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Featured Application: Papermaking industry and technology. Innovative applications of vegetal residues. This study examines the potential of four invasive plant species, both arboreal and herbaceous, within the riparian forest of the Umia River in Galicia, a common ecosystem in northern Spain. These invasive species (Arundo donax, Phytolacca americana, Eucalyptus globulus, and Tradescantia fluminensis) were collected and assessed for their suitability as an alternative source of pulp and paper materials for the paper industry to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with conventional cellulose fiber production from harmful monocultures. Cellulosic material from leaves, bark, and/or stems of each of the selected species was isolated from lignin and hemicelluloses through kraft pulping processes. Resulted fibers and pulps were analyzed visually, morphologically, chemically, and mechanically to evaluate their papermaking properties. To compare these properties with those of commercially available pulp, test sheets were concurrently produced using commercial bleached Eucalyptus cellulose. The findings reveal that the employed fibers exhibit promising characteristics for artistic paper production. Regarding the pulp, two refining times were tested in a PFI machine, and the Schopper–Riegler degree was measured. Paper sheets underwent various tests to determine thickness, basis weight, apparent volume, apparent density, permeability, and chemical composition, as well as microscopic optical and morphological properties. The fibers obtained from the waste derived from the removal of invasive exotic species and biodiversity control present a viable and intriguing alternative for decentralized paper production, yielding noteworthy results for the creative sector. This research highlights the potential of harnessing invasive species for sustainable and innovative paper manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining and quarrying were important economic activities in Europe in past centuries, but during the 20th century, raw materials became vital to societal development. Mining has been subject to fluctuations related to wars, economic crises, and advances in environmental rights. A series of events led some European countries, such as Spain, to assume a leading position in the market for certain raw materials, such as tungsten. However, most of Europe's mines have been abandoned. This paper considers several postindustrial heritage sites that can used to illustrate how metal and stone were extracted in past centuries. Such sites have become a tourist attraction in the context of heritage in some countries. This area in western Spain, which contains ancestral quarries that helped build the architectural heritage of UNESCO World Heritage Cities and artisanal mines that contributed to building the economy of an extremely poor population, has a story to tell. All these mines and quarries can be used to explain the cultural heritage of the area as part of a postindustrial heritage landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The circular economy is a key issue for any company, city, or institution. The linear economy model, based on "take, make, use and waste" of products and resources, has discarded potentially valuable resources and caused serious contamination problems. In contrast, the circular economy (CE) model is a strategic paradigm whose purpose is to regenerate and conserve resources through closed material loops and the sustainable use of energy in its processes. Therefore, a growing number of companies are applying different tools and techniques to implement the CE principles to innovate their products, services, and processes, achieving promising results. Thus, the main objective of this study is to suggest an implementation model named "Circular clock" based on a set of tools and techniques which firms may use for implementing CE. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents an empirical analysis based on the triangulation method that includes three different data sources: semi-structured interviews in Spain, academic literature and books, and non-academic publications from institutions and consultancy firms. Findings: The most relevant result of this study is the proposal of a Circular Clock model for circular economy implementation is based on six fields of action define in the academic literature: take, make, distribute, use, recover, and industrial symbiosis. Moreover, this study may serve as guidance in facilitating the strategic adoption of eco-innovation practices in firms' transition to a CE. Research limitations/implications: The sample of companies that participated in the triangulation is exploratory; however, this limitation is overcome by reviewing academic literature and institutional reports. On the other hand, academics could expand the selection of tools with subsequent studies. Practical implications: The current study is based on the triangulation method, which was vital to balance the theory and practice provided by academic sources, reports, and books. In addition, this study has improved our understanding of the goals or intentions that may motivate firms to implement the CE and align them with the suggested set of tools. Consequently, this study is relevant to support practitioners in selecting a tool based on the goal they want to achieve towards circular economy implementation. Social implications: This research suggests several tools; however, each organization could adapt some that it already knows. Therefore, firms and implementation leaders should customize the circle with short lines in each case. Moreover, the clock bells represent the deadline considering that every CE implementation process requires a deadline to ensure its success in micro-level or firms. Originality/value: The "circular clock" provides a didactic way for sustainability leaders, consultants, or companies to facilitate the implementation of the circular economy by choosing the field of action on which they want to focus and the most appropriate tool according to their strategy, objective, and budget. Therefore, this model is based on the balance between theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals generate huge amounts of nonwoven residues daily. This paper focused on studying the evolution of nonwoven waste generated in the Francesc de Borja Hospital, Spain, over the last few years and its relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective was to identify the most impacting pieces of nonwoven equipment in the hospital and to analyze possible solutions. The carbon footprint of the nonwoven equipment was studied through a life-cycle assessment. The results showed an apparent increase in the carbon footprint in the hospital from 2020. Additionally, due to the higher annual volume, the simple nonwoven gown used primarily for patients had a higher carbon footprint over a year than the more sophisticated surgical gowns. It can be concluded that developing a local circular economy strategy for medical equipment could be the solution to avoid the enormous waste generation and the carbon footprint of nonwoven