increasing uncertainty and difficulties in evaluation.

Methodology to assess the circularity in building construction and refurbishment activities

This paper proposes a novel and innovative methodology to assess the degree of Circularity in one of the most resource-consuming and impactful economic activities: the building construction and/or renovation works. The proposed approach measures the ratio of circular flows in three aspects: energy, water and materials consumption; and combines them with the measure of social added value and economic value of the entire activity along its life cycle, regardless of being a new building construction or a major renovation work. The whole methodology has been developed under a life cycle perspective, incorporating into the analysis all material flows and social, environmental and economic impacts from cradle to grave, i.e., from resource acquisition to end of life treatment processes or disposal. The proposed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) measure different and non-directly related parameters (energy, materials, social impact…) and they are both quantitative and qualitative metrics. Hence, the proposed methodology performs the indicators calculation procedure independently. The methodology has been tested with a conventional energy renovation process consisting of an installation of an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) – one of the most prevailing façade energy retrofitting alternatives – combined with a rooftop solar PV system. In this way, a calculation example is shown and some lessons can be extracted regarding the degree circularity of current building construction and refurbishment practices. Results show that current building envelope solutions – even including an efficient rooftop PV system – are far from being considered circular: whereas a significant 51% of Energy Circularity is achieved, only a 29% and a 21% degree of Circularity is observed for the materials and social aspects, also with high payback periods – above 20 years – on the economic side. The methodology also succeeds in showing the potential for improvement and its location along the building life cycle. It is also shown that buildings behave significantly different in each of the addressed CE aspects: materials, energy and water use, social added value and life cycle cost; showing also different potential of improvement.

The multidimensional effects of single-use and packaging plastic strategies on German household waste management

Single-use and packaging plastic (SUPP) strategies are intended to transform the linear make-use-dispose economy of SUPPs into a more circular, resource-efficient one. The aim of this study was to identify optimal SUPP management concepts from a circular-economy-perspective by assessing the effects of different SUPP strategies on household waste management. Data on the generation and management of SUPP-containing household waste in Germany in 2017 were compiled and a material flow model was established. Regulatory SUPP strategies were translated into scenarios (with effects on waste generation and waste composition) and implemented in the material flow model. The effects on material efficiency, waste generation and lower heating values were evaluated and trade-offs between these target dimensions were identified. In Germany in 2017, 32 kg per person and year of SUPP household waste were generated, of which 28 kg per person and year was packaging waste. From a material efficiency perspective, the combination of banning specific non-packaging SUPPs and optimizing source-separation leads to the maximum increase in final recycling rates of SUPPs in household waste, from 38% to 50%. However, in this scenario the amount of SUPP-containing household waste is hardly reduced as compared to the status quo. The trade-offs observed in different waste management target dimensions highlight the importance of understanding the systemic effects of SUPP strategies on waste management in order to identify optimal solutions from a circular-economy-perspective.

Upgrading wineries to biorefineries within a Circular Economy perspective: An Italian case study

In the challenge of transforming waste into useful products that can be re-used in a circular perspective, Italian wine industry can represent a suitable model for the application of the bioeconomy principles, including the valorisation of the agricultural and food waste. In the present study, a comprehensive environmental assessment of the traditional production of wine was performed and the potentiality of a biorefinery system, based on winery waste and aimed at recovering useful bio-based products, such as grapeseed oil and calcium tartrate, was examined through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The wine company "I Borboni", producing Asprinio wine in the Campania Region (Italy), was proposed as a case study. The hotspots of the linear production system were identified and the bottling phase, in particular the production of packaging glass, resulted to contribute to the generation of impacts at 63%, on average, versus 14.3% of the agricultural phase and 22.7% of the vinification phase. The LCA results indicated human carcinogenic toxicity, freshwater eutrophication and fossil resource scarcity impact categories as the most affected ones, with normalized impacts amounting to 9.22E-03, 3.89E-04 and 2.64E-04, respectively. Two side production chains (grapeseed oil and tartrate production) were included and circular patterns were designed and introduced in the traditional production chain with the aim of valorising the winery residues and improving the overall environmental performance. By implementing the circular approach, environmental impacts in the global warming, freshwater eutrophication and mineral resource scarcity impact categories, in particular, resulted three times lower than in the linear system. The results achieved demonstrated that closing the loops in the wine industry, through the reuse of bio-based residues alternatively to fossil-based inputs within the production process, and integrating the traditional production system with new side production chains led to an upgrade of the wineries to biorefineries, towards more sustainable production patterns.

