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Abstract: The paper industry is responsible for a considerable amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly due to its intensive energy requirements. The production of heat and power streams in a cogeneration system, i.e., a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, releases considerable amounts of GHG emissions into the atmosphere. Such emissions are already subjected to legislation globally. The amount of GHG emissions is usually calculated from the product of the total amount of energy activity multiplied by an emission factor. However, each energy output stream should get a share of emissions responsibility. This fact could assist in assigning weights to the emissions generated for power and thermal purposes in a combined heat and power plant. However, developing a suitable method of allocating emissions in a cogeneration system is still a concern and a subject research for scientists, companies and policy makers. This paper exposes and evaluates different published allocation methods and applies them to a real case of a combined heat and power plant integrated in a paper mill and proposes a new allocation method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previous studies point out a large (untapped) potential for energy efficiency in industry through the adoption of energy management practices. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze energy management practices in two different Swedish energy-intensive industries: the pulp and paper industry and the foundry industry. The results show that one third of the studied mills and about two fifths of the studied foundries do not allocate energy costs by means of sub-metering, which probably contributes to reinforce the split incentive problem. Moreover, about one fifth of the mills and about half of the foundries lack a long-term energy strategy. The results also show that only about 40% and 25% respectively of the studied mills and foundries may be categorized as successful when it comes to energy management practices. If energy management is not fully prioritized even in energy-intensive industries – such as the studied foundry and pulp- and paper industry it will, in all probability, not be prioritized in less energy-intensive industrial sectors or countries either, indicating a large untapped potential in regard to cleaner, more environmentally sound, production in the industrial sector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Upcycling agroindustry residues into new valuable products is a strategy for mitigating environmental impacts while increasing material circularity. In this study, two sizes of eggshell particles (D 90 = 7.1 μm (ESAJ) and D 90 = 16.3 μm (ESBU)) were obtained and their incorporation as fillers into biodegradable pectin/starch film was evaluated. The effect of the presence of eggshell particles (2–8 w/w%) on the structural and morphological aspects, water barrier, and mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of the biocomposites was evaluated and then the reinforced film was applied on the surface of kraft paper. The release of calcium in an acidic solution was inverse to the size and concentration of particles and the released íon may contribute to the crosslinking of pectin. The incorporation of only 2 % eggshell resulted in 42% lower solubility of the film. The eggshell-reinforced films proved to be more opaque and rigid. The addition of 6% ESAJ significantly improved the tensile strength (an increase of 32%), modulus of elasticity (an increase of 29.7%), and water vapor barrier (59% of improvement). DSC analysis suggests that the calcium from the eggshell interacts with the pectin polymeric structure, reducing the sites available for water molecules, which may have caused more mobility of the chains through the matrix. The reinforced pectin/starch film was very well adhered to the kraft paper in the application test by continuous casting, but the coated paper showed no improvement in oil and water resistance, which means that other coating processes need to be explored. • Eggshell was used as a reinforcing filler material in pectin/starch film. • Eggshell particles were well adhered to the matrix. • The eggshell powder had improved the water resistance of the pectin/starch film. • The addition of 6% eggshell had increased the film's tensile strength in 32%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As an integral part of individual lives and one of the strongest inputs to global economies, tourism is affected by such social tensions and can play an important role in reducing them; therefore it offers an interesting challenge for serious discussions regarding tourism and regional sustainability. Tourism is traditionally associated with pleasure, leisure and escape from the ordinary world and is often contrasted with other, more serious economic activities such as manufacturing and extraction. As a result governments and planners often ignore tourism; furthermore, outside of the field of tourism academic research, the relationship between tourism and sustainability received too little attention considering that tourism can play an increasingly integral role in regional sustainable development processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Life cycle assessment was carried out using IMPACT2002+ to estimate the environmental impact of coated white board production, which is common in China. Normalized results showed that the potential impacts of respiratory inorganics, terrestrial ecotoxicity, global warming, and non-renewable energy had a dominant contributions to overall environmental impact. Specifically, emissions from chemical and energy production processes exhibited higher potential impact (more than 80% of the total contribution) on the environment than that of emissions generated from transport, landfill, wastewater treatment, and paper plants infrastructure. Energy recovery from black liquor and energy generation based on natural gas are key factors in reducing overall environmental potential impact. The current paper presents improvements on the environmental performance of a coated white board production site in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hospitals in the Netherlands generate approximately 1.3 million kg of waste from the polypropylene (PP) wrapping paper (WP) used to wrap surgical instruments each year. The aim of this study was to develop a method to recycle WP waste into new medical devices. WP was recovered from Maasstad Hospital, Netherlands. The WP was melted into bars, granulated, and mixed with virgin material at different ratios and temperatures. Dog bones were injection-molded from volume (v.%) virgin, mixed (%R), and recycled (100%R) granulate, and a tensile testing machine was used to compare the material properties before and after ten disinfection cycles at the sterilization department. Then, 25 instrument openers were made from the 50%R material and circulated for four weeks. The data indicated no significant differences in the mechanical properties at different melting temperatures. For dog bones made from the 100%R, 50%R, and virgin granulate, the Young's moduli were 1021 (SD13), 879 (SD13), and 795 (SD14) MPa, and the strains were 8%, 12%, and 14%. Ten disinfection cycles did not significantly change the material properties. After one month, the openers did not show any deterioration or damage other than surface scratches. The results indicated that the initial WP melting temperature did not influence the mechanical properties. Although devices could be produced directly from the recycled WP granulate, increasing the recycled granulate in the mix ratio increased the strength and brittleness. It is feasible to recycle WP waste into a high-quality raw material for the injection molding of medical devices without using additives. This would allow hospitals to become more compliant with the circular economy enabling economically viable