production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge-based and innovative bioeconomy is a cornerstone for achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. Due to its comprehensive coverage, bioeconomy performance is challenging to assess unambiguously. This paper presents the results of a cross-country comparison of 22 EU countries applying the Complex Bioeconomy Sustainability Index for 2012–2018. Results were compared with results of the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making method on national bioeconomy strategies in Finland, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Latvia. The research aims to combine a quantitative assessment of bioeconomy output indicators with a qualitative evaluation of bioeconomy strategies of EU Member States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The implementation of circular economy strategies is one of the central objectives of several governments seeking a transition toward a sustainable development. Circular economy in agriculture deals with the production of agricultural commodities making an efficient use of resources and avoiding unnecessary waste and carbon emission generation. Disruptions in the production and supply of critical agricultural products can have serious negative repercussions for firms and consumers of the food supply chain. In recent decades, disruptions generated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, thunderstorms and floods have greatly impacted social communities and industrial sectors. Supply chain risks approaches are seen to contribute key elements to address the impacts of natural disaster toward the implementation of circular economy in agriculture, helping to prevent collapses in the production and supply of food. The purpose of this paper is to study and identify flood risk drivers and their effects on the sustainability of an agriculture supply chain in connection with a circular economy strategy. By using an extended Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis method combined with a multi-criteria decision analysis, the most essential flood drivers with a degree of importance are reported here. Then, the authors propose an Evaluation of Data based on average ASsessment method, to rank different agricultural projects that pretend to mitigate the flood risks and its impacts on crop areas. The application of this research lies within the framework of a real agricultural project founded by the European Commission Scientific Section, called RUC-APS. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use management science-based tools to address circular economy in agriculture. The authors propose a multi-criteria-based methodology to assess the risks of flooding in crops areas. To validate the proposed methodology, a case example from Spain is discussed to rank different agricultural projects that pretend to mitigate the flood risks and its impacts on crop areas. Findings: The proposed multi-criteria methodology confirmed a successful application to rank different agricultural projects that pretend to mitigate the flood risks and its impacts on crop areas. Organizations and firms in the agricultural business can use the methodology to identify risks drivers and to detect the best projects to mitigate the highest impacts of flooding risks in crops areas. Originality/value: The authors use supply chain risks approaches to address the impacts of natural disaster on the implementation of circular economy in agriculture. The authors propose a robust multi-criteria-based methodology to assess the risks of flooding in crops areas and we used to determine the best mitigating projects to face flooding risks on crop areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular start-ups (CSUs) are gaining popularity to radically rethink the linear resource flows of global production systems and adopt ambitious approaches towards a circular economy from inception. For CSUs, the institutional environment is particularly relevant; this is because the complex nature of sustainability challenges requires a deep engagement with institutions to drive transitions from linear to circular practices. This article analyses how and why institutional factors influence CSUs in the highly entrepreneurial region of Catalonia in Spain. Based on a multiple case study, our findings demonstrate that CSUs are affected by informal institutions through founder motivations, their ability to create opportunities and social values. Formal institutions influence CSUs regarding the previous experience of founders, accessible ecosystem actors and supportive laws and regulations. These findings are important for effective policymaking to develop adequate support mechanisms and understand the particular challenges and opportunities CSUs face compared to traditional start-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repurposing agricultural and forestry by-products not only is beneficial for the environment but also follows the principles of the circular economy. In southeastern Spain, the Canary Island palm tree (Phoenix canariensis W.) is widely used in urban landscapes. Plantations affected by the red weevil, a pest, generate an abundance of plant waste that must be crushed and transferred to authorized landfills. The aim of this study was to manufacture boards using particles from trunks of the Canary Island palm tree without adding any binders in order to obtain an ecological and fire-resistant product. In order to manufacture the boards, three particle sizes (<0.25, 0.25–1, and 1–2 mm), a temperature of 110 °C, a pressure of 2.6 MPa, and a pressing time of 7 min were used. The boards were pressed in a hot plate press for 7 min up to four times (7 min, 7 + 7 min, 7 + 7 + 7 min, and 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 min). The resulting boards showed good thermal performance, and the board´s reaction-to-fire performance was classified as Bd0 (an Fs value of 70.3 mm). This study also showed that boards with a particle size smaller than 0.25 mm that underwent four pressing cycles of 7 min each in the press can be categorized as grade P2 according to the European Standards (MOR of 20 N/mm2, MOE of 2589.8 N/mm2, and IB of 0.74 N/mm2). Therefore, these manufactured particleboards could be used as a flame-retardant material for the interior enclosures of buildings (vertical and horizontal) without the need for coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of ground olive stones in the manufacture of mortar bricks reduces their thermal conductivity coefficient and increases heat exchange insulation. So, it can improve energy efficiency and reduce the energy demand of buildings. This research analyzes, from other points of view, the economic, social and environmental impacts of the doping of GERO mortar bricks with ground olive stone in a percentage between 5% and 15% by volume of fine aggregate for use in building construction. The study focuses mainly on the region of Andalusia, Spain, where large quantities of olive stones are collected as waste from olive oil production. The economic analysis shows how the use of ground olive stones as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in mortar