Recycling of glass waste into foam glass boards: A comparison of cradle-to-gate life cycles of boards with different foaming agents

Glass residues are available worldwide and are disposed of in large amounts in landfills. However, glass waste presents great potential to be used as raw material to produce foam glass boards, a product used in industries such as the construction sector. Conventional foaming agents (e.g. carbon black, carbonates, and sulfates) used in the production of foam glass boards release greenhouse gases into the environment, such as carbon dioxide. Conversely, sodium hydroxide releases only steam during the foaming process. Consequently, an insightful study is necessary to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of sodium hydroxide in comparison to other common foaming agents. Accordingly, the objective of this research is to carry out a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle study with four foam glass boards produced by different foaming agents: sodium hydroxide, carbon black, silicon carbide and dolomite. Global warming potential (GWP), acidification and human toxicity by air were considered as impact categories for Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). The results from the four foam glass boards were compared to an expanded polystyrene (EPS) board. Results evidenced that the use of sodium hydroxide provides better environmental performance regarding GWP, releasing 0.46 kg CO₂ eq., while the use of carbon black has less acidification potential with 1.95. 10^-3 kg SO₂ eq. Human toxicity by air was the only impact category in which EPS has better performance (8.66. 10⁴ m³ air). LCIA results demonstrate that foam glass boards that stand out as safe (not emitting toxic gases in case of fire) are also interesting materials for the environment.

Data of the life cycle impact assessment and cost analysis of prospective direct recycling of end-of-life reverse osmosis membrane at full scale

This data includes the geographical data, the Life Cycle Inventory data and Life Cycle Assessment data of the implementation of end-of-life (EoL) reverse osmosis (RO) direct recycling implementation at full scale in a Spanish region. Besides, the data allows the comparison of the environmental profile between recycled membrane products with the commercial counterparts. The EoL-RO stock potential was analysed constrained to the Segura´s watershed. However, the distribution of recycled membranes was considered within the European Union´s borders. The International Life Cycle Data system (ILCD) midpoint impact categories and the indicator Service Life Ratio (SLR) are presented. This data could be used for deepening analyses as the externalities monetarisation or business model identification or policymakers

This data article is related to J. Senán-Salinas, A. Blanco, R. García-Pacheco, J. Landaburu-Aguirre, E- García-Calvo. J Prospective Life Cycle Assessment and economic analysis of direct recycling of end-of-life reverse osmosis membranes based on Geographic Information Systems. J. Clean. Prod. In Press

[Reduction of the waste produced by convenience food consumption-Opportunities and challenges of deposit return based re-use containers]

The market for convenience food and services, like food-delivery, takeaway, and pre-prepared meals is steadily growing. Many of these products are offered in single use packaging. Consequently, the waste produced by convenience food consumption is also growing. Information from literature and available data from companies provide are used to provide an overview of this waste. Even though plastics contribute a significant part to this waste, it is just a part of it. Additionally, the substitutes used instead of plastics nowadays are mostly designed for single-use application. In terms of resource sustainability, the avoidance of waste production should be imperative. With this respect re-use containers gain a growing interest and are discussed as a good future option for some convenience food sectors. Examples reveal that the annual waste production linked to takeaway food could be reduced by over 90% by implementation of re-use containers. Furthermore, they also reduce the cost of waste management, and create new job opportunities.However, besides opportunities there are challenges. The theoretical waste reduction potential is high, the one gained in practice, however, is rather low. This is due to customers and sales stuff alike. Furthermore, the infrastructure required for such systems to work smoothly is not available everywhere. Especially space for cleaning, drying and storage of the re-use containers is sparse, depending on the type of facility.Finally, questions concerning the material used for re-use containers remain unanswered yet. Especially the growing concerns about Plastic Micro- and Nanobeads remain to be a black box.