and circular processes that positively contribute to cleaner technical processes, sustainable products, and the reduction of medical waste. ⁃ Circular reprocessing of surgical waste into high quality raw material. ⁃ Enables cleaner processes for reduction of medical waste. ⁃ Increases sustainable development. ⁃ A new method to decrease the production of medical waste. ⁃ Decreases the shortage of base materials and costs. ⁃ Environmental and sustainability assessment: designs for products based on the "green" wishes of customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developed to deal with water allocation problems (WAP), the Water Source Diagram (WSD) method is here extended to be used in problems involving fixed flowrate operations in multiple contaminant processes, as well as processes formulated by the source and sink point of view. Therefore the WSD becomes a complete methodology to solve WAPs without regenerating operations focusing maximum water reuse. To illustrate the performance of the proposed extension, two case studies handling hybrid systems from the pulp and paper industry are presented, including industrial data from a Brazilian pulp and paper plant. The WSD results are also compared with other author's proposals, showing good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main objective of this work is to evaluate the suitability of rice straw and soda–anthraquinone (soda–AQ) pulping process to produce pulp and paper. To reach this aim, it was used a central composite factorial design to study the influence of operational variables (temperature (155–185°C), cooking time (30–90min), soda concentration (10–20%), anthraquinone concentration (0–1%) and liquid/solid ratio (6–8)), in soda–anthraquinone cooking of rice straw on pulps and paper sheets properties obtained. Based on the yield values obtained, nearly one half of the raw material can be efficiently converted into cellulose pulp and paper sheets. Also, the Kappa number/viscosity ratio of the pulp facilitates its efficient bleaching. Finally, based on the values for above-described physical properties, the pulp can be used to obtain paper or board and recycled paper (as % virgin fibre). In Spain are produced annually 757,000t of rice straw. If we considered an average yield process of 45%, it would be possible to obtain 340,000 tons of pulp. These tons would be absorbed by the market taking into account the necessities in cellulosic pulp consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Under carbon cap-and-trade regulation, to control carbon emissions and improve the recycling efficiency of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from the traditional offline recycling channel, more enterprises attempt to simultaneously combine the online recycling platform with the digital transformation of the supply chain. Based on a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) with dual recycling channels and considering recycling advertising invested both in offline and online recycling channels, this paper attempts to explore the optimal recycling advertising mode which can both achieve economic and environmental performance under cap-and-trade regulation. Therefore, game models including a manufacturer and above either recycler are established, which are respectively correspond to four recycling advertising modes: manufacturer cooperates with neither recycler (MO mode), manufacturer only cooperates with the offline retailer (MR mode), manufacturer only cooperates with the online recycling platform (MT mode), and manufacturer cooperates with either recycler (MRT mode). Consequently, this paper solves the optimal decisions of the tripartite and focuses on the analysis of the impact of cooperative (competitive) recycling advertising under cap-and-trade regulation. By comparing the profits and total carbon emissions of the whole CLSC under four recycling advertising modes, the results indicate that: cooperative advertising between the manufacturer and two recyclers can achieve economic and environmental performance for the whole CLSC if the free-riding phenomenon occurs in recycling advertising. Otherwise, influenced by competitive recycling advertising, the above mode turns to the suboptimal one for the profits of two recyclers and the total carbon emissions of the CLSC. Moreover, driven by economic benefits, cooperative advertising will eventually become a consensus, but the total carbon emissions may not always be the least. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial alkaline battery recycling process produces an organic fraction (OF) consisting of waste paper, plastic and cardboard. Currently, this OF is used for energy recovery, given the absence of a successful alternative recycling approach, attributed to its contamination and limited economic value. This study explored the valorisation of the organic fraction derived from the recycling of alkaline batteries as a foaming agent in the production of lightweight expanded clay aggregates (LECAs). The OF, was mixed with red stoneware atomized paste (RSAP) in varying proportions (5–30 wt%) and fired at temperatures between 1000 and 1200 °C. The volumetric expansion, density, and compressive strength of the resulting aggregates were determined via mineralogical and microstructural characterization. The results indicate the organic fraction's suitability as an expansion agent, particularly at 1200 °C with 5–15 wt% inclusion, showcasing density (0.65–0.75 g/cm3) and compressive strength (1.34–1.39 MPa) comparable to commercial expanded clays. The microstructural analysis revealed the formation of rounded pores, influenced by the firing temperature and OF content. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) compared the environmental impacts of this process with traditional LECA manufacturing, highlighting the potential environmental benefits of using recycled battery waste. This study marks the first incorporation of this battery waste residue into LECA manufacturing, providing valuable insights into its environmental implications and paving the way for sustainable waste management practices. [Display omitted] • Organic fraction of alkaline industrial battery recycling enhances clay expansion. • It is a viable additive for manufacturing lightweight expanded clay aggregates. • First-time inclusion of this type of residue in lightweight aggregates manufacturing. • Life Cycle Assessment shows light variations in most impact categories. • Notable enhancements in alkaline battery recycling efficiency could be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon footprints (CFs) are the measure of extent of green house gases (GHGs) emitted from any organization or activity. Reporting of extent of CFs in terms of CO 2 e from educational campus may be considered as a first step towards sustainable educational practices. The present study employs a bottom up approach where CFs due to consumption of resources from each academic department is evaluated separately and net is obtained by adding contributions from individual departments. This method has the advantage of avoiding the potential overlaps in the calculation. Hence this approach to calculate carbon footprints can lead to their precise CF evaluation. In order to justify above hypothesis, CF evaluation was carried out at Shikshana Prasarak Mandali's Sir Parashurambhau College, Pune for three consecutive years starting from 2015 to 2016. The average carbon footprints over the study period were 3630.57 ± 296.79 tones CO 2 e per year with per capita emission of 0.81 ± 0.06 tones CO 2 e. The emission density determined from the average value was found to be 0.0361 ± 0.0029 tCO 2 e m−2 of the campus. It was observed that emission sources classified as scope-1, scope-2 and scope-3 contribute 28%, 48% and 25% respectively to total emission. Out of all the emission sources identified, apart from human contribution through respiration, electricity (35%), biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, stationary