can generate significant savings and economic returns in the medium term (10–20 years) by reducing conventional energy consumption in heating and air conditioning installations. Finally, the Environmental Life Cycle Analysis shows that the use of ground olive stones in GERO perforated bricks reduces environmental impacts in the medium term. In summary, the research concludes that the doping of mortar bricks with ground olive stones can have a positive impact on the economy, society and the environment, and represents a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of cities and transport infrastructure produces a large volume of mineral waste (e.g. excavated earth material). At the same time, cities are increasingly trying to develop green infrastructures, given the ecosystem services they provide to people, but this comes with considerable economic and environmental costs associated with the transfer of fertile soil from rural areas to cities. In a circular economy approach, the reuse of mineral waste to build fertile soil is a substantial opportunity to reduce the economic and environmental costs of both mineral waste management and green infrastructure development. Soils constructed from these materials (constructed Technosols) must be able to support vegetation growth and become a suitable living environment for soil organisms. This requires ecological engineering to maximise the potential of constructed soils for biodiversity, both from a taxonomic and functional perspective. In this context, we systematically mapped the evidence related to the ability of soils constructed from mineral wastes to support biodiversity. Methods: We gathered published and grey literature through searches in two publications databases (Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection), one search engine (Google Scholar), nine organisational websites and through a call for literature. Titles, abstracts, and full-texts were successively screened using eligibility criteria. All included studies were described with coded variables and a database was produced. The extent of evidence was assessed and knowledge clusters and gaps were identified. Review findings: The searches yielded 9265 articles, and 153 articles were retained after the screening process. More than half of these articles were from European countries, with France leading the field with 40 articles, followed by Spain (15 articles) and Italy (10 articles). Most of the articles (75%) were produced after 2015. The main reasons for constructing soils from mineral waste were for mine rehabilitation (35%), waste recycling (16%) and experimental purpose (15%). The 153 articles were divided into 1962 studies, a study being a combination of a taxon, an intervention (i.e. soil construction) and a measured outcome. Among these studies, the most studied biological group is plants (69% of studies) and especially herbaceous species (32%), followed by microorganisms (17%) and invertebrates (14%). The most used type of mineral waste is mine waste (31% of studies) followed by excavated soil (16%) and demolition waste (14%). Finally, the most frequently measured outcome is plant growth (42% of studies), followed by organism abundance (16%) and diversity (10%). Conclusions: Three main knowledge clusters were identified which could be addressed in the future for full synthesis of the results: (1) How well do plants grow in soils constructed from mineral wastes? (2) What is the potential of soils constructed from mineral wastes to support biodiversity? and (3) How do microbial communities develop in soils constructed from mineral wastes? There is a lack of studies investigating several biological groups at the same time: only 6 articles out of 153 investigated the response of both plants, invertebrates and microorganisms to soil construction. More research is therefore needed on the ability to support a diversity of organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth and greater global interconnection require a profound transformation in how we produce, consume, and manage natural resources. In this sense, the circular transition of the agricultural and livestock sectors is vital to guarantee adequate production without compromising the availability of resources for future generations. In this work, we analyze the level of circular development of the primary sector in Spain using a sample of the 84 largest companies. We utilize the biplot analysis, multivariate graphic models that represent the joint distribution of four scores (constructed with sixteen ecological initiatives), and three financial and geographic variables. These techniques allow for visualization of the status and the relationships between all of them. We evidence an important degree of progress in initiatives associated with the use of non-polluting energy, eco-design, eco-innovation, management, and care of ecosystems. We also observe that the current transition towards a circular primary sector is strongly associated with firms' capital investments and long-term innovations. On the other hand, the actions aimed at protecting water resources are in an intermediate state of progress, being necessary to invest in additional friendly water initiatives. In this vein, it is advisable to promote public policies focused on promoting the ecological transition of this sector and the research that advances efficient water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In Spain and other Mediterranean countries, significant quantities of semi-solid olive mill waste are generated, which should be preferentially applied to agricultural soils to close nutrient cycles. However, two-phase olive mill waste (termed alperujo in Spanish) is known to pose risks to soil quality and plant production when applied to soil in large quantities. Alperujo has high contents of polyphenol substances, which can inhibit microbial growth and are also phytotoxic in nature. However, when applied in appropriate quantities and following specific methods, it is possible that the practice may not pose any risks, and this requires evaluation. As a waste management option, direct application of alperujo can supply plant nutrients and organic matter to degradation-prone Mediterranean soils. In order to validate this circular economy fertilization and soil protection strategy, an 18-month field experiment was undertaken, applying moderate quantities of alperujo on permanent crop groves throughout the Spanish region of Valencia. Eleven experimental parcels with permanent crops managed by farmers were identified to test two scenarios: a single application of 10 t/ha, and a second application of 10 t/ha after 10 months. Soil chemical parameters were assessed at 0, 6, 10, and 18 months. Soil organic carbon, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrates, and polyphenol contents were modified by alperujo application, but these effects were highly transient in nature, with generally no lasting effects after 4–6 months for either application scenario. Also, qualitative evaluations carried out by farmers revealed few effects, although some reductions in erosive processes and improvements in plant vigor were noted. As such, based on the measured