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Purpose The aim of this work is to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings potential in magazine paper production through the application of the innovative manufacturing strategies using advanced sheet structure design and fibre modifications. Methods The study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to two different magazine paper products: supercalendered (SC) paper and light-weight coated (LWC) paper. A cradle-to-gate approach is used aiming to assess the environmental benefits gained through the implementation of new manufacturing strategies in both products. The functional unit of the system was defined as the production of one square meter of finished paper for printing magazines. Conventional and new production processes have been compared. Results and discussion The strategies applied to SC paper resulted in reduction of GHG emissions by 22.9%, with a total of 10.7 gCO 2 eq emissions saved per square meter of SC paper. In the case of LWC paper, GHG emissions are reduced by 20.3%, which are equal to a total of 19.7 gCO 2 eq saved per square meter of LWC paper. The influence of certain methodological approaches -functional unit, electricity mix and avoided impacts- in the final results is also discussed in the paper. Conclusions The manufacturing strategies implemented show a remarkable potential for reducing GHG emissions. Taking into account that the pulp and paper industry is a very energy-intensive sector and one of the main GHG emitters, the potential of the strategies for the improvement of the environmental performance of the papermaking processes is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI technology, has surged across various industries. However, a notable drawback of this technology is its significant energy consumption during model training and operation, which poses challenges to sustainability goals and the environment. Consequently, various initiatives have emerged to promote what is termed "green artificial intelligence," aiming to mitigate these environmental impacts. Nevertheless, research discussing these initiatives remains scarce. Hence, this study aims to identify green artificial intelligence initiatives that contribute to environmental friendliness. This paper has comprehensively reviewed the existing literature, professional websites, and expert blogs to identify and analyze available green AI initiatives. This paper has identified 55 such initiatives, broadly categorized into six themes: cloud optimization, model efficiency, carbon footprinting, sustainability-focused AI development, open-source initiatives, and green AI research and community. This study discusses the strengths and limitations of each initiative to offer a comprehensive overview. The findings provide valuable insights, particularly for industries interested in green artificial intelligence and green technology in general. While some tools have been recognized and studied, comprehensive research and analysis are still required to empirically evaluate the majority of other tools due to their early stages of development in this field. • Study explores the growing awareness and concern about environmental impact of AI. • It investigates development of tools and approaches to address Green AI. • Significance of collaboration, open-source initiatives, in Green AI development. • Examine importance of ethical considerations in green AI development. • Provide insights for industries in green AI and green technology in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract For the water sector to cope with rising populations and the anticipated impacts of climate change, increasing amounts of construction output are needed to build water-related infrastructure. Amidst emerging operational energy efficiencies and gradual grid decarbonisation, the relative impact and extent of embodied carbon dioxide equivalent (embodied CO 2 e) effected from the construction and maintenance of water sector infrastructure is likely to rise. For practitioners in the water and construction sectors, there is a growing need to be able to understand and account for embodied CO 2 e. However, the contribution of embodied CO 2 e as part of the whole life cycle impacts of water related infrastructure is disputed in the current literature, and with only a handful of studies suggesting it is important its significance is not established. This work aims to explore this issue, and provide clarity. This paper shows the calculations involved to measure the embodied and operational CO 2 e of Old Ford Water Recycling Plant, a small blackwater recycling treatment facility producing 574 m3/day of reclaimed water. For the analyses, embodied carbon dioxide coefficients (ECCs) are used that were provided by the water operator Thames Water Utilities Ltd (TWU), and based on its supply chain, and datasets from Ecoinvent v3.1, a commercially available assessment tool. The final aggregated carbon footprint values calculated are 1.430 kgCO 2 e (TWU in-house analysis) and 1.566 kgCO 2 e (Ecoinvent) per cubic metre of recycled water. The results show that the contribution of embodied CO 2 e is significant, making up 50.7% (TWU) and 77.3% (Ecoinvent) of the total carbon footprint value in each analysis. The research identified that assessments could be improved if there was higher-quality data provided by manufacturers and suppliers on the embodied CO 2 e content of materials, components, and equipment. This paper further illustrates differences between calculations using generic data (Ecoinvent) and supply chain data, and the difficulties involved in producing functionally equivalent life cycle inventories. Graphical abstract Image 10027 Highlights • Contribution of embodied carbon is significant in water recycling plant case. • Embodied carbon deemed important in future project design and operation. • Generic data distorts true extent of accounted embodied impacts. • Robust information from supply chain can improve assessment accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract One of the major global environmental challenges is the overuse of nutrients and related eutrophication problems. Specifically in Finland, the roach fish population is rapidly increasing in eutrophic water systems. Currently roach fish does not have economic value, and it is mainly composted despite the fact that it could provide a direct protein source for human needs. This paper assumes that new business could be established by removing roach fish from eutrophic water systems and using them as a protein source for human consumption. Removing roach fish directly removes nutrients and indirectly impacts the vicious cycle of eutrophication. This paper assesses different environmental sustainability perspectives of roach fish removal and utilization. It also aims to present different environmental impacts on the planetary boundary framework. The research is carried out using life cycle assessment methodology. Based on the results, the use of roach fish as a protein source would help in returning to a safe operational zone in biochemical flows. Phosphorous removal with roach fish is 5.8 (1.9–10.3) g kg−1 while nitrogen removal is 28.4 (26.4–30.4) g kg−1. However, the production has also climate change impacts which are 2.9–5.2 kgCO 2eq kg−1 roach protein. Nevertheless, the climate change impacts are 12–57 times lower than positive impacts on eutrophication. Different environmental impacts are assessed regarding whether or not they help to avoid crossing planetary boundaries. Roach fish should be marketed especially for green consumers, and creating new markets for roach fish could also help in eutrophic lake restoration projects. Additionally, new business could be created from nutrient offsetting by roach fish removal. Roach removal from eutrophic water systems and use as food helps in returning to a safe operational zone in biochemical flows and the positive impacts are far greater than the negative impacts on climate change from fishing and fish processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon calculators can potentially help people understand and reduce their climate impact. This paper describes the features of Svalna, a mobile application that estimates users' greenhouse gas emissions by means of a hybrid approach that relies on financial transaction data from the users' bank paired with environmentally extended input output analysis; data from official registers of governmental agencies, and data entered by the users themselves. Applying financial transaction data in carbon calculators is increasingly popular, and I discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using such data in order to estimate greenhouse gas emissions. The paper also describes how design features have been developed based on insights from behavioral science and previous research on carbon calculators. The mobile application is available for use in Sweden and had approximately 15,000 users in December 2019. • This paper describes a carbon calculator that uses financial transactions and EE-MRIO data to estimate users' carbon footprint. • The methodology is presented and the benefits and drawbacks of this approach are discussed. • The design of the mobile application and how it builds on insights from behavioral science is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is possible to create value with less environmental impact through the adoption of Lean and Green manufacturing concepts and tools. This paper proposes a Lean-Green model based on the application of the Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) combined with Carbon Footprint (CF) to analyze eco-efficiency of a machining center in a case study in Brazil. The novelty of this paper was the proposal of a Lean-Green model based on ecoefficiency indicators to measure performance of production systems toward a cleaner production. The developed Lean-Green model should be used by companies with low-capacity of production due to restrictions of machine availability. The case study was organized in five different scenarios by varying machine tools, workers and workpieces. First, the SMED tool was applied in the setup activities and gains of reduced idle times were up to 88%. CF results were reduced up to 81% after applying the SMED tool on each scenario. Lastly, an eco-efficiency set of indicators were used to combine results of SMED and CF, and results of eco-efficiency were 3% higher even with higher CF values after converting setup saved time into productive time. To achieve such results simple improvements were performed in the machining center, through the standardization of work and the study of time and methods for setup activities, showing that the proposed Lean-Green model could be also adopted by other companies to create value with less impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the outcome of an extensive research that ultimately proposes a dynamic quasi comprehensive model to assess