paper, 7%, use of chemicals in the laboratories (5%), paper for official purpose (12%), LPG (3%) and transport (27%) were main contributors. As this is a multi faculty college, science faculty contributes almost 62%, commerce 9% and arts 11% of the total emission. • Present paper highlights carbon footprints from an Indian HEI using bottom up approach. • A questionnaire based survey was used to arrive at departmental and net footprints. • Carbon footprints of HEI in India are much less as compared to developed countries. • The carbon footprints of Indian HEIs are expected to grow at 5–6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to perform a microstructural evaluation in geopolymer samples with 28 days of curing (GP28D) and after 8 years of storage (GP8Y). The knowledge on the microstructure of geopolymers in the long run is crucial for the use of these materials, given their great potential applicability. Equally important is the use of industrial waste as raw materials for the manufacture of new materials. In this perspective, this study employed two industrial wastes to produce the samples: bottom ash from mineral coal (BA) and residues from white paper recycling industries. The latter was treated to use the kaolin present in composition. The treatment of the paper waste was carried out by burning the cellulose. Then, the resulting material was subjected to chemical reaction in hydrochloric acid (HCl) to separate the CaCO 3 from kaolin. In addition to kaolin, calcium chloride (CaCl 2) and water were also obtained as reaction products. The kaolin obtained from the paper residue was dehydroxylated at a temperature of approximately 850 °C for 2 h to obtain processed metakaolin (PMK). To obtain the geopolymer samples, BA/PMK proportions of 2:1 were activated with NaOH solutions of 5, 10 and 15 M mixed with sodium silicate. After the synthesis, the samples were cured for 28 days and subjected to analysis. Then they were stored for more eight years and again underwent microstructural analysis. The results of the analyzes showed significant changes in the microstructure of the materials with 28 days of cure and after eight years. The micrographs obtained in SEM showed a denser structure and the micrographs obtained in TEM showed that the amorphous structure was partially replaced by a crystalline structure. The samples aged for eight years did not show significantly higher mechanical resistance in relation to the samples analyzed with 28 days of cure. It is important to highlight that the results did not show microstructural degradation after eight years. • Cement material produced from heavy ash and metakaolin from waste. • Activated with NaOH solutions of 5, 10 and 15 M mixed with sodium silicate. • Characteristics of materials with twenty eight days of curing after eight years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts are usually confined in a substrate to prevent their dispersion and facilitate their subsequent removal from the environmental compartment after remediation, thus, resulting in portable and “green” photocatalytic platforms. If the substrate is well designed, it can retain target pollutants close to the photocatalyst particles increasing photocatalytic efficiency. This study discloses a simple modification of conventional paper, a green and sustainable support, with a polyamide-titanium dioxide nanoparticles composite and its evaluation in photocatalysis. The material offers a high sorption capacity (2.1 μg/cm 2 ) towards the selected model pollutant, methyl orange, allowing its isolation from a contaminated media. Additionally, a remarkable photocatalytic degradation both under UV and visible light (sunlight) was observed at short times of irradiation (typically 20–40 min). According to the results, the cellulosic substrate seems to play a crucial role in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of the environmental regulations affecting carbon emissions is complex, and for many years it has been a hot research topic for researchers. However, few of the previous studies have focused on whether or not environmental regulations can potentially influence carbon emissions through technical efficiency. Therefore, the present study chose to investigate the mediation effects of the technical efficiencies between environmental regulations and carbon emissions using the provincial panel data of energy-intensive industries for the period ranging from 2005 to 2015. The results were as follows: (i) In regard to the entire group of energy-intensive industries, it was found that environmental regulations could not only potentially directly reduce carbon emissions, but also indirectly reduce carbon emissions through technical efficiency. In other words, technical efficiency had played a partial mediation role between the environmental regulations and the carbon emissions; (ii) It was observed that for the different subdivided energy-intensive industries, the different levels of technical efficiency had shown various mediation effects. For example, the mediation effects of technical efficiency in the petroleum processing and coking (PPC) industry; papermaking and paper products (PPP) industry, and raw chemical materials and chemical products (RCMCP) industry, were found to be similar to those of the whole energy-intensive industries. Furthermore, the "Porter Hypothesis" had been verified in the nonmetal mineral products (NMP) industry. However, there were no mediation effects observed in the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals (SPFM) and smelting and pressing of nonferrous metals (SPNM) industries; (iii) In this study, in accordance with the regression results of the double-threshold models, it was found that for the energy-intensive industries as a whole, the carbon emission reduction effects of environmental regulations had become stronger with the increases in technical efficiency. For the PPP and RCMCP industries, there was an inverted U-shaped relationship observed between environmental regulations and carbon emissions when the technical efficiency was taken as the threshold variable. Therefore, based on the research conclusions achieved in this study, some policy recommendations were put forward. • Environmental regulation reduces carbon emission of the energy intensive industries of China. • Technical efficiency plays a partial mediation effect between environmental regulation and carbon emission. • The mediation effects of technical efficiency differ in the subdivided energy-intensive industries. • The "Porter hypothesis" is verified in Nonmetal Mineral Products (NMP) industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Due to rapid deforestation, the paper industry is facing problems like shortage of forest based raw materials, cost increment and negative effects on the environment including increasing air, water and soil pollution. In India, agro residues utilized in stubble burning could be used as a sustainable fiber resource for papermaking, but the paper made from these possesses poor strength properties. Considering the multiple advantages of using agro residues and weak strength properties of the paper made from these, this study was conducted. The effect of blending hardwood pulp and agro pulp with cationic starch or chitosan at wet-end of papermaking with and without subsequent surface sizing using oxidized starch was explored. As a wet-end additive, chitosan dose of 0.5 kg/t was more promising than cationic starch dose of 5 kg/t with all pulps. Paper was produced from 85% agro and 15% hardwood pulp and 0.5 kg/t of chitosan at wet-end after surface sizing with oxidized starch. It improved the tear index, Taber stiffness, double fold and air permeance by 2.7%, 6.5%, 170%, and 300%, respectively with 18.4% decrease in Cobb 60 as compared to paper made with 100% hardwood pulp. FTIR analysis was further done to evaluate the effect on crystallinity ratio and energy changes in hydrogen bonds in the papers of