parameters, it is concluded that the direct soil application of alperujo olive mill wastes at low application rates did not lead to any lasting detrimental effects on soil quality or compromise the productivity of permanent crops in this Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The income and residue production from agriculture has a strong impact in Spain. A circular economy and a bioeconomy are two alternative sustainable models that include the revalorization of agri-food by-products to recover healthy biomolecules. However, most crops are conventional, implying the use of pesticides. Hence, the reutilization of agri-food by-products may involve the accumulation of pesticides. Even though the waste-to-bioproducts trend has been widely studied, the potential accumulation of pesticides during by-product revalorization has been scarcely assessed. Therefore, in this study, the most common pesticides found in eight highly productive crops in Spain are evaluated according to the available published data, mainly from EFSA reports. Among these, oranges, berries and peppers showed an increasing tendency regarding pesticide exceedances. In addition, the adverse effects of pesticides on human and animal health and the environment were considered. Finally, a safety assessment was developed to understand if the reutilization of citrus peels to recover ascorbic acid (AA) would represent a risk to human health. The results obtained seem to indicate the safety of this by-product to recover AA concentrations to avoid scurvy (45 mg/day) and improve health (200 mg/day). Therefore, this work evaluates the potential risk of pesticide exposure through the revalorization of agri-food by-products using peels from citruses, one of the major agricultural crops in Spain, as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A bibliometric and selected literature review based on 670 papers was perfomed. • A comprehensive overview of plastic pyrolysis landscape is unraveling. • Spain is the most productive country in plastic pyrolysis research. • Plastic pyrolysis is and will still being a research trend in the coming years. • Plastic to fuel conversion has the potential to severely limit plastic pollution. Plastic materials have been crucial to the development of science, technology, and almost all aspects of modern progress since the mid-twentieth century. However, the increasingly unsustainable culture of plastic consumption and the accumulation of plastics in landfills, oceans, and broader ecosystems has also made negative, potentially irreversible environmental impacts. In recent decades, scientists and engineers have spent significant time and resources searching for more effective plastic waste management techniques based on thermochemical routes like pyrolysis. Indeed, plastic to fuel conversion has the potential to severely limit plastic pollution and to contribute to the circular economy, but industrial scale plastic pyrolysis has not been achieved. Therefore, this paper presents a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review of pyrolysis-related articles in the Web of Science database published between 2001–2020. The resulting articles (n = 670) show that Spain is the most productive country in terms of total output and that there are an increasing number of researchers focused on this topic worldwide. The results also highlight the current landscape and future directions of plastic pyrolysis research based on the following hot topics: i) kinetic triplets as a vital component of plastic pyrolysis and scaling up processes, ii) catalysts syntheses and performance, iii) co-pyrolysis of plastic/biomass mixtures, and iv) reactor design and reaction parameters. In conclusion, the study offers a comprehensive overview of plastic pyrolysis progress, which will remain a major area of research for chemists and engineers in the coming decade and a powerful tool for environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource depletion and environmental pollution are increasingly a matter of concern for their adverse effects on ecosystems, human health, and the economy. Circular Economy (CE) practices can help us address these challenges. This paper proposes a composite circularity index (CI) to assess the level of implementation of CE practices. The main advantage of the proposed index is its ability to combine multiple indicators of circularity for different units operating in a given sector (given as inputs), using a 'Benefit of the Doubt' model. This new model is innovative in the manner it deals with ordinal scales and also by considering both relative and absolute performance indices. These indices are computed using mathematical programming tools, building on ideas from Data Envelopment Analysis models. Although the model can be applied to any sector, this work addresses the hotel industry in particular. The selection of indicators for this CI was based on seven blocks of the Circular Economy Action Plan and a literature review of circular practices. An application of the proposed index is performed by using data from Portuguese and Spanish hotels. The proposed CI allows the identification of the organizations with the best and worst performance in implementing the CE practices and clarifying the benchmarks they could follow to improve their level of circularity. Moreover, the index analysis also provides specific targets for improvement, indicating which circular practices should be improved for the lower performers to reach the implementation levels of the best performers. • A circularity index based on DEA and the Circular Economy Action Plan is developed. • The circularity index is customized and applied to 51 hotels in Portugal and Spain. • Targets and priorities aimed at reducing hotels' footprint are discussed. • The method proposed offers potential for application in many other sectors. • 19 hotels are efficient, and the average efficiency is 85.26% in a relative assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain, due to its important mining past, there are many abandoned mine waste facilities. This study evaluates the potential of Spanish mine wastes for the recovery of critical and strategic raw materials and other elements of economic relevance. For this purpose, 20 mine waste facilities have been selected in different parts of Spain based on criteria such as tonnage, element content or metal market price. Surface samples were taken at the facilities, considered representative of these, for subsequent granulometric, mineralogical and chemical analysis. The grain size data were obtained by standard sieving (ASTM 5000), while the mineralogy was obtained by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). For chemical characterization, Wavelength Dispersion X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (WDXRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used to analyze 38 chemical elements (Be, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Hf, Ta, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U), many of them included in the European Union's list of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). In addition, leachate data from mine wastes in the Iberian Pyritic Belt were