Effective environmental management through life cycle assessment

Feeding a growing, increasingly affluent population while limiting environmental pressures of food production is a central challenge for society. Understanding the location and magnitude of food production is key to addressing this challenge because pressures vary substantially across food production types. Applying data and models from life cycle assessment with the methodologies for mapping cumulative environmental impacts of human activities (hereafter cumulative impact mapping) provides a powerful approach to spatially map the cumulative environmental pressure of food production in a way that is consistent and comprehensive across food types. However, these methodologies have yet to be combined. By synthesizing life cycle assessment and cumulative impact mapping methodologies, we provide guidance for comprehensively and cumulatively mapping the environmental pressures (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, spatial occupancy, and freshwater use) associated with food production systems. This spatial approach enables quantification of current and potential future environmental pressures, which is needed for decision makers to create more sustainable food policies and practices.

Owing to the green revolution, environmental problems have now become some of the most important issues worldwide. Environmental knowledge management, which combines the strengths of environmental management and knowledge management, will become a popular tool for businesses in the near future. In this paper, through interviews of staff at different levels and in different departments of the business, i. e. managers and engineers and using the environmental knowledge circulation process, the authors evaluate the success of environmental knowledge management when applied to China Steel Corporation in Taiwan. From the case study, the authors found that China Steel Corporation has applied the environmental knowledge circulation process for over thirty years. The company continually improves its environmental and financial performance through environmental knowledge creation, environmental knowledge accumulation, environmental knowledge sharing, environmental knowledge utilization and environmental knowledge internalization. Water pollution and air emissions have reduced year on year and total energy consumption has reduced by 20 % from 1979 to 2006. On the other hand, China Steel Corporation also makes a profit and reduces cost through energy sold, by-products and recycling. Continuous improvement in environmental knowledge management has rendered China Steel Corporation in the most profitable steel company in Taiwan and the world’s twenty fifth largest steel producing company in 2006.

The environment theme has taken on considerable importance in consumer purchasing choices. Through voluntary environmental policy tools (product certifications, ecological labels and company certifications) the producers demonstrate their attention to environmental issues. The paper analyzed the environmental impacts, that is, the consumption of resources and emissions to the environment for a product of animal origin, analyzing the production process of the entire production chain of High-Quality milk of a leading Italian company. The Group has an integrated approach to quality policies that balances economic, environmental and ethical objectives throughout the food chain, from the farm to the consumer’s table. The analysis was conducted in compliance with the general rules of the Environmental Product Declaration Program and the specifications of the product group “Product Category rules 2013: 17 Processed liquid milk and cream - UN CPC code 221”, using the cycle analysis methodology of life, regulated by the international standards ISO 14040 Series, Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Principles and framework - scientific methodology that ensures reliability, credibility and rigour of the environmental declaration. Despite the initiatives undertaken by the Granarolo Group regarding the environmental improvements of its products and services for the mitigation of the environmental impact, our forecasts have been confirmed, the product - organic milk still has a very high-water footprint. Therefore, the environmental efforts of individual companies are not enough, but consumers’ dietary habits must also change.

Effective environmental management is becoming increasingly important due to the anthropogenic impact on ecosystems and their components. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are essential for heavy industries, helping to reduce the human footprint on the environment and optimize the use of natural resources. This paper examines various types of EMS, their characteristics, architecture, and computational models. Key functions of these systems include monitoring and data collection, data analysis and processing, compliance management, incident and deviation management, planning and goal setting, as well as communication and reporting. EMS address tasks related to environmental auditing, reporting, and managing environmental risks of production processes. Various systems on the market offer unique solutions for different industries. Successful implementation examples include companies like BASF and Valspar, which have saved significant resources by integrating EMS into their production processes. The conclusions highlight the importance of EMS for sustainable development and environmental safety, as well as the need for their continuous updating and adaptation to new challenges.

Introduction. Environmental issues are of great concern almost all over the world and must be addressed at the national and, in some cases, international levels. The prior task is to create, implement, and apply modern approaches and tools because their prevention is more effective than dealing with their negative consequences. Effective environmental management is one of such tools. It provides additional benefits for private and state sector enterprises. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the environmental management system importance for environmental safety since it is an integral component of it. Results. The necessary condition for the country's stable economic development is the ecologization of the production process, which involves reducing the amount of the natural resources use environmentally friendly technologies in production and transportation that would minimize the environmental risks and negative impacts on the environment. The purpose of environmental management is to administer the enterprise activities in such a way that does not cause much harm or damage to the environment and does not drive the humanity to environmental catastrophe. The ecological management does not abrogate or replace the existing state administrative environmental management but only complements it, being an independent initiative of the enterprise. The introduction of environmental management system in enterprises not only increases the enterprise competitiveness in the European, American, and CIS markets but also allows enterprise functioning in accordance with the international law, which eliminates the cost of the fines for environmental damage. The ecological management role is very significant. It is the prevention and a well-timed solution of any urgent environmental problem. Conclusions. The basic principle of environmental management is the liability of any managerial decision for environmental effects. Thus, the implementation of ISO 14001 is necessary for production, processing, agricultural, and transport enterprises. The ISO 14001 certificate confirms that the environmental management system in the enterprise is relevant and complies with the standard and legislation.