differently blended pulps after surface sizing. The study signifies the enhancement in strength and surface properties of paper made using agro pulp after addition of biopolymers at wet-end with and without surface sizing. Highlights • Mixing hardwood (HW) pulp with agro (AG) pulp to improve its paper properties. • Use of wet-end additives improved the strength and surface properties of paper. • Chitosan is a more efficient wet-end additive than starch. • Paper from 15% HW and 85% AG pulp after surface sizing was comparable to hardwood. • With surface sizing using chitosan agro pulp can be used to produce good quality paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work is concerned with the dynamic modelling of the papermaking section of an integrated newsprint mill, and the subsequent application of two direct search methods in a proof-of-concept optimization study of broke recirculation strategies. The effect of the current broke recirculation policy on the mixed pulp properties at the paper machine headboxes was quantified using a dynamic simulation generating data for an objective function which reflected the rate of change in measurable (flow, consistency and temperature) and immeasurable (total dissolved solids and fibre length distribution) parameters. Genetic Algorithm and the Nelder–Mead simplex methods were then linked dynamically to the simulation and used to find improved ways of recirculating broke pulp. Specifically, the profile of the changes to the broke ratio was modelled using a quadratic function and a second-order transfer function, and the coefficients of these functions were optimized. The optimized broke recirculation resulted in a significant reduction in the value of the objective function, thus, suggesting that the fluctuations in the properties of the mixed pulp stream could be dampened and paper machine headbox stability improved. It is expected that this process enhancement strategy would contribute to an increase in production yield (via a reduction in the occurrence of paper machine breaks), and thus an overall reduction in the waste of materials and energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Large quantities of post-use glass packages are produced globally, that so need to be treated as waste: this is cause of a global environmental concern. Therefore, efforts are required for optimisation and promotion of re-use and recycling practices with a waste valorisation-oriented approach in a circular economy context. In this context, the study was aimed at documenting environmental damages and improvements related to recycling glass cullet into sodium silicate in water solution on a lab-scale chemical process. Life Cycle Assessment was applied for this purpose according to the specialised International Standards. The study highlighted that the environmental hotspots of the process stay in the production of electricity and of sodium hydroxide as both required for the chemical reaction development. Those two input items contribute 81.94% and 14.33% of the total damage associated with the whole lab process, that is equal to nearly 36.5 μpt. A 64% environmental damage reduction could be obtained by sourcing the process electricity requirements by means of a photovoltaic plant. Furthermore, through a sensitivity analysis, the authors proved that the investigated sodium silicate is appreciably more environmentally sustainable than the virgin-origin counterpart, whose environmental profile was measured in nearly 43 μpt. The study can be considered as a proof that, already in the design phase on a lab-scale dimension, it is possible to identify recycling paths that may contribute to implementing sustainable circular models of the economy. [Display omitted] • The paper investigates the recycling of post-use glass containers into sodium silicate. • Life Cycle Assessment was applied to a chemical process on the laboratory scale. • The functional unit was 41g sodium silicate. • Electricity consumption and sodium hydroxide production were the environmental hotspots. • Recycled sodium silicate was environmentally proven than the virgin counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 has become a global pandemic that dramatically impacted human lives and economic activities. Due to the high risk of getting affected in high-density population areas and the implementation of national emergency measures under the COVID-19 pandemic, both travel and transportation among cities become difficult for engineers and equipment. Consequently, the costly physical commissioning of a new manufacturing system is greatly hindered. As an emerging technology, digital twins can achieve semi-physical simulation to avoid the vast cost of physical commissioning of the manufacturing system. Therefore, this paper proposes a digital twins-based remote semi-physical commissioning (DT-RSPC) approach for open architecture flow-type smart manufacturing systems. A digital twin system is developed to enable the remote semi-physical commissioning. The proposed approach is validated through a case study of digital twins-based remote semi-physical commissioning of a smartphone assembly line. The results showed that combining the open architecture design paradigm with the proposed digital twins-based approach makes the commissioning of a new flow-type smart manufacturing system more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of enzymatic process on pulp bleaching using a potential lignolytic fungus Penicillium meleagrinum has been investigated in order to minimize the consumption of chemicals in bleaching process. Xylanase enzyme extracted from P. meleagrinum was studied and the maximum xylanase production by P. meleagrinum was recorded as 5.74 U/mL at 30 °C and at 5.5 pH. The extracted xylanase was applied to the unbleached bamboo pulp alone or in combination with hydrogen peroxide to find out the efficacy of the enzyme on pulp bleaching. Xylanase pre-treatment can remove a considerable amount of lignin from unbleached pulp which can further be reduced by giving a treatment with 2% hydrogen peroxide. Xylanase pre-treated peroxide bleaching reduces lignin content from 10.55% to 3.25% in unbleached bamboo pulp. The kappa number of pulp decreases from 13.50 to 8.50 with the increase of pulp brightness 68–69%, viscosity 8.94 cP and crystallinity of the pulp cellulose to 62.05%. Scanning electron micrographs reveal uniform fibre with occasional pores and cracks on the surface. The results of the present study have been found encouraging which may aid in the development of new cleaner and alternative method of bleaching for pulp and paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental crises and increasing pressure from governments are responsible for the appearance of various green approaches to be considered in supply chain management. One of these approaches is sustainable supply chains, which have been implemented in different aspects of supply chains. Most third-party logistics (3 PLs) companies now provide their services utilizing the sustainable supply chain approach. In this study, we consider a 3PL in a supply chain with two goals: decreasing carbon emission and delivery time using a game theoretic approach, which is considered for the first time. We suppose that consumers are aware about the green transportation. Also, it is assumed that two manufacturers deliver their products to the same retailer using a 3 PL. The manufacturers use the 3 PL mainly because it is a way to provide green transportation and increase customer satisfaction by ensuring that products are delivered in a timely fashion to the retailer. This paper examines product pricing, the greenness determination for the first manufacturer's product, and the variables for the 3 PL, including the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and delivery time. Three scenarios are considered in this research: a centralized game and two decentralized games. The results show that it is essential to establish