Quantitative sustainability assessment of household food waste management in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

Food waste represents the largest fraction of the municipal solid waste generated in Europe and its management is associated to suboptimal performance in environmental, health, and social dimensions. By processing detailed multi-fold local data as part of a comprehensive and broadly understandable sustainability framework, this study quantifies the environmental and socio-economic impacts of household food waste management in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area based on priorities set by local stakeholders. Five alternative short-term management options have been assessed against the current system, relying on poor separate collection and incineration. Four options involve separate collection of food waste followed by biological treatments (home/centralised composting and anaerobic digestion) while one involves a mix of separate collection and centralised mechanical-biological treatment followed by anaerobic digestion. Among these, separate collection followed by anaerobic digestion coupled with effective nutrient and energy recovery is, according to our findings, the preferred option to improve the sustainability of the current system in all dimensions considered, except for the economic pillar due to the collection costs. Home and centralised composting as well as mechanical-biological treatment are associated to more adverse impacts based on our findings. The study informs local stakeholders and authorities on the potential consequences of their options, thereby allowing them to make sound choices for a future waste and circular economy strategy.

Comparing European countries' performances in the transition towards the Circular Economy

The aim of the present research is to compare the performances of the 28 EU Member States in the period 2006-2016 in order to assess their progress towards the achievement of circular economy objectives. This study overviews the conceptual background, that informed the implemented measures so as to create an accumulation of knowledge which focuses on the one hand on "Reduction, Reuse, Recycling" actions, and on the other hand on the main impact areas of circular economy activities. Furthermore, the evaluation of these actions and their impacts were carried out correlating Growth Domestic Products in Purchasing Power Standards data with quantitative indicators: Produced Municipal Waste - PMW, Produced Food Waste - PFW, Municipal Waste Recycling rate - MWRr, Domestic Material Consumption - DMC, Production Material Reuse rate - PMRr, Market rate of Recyclable Raw Materials - MrRRM. These indicators allow assessing the degree of transition achieved by the member states in the implementation of circular economy. The analysis shows that different strategies were adopted by the 28 EU Member States and that only a few of these could be considered effective in meeting the challenges of the circular economy in European Union.

Circular economy potential of e-waste collectors, dismantlers, and recyclers of Maharashtra: a case study

The paper investigates the potential of circular economy of authorized e-waste collectors, dismantlers, and recyclers of Maharashtra. The study determines the drivers and barriers associated with e-waste collection in the region. Furthermore, it explores the handling techniques including dismantling, recycling, and scrap disposal. This is done through a case study of a recycling company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. A questionnaire-based survey is used to study e-waste processing units. The qualitative analysis of the questionnaire shows that lack of awareness of environmental impact is the greatest constraint in the collection of e-waste and data security is the most crucial driver for enhancing the collection of e-waste. The case study reveals that the quantity and type of e-waste are more important than the distance between the processing unit and the collection point. It discloses that the primary factor for building trust between e-waste collectors and waste holders is data security.