the carbon footprint of fossil fuel electrical energy. The key parameters and their respective effects have been fully considered. Such key parameters include plant type, fuel type, fuel transportation, emissions for fuel extraction and processing, within-facility power consumption at the power plant, degradation rate, site ambient conditions, and losses related to transmission and distribution. The proposed model has two significant features. The first feature considers a framework that generates a dynamic model. The time span in the dynamic framework is flexible and can vary from 1 s to the entire functional life of a power plant. The second feature of the model (representing its comprehensiveness) considers the aforementioned nine key parameters, holistically and simultaneously. Applying the proposed model across a wide range of circumstances leads to the estimation of the quantitative effect of each parameter. This shows the priority of order that the parameters should be given when designing a low-emission fossil-fuel power plant. Among the different standard cases of plant designs discussed in this paper, combined-cycle power plants running on natural gas have the minimum carbon footprint. Hence, the power plant and fuel types have the greatest effect on carbon footprint per unit of generated electrical power. Moreover, other mentioned parameters demonstrate significant effect on the results in this research work. The variation of parameters from least to most can result in a four-fold increase in carbon footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Laser Direct Metal Deposition (LDMD) process offers notable advantages and obtains wide application in aerospace, defence equipment and other industrial sectors. However, the characteristics of multiple-inputs and low-efficiency in the process will bring about high carbon footprint. Additionally, the carbon footprint fluctuates with processing states and equipment systems owing to the discontinuous process in LDMD involving the layer-by-layer deposition and the laser-powder coupling. This paper investigated dynamic carbon footprint based on the resource and energy consumption from the process-oriented standpoint in LDMD process, which quantified the processing time, power distribution and material consumption of each processing state for every sub-system. In this research, the discontinuous process was divided into effective processing state, rapid moving state and transformed delay state and the processing time of each state were estimated with process parameters. Besides, the operating state time and power distribution of five sub-systems were estimated combining the equipment triggering mechanism and the processing state time. The orthogonal experiment was carried out to deposit the 316L stainless steel powder into parts with the size of 15 mm*15 mm*10 mm under the given process parameter conditions (V f ∈ [8,12] g/min, P ∈ [600,1000] w, V s ∈ [500,900] mm/min). The results show that carbon footprint of deposited parts fluctuates in the range of 3624.68–15759.08 g under parameter combinations and the low carbon footprint parameter-interval is obtained. The average carbon footprint of effective processing state, the transformed delay state and the rapid moving state account for 55%, 40% and 5% respectively, while the carbon footprint of powder supply sub-system contributes to 68% among the five sub-systems. This research revealed and qualified the dynamicity of carbon footprint at the levels of processing states, process parameters and sub-systems, offering potential for carbon footprint reduction in advanced manufacturing processes. • The dynamic carbon footprint model was developed for LDMD process. • The processing time and power distribution of the sub-systems were quantified. • The carbon footprint of deposited parts fluctuates from 3624.68 to 15759.08 g. • The effective deposition state accounts only for 55% among entire process states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonisation of stationary energy supply, particularly electricity grids, is the current focus of climate change mitigation policy. However, studies have suggested that this narrow policy focus is insufficient to achieve meaningful global emissions reductions. Using Iceland as a case study, this paper demonstrates that significant emissions arise from transport and imported products, which are often not fully captured in territorial GHG inventories. This results in high greenhouse gas emissions per capita regardless of the nation's domestic energy supply. The result is a low carbon illusion in which rich economies believe they are reducing their GHG responsibility whilst global emissions continue to grow. This paper presents the first consumption-based carbon footprint (CBCF) analysis for Iceland, a nation where the stationary energy supply is 99% renewable, and could be viewed as a decarbonisation ‘future case’ for rich nations globally. The study combines Icelandic household expenditure data with the Multi-Regional Input-Output database Eora to calculate the CBCF of Icelandic households. The average annual CBCF of Icelandic households was 10.4 tCO 2 eq/capita, similar in magnitude to other EU nations despite Iceland's unique energy supply. GHG emissions from transport, food and goods dominated the household CBCF. The national CBCF was higher than most European nations and 55% higher than the territorial emissions inventory. Approximately 71% of household emissions were attributed to imported goods, which were mapped globally revealing that the GHG emissions burden of Icelandic consumption falls primarily on developing nations. The findings suggest that a broader GHG accounting framework and resulting policy focus is required, both in Iceland and globally, that incorporates both supply and demand-based GHG reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods for reducing the carbon footprint is receiving increasing attention from industry as they work to create sustainable products. Assembly line systems are widely utilized to assemble different types of products and in recent years, robots have become extensively utilized, replacing manual labor. This paper focuses on minimizing the carbon footprint for robotic assembly line systems, a topic that has received limited attention in academia. This paper is primarily focused on developing a mathematical model to simultaneously minimize the total carbon footprint and maximize the efficiency of robotic assembly line systems. Due to the NP-hard nature of the considered problem, a multi-objective co-operative co-evolutionary (MOCC) algorithm is developed to solve it. Several improvements are applied to enhance the performance of the MOCC for obtaining a strong local search capacity and faster search speed. The performance of the proposed MOCC algorithm is compared with three other high-performing multi-objective methods. Computational and statistical results from the set of benchmark problems show that the proposed model can reduce the carbon footprint effectively. The proposed MOCC outperforms the other three methods by a significant margin as shown by utilizing one graphical and two quantitative Pareto compliant indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates CO 2 emissions produced by two different container terminal operating models (tire transtainers and rail transtainers) at the port of Kaohsiung, and seeks to determine energy saving and CO 2 reduction strategies for shipping companies and terminal operators in order to comply with green port requirements. This paper's research methodology involves carbon footprint analysis and gray relational analysis. Carbon footprint analysis is employed to calculate the CO 2 emissions per container of two different container terminal operating models employing data for various areas (such as the berthing area, container yard, and gate area), where the raw data is collected from shipping companies or terminal operating companies at the port of Kaohsiung. Gray relational analysis is then used to determine the ranking order of different container terminal operating models based on the green port assessment criteria of working time efficiency, energy consumption, and CO 2 emissions. The chief findings of this paper are that the ranking order of container terminal types based on carbon footprint is tire transtainer ahead of rail transtainer; optimal green port assessment criteria constituted working time efficiency, energy cost, and CO 2 emissions; and use of container handling equipment with high operating efficiency can not only accomplish work rapidly, lessening the berthing time of ships in port, but also reduce energy costs and CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of the European food sector to the total amount of greenhouse gases emissions is equal to one fifth. Footprint indicators together with Life Cycle Assessment have emerged to be useful tools to analyze and report environmental performance. In this paper the environmental impact of aged vinegar produced from Grechetto and Sagrantino grapes varieties is analyzed. Life Cycle Assessment of wine is performed to calibrate the model. Impact assessment is studied evaluating: carbon footprint, ecological footprint, water footprint, acidification, eutrophication, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidation. The new approach proposed in this paper leads to the obtainment of a complete analysis of the impact of aged vinegar, which can help a small farm choose more sustainable production methods, also optimizing logistics. This is the scientific added value of the work. The results show that aged vinegar has a carbon footprint comprised between 1.94 and 2.54 kg CO 2 /l. The Ecological footprint of aged vinegar varies between 9.83 and 13.23 g m 2 /kg. The Water Footprint of aged vinegar varies between 1332 and 1892 l/l. The water scarcity weighted water footprint methods available in the software SimaPro 8 give different results depending on their assumptions. These can be useful for comparative studies between different products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming is a common concern around the world. Achieving carbon reduction within the warehouse is a problem that needs to be addressed in the layout of the green warehouse. This paper builds a soft path model to study the impact of the improved systematic layout planning method on carbon reduction in warehouses from a low carbon economy perspective. This paper considers two main warehouse layout factors: logistic and nonlogistic factors. A dual-objective warehouse optimization model is designed by quantifying the relationship between logistic and nonlogistic factors, and the heuristic algorithm is used for simulation optimization. Finally, the functional warehouse area is comprehensively evaluated using fuzzy constraint theory. The results show that the established soft path solution optimizes and improves logistics activities such as internal warehouse layout, material handling