competition between the supply chain members to obtain greater profitability and an acceptable level of sustainability indicators. In the decentralized Stackelberg game between the manufacturers, they earn the highest profit. In the centralized game, the product greenness is the lowest, and in the decentralized game when the 3 PL is the leader, the product greenness is the highest. • The production of one green and one non-green product by two competitor producers. • The producers send products to retailer by using a 3 PL. • Using game theory to investigate the effects of 3 PL in the sustainable SC. • Analyzing the problem with three scenarios: two decentralized and one centralized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of CaO for lime-based plaster and render generates 1.2 t CO 2 /t CaO, consumes 1.78 t CaCO 3 /t CaO. This research paper examines the environmental and economic performance of upcycling paper mill sludge (PMS) and carbide lime (CL) as replacements for hydrated lime (HL) in lime-based plasters production. For this, a new Cradle-to-Gate industrial-scale inventory is designed, upscaling recent lab-scale innovations, investigating PMS and CL treatment processes, followed by a Cradle-to-Grave scenario analysis. The results show that incorporating CL in the plaster yields better environmental and economic outcomes compared to PMS. The intermediate treatment for CL is cost-effective and has low carbon emissions. The upcycling of CL eliminates 100% of CO 2 emissions, while PMS reduces emissions by 11%. The production of the traditional binder HL is more expensive than upcycling PMS (+69%) and CL (+65%), with carbon taxes accounting for 35%, 44% and 15% of production costs, respectively. The effect of an equilibrated carbon price to ensure fair market competition, considering the natural carbonation of lime (carbon credit) is discussed, and the cost assessment reveals a 47% and 54% reduction for upcycled plasters using PMS and CL, respectively, compared to traditional HL. [Display omitted] • Availability, properties, and treatments of secondary lime resources. • Industrial-scale inventory for upcycling carbide lime (CL) & paper sludge (PS). • Cradle-to-Grave assessment: CL reduces CO 2 most, trailed by PS and hydrated lime. • Key factors for Cradle-to-Grave impact: lime kiln heat consumption (PS) and drying operation (CL). • Cost analysis of carbon taxes and credits across the material's life-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ecological Footprint (EF) model is an effective tool for determining the resource consumption demand of human activities and whether natural assets are overutilized. The EF calculation method has certain theoretical and methodological importance for low-carbon campus construction. With the development of science and technology, some parameters in traditional EF calculation methods need to be modified. Based on the definition of fossil energy land and the latest average grain yield, this paper revised the calculation parameters of the EF method in six aspects: absorbed gas, electricity, agricultural products, aquatic products, livestock products, and paper. This paper applied the calculation method before and after improvement to Henan Polytechnic University. The EF of the campus according to calculations was 28,358.41 gha, and the per capita EF was 0.657 gha/person using the improved calculation method. Compared with the unimproved method, the improved method resulted in a substantial decrease in EFs, which can be explained by three reasons. First, the fossil energy land was divided into forestland and pasture land. Second, the average yield was recalculated using the latest statistical database of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Finally, the utilization of waste pulp in the paper industry was considered. The calculated results were also analyzed and compared with those of other universities, Worldwide Fund for Nature and Enhancing Universities'Sustainability Teaching and Practices through Ecological Footprint. The improved calculation results can better reflect the actual situation of the campus, improve the rationality of EF calculation, and provide a reference for EF at the campus level. Accordingly, the current situation of campus resource consumption can be explained, further providing a basis for proposing an EF reduction scheme for green campus construction. [Display omitted] • Some parameters have been modified in the improved ecological footprint calculation method. • The fossil energy land was divided into forestland and pasture land in the improved calculation method. • The latest average grain yield used in the improved calculation method. • The calculated results were analyzed and compared with those of WWF and EUSTEPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the development paths leading to the transition to cleaner bleaching technologies in the pulp industry. It devotes particular attention to the key features of the Swedish transition, but also compares this to the Finnish experiences. The empirical investigation builds on an analytical framework highlighting the conditions under which pollution regulations can provide efficient incentives for deep emission reductions at industrial plants. Existing and new archive material, including not least comprehensive license trial acts for Swedish pulp mills over an extended time period, are studied. Based on this historical analysis our findings contradict previous literature, the latter emphasizing that pressures from consumers and the public were the most significant driving forces behind the adoption of–and innovation in–alternative bleaching technologies during the late 1980s. Instead, this paper asserts, the green pulp transition was characterized by regulation-induced technological change and was made possible by long history of industry-wide cooperation in environmental R&D. Furthermore, while previous research has emphasized the leading role of the Nordic countries in green pulp innovation, we identify a number of profound differences between Finland and Sweden. These emerge from various national contexts in terms of, for instance, industry structures and strategies, political cultures, and regulatory styles. Finally, at a more general level the paper provides a few policy implications for supporting the ongoing transition towards a forest-based bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution and freshwater scarcity are growing problems not only in Europe but all over the world. Water reuse contributes significantly to water sustainability and brings many environmental, economic, and social benefits. The European Union (EU) has recently been addressing water-related problems with great commitment. Unfortunately, the total production of wastewater in the European Union is unknown. The situation in the EU is not satisfactory, as only 2.5% of treated wastewater is reused. The first contribution of this study is the estimation of the total amount of wastewater produced annually in the EU. It is estimated that half of this amount comes from industry, namely over 25,500 million m3. Therefore, this study aims to review and analyze the current state of the industrial wastewater (IWW) issue in the EU and to put it in the context of current EU legislation, targets, and water reuse policy. Moreover, since water reuse technologies are energy intensive, the focus is given to the techno-economic impact of IWW reuse. The energy consumption and investment costs in relation to the amount of water treated have been determined for filtration only, minimum liquid discharge (MLD), and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. Reclaiming 80% of IWW would increase industrial energy consumption by only 4.1%, and investment costs would amount to only 1.5% of the EU GDP. Further, the assessment was focused on the paper & pulp industry, which is among the largest wastewater producers. Implementing efficient water reuse technology in this industry could mean up to 3,449 Mm3/year of reclaimed water. [Display omitted] • Overview of EU legislation with recommendations for future EU policy is presented. • Total amount of wastewater from industry was determined as over 25,500 million m3. • Significant water savings in the industry are possible (80%) using MLD. • Water savings in the paper and pulp industry can be up to 3449 Mm3/year. • 80% of IWW reuse would cost only 1.5% of EU GDP and increase ECI only by 4.