The practices related to environmental management applied by companies contribute to reducing the negative environmental impacts that are generated by their activities and operations, therefore providing a contribution to business sustainability. The integration of environmental management contributes to compliance with social responsibility, and directly to increasing in the competitiveness of companies. The objective was to study the contribution of environmental management to social responsibility and in their competitiveness of companies. Methodologically the research was approached using a qualitative, documentary type approach, with the application of the inductive method and the technique used were content analysis. The results show that environmental management and corporate social responsibility are interrelated and mutually reinforcing concepts, since companies that integrate environmental management into their policies and practices are demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and contributing to building a brighter future balanced and responsible from the social and environmental point of view. Similarly, environmental management and business competitiveness are closely related and can influence each other, because it is now increasingly recognized that effective environmental management can provide significant competitive advantages to companies.

Current EU Strategies aim to rapidly advance the research, development and deployment of innovative advanced materials and chemicals to make Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy. To achieve this, an underlying adaptation of the research and innovation (R&I) process to the Safety-and-Sustainability-by-Design (SSbD) framework has been proposed. This perspective article provides an overview of already existing approaches providing guidance for implementing SSbD-like procedures in R&I in several different industrial sectors to ultimately replace substances of concern (SoC). Starting from the ECHA’s Assessment of Alternatives (AoA) approach we put emphasis on the scoping phase during which the requirements for replacement will be identified. The limitations for the changes possible and trade-offs acceptable for the company need to be defined, in agreement with relevant stakeholders to be further involved in AoA scoping (e.g. for setting the trade-off levels). This includes listing the SSbD-relevant aspects in the different categories (i.e. functional performance, health, environment, social, and economic sustainability) in a customized manner, followed by weighting them in relation to their expected impact on the intended SSbD-guided multi-objective optimization procedure. An additional dimension is provided as to how to deal with uncertainties (e.g. data gaps or compromises in data quality, or which assessment methods and tools to employ); notably, it represents the company’s own decision to herewith set the requirements and goals for replacement, and this can be done at different levels, such as the material or chemical itself, changes in the production processes, or within the entire system of a product’s life cycle spanning across its entire value chain(s), which can be documented employing the use maps concept. Further, this article builds on the product life cycle and provides a general understanding of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, especially a deeper insight into prospective and anticipatory LCA, that will need to prove functional on real-life case studies from industry. Besides a clarification of these concepts, the article provides an interdisciplinary view, as required for implementing SSbD in small and medium-sized enterprises, with hints on the use of machine learning techniques for anticipatory LCA of new chemicals, materials, and products. Such methodologies will, in future, help extend classical LCA cases towards the data-scarce requirements of earlier material and product development stages.

Significant air and water pollution, which is detrimental to the health of the citizens of Kazakhstan. Courts and regulatory authorities do not properly fulfill their obligations in the framework of environmental protection. Currently, government agencies are pursuing a policy aimed at protecting the environment and the rights of citizens. Purpose of the study is to analyze international models, practices, application of management systems for the legal protection of the environment and the health of citizens with application in Kazakhstan. The article discusses and explores a number of principles and methods of environmental management. Since these principles and practices contribute to the establishment of rational and effective environmental policy and management, it is proposed to take them into account when rethinking the current system in Kazakhstan. The article analyzes models and methods of legal protection of the environment and response to damage to the health of citizens, these tools can be part of an integrated system. Based on the study, it was found that in order for environmental management to reach its full potential, Kazakhstan also needs to undertake political reforms and involve ordinary citizens in the formation of policies and protection mechanisms. The studied strategies for collecting and taking into account the opinions of people when making managerial decisions on environmental protection can be used in Kazakhstani society.

Precise prediction of soil salinity using visible, and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy is crucial for ensuring food security and effective environmental management. This paper focuses on the precise prediction of soil salinity utilizing visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy, a critical factor for food security and effective environmental management. The objective is to utilize vis-NIR spectra alongside a multiple regression model (MLR) and a random forest (RF) modeling approach to predict soil salinity across various land use types, such as farmlands, bare lands, and rangelands accurately. To this end, we selected 150 sampling points representatives of these diverse land uses. At each point, we collected soil samples to measure the soil salinity (ECe) and employed a portable spectrometer to capture the spectral reflectance across the full wavelength range of 400 to 2400 nm. The methodology involved using both individual spectral reflectance values and combinations of reflectance values from different wavelengths as input variables for developing the MLR and RF models. The results indicated that the RF model (RMSE = 4.85 dS m-1, R2 = 0.87, and RPD = 3.15), utilizing combined factors as input variables, outperformed others. Furthermore, our analysis across different land uses revealed that models incorporating combined input variables yielded significantly better results, particularly for farmlands and rangelands. This study underscores the potential of combining vis-NIR spectroscopy with advanced modeling techniques to enhance the accuracy of soil salinity predictions, thereby supporting more informed agricultural and environmental management decisions.