strategy, and warehouse management by comparing with the traditional layout method. The efficiency of warehouse operation, warehouse space utilization, and energy are improved. The goal of reducing carbon footprints from the warehouse is thus achieved. It is demonstrated that the soft path solution can minimize warehouse carbon emissions and generate positive synergy in terms of environmental impact. This study enriches green warehouse layout design procedures and provides a facility optimization technique with the potential to minimize warehouse carbon emissions, which can help planners combine other green warehouse management tools to optimize operations and reduce carbon in daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whole life cycle of wool products is long and involves many inputs and outputs. There are many issues that need to be discussed and solved in the carbon footprint accounting of wool products. In this paper, key issues such as system boundary, calculation method, accounting data, and allocation method are analyzed and discussed to accurately account for the carbon footprint of wool products. The results show that when accounting for the partial carbon footprint of wool products, the system boundary endpoint of the "gate" is more operable. The model estimation method used to calculate the carbon footprint of sheep rumination needs further improvement in feed intake prediction and methane conversion coefficient. Clarifying the carbon sequestration and carbon transfer mechanism and accurately tracing the source of carbon elements in wool can quantify the carbon sequestration effect of wool products. The data should be prioritized in the order of site-specific data, primary data, and secondary data. The protein mass allocation method can better allocate wool and co-products in the raw material production stage. A full and systematic analysis of the key issues of the carbon footprint accounting for wool products can ensure the effectiveness and comparability of the carbon footprint accounting results and contribute to the green and low-carbon development of the wool industry. [Display omitted] • System boundaries, accounting data and calculation methods of wool products' carbon footprint were discussed. • Allocation methods for wool products' carbon footprint calculation were explored. • Quantify methods for carbon footprint of rumination and excreta were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lime mud (LM), a solid waste generated in the paper-making industry, was proposed to manufacture lightweight artificial aggregates (LAAs) via the crushing technique. LAAs with a loose bulk density of 765–885 kg/m3, an apparent density of 1270–1445 kg/m3, and a strength of 5.7–7.2 MPa were achieved. To optimize the crushing-consumption energy and the mechanical properties, the mix proportions and curing ages of the LAAs before crushing were comprehensively investigated through mineralogy and microstructure analyses. In addition, the embodied carbon and material costs of the manufactured LAAs were estimated. Results showed that the early-crushed LAAs (curing till 28 days) enabled achieving the higher 28-day strength compared to the 28-day-crushed LAAs; however, the early-crushed LAAs tended to produce more contents of powder. The incorporation of silica fume (SF) reduced the contents of crushing powder and refined the pore characteristics of the LAAs. An optimized mix proportion (LM:cement:SF = 5:3:2) of the LAAs crushed on day 3 showed the best comprehensive properties, considering the mechanical properties, material costs, energy consumption, and embodied carbon. Overall, this study offers insight into the LAA production via the crushing technique and the value-added use of LM in the construction industry. [Display omitted] • The early-crushed LAAs could achieve higher 28-day strength than the 28-day-crushed ones. • The incorporation of SF reduced the contents of crushing powder and refined the pore characteristics of the LAAs. • An optimized mix proportion (LM:cement:SF = 5:3:2) of the LAAs crushed on day 3 was designed. • The crushing-consumption energy and material-related carbon footprint were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, surplus crude glycerol has been generated in large amounts as a waste product of biodiesel production, leading to bottlenecks in the supply chain of the biodiesel industry. This waste glycerol represents an important potential renewable feedstock and platform chemical; however, its purification is often needed for further processing. Advancements towards glycerol purification are being made using sustainable purification techniques aimed at improving the biodiesel industry's environmental footprint. Many studies focussing on various techniques to purify glycerol can be found in the literature; however, very few studies to evaluate the environmental impacts of the purification processes have been reported. This paper provides a critical investigation on the cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of three different processes for purifying crude glycerol, namely, physicochemical treatment and membrane purification (PMP) processes, vacuum distillation purification (VDP) processes and ion exchange purification (IEP) processes having a functional unit (FU) of 1000 kg of purified glycerol. These purification processes were modelled using Aspen plus software v12.1 in combination with Super Pro Designer v13. CCaLC2 (Carbon Calculations over the Life Cycle of Industrial Activities) was used to measure the environmental impacts associated with each process. By following the ISO 14044:2006 methodology and utilising the CCaLC2 tool, seven different types of potential environmental impacts have been investigated, which include carbon footprint, water footprint, acidification, eutrophication, ozone layer depletion, photochemical smog and human toxicity. Sensitivity analysis of the LCA was carried out using the response surface method (RSM) to determine the most effective parameter within the LCA. The total carbon footprint of the PMP, VDP and IEP processes are 3466.82, 1745.72 and 2239.71 kg CO 2 eq. FU−1 respectively. The LCA study determined that waste generated as a result of crude glycerol impurities from the three processes had one of the highest environmental impacts on the overall process. For the PMP and IEP processes, the raw materials used in the physicochemical treatment also contribute significantly to the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. Lastly, aspects concerning the environmental impacts from the PMP glycerol purification process have been addressed by analysing the raw materials from different sources accompanied by altered waste disposal methods (i.e. the incineration of generated wastes as opposed to landfilling) in an attempt to reduce the overall environmental impacts. For the PMP process, which has the highest carbon footprint, usage of differently sourced raw materials and altered waste disposal treatments resulted in 39% reduction in total carbon footprint and 54% reduction in the total ozone layer depletion. Sensitivity analysis of the LCA shows that the glycerol content within the crude glycerol was the most significant parameter. [Display omitted] • First comparative LCA study on crude glycerol purification processes is presented. • Raw materials and waste generated were the leading causes of environmental burdens. • Membrane separation had the highest environmental impacts followed by ion exchange. • Differently sourced raw materials and altered waste disposal methods reduced the carbon footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effect of artificially synthesized C–S–H accelerators (CAs) on concrete properties and analyzes their potential advantages for the precast concrete industry. The study found that adding CAs improves the workability of concrete while also significantly boosting its early compressive strength (particularly within 24 h). This characteristic showcases the dual-effect nature of CAs as additives. Notably, adding 1.5 wt% (relative to the weight of cement) CAs may boost the 6-h strength of concrete to 16.6 N/mm2, meeting the conditions for demolding. This could allow precast concrete plant molds to complete four turnovers within 24 h, thus improving production capacity. Importantly, using CAs may eliminate the need for heat curing during production, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and energy use in the manufacture of precast concrete. [Display omitted] • The C–S–H accelerators improve the early strength of precast concrete. • C–S–H accelerators play a role in improving the workability of concrete. • The utilization of C–S–H accelerators demonstrates dual effects. • The C–S–H accelerator can replace the thermal curing program. • C–S–H accelerators help reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Servicizing has been identified as a business strategy that may contribute to the improvement of the environmental performance of economic activities. This paper analyses the organisational and environmental effects of servicizing in the farming sector. In particular, a case study of three Galician dairy farms which become members of cooperatives that provide them with farm machinery, heifer breeding and feeding services is carried out. The paper begins by building upon existing theoretical literature concerning servicizing and its contribution to sustainability. Then, the Compound Method Based on Financial Accounts (MC3) is used to assess the changes in the carbon footprint (CF) of the farms included in the study both before and after their integration into cooperatives. By means of servicizing the farms are released from the burden of having to make certain major investments and from having to undertake several specialised activities; in consequence they have more time and more resources to devote to their focal activity. In addition to products, the farms receive high quality services that help them to improve their efficiency and competitiveness. The paper shows a positive association between the shift to servicizing and the farms' improvement of eco-efficiency. In particular, the carbon footprint measured in relation to the number of litres of raw milk produced by each farm decreases in all three cases (within the range 16%–28%) for the period 2002–2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accelerating increment of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration in the atmosphere already reached an alarming level, and nowadays its adverse impacts on the living organisms, environment, and ecological balance of nature have been well-understood. India is one of the top countries that contribute the most to global GHG emissions. Therefore, it is of great significance to forecast the future GHG trends of the country in advance and accordingly take measures against the parameters that cause these emissions, considerably. In this direction, the present research has centered on forecasting the greenhouse gas