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater solids could be an attractive source of secondary raw cellulose, mainly originating from toilet paper. Cellulose can be recovered through sieving of raw wastewater, return sludge, or excess sludge. In particular, a large fraction of cellulose (13–15%) can be found in the excess sludge of the aerobic granular sludge produced by the Nereda® wastewater technology. A cellulose extraction method was developed during this study, allowing the recovery of a pulp with over 86 wt% purity. The wastewater derived cellulose fibres could be an excellent source for production of recovered cellulose nanocrystals (rCNC). Several pre-treatment steps needed in cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) production from wood pulp are already performed in the production of toilet paper. Here, the technical feasibility of such rCNC is studied. As reference materials, microcrystalline cellulose and toilet paper were also used. The rCNC were obtained by acid hydrolysis, with yields of ∼30 wt% (pulp basis). The wastewater-based material was rod-like, with high aspect ratio (10–14), crystallinity (62–68%), and chemical structure similar to commercial CNC. The yield of rCNC per gram of cellulose recovered from the influent was 22%, while for excess sludge cellulose it was less (4%). Bio-nanocomposites of rCNC and alginate were also investigated. At 50 vol% loading of rCNC, there was a 50% relative increase in stiffness (18 GPa) compared to matrix (12 GPa). The characterization of rCNC and positive impact in composite materials confirms a suitable quality of wastewater derived CNC. Ultimately, the nanocellulose is a tangible example that recovery of high-end products from wastewater is possible, in line with a circular economy. Image 1 • A facile method for cellulose recovery and estimation in wastewater was proposed. • Nanocellulose (CNC) was obtained from toilet paper and wastewater cellulose. • Recovered CNC is similar to commercial CNC (shape, crystallinity, stiffness). • Recovered CNC results in high stiffness bio-nanocomposites with alginate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable food packaging alternatives represent an ever-expanding trend on supermarkets' shelves. Despite the technological efforts, a higher sustainability level often comes at the expense of other (perceived) benefits which consumers might not want to sacrifice. While the balance between the benefits and drawbacks of "cleaner" packaging production is central to the designers' perspective, it is generally overlooked in consumer research. This paper investigates how European consumers cope with product-packaging decisions, when these involve a compromise. Through an online survey with 5035 consumers in five different European countries, our results show that the sustainability appreciation can spill-over to other conventional benefits, such convenience, aesthetic quality or the perceived ability of the packaging to preserve the content. By contributing to sustainability literature and, in particular, to the understanding of the halo and spill-over effect of sustainability, this study shows that positive associations triggered by eco-design elements (e.g., a biodegradable and compostable material) absorb and filter out negative experiences, preventing consumers from perceiving certain drawbacks. This research also provides valuable practical implications to marketers and product designers, by demonstrating how different product categories, packaging types and consumer characteristics, in terms of gender, age, nationality, values and lifestyle, influence product-packaging decisions and their inherent trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things in the energy sector manifests itself in the form of smart energy technologies that bring forth new smart energy business models (BMs). This technological progress alongside with decentralization of renewable energy production, market liberalization, and changing customer demands is making it difficult for organizations to keep up with the changing nature of the energy industry. Traditional energy utilities are challenged by the emerging smart energy BMs as the latter can replace established business operations. This is especially true for the customer segment of private households, which has become a focus of BM innovation in recent years. To address the challenge of low market transparency and the dynamics of technology-induced BM change, we analyze the BMs of 175 energy firms addressing the end consumer market by using a static (i.e., deriving BM representations) and dynamic BM lens (i.e., analysis of BM changes). We identify eight smart energy BM representations in form of BM archetypes. The findings are set in relation to a theoretical understanding of BM change revealing a hesitancy of traditional utilities to revise their BMs. Instead, the energy utilities prefer to build on BM extensions by outsourcing the innovation activities in subsidiaries or by using partnerships. The BM archetypes together with the BM changes provide an overview of the current smart energy market for private households and can serve as a starting point for BM innovation especially for energy utilities. • The business models (BMs) of 175 companies regarding smart energy are presented. • Analyzed business models are synthesized in the form of eight smart energy BM archetypes. • The paper introduces smart energy BM changes. • The BM changes and archetypes enhance the understanding of BM innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly stringent environmental regulations and increasing input costs negatively affects the sustainability and competitiveness of the pulp and paper industry. As a result, it has become necessary that broader strategies aimed at helping the industry to improve the environment performance whilst also reducing the operation costs are initiated. Recovering water and chemical from the bleach plant effluent streams could be one of such initiatives. In this paper, a preliminary techno-economic assessment of recovering water and caustic soda from alkaline bleach plant effluent using ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membrane systems is presented. The scope of this work included; assessing the practicality and the economic performance of this membrane process. In terms of the practicality, the data acquired revealed that the proposed concept can only be applied to the alkaline effluents from the alkaline extraction stage, where caustic soda, oxygen, and peroxide are used as the pulp bleaching chemicals. Economic performance of this membrane system, however, is dependent on the effluent flow rates and the amount of water recovered. To be economically viable, the flow rates must higher than 480 m 3 /day and water recovery rate need to be higher than 70%. At this optimum effluent flow and water recovery rates, the process cost is approximately R 19/m 3 . Depending on the flow rates, the investment cost is in the range of R 5–25 million and the payback time is between 3 and 4 years. However, motivations of caustic recovery should be based on environmental rather than economic benefits. Mills can use the detailed information/data acquired in this study to determine whether it would be beneficial for them to implement this type of integrated waste management strategy in their processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While combating air pollution may seem to be a corporate responsibility, what individuals contribute can be