New frontiers from removal to recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater in the Circular Economy

Nutrient recovery technologies are rapidly expanding due to the need for the appropriate recycling of key elements from waste resources in order to move towards a truly sustainable modern society based on the Circular Economy. Nutrient recycling is a promising strategy for reducing the depletion of non-renewable resources and the environmental impact linked to their extraction and manufacture. However, nutrient recovery technologies are not yet fully mature, as further research is needed to optimize process efficiency and enhance their commercial applicability. This paper reviews state-of-the-art of nutrient recovery, focusing on frontier technological advances and economic and environmental innovation perspectives. The potentials and limitations of different technologies are discussed, covering systems based on membranes, photosynthesis, crystallization and other physical and biological nutrient recovery systems (e.g. incineration, composting, stripping and absorption and enhanced biological phosphorus recovery).

Implementing Circular Economy in municipal solid waste treatment system using P-graph

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the issues associated with the growth of economic and urban population. The aim of this study is to develop an integrated design of waste management systems in support of a Circular Economy by P-graph (a bipartite graphical optimisation tool) as an effective decision support tool. The case study considers four MSW compositions based on different country income levels. Solving the P-graph model identifies the most suitable treatment approaches, considering the economic balance between the main operating cost, type, yield, quality of products, as well as the GHG emission (externality cost). The identification of near-optimal solutions by P-graph is useful in dealing with the trade-offs between conflicting objectives, e.g. local policy and practical implementation, that are difficult to monetise. For a lower-income country, the optimal solution includes a combination of at source separation, recycling, incineration (heat, electricity), anaerobic digestion (biofuel, digestate) and the landfill. It avoids an estimated 411 kg CO_2eq/t of processed MSW and achieves a potential profit of 42 €/t of processed MSW. The optimisation generally favours mechanical biological treatment as the country income level rises, which affects the composition of the MSW. The relative prices of biofuel, electricity and heat (>20%) cause a significant impact on the highest-ranking treatment structure and overall profit. This study shows that the developed framework by P-graph is an effective tool for MSW systems planning. For future study, localised data inputs can be fed into the proposed framework for a customised solution and economic feasibility assessment.

Fluoride network and circular economy as potential model for sustainable development-A review

Fluorine is the most reactive elements among the halogen group and commonly and ubiquitously occurs as fluoride in nature. The industrial processes produce fluoride by-products causing the increase of unwanted environmental levels and consequently posing risk on human and environmental health worldwide. This review gives a fundamental understanding of fluoride networks in the industrial processes, in the geological and hydrological transport, and in the biological sphere. Numerous biological pathways of fluoride also increase the risk of exposure. Literature shows that various environmental levels of fluoride due to its chemical characteristics cause bioaccumulation resulting in health deterioration among organisms. These problems are aggravated by emitted fluoride in the air and wastewater streams. Moreover, the current waste disposal dependent on incineration and landfilling superpose to the problem. In our analysis, the fluoride material flow model still follows a linear economy and reuse economy to some extent. This flow model spoils resources with high economic potential and worsens environmental problems. Thus, we intend a shift from the conventional linear economy to a circular economy with the revival of three-dimensional objectives of sustainable development. Linkages between key dimensions of the circular economy to stimulate momentum for perpetual sustainable development are proposed to gain economic, environmental and social benefits.

Use of marble sludge waste in the manufacture of eco-friendly materials: applying the principles of the Circular Economy

The marble industry generates enormous amounts of waste every year, whose incorrect management can lead to environmental problems. The Circular Economy model can provide an effective solution to this issue, an aspect that has been addressed in this research. The suitability of a marble sludge generated in the ornamental rock industry of Andalusia (Spain) has been assessed as raw material in ceramic bricks. Mixtures containing a clayey base and 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt% of marble powder have been shaped into 60 × 30 × 10-mm³ prismatic specimens and sintered at 950 °C in a muffle. The main technological properties of the bricks related to color, shrinkage, porosity, water absorption, suction, and compressive strength have been determined. The addition of marble sludge has fostered the development of a lighter color, together with a significant increase of the open porosity. This aspect has implied, on the one hand, higher water absorption and suction results and, on the other hand, a decrease of the density and the mechanical strength. The correlations obtained after applying Shapiro-Wilk normality tests and r Pearson coefficients endorse the clear relationship between the addition of marble powder and the abovementioned effects on the technological properties of the sintered bricks. All the measured properties fully meet the brick standardized requirements, which would indicate that the recycling of marble wastes could be a promising alternative to obtain eco-friendly lightweight ceramic materials.