trajectory of India with various metaheuristic algorithms. In this framework, marine predators algorithm (MPA), lightning search algorithm (LSA), equilibrium optimizer (EO), symbiotic organisms search (SOS), and backtracking search algorithm (BSA) are used for modeling the future GHG emission trajectory of India. Accordingly, the significant economic and energy indicators of India such as renewable energy generation, electricity generation from coal, electricity generation from gas, electricity generation from oil, gross domestic product, and population between 1990 and 2018 are collected to make a nexus with GHG emissions. As GHG emissions, CO 2 , CH 4 , F-gases, N 2 O, as well as total GHG emissions are separately forecasted by the year 2050. To make a better comparison, each GHG emission data in the last year five years is used for the testing phase of the algorithms, and then statistically discussed in terms of R2, MBE, rRMSE, and MAPE benchmarks. In the results, it is found that the R2 value changes between 0.8822 and 0.9923 for CO 2 , 0.2855–0.9945 for CH 4 , 0.9–0.9904 for F-gases, 0.4655–0.9964 for N 2 O, and 0.9016–0.9943 for total GHG emission, and the results in terms of rRMSE are very satisfying for all algorithms. In the study, it is forecasted that the two greenhouse gas emissions with the highest increase rate in 2050 will be between 2.5 and 2.87 times for CO 2 emissions and between 2.8 and 3.5 times for F-gases, compared to today's data. According to the results of the present paper, the total GHG emission for India is forecasted to be 2.1–2.4 times higher in the year 2050 as compared to today. Given all forecasting results together, it is seen that the MPA algorithm generally gives the best results according to the statistical metric results, while the LSA algorithm generally gives the worst results. Consequently, the present paper strongly reports that the decision-makers and policy-makers should take some serious steps in advance for the mitigation of GHG emissions, and to revise their energy investments in the upcoming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of the European food sector to the total amount of greenhouse gases emissions is equal to 15%. The main environmental impact is due to the cultivation phase while the transformation has limited consequences. The sustainability of the food sector can be traced using an important indicator: Product Carbon Footprint. In this framework this paper presents the case of a traditional product: truffle sauce, which is a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and truffle. Its carbon footprint has been calculated based on ISO 14067, through the use of specific Product Category Rules, able to describe theoretical pre-requisites and practical rules to be followed during the analysis in order to make results comparable with other studies. Different allocation techniques have been analyzed: system expansion has been compared with allocation based on mass and economical value. It was shown that 3% variation in the mass yield of olive oil implies 2% variation in the final carbon footprint. Different harvesting techniques were considered and their energy consumption was measured on site. Final carbon footprint for truffle sauce, assuming allocation based on system expansion, is equal to 1.93 kg CO 2 eq/kg. Truffle sauce has a lower impact compared to other similar commodities (extra virgin olive oil for example). The final result of the Product Carbon Footprint is not the only scientific value added by this paper, because Product Category Rules can be used by other researchers to calculate emissions released during truffle sauce or olive oil life cycle in other particular environments. Knowing the value of these emissions, reduction measures can be designed. The limits of this study are represented by the fact that these values are deeply influenced by seasonal variability, so this aspect should be evaluated by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon Footprint (CF) can be of great importance for the dissemination of life-cycle information of products. The use of CF has recently increased, despite some methodology aspects being still not sufficiently addressed. This paper deals with the accounting of biogenic carbon exchanges, focusing on the wine sector, which has been the object of several life-cycle-based studies. A review of guidelines, standards and key papers has shown that there are still unresolved issues to be considered when accounting for exchanges of biogenic carbon, such as forest management, agricultural practices and land use, soil erosion, the inclusion of all parts of a tree, the inclusion of the end-of-life phase, etc. As a result, no clear-cut conclusions can yet be drawn with regard to biogenic carbon exchanges related to the life cycle of wine products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concern about environmental and social impacts of business activities has led to introducing a new paradigm called, sustainable development. It can help to build a low-carbon high-growth global economy and guarantee the global well-being of people. In this paper, three pillars of sustainable development, i.e., economic, environmental, and social, are considered and discussed to design a supply chain network. The proposed model tries to maximize profit primarily while capturing societal community development by prioritizing the less developed regions. Moreover, the model ensures that the environmentally friendly facilities can operate in the supply chain network while others have to be repaired. Furthermore, quantifying the benefits of transportation decisions in terms of both cost and environmental impact savings to improve the sustainability of logistics systems is considered. In addition, the model is regarded as robust programming for the problem to approximate real situations. The proposed model is implemented in some numerical examples and in a real case study. Numerical results and computational analysis are indicative of the significance of the model and through conducting the case study, it is demonstrated that the proposed model can be implemented successfully in practice and it would be beneficial to all the three pillars of sustainable development. Moreover, the managerial insights for the managers of the supply chain networks are provided to make the most appropriate decisions. • Presenting a sustainable supply chain network design model considering a weighted balanced regional development scheme. • Proposing an innovative methodology for estimating the sustainability dimensions. • Tackling an uncertain parameter and utilizing robust optimization to create a protected solution against uncertainty. • Applying the proposed model in a case study and providing the managerial insights for the managers of the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of climate change and population growth, the development of urban agriculture is of great environmental and economic significance in rapidly urbanizing China. Based on the primary survey data, this paper evaluated the carbon footprint (CF) and economic efficiency of urban agriculture in Beijing (China) using the life cycle assessment method (from cradle to consumption approach). Two cases were analyzed and compared considering their differences in on-farm cultivation and off-farm supply chains: a conventional small householder farm that sells its vegetables directly to consumers in a local market, and a large home-delivery agriculture (HDA) initiative that delivers its vegetables to the consumers' home directly. Both cases were equipped with greenhouses with plastic covering but no heating system. The CF of the production, transportation and distribution of 1 kg fresh vegetables was estimated at 0.318 kg CO 2 -eq kg−1 and 0.624–0.652 kg CO 2 -eq kg−1 for conventional and HDA initiative farm, respectively. However, the HDA initiative showed a better environmental performance than the conventional operation when taking economic efficiency into consideration. The CF per unit of profit of HDA initiative (0.093–0.097 kg CO 2 -eq per CNY) was lower than conventional farm (0.111 kg CO 2 -eq per CNY). The lower CF per unit of product weight of the conventional farm was largely attributed to the high yield and the lower CF per unit of profit of the HDA initiative was mainly due to the outstanding economic profitability through income optimization. The major hotspots of CF in both cases were greenhouse plastic films in the cultivation phase (from cradle to farm gate) and transportation in the supply chain (from farm gate to consumption). Simulation of a switch to biodiesel instead of gasoline and diesel in combination with the replacement of current fossil-fuel-dominated electricity by hydro-powered electricity resulted in 20.0–21.8% reduction in the total CF. By identifying the CF hotspots of two farm cases, particular inputs and activities can be targeted for adjustment in order to effectively reduce the CF of urban agriculture in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling water system (CWS) is a very common system that discharges industrial waste heat. For the existing researches about industrial CWSs, most of them focus on economic performance, ignoring the environmental impact. Based on the industrial foundation, this work proposes a methodology to optimize and evaluate the economic performance and environmental impact. This paper integrates several components, such as cooler network, pump network, cooling tower and air cooler to optimize the total annual cost. Carbon footprint and water footprint are introduced as environmental indicators. The whole system is integrated into Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model and solved by GAMS. Through case study, an improved CWS structure chart is obtained, and the relationship between carbon footprint, water footprint and economic performance is drawn, showing the trade-off between the three. The result shows that total annual cost (TAC) can be reduced by 9.84% by economic optimization design. The result also gives a guideline on how to improve environmental performance according to water footprint and carbon footprint. Image 109077 • Structure of cooler network is optimized together with air coolers and pump network. • Two environmental indicators are applied to evaluate the performance cooling water system. • Cooling water system is optimized under different objectives. • The relationship between economic performance and environmental impact is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing contribution of refrigeration systems to global warming has led to widespread demand for low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants as alternatives. This paper proposed a comprehensive environmental assessment method for evaluating the carbon footprint of units charged with low-GWP refrigeration. Experimental and numerical studies were used to investigate the carbon footprint impact of using alternative refrigerants at different ambient temperatures in China. Initially, the model was validated through experimental case studies on the use stage of cold storage units. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the cooling capacity (CC) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) of cold storage units charged with different refrigerants. Additionally, the impact of alternative refrigerants in the use stage was analyzed by numerical calculations, and the adaptability of the cold storage unit to the ambient temperature and the national energy structure was also studied. The results indicate that among the four stages of the cold storage unit, the use stage is the hotspot of carbon footprint due to the large amount of energy consumption and the existence of refrigerant leakage and other behaviors. Utilizing low-GWP alternative refrigerants could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the cold storage units' use stage by 10.56%–16.39%, thereby lowering the whole stage carbon footprint. Furthermore, the ambient temperature and national energy structure could also effectively reduce the carbon footprint of cold storage units' whole stage by 1%–27.17%. Furthermore, after adopting low GWP refrigerants, the life-cycle cost (LCC) of the units have also decreased by 6.1%–12%. Taking into account both environmental impact and economic considerations, it is recommended to directly replace R404A with R448A in the units in regions where the average ambient temperature is above 15 °C. • A carbon footprint evaluation model for the units was established. • Influencing factors of carbon footprint are studied numerically and experimentally. • By GHG assessments, the optimal refrigerant and external conditions were determined. • Alternative refrigerants reduce carbon emissions for cold storage units by 8.8%–24.92%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At an annual production of ∼15 million tons, polycarboxylate (PCE) based superplasticizers (cement dispersants) present the most widely used concrete admixture. In this paper, their carbon footprint was quantified considering the three most common kinds of PCE polymers, namely methacrylate ester (MPEG), methallyl ether (HPEG) and isoprenol ether (IPEG) based PCEs produced in four major manufacturing countries: EU-27, US, Japan and China. A cradle-to-gate approach was applied to estimate CO 2 emissions from raw materials extraction to PCE fabrication. On this basis, and depending on their chemical composition and country-specific electricity grid CO 2 emission factors, their carbon footprints were calculated. The results show a strong dependence on the kind of PCE, their structural design as well as the producing country. For all PCEs, the main components ethylene oxide, unsaturated acids (methacrylic/acrylic acid) and NaOH were found to be mainly responsible for the entire CO 2 footprint. The average total CO 2 emissions of the three kinds of PCEs vary between 2.98 ± 0.54 kg CO 2 /kg (MPEG), 2.48 ± 0.48 kg CO 2 /kg (HPEG), and 2.40 ± 0.47 kg CO 2 /kg (IPEG). Evidently, MPEG PCEs reveal the highest footprint which is owed to methacrylic acid whereas HPEG and IPEG PCEs contain acrylic acid. The range of total CO 2 emissions is caused by significant differences in the carbon footprints of the electrical grids in various countries. An impact study revealed that at common field dosages the contribution of PCEs to the CO 2 balance of a standard concrete (CO 2 footprint ∼ 300 kg CO 2 /m3) varies between approx. 3 and 22 kg CO 2 /m3 in Europe, with ready-mix type PCEs contributing more than precast concrete PCEs. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the CO 2 footprint of PCE superplasticizers can be reduced by almost 80% if predominantly renewable energy is used in the chemical industry. [Display omitted] • CO 2 footprint of PCE superplasticizers (MPEG/HPEG/IPEG) used in concrete studied. • Total CO 2 emission dependent on PCE chemistry/composition and producing country. • Highest CO 2 emission for MPEG PCE: methacrylic acid and EO major contributors. • Thermal energy generation and grid electricity responsible for most of CO 2 emission. • Utilizing renewable energy can reduce CO 2 footprint of PCE significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food production is an important source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Quantifying the carbon footprint of all the major food categories in different continents is critical for accurately evaluating various aspects of GHG emissions from food production on a continental and global scale. Such information, however, is lacking. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of plant-based and animal-based food production in all continents comprehensively using 5353 carbon footprint values from 524 published papers and calculated GHG emissions from food production (system boundary is from cradle to farm gate) at the continental and global scale. Our results indicate that the average carbon footprint of plant-based foods amounts to 0.66 kg CO 2 -eq kg−1, which is only 10.7% of animal-based foods (6.15 kg CO 2 -eq kg−1). The carbon footprint of plant-based food in Asia and Europe is 8.9%–184% higher than that of other continents. Africa has the lowest carbon footprint for plant-based foods, owing to its low agricultural input and limited crop management. However, the carbon footprint of animal-based foods in Africa and Asia is 2.5%–150% higher than that of other continents, with North America and Oceania recording the lowest. Total annual GHG emission from global food production reached 8125 Mt CO 2 -eq, with grains, meat, and milk together accounting for 70.8%. Asia, owing to its large production, emerged as the largest emitter, accounting for 55.4% of global GHG emissions. It was followed by Europe (16.3%) and North America (10.5%), while Africa, South America and Oceania together emit 17.8%. In summary, our study presents the most comprehensive account of the carbon footprint of food production at the continental and global scale to-date, which will help develop strategies and policies to reduce GHG emissions at various levels such as geographical regions, food and nutrition security, resource availability and resource use. • Plant-based food carbon footprint (CF) < 89% than that of animal-based food. • Plant-based food CF in Asia and Europe up to >184% than that of other regions. • Animal-based food CF in Africa, Asia up to >150% than that of other regions. • Global food production GHG emission is 8125 Mt CO 2 yr−1. • Asia emits 55% of global food GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking process is an environmentally friendly, energy saving, and low-carbon route to produce steel, but its further development is restricted by extensive electricity consumption in China. In this paper, the EAF steelmaking processes driven by solar energy system (EAF-SES) was developed, which supplies electricity for the whole process, and reduce the dependence on traditional energy sources. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of EAF steelmaking processes integrated with traditional energy system (EAF-TES) and EAF-SES was conducted according to the data of 1536 heats based on the function unit of 1000 kg of molten steel (MS). EAF-SES and EAF-TES were studied and compared from perspectives of life cycle carbon footprint (LCCF), production cost (PC), raw materials cost (RMC), solar energy price (SEP), and carbon tax (CT). The results indicated that EAF-SES enjoyed lower LCCF but higher PC than EAF-TES. The LCCF of EAF-SES was 220 kg lower than that of EAF-TES. Besides, compared to the PC of 478 $ per ton of MS in EAF-TES, the PC in EAF-SES increased by 9.13%. While the electricity price was lower than 0.041 $/kWh or CT higher than 217 $/t CO 2 , respectively, EAF-SES had both significant advantages of economic and environmental benefits. Vigorously employing clean energy power generation, cutting down hot metal supply, and adopting full scrap melting mode in EAF steelmaking processes achieve better environmental performance. This research is expected to supply a technical idea for energy conservation, emission reduction, and cleaner production in future iron and steel industry. [Display omitted] • EAF steelmaking process integrated with solar energy system (EAF-SES) was developed. • Comparative life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of EAF-SES was conducted. • Life cycle inventories of 1536 heats in EAF steelmaking process in China were converged. • Some methods of energy conservation and emission reduction in EAF steelmaking process were brought out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism places pressures on the environment through the services provided (accommodation, food, leisure activities, and transport), meanwhile it is particularly vulnerable to global warming as climate is a crucial component of destinations' attractiveness. As a result, research focusing on the impacts of tourism has increased significantly. Practitioners consult a plethora of frameworks and publications to environmentally assess tourism but none of the existing guidelines provides specific recommendations making difficult to obtain reliable results that can be properly replicated and compared. This paper discusses the use of Footprint family indicators in tourism through a review of studies that measure the Water, Carbon, and Ecological Footprint of tourists. Results show a lack of specific data, and an absence of consensus about the system boundaries and methodologies used for calculation. Food production and transportation are the main drivers of environmental burdens. The Footprint indicators help to understand the trade-offs between environmental effects which can be used to prioritize sustainability efforts in the tourism industry. Additionally, this study presents a critical analysis of the influence on the trip's Footprint of the services provided to different rated tourism experiences (high, medium, and low rated) and offers a reflective comparison on the pressure exerted by visitors and the local population. • Tourism Footprint studies lack trustworthy datasets due to gaps in specific data. • Lack of consensus on boundaries in tourism Footprint studies hinders result comparison. • Tourism Footprint studies generally ignore end-of-life environmental impacts. • High-rated vacations impose the highest environmental burdens. • Tourists exert more pressure on natural resources and ecosystems than residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased demand for fish products has resulted in greater investment in and modernization of the aquaculture sector. These processes have led to higher energy needs of aquaculture farms globally, resulting in their greater environmental impact. Fossil fuel is the main power source in aquaculture, and its combustion generates a large amount of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and other emissions. This paper considers the use of renewable energy sources (RESs) in mariculture systems