substantial. This study explores the individual's behavioral intention to reduce the air pollution associated with vehicles, household appliances, and religious practices. An extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), past behavior included, serves as the analytical model, while the approach of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is employed in the model's estimation. The results show that subjective norms represent the primary driver of individual intentions to reduce air pollution, followed by perceived behavioral control, past behavior, and attitude, in that order. Surprisingly, advocacy on the part of the government to reduce the burning of incense and joss paper, disregarding years of social conflicts and protests, plays the most important role among all indicators within the construct subjective norms. This result holds even within the subsample of believers in religions that involve the practice of burning incense and joss paper. • Subjective norms represent the primary driver of individual intentions to reduce air pollution. • Governmental advocacy to reduce the burning of incense and joss paper plays an important role. • Individuals' attitudes towards de-carbonization and mitigating air pollution differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Green liquor dregs are the most challenging waste stream coming from the pulp and paper industry. Despite tremendous efforts, there are not currently any viable recycling alternatives for this massively produced waste (2 Mt/year), which inevitably ends up in landfills. Urgent actions must be undertaken to tackle this. In this work, a substantial amount of dregs was incorporated into eco-friendly, waste-based inorganic polymer (geopolymer) mortars as fine filler. Then, and for the first time, the long-term strength performance (up to 270 days) and heavy metals leaching behaviour of the dregs-containing mortars was evaluated. The effect of the mixture composition and dregs incorporation content on the fresh- and hardened-state properties of the mortars was also studied. Dregs were found to increase the initial and final setting time of the slurries, thus extending the open time before their in-situ application. The use of dregs as fine filler effectively enhances the compressive strength of the mortars, and decreases their water absorption levels. These eco-friendly building materials showed excellent long-term performance, as their strength continuously increases up to the 270th day (after mixture), and no signs of efflorescence formation were detected. Moreover, the heavy metals leaching levels of the mortars were well below the contamination limits in soil, which demonstrates the feasibility of this recycling methodology. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Eco-friendly geopolymer mortars containing green liquor dregs were synthesised. • For the first time the durability and leaching behaviour of dregs-containing mortars was studied. • Dregs effectively enhanced mortars' compressive strength (up to 44%). • Samples' compressive strength increased with ageing demonstrating their durability. • Mortars' heavy metals leaching levels were below the contamination limits in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The literature on baby diapers has so far focused on environmental implications of using cloth instead of disposable products, utilising bio-materials or enabling recycling and composting. However, no study to date has examined the life cycle costs and eco-efficiency implications of cleaner production of disposable diapers. Therefore, this paper sets out to evaluate the economic and environmental savings that could be achieved by eco-design and cleaner production of disposable baby diapers. This involves the use of an optimised absorbent core and innovative bonding technologies to replace gluing systems in diaper manufacturing. The analysis is carried out at different production and consumption scales: a single production platform, a whole industrial plant, a country and the European Union (EU). A cradle-to-grave life cycle costing demonstrates that the novel design and manufacture of the so-called "glueless" diapers reduce costs by 11% compared to the conventional product. This is equivalent to saving €250 million at the EU level. Likewise, the eco-efficiency analysis shows that the glueless diapers are 7%–170% more eco-efficient (€/impact) than the standard diapers, depending on the environmental impact considered. Still, eco-design and cleaner production will not help to resolve the underlying critical issue of the linear material consumption and waste generation associated with the use of disposable baby diapers. Further industrial efforts must concentrate on finding solutions to facilitate implementation of circular economy principles for these products. This calls for the development of new circular business models as discussed in the paper. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • New diapers are overall 32% more eco-efficient (€/impact) than the standard type. • Cleaner production of diapers reduces the life cycle costs by 11%. • At the EU level, this corresponds to an annual saving in costs of €250 million. • In addition, 192 kt materials and wastes and 184 kt of CO 2 eq. are saved annually. • Still, implementation of a circular economy is critical for the diapers industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the complex network of industry space, this paper investigates the industry structure optimization in Jiangxi Province in China. For the prefecture-level cities in Jiangxi Province, the location quotient is applied to obtain the specialized sub-industries. The conditional probability is used to analyze the interdependencies between industries. The complex network of industry space is presented to illustrate the relatedness among industries and analyze the space and structure of the regional overall industry. The index of transitional potential is proposed to measure the potential of a non-specialized industry which will become a specialized one in the future. The transformation difficulty index of industry is obtained to analyze the difficulty level of the transformation of the original specialized industry set to a new specialized one of a city. The results show that more industries have positive than negative interdependencies with one another in Jiangxi Province; rare industries specialize in cities at higher-level GDP, and common industries dominate the cities at lower-level GDP; it is more difficult for rarer non-specialized industries to become specialized ones, more common non-specialized industries can become specialized ones more easily, and the cities with higher GDP can transform industries more easily. By discussing the industries that have positive interdependencies with existing specialized industries, the detailed direction of industry structure optimization is analyzed. Finally, the policy implications are proposed, and these can be applied to other developing countries. • The conditional probability is used to analyze the interdependencies between industries. • The complex network of industry space is presented to illustrate the relatedness among industries. • The index of transitional potential is used to measure the potential of a non-specialized industry becoming specialized. • The transformation difficulty index is the difficulty level of the transformation of the originally specialized industry. • The industry structure can be optimized by developing the industries that have positive interdependencies with existing specialized industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic grocery bags are one of the most ubiquitous single-use packaging products. Recently, 'eco-friendly' options of plastic grocery bags have gained traction such as kraft paper, cotton, biodegradable, and reusable polypropylene non-woven bags. However, the impact of using various grocery bags in cities with dense population, well-developed infrastructure