1,721,090 research outputs found
Making real progress toward more sustainable societies using decision support models and tools: Introduction to the special volume
Full text linkAcademics, politicians, professionals and the general public are aware that without stewarding our planet’s natural resources, man is on the pathway towards a global collapse. Over the next three decades mankind is expected to consume an estimated 140 billion tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuels and biomass per year – three times current consumption. Social welfare and human wellbeing are threatened with the scarcity of natural resources; consequently, nations and their societies are also at risk of collapse. The readers of this special volume will find a compilation of scholarly research papers with real-life applications that take the challenge of proposing decision-making models and tools to address sustainability challenges in integrative ways. The main focus of this special volume is integration of sustainability dimensions (economic, social, environmental, ethical and time) into decision-support models and to identify pathways to achieve more sustainable societies. The majority of the research in this special volume, 74 percent, focuses on environmental and economic dimensions. Only 26 percent integrated social dimensions with them. Methodologically, a range of mathematical models and tools are presented to support prescriptive decision-making, with some descriptive models integrated, to support decision-makers in solving practical problems across a variety of industries and scenarios. The breadth and complexity of issues facing organizations and society requires innovative applications of these methodologies. The concerns cover a spectrum ranging from energy to solid waste management. A multitude of levels from broad-based policy concerns to strategic inter-organizational sustainable supply chain management and significantly, shop floor operational issues are also covered. The variety of problems and solutions exemplifies the potential for modelling and operations research for addressing some of our world’s most pressing concerns
A circular economy model based on biomethane. What are the opportunities for the municipality of Rome and beyond?
No full textThis paper defines the roles of biomethane for a double-green transition, through the integration of an effective management of renewable energy and municipal waste. The authors perform an assessment of the potential transition of the municipality of Rome to a more sustainable transport system, based on the economic feasibility of production of biomethane as analysed with the Discounted Cash Flow methodology. The potential reduction of emissions is quantified considering biomethane, to be used as vehicle fuel instead of natural gas. The provision of subsidies is found to be an essential condition to support the development of the biomethane sector. The subsidies must be coordinated with other policies such as the construction and operation of new fuelling stations and the increase of vehicles fuelled by biomethane. Several economic indicators are used to support investors by defining the conditions in which the profitability and economic opportunities are quantified. The transformation of bio-wastes into clean energy, closes the loop and helps societies to make progress toward becoming circular economies, which can contribute to decarbonizing the transport sector. Results of these analyses are applicable in other municipalities, which are currently under-utilizing their organic wastes and by-products
Progress in working towards a more sustainable agri-food industry
No full textThe human health and environmental issues related to food, feed, and bio-based systems, range widely from greenhouse gas emissions and energy use to land use, water availability, soil quality, water quality and quantity, biodiversity losses, and chemical exposure. Threats that stem from other issues, including food quality and food security, the development of genetically modified organisms (GMO's), desertification, pesticide exposure, antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms, growth hormone residues in food, etc., are also of concern. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology provides the organizing framework to holistically evaluate the environmental impacts of products and production systems, whether it’s to make a durable, disposable or edible good. The use of LCA in environmental management and sustainability has grown rapidly in recent years as demonstrated by the increasing number of published papers on LCA methodology and case studies, which totaled over 4,500 by 2010. Recognizing the need to focus on the impacts of the agri-food industry, this special issue was developed by selecting 16 papers from the 85 presented at the Bari LCA Food 2010 conference, and publishing them with eight papers submitted as part of the normal flow to the Journal of Cleaner Production on food related subjects. The papers in this special issue include case studies from LCAs on relevant dimensions of production of a wide array of types of food, discussions on methodological issues, especially water and land use, the application of product certification schemes, and food preservation. The editors of this special issue acknowledge that progress has been made in strengthening the LCA tools but challenge all LCA practitioners and researchers to push the envelope on LCA methodology and encourage them to develop tools that dynamically address the diverse, rapidly evolving issues related to agricultural products that are not currently addressed. It is hoped that the challenges that are outlined in this Special Issue will stimulate many to make progress on improving the food LCA tools prior to the next food LCA conference in this series, which will be held in Saint-Malo, France on 2-4 October 2012. For more information, visit: https://colloque.inra.fr/lcafood2012
Aligning corporate social responsibility practices with the environmental performance management systems: a critical review of the relevant literature
No full textPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide managers with suitable strategic KPIs in decision-making
processes, which aim to integrate the environmental dimension of sustainability at a business level in
manufacturing organisations.