In response to Canada’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to making pathways to achieve carbon neutral buildings, this paper presents two real case studies. The paper first outlines the potential of trees to absorb CO2 emissions through photosynthesis, and the methods used for the estimation of their annual carbon sequestration rates. The net annual carbon sequestration rate of 0.575 kgCO2eq/m2 of tree cover area is considered in our study. Then, this paper presents the carbon life cycle assessment of an all-electric laboratory at Concordia University and of a single-detached house, both located in Montreal. The life cycle assessment (LCA) calculations were performed using two software tools, One Click LCA and Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings. The results in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP) over 60 years for the laboratory were found to be 83,521 kgCO2eq using One Click LCA, and 82,666 kgCO2eq using Athena. For the single-detached house that uses natural gas for space heating and domestic hot water, the GWP was found to be 544,907 kgCO2eq using One Click LCA, and 566,856 kgCO2eq using Athena. For the all-electric laboratory, a garden fully covered with representative urban trees could offset around 17% of the total life cycle carbon emissions. For the natural gas-powered single-detached house, the sequestration by trees is around 3% of the total life cycle carbon emission. This paper presents limits for achieving carbon neutral buildings when only the emissions sequestration by trees is applied, and discusses the main findings regarding LCA calculations under different scenarios.

Since the mid-1980s, many books and articles have been published that examine China′s environmental problems. Some authors reported the alarming rate of environmental degradation in China, while others argued that post-Mao reforms created the conditions for more effective environmental management than in the past. More recently, in an attempt to move beyond broad generalizations about China′s environmental management capabilities, some authors have examined China′s environmental management system at the local level, focusing on problems ranging from policy implementation to local officials′ environmental consciousness.

This paper shows how Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA), an environmental management technique, is constructed and mobilized in relation to a diverse range of interests and agendas that extend beyond the assessment of environmental impacts of products and processes. The paper argues that this political dimension of LCA is largely obscured by the dominant framing of the technique as ‘scientific’, ‘objective’ and ‘valuefree’. Characterization of LCA in this way, the paper suggests, is the result of deep-seated epistemological commitments of LCA professionals on the one hand and a desire to promote and establish the technique within business and policy cultures on the other. This argument is supported by an analysis of three texts that seek to promote LCA to different audiences. Through this analysis, the paper draws attention to the way that the rhetoric of ‘science’, ‘objectivity’ and ‘value-neutrality’ functions as a political resource. The principal implication arising from this finding is that the particular kinds of politics embodied within LCA need to be understood if use of the technique is to contribute positively to improved environmental performance.

This paper reviews the environmental issues and management practices in the mining sector in the North America. The sustainable measures on waste management are recognized as one of the most serious environmental concerns in the mining industry. For mining activities, it will be no surprise that the metal recovery reagents and acid effluents are a threat to the ecosystem as well as hazards to human health. In addition, poor air quality and ventilation in underground mines can lead to occupational illness and death of workers. Electricity usage and fuel consumption are major factors that contribute to greenhouse gases. On the other hand, many sustainability challenges are faced in the management of tailings and disposal of waste rock. This paper aims to highlight the problems that arise due to poor air quality and acid mine drainage. The paper also addresses some of the advantages and limitations of tailing and waste rock management that still have to be studied in context of the mining sector. This paper suggests that implementation of suitable environmental management tools like life cycle assessment (LCA), cleaner production technologies (CPTs), and multicriteria decision analysis (MCD) are important as it ultimately lead to improve environmental performance and enabling a mine to focus on the next stage of sustainability.

<div class="htmlview paragraph">The U.S. EPA initiated the Common Sense Initiative (CSI) to develop “Cleaner, Cheaper, Smarter” environmental policy and management practices. This paper addresses the application of life cycle design and assessment tools to automotive instrument panels (IP) as part of the Automotive Manufacturing Sector CSI pilot project investigation.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">For this study, an “average IP” was modeled based on the instrument panels of three mid-sized U.S. car models: 1995 Chevrolet Lumina, 1996 Dodge Intrepid and 1996 Ford Taurus. This “average IP” consisted of seventeen different materials and weighed over 22 kg (49 lbs.).</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">A life cycle inventory analysis was conducted to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with materials production, manufacturing, use, and retirement. A thorough evaluation of solid waste production and energy consumption was completed and partial inventories of air emission and water effluent releases were also conducted. The distribution of these burdens across the life cycle stages is presented.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Multi-Criteria Matrices were used to identify and organize performance, environmental, legal, and cost requirements that influence the design and management of the IP system. This paper will demonstrate the conflicts that exist among the complex set of life cycle requirements for the IP and also highlight opportunities for environmental improvement of the IP.</div>

Life Cycle Analysis of Renewable Energy