Dynamic accounting of greenhouse gas emissions from cascading utilisation of wood waste

Cascading utilisation of post-consumer wood waste has recently gained increasing attention in the European Union, aiming for a society in which the resource's properties are optimized through sequential uses. To date, material utilisation of wood waste has been limited to particleboard production, with additional niche alternatives being restricted by quality requirements for wood waste. In this consequential life cycle assessment focusing on post-consumer wood collected at Danish recycling centres, Global Warming Potential (GWP) impacts from quality-driven choices for cascading management of wood waste were compared with those from handling mixed wood waste qualities. GWPs were modelled by considering the dynamic profile of greenhouse gas emissions (including biogenic carbon dioxide) for two time horizons (100 and 500 years). The robustness of the results was tested by varying modelling assumptions with respect to electricity system, wood sourcing and associated rotation period, and impacts from indirect land use changes. The results demonstrated that valuing quality over quantity in wood waste management can ensure larger GWP savings, especially if recycling applications have a long lifetime and/or substitute energy-intensive products; such results were confirmed under all scenario analyses. Inclusion of land use changes credited land-intensive products. More cascade steps of the wood waste resource ensured larger savings; however, assumptions on the electricity mix, on the source of the wood alongside the choice of the time horizon for GWP greatly influenced the results on cascading management.

Mind the gap: A model for the EU recycling target applied to the Spanish regions

The recycling targets for municipal solid waste included in the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) are a relevant driver for sustainable waste management in the EU. According to the WFD, Member States should reach 50% recycling rate by 2020 while 65% has been recently approved for 2035. The aims of this paper are (1) to formalise the WFD definition of recycling rate, by converting it into a model that permits a systematic comparison across systems; and (2) to test the model by using a case study, in order to explore the analytical insights derived from the results, focused on the gap between the current management situation and the EU targets. To this end, a model is presented for the case of Spain at regional level (in Spain, the regional scale is relevant because the Autonomous Communities have to comply with the EU recycling targets according to the Spanish National Waste Management Plan). Results show that most Spanish regions will have to undertake profound changes regarding waste management in order to comply with the WFD. These changes are related to increasing separate collection (of food and garden waste, particularly), improving waste treatment efficiency and limiting the disposal of unsorted waste. The model informs policy-makers about the gap between the current performance of a given system (country, region, municipality) and the WFD target and identifies trade-offs between management strategies. It also contributes to the debate on the on-going revision of the WFD, particularly on the relevance of having a consistent definition of "municipal solid waste" accompanied by waste-stream specific definitions of "recycling".

Proposal of a dynamic model to evaluate public policies for the circular economy: Scenarios applied to the municipality of Curitiba