Design/methodology/approach – In view of the research proposal addressed, semi-structured interviews
were conducted, based on theoretical milestones of the performance management system (PMS), with 48
managers that work in Italian manufacturing firms and specialise in green practices.
Findings – The authors developed a novel environmentally performed framework to adequately integrate
environmental value drivers at a strategic level.
Practical implications – The resulting issues addressed in this paper, and their integration in the business
strategy for managing environmental complexity, allows contributing, firstly, to the existing literature by
suggesting the relevant key value drivers that need to be mostly studied from an accounting point of view. In
addition, fromthese results, though their experiencemanagerswill have up-to-date key measures that could, in the
future, help the integration process between the environmental aspect of the sustainability dimension and the PMS.
Originality/value – The results generate a robust roadmap for future analysis in this research field.
Accordingly, the paper engenders a strategic alignment in the green transition process, providing scholars and
practitioners with a clear view of the key sustainable drivers, metrics and potential solutions that have not been
addressed to date
Decision-support models and tools for helping to make real progress to more sustainable societies
No full textClimate change and its consequences for human life has become an issue that has caused public concern in recent years. Moreover, the combined recent changes in the economy, environment and society have forced regulators to establish and implement tougher laws and more strict controls. In this context, sustainable development has emerged as a key concept, which provides a broad framework for addressing sustainability issues, which can enable organizations and governments to ensure coordination for economic, environmental, societal and ethical compliance
Feasibility of usage of hemp as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion: Findings from a literature review of the relevant technological and energy dimensions
Full text linkRenewable biomasses are used worldwide as inputs for energy production through processes, like Anaerobic Digestion (AD), which is a well-established technology to transform them into bio-gas and other by-products. Maize, triticale, sunflower and sorghum are energy crops frequently used as feedstocks in AD applications, mainly because of their high biogas potential. However, their cultivation generates some negative environmental impacts due to the direct and indirect land use changes. Therefore, it is important to seek for alternative species to replace some of them with others with lower environmental impacts while producing comparable biogas and energy yields. Industrial Hemp (IH) was documented in this literature review to be a suitable crop for AD applications with yields that are highly competitive with those of the energy crops being used now. Additionally, this literature review provided insight into the diversity of the methane yielding parts of the IH plants, with fresh leaves yielding the highest quantities. Finally, the authors of this literature review highlighted the need for research and development designed to expand the usage of IH as green biomass in AD plants, for efficient production of biogas and organic nutrients, and thereby, contributing to transitioning toward low fossil-carbon footprint societies
Bioenergy. A sustainable shift
Full text linkThe European Commission emphasised that a bioeconomy is an economy that uses renewable biological resources from the land and sea (e [...
Investigating energy and environmental issues of agro-biogas derived energy systems: A comprehensive review of Life Cycle Assessments
No full textThis literature review was built upon recently published articles on Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of agricultural biogas plants, to: enhance understanding of the relevant literature in the field and the related question by readers worldwide. It was designed to highlight methodological issues and impact indicators, which best represent this research field; consequently, they should be considered in performing environmental assessments of agro-biogas derived energy systems. The literature review highlighted the wide variability of environmental results due to the ways the feedstock mixtures were produced, managed, and supplied; and due to the regions in which the anaerobic digesters were located and operated. Differences were found to be related to the aim and function of the study and to the methodological approach used, especially for the development of the environmental impact assessments. Other differences resulted from the ways the energy produced was utilised, whether it was used as an input to the natural gas national grid, and/or if it was used within the production system. The authors of this review concluded that, although much progress has been made, many unsolved challenges and methodological choices must be addressed to further improve the robustness of LCA in relation to AD and to related approaches
- …