analyzed to assess their bioleaching potential. The calculated enrichment factors (EF) indicate that some critical elements, as well as others with strategic and economic interest, are highly enriched in the wastes, including Sb, Bi, As, Pb, Cu, Ag, Zn, Cd, Sn, Se and Th. The most promising facilities with the highest recovery potential are located in the historic Riotinto and Tharsis mines (both in Huelva, Iberian Pyrite Belt) and the Rubiais mine in Lugo, whose tailings could contribute up to 3.2 billion dollars gross, according to the current market metal prices. This paper aims to provide a first step to promote mine waste recycling and circular mining in Spain, an initiative that would also help to mitigate the environmental damage derived from abandoned mine wastes. • First national-scale assessment of Critical Raw Materials from mine waste facilities in Spain. • Mine waste facilities enriched with critical and strategic metals in terms of enrichment factors. • Most promising facilities evaluated in terms of metal tonnages and estimated gross benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper analyses the role of consultancy services in the transition towards a Circular Economy (CE). To this aim, the paper brings together two different strands, the emergence of a new Circular Economy paradigm as a complex innovation process which faces many barriers and the innovative role of Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). Among KIBS, consultancy services are widely recognized in the field of innovation systems as a necessary agent for the adoption and diffusion of innovation by other agents. Circular-Oriented Innovation (COI) involves major changes, sometimes including new technologies and in most cases requiring the reorganization of value chains and the collaboration of different actors. This paper conducts a qualitative research focused on CE-related consultancy services provided by four pioneering companies in Spain. The paper sheds light on the functions developed by consultancy firms and discusses the main drivers and barriers towards COI. The findings suggest that KIBS may play an important role in the dissemination of the CE paradigm. Firstly, providing and managing knowledge to promote COI in their client's companies; secondly, through the strategic formation of networks and alliances with other key stakeholders, which are key for the practical implementation of CE; and finally, by disseminating the ideas and principles of the CE in the system and across the society. By means of their functions, we conclude that consultancy services may help to lower some of the barriers that are usually addressed by companies, and that revolve around the lack of knowledge and the associated uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most recent years of research have shifted the perception of desalination brine from being waste to a high-value resource, in consonance with a circular economy perspective. The Canary Islands, containing the largest number of desalination plants per square kilometre in the world, are a perfect location to study its characteristics and evaluate its potential. A total of 10 heterogeneous seawater reverse osmosis plants were selected to determine the brine's physicochemical characterisation, comprising 37 parameters, and its correlation to the technical and operational aspects of the desalination plants. The results show a stable narrow range of the percentage of major ions concentration in relation to the total dissolved solids (55% Cl−, 29.5% Na+, 8% SO42−, 4% Mg2+, 1.5% Ca2+, 1.2% K+, 0.5% HCO3−, and 0.2% Br−) irrespective of specific differences between plants. The results obtained in this study are highly beneficial to industrial suppliers and future users of desalination brine valorisation (DBV) technologies, allowing an estimation of the chemical composition of a brine through knowledge only of its conductivity. Such information is crucial before investing in and optimizing DBV technologies. Nonetheless, from an environmental, economic, operational, energy-based, and R&D point of view, several improvements are required to promote their large-scale feasibility and viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value-Added Compounds (VACs) are molecules that have attracted great attention in the literature regarding their potential for integration into existing processes or products. In Winery Wastewater (WW), VACs are valuable because of their antioxidant characteristics. Furthermore, integrated systems for recovery of these molecules and treatment of WW can be a powerful strategy towards an environmentally efficient way of wine production. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to establish the status and trace research trends on that topic. The analysis investigated the Web of Science database from 1953–2023, where the software VOSviewer® and R were used. Secondly, an extensive literature review was carried out on VACs recovery from WW by membrane process, which was identified as a promising strategy. As a result, the historical evolution of publications has a growing behavior while citations take time to grow. The most productive authors, journals, and countries were analyzed, with Spain being the leading country in publications on that topic. Lastly, keyword mapping revealed the relevance of "circular economy" and "biorefinery" as knowledge transfer concepts where both traditional and emergent technologies are connected towards the achievement of sustainable development goals. The recovery of phenolic compounds from wine production through membrane processes stands out as a promising technology. Different recovery approaches using membrane processing were assessed in the review. Studies could achieve up to 100% phenolic compound and polysaccharide rejections and also addressed the possibility of fractioning these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies in the agro-industry sector have shown the importance to evaluate the feasibility of an IBLC (a multi-product transformation plant). This paper develops a model to simulate the performance of an IBLC in Spain, using a combined approach: AHP, TOPSIS, and a hybrid simulation model. Results show that profits can be incremented by about 55.7% and environmental emissions of KgCO2e per tonne of bio-commodity produced, reduced by 24.2%. The scientific contribution covers the development of a simulation model that dynamically select suppliers based on a combination of social, environmental, and economic criteria. In addition, the model can be used to evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of the IBLC by integrating the suppliers selection with the operations of a multi-product transformation plant. [Display omitted] • We provide a list of criteria that are relevant to choose suppliers of wheat. • We introduce the concept of ÍBLC and test its economic feasibility. • We develop an approach to integrate AHP and TOPSIS in a simulation environment. • We show, based on a case study in Spain, that the IBLC can be profitably run. • Profits increase by 55% while KgCO2e emissions reduces by 24.