to ensure at the same time cost-effective and environmentally friendly powering options. This paper investigates an alternative solution which relocates the majority of equipment and tasks from a mariculture vessel to a barge to reduce the energy demands of the vessel and to significantly lessen emissions of the system. The solution includes the full electrification of the workboat and the installation of PV cells and a wind turbine onboard the barge, combined with a diesel generator in an integrated power system. A Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the considered power system configurations from an environmental point of view, while a Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) was performed to evaluate the economic performance of the proposed solutions. The results of the implementation of RESs in the mariculture system indicate an emission reduction of about 20% and an increase in capital costs by 0.61%. Feed reduction and the use of electricity in an alternative mariculture farm design in Croatia increase profitability by 4% in most cases. • The integration of RESs is beneficial for mariculture systems. • LCAs and LCCAs of a mariculture system in Croatia are performed. • The influence of fish feed and staff costs on profitability is considered. • Conventional workboat power systems should be replaced with cleaner alternatives. • Electrification of fishing vessels could reduce the CF of fish farming by about 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper addresses the economics of Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) both from a private point of view as well as from a society perspective. The private potential is assessed using a case study for which an investment model is developed to identify the impact of a broad range of parameters on the profitability of ELFM. We found that especially variations in Waste-to-Energy (WtE efficiency, electricity price, CO2-price, WtE investment and operational costs) and ELFM support explain the variation in economic profitability measured by the Internal Rate of Return. To overcome site-specific parameters we also evaluated the regional ELFM potential for the densely populated and industrial region of Flanders (north of Belgium). The total number of potential ELFM sites was estimated using a 5-step procedure and a simulation tool was developed to trade-off private costs and benefits. The analysis shows that there is a substantial economic potential for ELFM projects on the wider regional level. Furthermore, this paper also reviews the costs and benefits from a broader perspective. The carbon footprint of the case study was mapped in order to assess the project’s net impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Also the impacts of nature restoration, soil remediation, resource scarcity and reduced import dependence were valued so that they can be used in future social cost-benefit analysis. Given the complex trade-off between economic, social and environmental issues of ELFM projects, we conclude that further refinement of the methodological framework and the development of the integrated decision tools supporting private and public actors, are necessary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we apply an Environmental Extended Input–Output (EEIO) model to calculate the Carbon Footprint (CF) of the Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU). Results show that the CF of NTNU is very significant with an average contribution of 4.6 tonnes per student. In particular, the purchase of large amounts of equipment and consumables for scientific use is found to be an important contributor to this. In the paper we also derive per-department CFs, enabled by the standardized structure of the financial accounting system used by the university. Results show large variations in the CF of the different faculties. Social Science and Humanities have a significantly lower CF per student compared to Natural Science, Engineering, and, in particular, the Faculty of Medicine. The single most important CF contributing input to the university is, however, allocated to the property department regarding the use of energy and other building related activities. Also, the CF structures of the departments/faculties show large differences that indicate that different mitigation strategies are needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to study via environmental indicators to which extent, replacing fossil fuel with biomass for heating is an environmentally friendly solution. The environmental impact of using biomass depends mostly on the transportation process. Authors define the notion of maximum supply distance, beyond which biomass transportation becomes too environmentally intensive compared to a fossil fuel fired heating system. In this work a carbon footprint analysis and an emergy evaluation, has been chosen to study the substitution of wood for natural gas. The comparative study seeks to examine, via the two approaches, two heating systems: one is fired with wood, transported by trucks and the other one is fired with natural gas transported by pipelines. The results are expressed in terms of maximum supply distance of wood. In the emergy evaluation it represents the maximum supply distance permitting wood to be more emergy saving than natural gas. In the carbon footprint analysis, it represents the maximum supply distance permitting wood to be a carbon saving alternative to natural gas. Furthermore, the unification of carbon footprint and emergy evaluation permits to define, for both approaches, the minimum theoretical wood burner first law efficiency that allows, CO2 or emergy to be saved, when there is no wood transport. In order to identify the impacts of the main parameters of the study a sensitivity analysis has been carried out. The case study investigated in this paper shows that there is a large gap between the results. The maximum supply distances calculated via carbon footprint and emergy evaluation are about 5000 km and 1000 km, respectively, anthe minimum theoretical wood burner efficiencies are about 5% and 54%, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mexico has set a desirable 50% reduction goal of Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050, compared to the 2000 baseline. In this regard, all the activity sectors, including universities and research institutions, are encouraged to adopt similar targets. As a contribution to the national efforts on the subject, this paper presents the 2010 Greenhouse Gas emission inventory of the Institute of Engineering at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México based on the academic and research activities developed in 2010. The inventory report, generated according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and under a consumption based methodology integrating life-cycle assessment, considers the following activity categories: electric energy generation, vehicle fleet, purchased electricity, commuting, air travels, courier shipments, paper consumption and solid waste. The total Carbon Footprint of the Institute of Engineering in 2010 was calculated in about 1577 tCO2e, where 42% of the Greenhouse Gas emissions were generated by the use of electricity, 50% by transportation; including its own fleet and commuting vehicles, 5% by air travel, 1% by shipments, 1% by use of paper and 1% associated to the final disposal of solid waste. Four scenarios of potential reduction are proposed based on changes in commuting activity. From the proposed scenarios, the one with a combination of teleworking and carpooling is the most effective. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Due to unclear research boundaries and a confusion between direct and indirect emissions, the impact of the circular economy (CE) on carbon emissions needs to be researched in depth. In this paper, we use a life cycle model based on carbon emissions and carbon reduction to build an emissions (reduction) matrix for the carbon footprint (CF) of coal-fuelled power generation, and then calculate the life cycle carbon emissions from China's coal-fuelled power CE parks. Results show that carbon emissions from China's coal-fuelled power at the industrial park level follow the trend of raw coal production and consumption, increasing from 2000 to a maximum of 3.25 billion tCO 2 e in 2014, with the proportion of direct emissions remaining stable at above 86%. The life cycle CF in 2016 was 778.9 gCO 2 /kWh, a decrease of 20.81% compared to 2000. The positive and negative impacts of the CE from 2000 to 2016 were quantitatively analysed, and resource recycling measures will reduce the overall carbon emissions of industrial parks through the substitution of carbon-intensive energy sources. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed to reduce life cycle carbon emissions by energy replacement and embodied emissions control. The novelty of this study is the quantitative evaluation of indirect carbon emissions caused by the CE and determining the correlation between CE and carbon emissions reduction. • Highlight the indirect impact of the circular economy on carbon emissions. • Evaluate the carbon footprint (carbon emissions and reduction) of coal-fuelled power. • The life cycle carbon footprint decreased by 20.81% between 2000 and 2016 to reach 778.9 gCO 2 /kWh. • Circular economy had an overall net reduction in carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of scientific studies can help to improve sustainable solutions in the agri-food sector according to current European policy. The present paper aims to evaluate the carbon footprint, according to ISO/TS 14067:2013, of 0.5 kg of sweet cherries packaged in clamshell made in polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The research assesses the supply chain, from agricultural (from nursery to dismantling) to the processing phase in firms located in the Apulia region. Results show a global warming potential over a fixed period corresponding to 100 years equal to 0.584 kg CO 2eq , primarily deriving from agricultural management (0.442 kg CO 2eq) and secondly from fruit processing (0.068 kg CO 2eq). In the orchard phase, the main impacts derived from electricity consumed to pump groundwater used for irrigation and fertigation activities (15.84% of the total), transportation of manure (6.42% of the total), ploughing activity (4.83% of the total) and production of nitrogen fertilisers (4.28% of the total). Cherries processing in the collecting centre showed impacts from electricity consumption (5.57% of the total) and from waste deriving from damaged or non-conforming cherries (4.74% of the total). The PET clamshell production phase had an impact deriving principally from the use of PET granulate (0.0743 kg CO 2eq). The study highlighted that manure administration and pruning activities contribute to decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis showed that substitution of electricity-mix deriving from the Italian national grid