In Brazil, the National Solid Waste Policy (NSWP) does not encourage incineration. Thus, all the waste generated is disposed of in landfills or recycled. However, currently, around 94% of all the waste generated in Brazil, which is the 4th largest waste generator in the world, is disposed of in landfills. The aim of the article was to develop a dynamic model that allows an analysis of different scenarios involving the tradeoff between investment in new landfills and policies to increase the recycling rate. The methodology used was the technical of analysis of dynamic systems to develop scenarios, following a survey of the data relative to Brazil. The use of dynamic systems enables an understanding of the changing relationships in the waste value chain over time. From the current situation, scenarios have also been developed for Curitiba for 40 years. Curitiba is one of the most important Brazilian capital cities in terms of public policies for waste management. Because it is a dynamic system, the base theory for understanding the relationship between the variables and agents was the circular economy. The variables and relationships of the model were validated specialists, followed by a focal group of specialists in Brazil. By constructing two scenarios, with changes in terms of increasing investments in the public policy for environmental education, it was possible to gauge the impact throughout the value chain of paper and cardboard in Curitiba over a period of 40 years. The results show that the cost of disposal on land will increase, due to the volume generated and the cost of the land. The alternative of investing in recycling policies will reduce this impact in the future. The result shows that the long-term cost of not taking action is higher than the cost of a public policy. If annual investments increase from 315 thousand to 3,15 million (American dollars in 2016), the cost of disposal by 2055 will be reduced by 50 million of dollars per year. Moreover, the recycling rate can be increased by 23%, with the impact on positive externalities for the environment, and reduce the need to increase the use of new land to dispose of more waste. However, even with increased investments in environmental education policies, the 25% recycling rate is not achieved. This shows the need for further actions linked to the organization of the chain. The circular economy is complex, but it transforms problems into opportunities for municipalities such as Curitiba. In cities like Curitiba, where there is no regulated incineration, this analysis model allows an evaluation of the relationship of this tradeoff to propose state policies, transforming this problem into opportunities for municipalities.

Benefits of adding forestry clearance residues for the soil and vegetation of a Mediterranean mountain forest

Desertification is occurring throughout the mountainous areas of the Mediterranean. These processes lead to reduced soil fertility, increased soil loss, and reduced vegetation cover and species richness. To prevent further damage, it is recommendable to use low-cost approaches that are compatible with the European Strategy of Circular Economy guidelines. We investigated the systemic benefits from recycling of forest clearance residue by adding it to a dry Mediterranean mountainous area. More specifically, we performed afforestation without addition of residue in two control plots (C plots), and afforestation with addition of 10Mgha^-1 of clearance residue from a nearby region dominated by Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) in two other plots (PM plots). We conducted the experiments throughout 30months after the afforestation process. Eighteen months after the intervention, the PM plots had significant increases in the soil organic carbon (SOC), and related increases in ecosystem productivity and stability. More generally, addition of clearance residues improved soil and vegetation recovery, and contributed to more successful afforestation. The improvements may be explained by an increase of infiltration process due to the physical changes in the soil following bio-waste addition. Addition of the forest residues increased the formation of soil macrochannels, and also increased the sink area, thereby improving the hydrodynamics of the ecosystem. Thus, soil loss was reduced by 98.2% in the PM plots relative to the C plots. Our study indicates that application of forest clearance residues to Mediterranean mountainous areas is an effective land management practice that produces very little waste, and it is in accordance with European policy.

Advancing to a Circular Economy: three essential ingredients for a comprehensive policy mix

Material resources exploitation and the pressure on natural ecosystems have raised concerns over potential future resource risks and supply failures worldwide. Interest in the concept of Circular Economy has surged in recent years among policy makers and business actors. An increasing amount of literature touches upon the conceptualisation of Circular Economy, the development of 'circular solutions' and circular business models, and policies for a Circular Economy. However, relevant studies on resource efficiency policies mostly utilise a case-by-case or sector-by-sector approach and do not consider the systemic interdependencies of the underlying operational policy framework. In this contribution, a mapping of the existing resource policy framework in the European Union (EU) is undertaken, and used as a basis for identifying policy areas that have been less prominent in influencing material resource efficiency. Employing a life cycle approach, policies affecting material efficiency in the production and consumption stages of a product have been found to be poorly utilised so far in the EU. Taking this as a point of departure, three policy areas that can contribute to closing material loops and increasing resource efficiency are thoroughly discussed and their application challenges are highlighted. The three policy areas are: (1) policies for reuse, repair and remanufacturing; (2) green public procurement and innovation procurement; and (3) policies for improving secondary materials markets. Finally, a potential policy mix, including policy instruments from the three mentioned policy areas-together with policy mixing principles-is presented to outline a possible pathway for transitioning to Circular Economy policy making.