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, much attention has been paid to the phenomenon of household food waste which largely contributes to the total amount of food waste generated in industrialised countries. The reduction of food waste has been also included within the European strategy of circular economy and ambitious objectives have been assigned to the European member states. Youths proved to be the segment of the population most inclined to waste food and therefore they need to be monitored. This exploratory study, based on a survey involving 380 youths residing in Italy and Spain, aims at investigating the complexities of food waste behaviour within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. By referring to the PLS-SEM approach, we analyse the validity of the relationships between individual habits, attitudes, addiction to marketing ploys and sales strategies, and attitudes towards food waste. It also aims at verifying the existence of mediator effects in order to better understand these relationships. The construction of the Importance Performance Matrix Analysis enables identification of the dimensions which greatly influence positive behaviour, and whether urgent attention and interventions are required. The results confirm that behavioural models are appropriate for explaining youths' behaviour towards food waste with an important role played by the perceived behavioural control. Situational factors which characterize the moment of purchase should be carefully considered and monitored. This paper concludes that marketing and sale strategies negatively influence the waste behaviour of individuals, emphasizing the important role of retailers in preventing the generation of food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular Economy (CE) implementation is considered an instrumental strategy to help reaching the world's resource, energy, and climate mitigation targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. However, major barriers must be overcome to facilitate CE implementation in industry such as cultural, market, regulatory and technological considerantions (Kirchherr et al., 2018). Improving management systems within industrial companies is crucial when implementing effective CE solutions in compliance with existing industrial standards such as quality and environmental management systems. However, it is not yet common practice yet due to the lack of standardized, suitable, and easy-to-use supporting analytical tools. This paper attempts to fill this gap by presenting Industrial Circular Economy Questionnaire (ICEQ) , a self-diagnosis questionnaire built upon the revision of industrial harmonized standards and, academic literature on business-level CE assessment tools. ICEQ , compiling a set of 165 questions for company self-CE assessment, was applied to 30 industrial companies belonging to 17 economic sectors (automotive, machining and metalworking transformation, waste management, machine tool, etc.) in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC) in Spain. The automotive sector stands out with 70% of circularity while Machining and metalworking transformation only has 34%, showing that the automotive sector is more conscious of CE since they must comply with End-of-Life Vehicles (EoLV) legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of by-products from agricultural and forestry activity, apart from many other environmental benefits, constitutes an alternative source of income, cost reduction, and support for the principles of the circular economy. The bobal grape is a variety of red grape that is cultivated on 65 thousand hectares only in Spain. Periodic maintenance of the crop must be carried out through winter pruning from December to March. The pruning biomass is burned or crushed and incorporated into the soil, producing environmental contamination and disease transmission. The objective of this work was to use the biomass from vineyard residues in the production of binderless particleboards without using any adhesives, thereby obtaining an ecological product that would benefit the environment. In the manufacturing process, the press temperature (130 °C) and pressure (2.6 MPa) were fixed, varying the particle size (<0.25, 0.25 to 1.00, and 1.00 to 2.00), and the pressing time (15, 30, and 45 min). The results showed that by using particles smaller than 0.25 mm and applying 45 min in the hot press, panels were manufactured that are suitable for general use in a dry environment and for the manufacture of furniture according to European standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The effects of olive waste biochar and green compost as soil amendments on soil physical properties, as well as on physiological parameters and yield of a super-intensive olive crop cultivated under deficit irrigation conditions, were investigated in south-west Spain during the 2021 growing season. Thus, soils were amended with 40 t ha−1 of olive pomace waste biochar, green-compost, or a biochar-compost mixture (50% w/w), and no amended plots were used as control. On a bi-monthly basis, soil pH, water holding capacity, humidity, and resistance to penetrability were determined. In addition, various indicators of the physiological status and water stress of the plant were also monitored. Finally, the olive yield per tree was measured. Results showed that biochar application was the most effective amendment for increasing soil moisture and reducing soil compaction. The latter was evidenced by the significant reduction of the resistance to the penetrability of the amended soils. Plants of the amended plots showed better leaf water potential. In addition, values of the net photosynthesis rate, the average intrinsic water-use efficiency, and the maximum rate of electron transport in the time before the harvest improved significantly in the trees from the biochar-amended plots, for which olive fruit yields increased by about 15% in comparison with the other treatments. Nevertheless, the estimated net oil yield per tree was similar because the olives from the biochar-amended trees contained more moisture. This field trial shows for the first time that by providing the soil with biochar from olive crop waste as an organic amendment, having high water retention capacity, porosity, and stability, it would be possible to reduce the irrigation water needed and maintain plant yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Waste disposal is an activity that pollutes the environment. The European Union has developed different legislative measures which are based on the circular economy (CE) to avoid this negative externality. The management of agricultural packaging (fertilizers and phytosanitary products) is carried out through Collective Deposit, Return, and Refund Systems (CDRRS). New regulations on waste tax the consumption of non-recyclable plastic in packaging, but also reward the use of plastic by-products from packaging. The administrations recommend using biodegradable plastic in the means of production, as well as establishing a traceability system (TS) to control the proper management of all the generated waste. The proposed measures can affect producer cost accounts. This work aimed to identify and evaluate the existing agricultural packaging management system