with a photovoltaic plant lowered GHG emissions by 19%. The present study could contribute in providing suggestions to stakeholders and scholars in reducing GHG emissions and promoting more environmentally sustainable sweet cherry production practices. Image 1 • Increasing knowledge on the CF assessment of the sweet cherries supply chain. • A case study of sweet cherry production located in Southern Italy was examined. • Carbon Footprint assessment was applied to 0.5 kg of sweet cherry in PET clamshell. • Results show that GWP 100 is equal to 0.584 kg CO 2eq. • Main impacts deriving from agricultural activities (75%) and fruit processing (12%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil industry has received criticism from various parties on the issue of sustainability and the greenhouse gases. Carbon footprint accounting are widely used as a metric of climate change impacts and the main focus of many sustainability policies among companies and authorities. However, carbon footprint accounting has limitation to represent sustainability as a whole and may resulting inaccurate selection of further mitigation. This paper evaluates sustainability and greenhouse gases simultaneously using an integrated palm oil mill carbon footprint accounting (POMCFA) and palm oil mill sustainability index (POMSI) method. The integration was performed via the adoption of data synchronization of the carbon footprint accounting and sustainability assessment. The analysis shows that highest carbon dioxide equivalent emission was contributed by palm oil mill effluent followed by diesel consumption and water consumption. In terms of sustainability scoring, the results show that the environmental aspect achieved the lowest scores compared to other aspects (social and economy). Weaknesses identified include diesel consumption, palm oil mill effluent and boiler emission. The assessment analysed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent and sustainability scoring demonstrates its potential to provide comprehensive mitigation selection purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sweden's environmental policy aims to solve domestic environmental problems without increasing environmental and health impacts overseas. Realizing this aim requires an indicator system with a consumption-based (or "footprint") perspective that captures both local and global impacts and their development over time. In this paper, we present a set of novel footprint indicators to measure environmental pressures from Swedish food consumption. The indicators are calculated by combining data and statistics on agrochemicals and deforestation emissions with EXIOBASE3, a global Multi-Regional Input Output (MRIO) database with a unique and high level of product detail across countries. We estimate the use of pesticides and antimicrobial veterinary medicines associated with current Swedish food consumption and compare those footprint indicators with the EU-28. Carbon emissions from deforestation are calculated with a land balance model and included in the overall carbon footprint of food. We find that Sweden, with its large reliance of food imports, exert a significant agro-chemical and climate footprint overseas, mainly in the EU and Latin America. We point to a need for better data and statistics on the use of pesticides, veterinary medicines and agrochemicals residuals (especially in developing countries) as well as improved spatial data on agricultural activity to further reduce uncertainty in the environmental footprint of Swedish food consumption. Highlights • We present footprints for agrochemicals and climate from Swedish food consumption. • Due to large food imports, a significant share of Sweden's impact occur overseas. • Emissions from tropical deforestation represent roughly 10% of carbon footprint. • More than three quarters of Sweden's pesticide footprint is embedded in imports. • Data gaps on use of agrochemicals are significant, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the light of a dire need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from food value chains, this paper analyses GHG emissions from wine production based on primary data from 5 wineries, one wine cellar and 9 grape producers in Germany and explores main emission sources based on their contributions to variance. Considering system boundaries from cradle to gate we found a 90% confidence interval for results between 0.753 and 1.069 kg CO 2 e per bottle of wine. Main contributors to variance were bottle weight (31%), electricity usage (18%), heat (11%), yield (−9%), and diesel use in vineyards (9%). Looking at production process phases, 19% of emissions resulted from the production of wine grapes, while 81% were attributable to the winery phase, mainly to the packaging materials (57%). Exploring the mitigation potential of a reduction in bottle weight, reuse of glass bottles, increase in packaging volume and renewable energies, we found that the reuse of glass bottles deserves close attention from wine producers, consumers, and policy makers who strive for an effective decarbonization of the wine value chain. The mitigation potential of the reuse of an average bottle exceeds the mitigation potential from a reduction in bottle weight by more than threefold. A combination of the replacement of grid electricity by renewable energies, bottle weight reduction and reuse can curb GHG emissions per bottle of wine by 47%. Highlights • 90% confidence interval for results between 0.753 and 1.069 kg CO 2 e per 0.75 L wine. • Most influential emission sources: bottles, electricity, heat, fuel use. • Besides reduction in weight the reuse of glass bottles is a key mitigation option. • GHG reductions of 45% possible with reuse of the glass bottle and renewable energy. • Findings are transferable to beverages other than wine in glass packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Companies increasingly need detailed information on global impacts related to their products and services. This article describes a quantitative analytical approach that supports a better understanding of value-chain wide corporate sustainability performance. We use an extended multi-regional input-output model to analyse the global supply chains of products and projects for selected impact indicators (energy, greenhouse gases and water) by supply chain tier, industry sector and country. As a case study, we conduct a hotspot analysis of four sample projects from a single company in the wind energy sector. Calculated energy payback times vary between 8.1 and 12.5 months, and greenhouse gas intensities vary between 11.7 and 18.3 g CO 2 -e/kWh across the four projects. Impacts in the country of installation and production are mainly caused by the electricity, metal and concrete sectors. The supply chain dominates the overall impacts, with supplier tiers 2 to 4 causing the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. The results allow management to better prioritize actions to manage and alleviate global impacts more effectively. In the future, the company that participated as our case study will base its carbon reduction strategy on the applied approach described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the Carbon Footprint (CF) resulting from the activities of the county of Sogn og Fjordane (SFK). An Environmentally Expanded Input-Output model is applied to develop a consumption-based Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for this purpose. The model has previously been used for the assessment of municipal CFs, and is in this paper further developed for the purpose of assessing county CFs. Results show that a large fraction of the CF is caused by the purchase of services from private actors, especially the purchase of transportation services, of which a steady increase from the year 2002–2008, is found. In the same period of time, the CF resulting from the operation of county vehicles has been reduced to only 1/6. This outsourcing regarding the provision of services is found in several departments of the county municipality. It indicates a necessary shift in local mitigation strategies, as more focus needs to be on the environmental performance of suppliers. One important finding in the SFK case is the potential of introducing environmental requirements in tenders on providing transportation services. Another is to make environmental requirements to the companies receiving financial support from the county administration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to improve our understanding of carbon footprint within the context of automobile supply chain management. The case study approach is employed as a research method. Primary data were collected through site visits and extensive interviews with HMC’s corporate and plant management. First, identification and measurement of direct and indirect carbon footprint is critical for mitigating supply chain risks. Second, setting the system boundary of measurement is another important issue to integrate the issue of carbon footprint into supply chain management. Third, developing a map of product carbon footprint facilitates identification and measurement of carbon emissions across the supply chain. Companies today operate in a carbon-constrained world. In particular, the automobile industry is under pressure to take a close look at its product carbon footprint. Managing the downstream consequences of the use of its products and inputs from upstream suppliers is critical for developing carbon risk-mitigated supply chain management. This paper is of benefit to academics and managers by providing a new way to integrate carbon emissions in supply chain management. Since climate change and carbon footprint present challenges to many industries, increasing our understanding of how to integrate carbon footprint in supply chain management is necessary, but has seen little research in the automobile industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Changes in travel behaviour are needed to tackle the climate impact associated with long-distance flights, including a switch to sustainable transport modes. In this paper, we analyse scenarios of carbon footprint reduction associated with a switch from flights to night trains for holidays in Europe for the case of Sweden, including outbound, inbound and domestic tourism. We use a prospective lifecycle assessment framework combined with results from a stated preference experiment to determine the impact of future mode shift behaviours. Our results indicate that a mode shift could be triggered by progressive night train policies resulting in (i) fewer transfers and (ii) price levels similar to those of flights. The shifts from flights to night trains could result in 9% lower cumulative carbon footprint in relation to a baseline travel demand scenario for the period 2025–2050. Decarbonization of long-distance travel in line with the Paris Agreement would likely require a combination of many different types of measures including