and thermal treatment as an end-of-life waste management option has been insufficiently documented. In this study, commonly found single-use (HDPE, biodegradable plastic, kraft paper) bags and reusable (cotton, polypropylene non-woven) bags were considered for the life cycle assessment (LCA). The usage characteristics (reusability, dimensions, carrying capacity) of bags, the production process (raw materials extraction, production processes), and emissions were determined as the significant factors contributing to the negative environmental impacts. In a model city with confined waste management, the assessment determined that the reusable polypropylene non-woven bag (PNB) caused the least overall negative environmental impacts when there are 50 instances of reuse, followed by single use HDPE plastic bag (HPB). The global warming potential (excluding biogenic carbon) was 14, 81, 17 and 16 times higher for HDPE plastic, kraft paper, cotton woven and biodegradable polymer bags, respectively, when compared to PNB. Moreover, kraft paper or cotton woven bags demonstrated the highest negative impacts for the impact categories including abiotic fossil depletion, freshwater-, marine- and terrestrial-ecotoxicities, human toxicity, acidification and eutrophication potentials. Further, sensitivity analysis indicated that the inflexion point for the PNB was minimum 4 reuses to avoid emission equivalent to the HPB. Singapore was adopted as the model city with confined waste management structure that imports most of the grocery bags, either as finished goods or as raw materials. Through comprehensive insights based on the new outlook of the integrated LCA model (cradle-to-grave) that included full-scale transportation component, the usage of the real case data from a city to develop the life cycle inventory, and consideration of the existing grocery bags options, the environmental assessment along with critical evaluation was conducted. • Case specific life cycle assessment of grocery bags in the context of Singapore. • Plastic bags presented lower environmental footprint than paper and cotton bags for Singapore. • Plastics are an environmental friendly option for waste management structures with end-of-life thermal treatment. • Multiple reuse of plastics is a means to minimize environmental footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The path to electrification of the informal and organic transport sector – minibus taxis in South Africa's case – is fraught with challenges. These stem mainly from shorter ranges and slower re-energising of electric vehicles, compounded by their unscheduled nature and day-variant routing. However, the transformation also presents opportunities for improving infrastructure and vehicle utilisation. Planning for electrification becomes a complex spatio-temporal interdependence between mobility, infrastructure (civil and electrical), vehicle specifics, and driver behaviour. This paper evaluates two scenarios using mixed fleet analysis: (1) striving to achieve the same mobility patterns with equal-sized electric vehicles and (2) scheduling for passenger demand, which was extracted from existing mobility patterns. The paper's main contributions lie in a proposed method to bridge the gap between these two scenarios through trip extraction, as well as introducing the concept of mixed fleets as a way to achieve electrification in the paratransit industry. The results show that using passenger demand to place the charging infrastructure and schedule the vehicles and their charging, results in a reduced number of vehicles, a higher proportion of electric vehicles in the fleet, a reduced number of chargers required, a reduced grid impact, and only a fractional increase in total fleet distance covered. Consequently, we propose to leverage the transformational opportunity presented by electrification to structure sub-Saharan Africa's paratransit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph theory (GT) has become an indispensable tool for exploring environmental interconnections and elucidating ecological relationships. The integration of GT with Ecological network analysis (ENA) has been increasingly recognised for its potential to enhance our understanding of ecological systems. However, the application of GT in ENA faces several limitations that warrant closer examination. This paper aims to investigate these challenges through a systematic review, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review encompasses 329 selected articles published from January 2014 to December 2021, highlighting GT's uptake in ENA but also pinpointing significant challenges. The review reveals that while GT offers flexibility in analysing different ecological networks (ENs), challenges exist related to understanding landscape dynamics, the accuracy of measurement scale, species-specific data, and reliability. Specially, the use of nodes and links presents definitional and measurement complexities, compounded by an overwhelming variety of indicators that may dilute analytical precision. The paper advocates for the development of frameworks to conceptualise ideal and sustainable ENs and to establish indicators for assessing network efficacy. Future research must tackle these methodological hurdles, with a special focus on refining measurement scale, species-specific data, spatio-temporal considerations, and node and link assessment for different species, while ensuring reliability. Additionally, the potential of GT to mitigate the impact of ecological threats is underscored as a critical area for future applications. Addressing these challenges is imperative for advancing GT's contribution to ENA and fostering more effective environmental conservation strategies. • Graph theory is adaptable for analysing structural and functional ecological networks. • Accuracy of graph theory usage in ecological network analysis depends on key factors. • Integrating diverse data sources enhances ecological network study robustness. • Proper spatio-temporal resolution boosts connectivity assessment credibility. • Reliability directly impacts the validity of ecological network research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celebrity and influencer endorsement, a widely used strategy, presents an ambiguous efficacy in promoting pro-environmental behavior. Past studies in this field have lacked exploration into the psychosocial mechanisms influencing individuals to adopt environmentally friendly practices. This study, grounded in the source credibility model, consumer decision model, and theory of reasoned action, delves into the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement. Comparing sports and entertainment celebrities in a quasi-experiment, the paper gathered data from diverse community hubs within a densely populated urban settlement. Focusing on Alexandra township in Johannesburg, South Africa, the research examines how individual and social factors influence residents' pro-environmental behavior, comparing two celebrity types: sports and entertainment figures. The paper employed a structural equation modeling to analysed the two samples. Findings highlight the pivotal roles of personal involvement and normative influence in shaping residents' environmental problem recognition. Additionally, a positive relationship emerges between problem recognition and pro-environmental attitude. This research extends beyond Western contexts, addressing a social imperative for behavior change in an urban poor setting. Contributing to celebrity endorsement theory, the study presents a practical strategy for transforming communities into proactive advocates for environmental consciousness. This study, transcending conventional boundaries, illuminates the multifaceted dynamics of celebrity influence. In doing so, it enriches our understanding of effective strategies for nurturing pro-environmental citizens through effective celebrity advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]