in Spain. It also studied the influence of the price of a barrel of oil, crop surface, irrigation regime, and the type of subsectors on CDRRS, and quantified the impact of the latest fiscal measures and initiatives proposed by Spanish administrations. Results: The generation of agricultural packaging is influenced by variables including the cultivated area, irrigation regime, and agricultural subsector. The price of a barrel of oil directly influences the current by-product utilization system. Using biodegradable plastic or implementing a TS can increase production costs by up to 9.80%. The current system of subsidies to producers can soften the economic impact caused by the additional cost of biodegradable plastic (4.03%), but no subsidies have been foreseen to encourage the use of environmentally friendly alternatives. Conclusions: Findings indicate that public administrations should be guided by the specific characteristics of the different agricultural systems when defining regulations on agricultural waste management. The fixed rate in the current system of subsidies for using plastic by-products obtained from packaging should be substituted for a variable rate. Transferring powers to autonomous communities to define by-products may lead to heterogeneity in the Spanish territory. New measures derived from the recent environmental agreements to comply with the 2030 Agenda will increase production costs even after considering the current aid scheme. The subsidy coefficient should be increased to 80% of the purchase invoice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the absence of specific regulations on soil fertilization gives rise to sectorial normative with different regional approaches regarding application conditions, quality and other conditions that reused materials must meet. The purpose of this case study in Galicia (NW Spain) is to analyse the coherence of legal texts in the application of organic waste in soils regarding a more circular economy. The context of the case study is characterized by several Directives such as the Nitrates Directive or the "out of date" Directive on sewage sludge, among others, the lack of soil quality protection regulations and the existence of different administrative levels (European Union, Member State and Region). Manures and other agriculture wastes represent the main source of wastes being vastly applied to soils without previous treatment. Other waste streams (i.e. industrial biowaste, municipal biowaste and sewage sludge) undergo treatment generating commercial fertilizers, biostabilized wastes, technosols and waste-treated products that are subject to different standards. The screening of regulations and scientific literature detected limiting situations in the recycling of organic wastes due to natural or legal issues. On the other hand, risky applications are identified due to the lack of quality requirements for waste-treated products under regional legislation, or no mandatory compliance with codes of good agricultural practices for manures and waste-treated products. Contradictory situations of legal regulations and other issues were outlined and discussed. Final considerations were outlined to promote a more effective recycling of organic wastes and the design of a suitable legislation adapted to the natural conditions of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the responsible operating space (ROS) framework, a framework that includes both the common governance of the global environmental concerns and the comprehensive management of environmental sustainability. The ROS framework determines environmental objectives regarding the global concerns using a footprint perspective, and defines coherent integrated environmental objectives for the production and consumption processes at different territorial scales. In this case study, we firstly estimated the global ROS, as well as both the consumption-side ROS and the production-side ROS of Spain. Then, the national ROS was transferred to the 17 Spanish regions and was further extended to the 313 municipalities of one of the regions (Galicia). Finally, we transferred the ROS to 163 sectors, as well as to one industrial park and several companies. Our results demonstrate that, even assuming the methodological limitations and scarcity of data, it is already possible to allocate objectives and decentralize the management of global environmental concerns even at municipal and company levels. The role of circular economy under the ROS framework is also discussed on the basis of the potential coexistence of circularity with an unsustainable production-consumption system. • Coherent reduction targets at municipal and company levels can be calculated. • The framework allows integrating circular economy actions at different scales. • Decentralized management of the global environmental concerns is achievable. • The framework boosts the operationalization of environmental sustainability. • The framework can be integrated into a holistic sustainable development plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leather industry is an example of circular economy, as it uses meat industry wastes (hides and skins) as raw materials. However, the process of tanning also produces a substantial amount of organic waste. This research project studies the case of a tannery located in Navarra, in the North of Spain, committed to a circular economy and environmental protection, which produces around 2 tons per day of leather shavings and buffing dust and 10 tons per day of discarded bullock hair. The study tackles the challenge of whether the discarded waste material might be used as a new resource for products or processes related with the building sector. Three different types of solid wastes (chromium free tanned shavings, chromium buffing dust, and discarded hair) were categorized and analyzed. The paper examines two proposals to reuse the weekly tons of leftovers (both shavings and hair) produced by the tannery, instead of taking them to an external composting plant or to the landfill. The first exploration path proposed to use the discarded material to obtain biomass for the company's thermal production plant. After establishing the calorific values of the discarded hair and the shavings, these were found to offer competitive value in comparison with the biomass products used at present, such as wood pellets. The second approach to the waste upcycling involved seeking new products in the building sector, acoustic panels in this case. After a mechanical behavior analysis, different binders were blended with diverse proportions and particle sizes of shavings to obtain samples for a sound absorption coefficient determination. The results show coefficients close to those of cork panels or carpets. This experimental experience serves as a preliminary study for the use of leather industry wastes in the construction sector. • Further circular economy in leather industry: two proposals for industrial symbiosis. • Holistic approach for waste material recycling challenge. • Recycling tools for a market of more than US$100 billion per year. • Use of waste as biomass might reduce by more than half the dependency on natural gas. • Competitive