a shift to low-carbon fuels. • We investigate potential emissions abatement by night trains replacing flights. • Trains could reach 22–30% of the combined market for tourism by flights and trains. • Shift to night train could reduce emissions from long-distance travel by 9%. • Decarbonization has a larger impact on carbon footprints than mode shifting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Health Things (technologies for exchanging data) is crucial in helping promote health and wellbeing. Family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's can significantly benefit from the Internet of Health Things by enabling caregivers to participate in programs from home to help manage their stress and distress in their caregiver role. This paper reports the results of a techno-economic analysis and a life cycle assessment comparing a video-communication delivered intervention designed to decrease the stress and distress of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias to a hypothetical in-person delivery of the same intervention. Results indicated that the virtual intervention, compared to the hypothetical in-person intervention, was associated with lower participant costs yet, potentially more expensive from an organizational/provider perspective. Environmentally, the virtual intervention had lower carbon emissions than the hypothetical in-person delivery of the intervention. Furthermore, video-communication delivery of the intervention has the potential to reduce some of the hassles of looking for respite to attend caregiving interventions and allow caregivers to join from their preferred location across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The material processing industry has to deal with material and energy reduction targets, and such a need becomes more and more urgent when future energy and resource consumption predictions are considered. The optimization of machining operations has conventionally been performed by identifying the range of process parameters that lead to the maximum efficiency, which are generally defined on the basis of maximum productivity and minimum cost criteria. Cost-based models are part of the industrial cultural background, while the emerging environmental impact analysis has not yet become fully established. The paper describes an approach that is aimed at the integration of system-level models for the environmental and economic assessment of machining. Process time, cost, energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions are assumed as optimization targets. The dry and wet turning of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb and Ti-6Al-4V alloys, while varying the process parameters, is considered as a case study. The results highlight that the range of process parameters that allow the maximum process efficiency to be achieved is influenced by material machinability, and that a holistic approach to process optimization appears to be a key task which is worth further research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product carbon footprint has a profound impact on the sustainable manufacturing. Due to the uncertainty of product information, it is a crucial issue to estimate product carbon footprint for product life cycle. The paper is devoted to the product carbon footprint estimation model based on the unascertained mathematics theory. After the introduction of unascertained mathematics theory, the integration of the estimation data through unascertained number is discussed in detail. After the model of product carbon footprint for product life cycle is proposed, the estimation method of carbon footprint in the product life cycle based on the unascertained number model is discussed in detail. The product carbon footprint of a modular underactuated exoskeleton robot mechanism is given as an example to demonstrate the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is regarded as a potential vehicle to tremendously improve the information flow throughout the life cycle of a building. The integration of BIM and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has potential to reduce the time for life cycle inventory, and at the same time, substantially improve the representativeness of the LCA results for the specific building design. The latter merit is not trivial. For instance, due to time limit, most building LCA studies estimate the building materials and fuels consumed in construction phase quite roughly, which excludes the choices on a wide range of construction techniques, materials, specialties and machines, no need to mention the energy consumption in operation phase, which is usually estimated in an even bolder manner. The roughness of the LCA practice undermines its credibility and hinders its application as a decision supporting tool for low carbon design. Currently, China's Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector is undergoing a smart transformation, steered by the increased use of BIM. This paper presents a BIM-enabled LCA method and illustrates how the method can be used to facilitate the low carbon design under the circumstance of the smart AEC transition in China. A case study on carbon footprint accounting for a residential building is conducted. In this study, various software tools and data sources are combined to enhance the data flow and interoperability between BIM models and LCA models. BIM tools are used to create the BIM model, calculate the inputs (materials, construction machines, energies, water and so on) of on-site construction process and simulate the energy consumption of building operation. The eBalance, a China's local LCA software tool is applied to build the LCA model. The Chinese Life Cycle Database is used as the main data source (72.73%) to calculate the carbon footprint of the given building while the Ecoinvent database and European Life Cycle Database act as supplementary. The results show that the carbon footprint of the building is 2993 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 . The operation phase contributes to 69% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, while the building material production contributes to 24%. Concrete is the most used building material, which accounts for 82% of mass but contributes to only 44% of the material related GHG emission. Although steel and aluminum account for only 2.6% and 1.4% of mass, they contribute to 28% and 17% GHG emission, respectively. Through BIM-enable LCA modeling, the potential life cycle environmental performance of the buildings can be assessed in detail. This makes the LCA not only more accessible but also more credible for the AEC professionals to use it as a guide for the low carbon design of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon Emissions Pinch Analysis is a variant of Pinch Analysis that was developed for macroscale carbon-constrained energy planning problems. It uses carbon intensity as the measure of quality of energy streams to be allocated within a large-scale system. Since its inception, this method has been applied to various systems at different scales, utilized in different geographic contexts, and also extended to allow different sustainability metrics, such as land and water footprints, to be considered. In this paper, Carbon Emissions Pinch Analysis is further extended by combining it with Input-Output Analysis. This hybrid approach is capable of economy-wide analysis, where the segments of composite curves are comprised of the sectors in an economic system; flow quantities are measures in terms of economic value, while quality is indicated by carbon intensity. After first illustrating this approach to a small pedagogical case study, the methodology is then applied to a case study on the carbon-constrained economic growth of the Philippines. Prospects and limitations of the potential application of this methodology to other cases are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development efforts aimed at substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emissions focused research activities in this field, among others, on a partial or full replacement of Portland cement by environmental more friendly alternatives. Calcined gypsum can be considered as one of possible options in that respect. However, although the environmental impact is an important issue, gypsum was analyzed only rarely and sufficiently accurate data are still missing. In this paper, a carbon footprint analysis of two types of gypsum ranging from cradle to gate according to ISO 14067 is presented. The inventory data based on primary data obtained from the producers of natural gypsum and flue gas desulfurization gypsum in the Czech Republic are completed by the emission factors obtained from the literature survey. The results of the carbon footprint analysis show that the carbon dioxide emissions related to the manufacturing of calcined gypsum from flue gas desulfurization gypsum are 105.3 kg of carbon dioxide/t, i.e., 25.2% lower than for the application of natural gypsum. Calcination is identified as the most harmful process from the point of view of carbon dioxide generation for both raw materials; it is responsible for 55% and 72% of total carbon dioxide emissions for natural gypsum and flue gas desulfurization gypsum, respectively. The obtained information is essential for further design and development of new types of composites meeting the requirements of sustainable development better than today’s mainstream solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of sustainability aspects in the production of aeronautical subscale components by comparing the traditional riveted versus the innovative Laser Beam Welding (LBW) process in industrial conditions. We adopt a quantitative assessment methodology for both processes, by taking into account a series of manufacturing scenarios with six multi-dimensional aeronautical subscale components in different annual production rates (mass production). The results reveal that the exploitation of the LBW technology can provide weight savings up to 28%, by exploiting lower density Al Cu Li alloys, while the time savings during the manufacturing process can be up to 67%. Furthermore, the total manufacturing cost of the LBW process can be reduced up to 40% for the case of long structures, when compared to the corresponding riveted structures. In terms of environmental friendliness, the LBW process results to increased CO 2e emissions by 124% during the manufacturing process when compared to the riveting process. However, this difference is lower than 60% when longer structures with smaller count of stringers are used. Finally, despite the high carbon footprint emission during the manufacturing phase, when the life cycle of aircrafts is assessed, the LBW joining process can contribute to lighter components, resulting to less weighted aircrafts whose engines consume less fuel, contributing in that way to energy and GHG emissions reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]