performance of leather by-products as acoustic absorption panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Circular Economy (CE) model has recently gained a lot of attention as an effective way to cope with the urgent issues related to Climate Change and sustainability. The European Union (EU) has launched a series of reports, plans and activities known as the Circular Economy package which main goal is to expand the CE model throughout Europe, with large companies leading the initiative. This paper aims at assessing their engagement with the CE model, and if their actual understanding, practice and reporting of CE corresponds to the standards and principles promoted by the EU CE Action Plan. The research does also analyse if large companies' reporting in terms of CE can be assimilated to their environmental sustainability reporting or if they consider it a different topic, with different drivers. The reports of the largest companies in Spain (IBEX35) were studied in full detail as well as their environmental scores (ESG) from DataStream database, and activity sector. Results show interesting implications highlighting how companies' perception over CE, as reported, differs from the EU CE Action Plan approach and from the environmental sustainability framework, especially when taking into account the type of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: 3D printing. The circular economy model offers great opportunities to companies, as it not only allows them to capture additional value from their products and materials, but also reduce the fluctuations of price-related risks and material supply. These risks are present in all kind of businesses not based on the circular economy. The circular economy also enables economic growth without the need for more resources. This is because each unit has a higher value as a result of recycling and reuse of products and materials after use. Following this circular economics framework, the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, UPM) has adopted strategies aimed at improving the circularity of products. In particular, this article provides the result of obtaining recycled PLA filament from waste originating from university 3D FFF (fused filament fabrication) printers and waste generated by "Coronamakers" in the production of visors and parts for PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) during the lockdown period of COVID-19 in Spain. This filament is used in the production of 3D printed parts that university students use in their classes, so the circular loop is closed. The obtained score of Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) of this material has been calculated, indicating its high level of circularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of intensive high-yield agricultural systems has proved to be a feasible alternative to traditional systems as they able to meet the objective of guaranteeing long-term sustainability in the supply of food. In order to implement these systems, it is necessary to replace the traditional model of "extract-use-consume-dispose" with a model based on the principles of the Circular Economy (CE), optimizing the use of resources and minimizing the generation of waste. Almería has become a paradigm of this type of high-yield agricultural system, with the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world. This study analyses the opportunities that the CE can offer the intensive agriculture sector in Almería in order to obtain long-term sustainability. The results show a wide variety of alternatives, both on an agricultural exploitation level and in the case of the product packaging and wholesale centers. The priority areas of action are waste management, the prevention of product waste and the improvement in the efficiency of the use of water and energy. The principal limitations for adopting circular practices are the large investment required, the limited transfer of knowledge between the different users and the lack of sufficient support from the government and the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate change that plagues the world is causing extended periods of water shortage. This situation is forcing farmers in the region of Murcia in Spain to modernize their irrigation systems to optimize use of the scarce water they have and seek a circular water economy using the recovered water. Moreover, an associated problem is the need for energy that these facilities require in order to pressurize the required water. The use of photovoltaic generation contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Food produced in this region tends to have guaranteed markets in Europe and, geographically, due to the high quality of phytosanitary controls and traceability during their marketing, their optimal cultivation, and selection and labelling is verified, specifying valuable information such as: collection date, origin, the use of organic fertilizers among others. To maintain market access, it is important to continue implementing other environmental improvements, i.e., reductions in either hydro or carbon footprints. Previous studies have failed to include the prospect of environmental use of isolated facilities to replace existing consumption, seeking the monetarization of the facility as well as prioritizing the reduction of GHG. Previous studies have failed to include the perspective of environmental use of isolated photovoltaic installations, based on existing consumption, thus, going beyond the monetarization of the facility, to prioritize the reduction of GHG applied in practice by environmentally sensitized farmers. This study was conducted in an existing facility with great technical complexity and three different sources of water supply, over 1500 plots and an altitude range in plots and reservoirs of more than 400 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the most popular products in Mediterranean diet. Spain produces about 52% of olive oil with the presence of larger firms; Italy follows with a share of 9% and a production structure characterized instead by small family businesses. A social analysis, based on a multiple-questionnaire, has analyzed the perspectives of 500 consumers conferring their olives to a family-owned olive oil mills (OOMs). This work aims to assess the role of family business evaluating the opportunities associated with the development of circular economy (CE) models. Results show that Italian consumers' preferences give attention to the use of natural resource and the olive oil is perceived as a natural product. In addition, family owned-OOMs provide a great sense of trust and the relevant role of family within the entire life cycle of olive oil is demonstrated. OOMs that work for residential market are strongly preferred to industrial ones being able to manage single lots of olives belonging to the same customers' land. The recovery of some by-products represents an opportunity for OOMs and policy support is required to favor the needed generational change, whose absence is perceived as a serious obstacle to the future development of the sector along circularity principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]