scholarly journals Post-COVID-19: An Opportunity to Produce Biodegradable Goods & Surgical Masks to Save the Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-165
Author(s):  
Morganti P ◽  
Morganti G
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Waste Materials ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Human Wellbeing ◽  
Surgical Masks

Consumption of natural raw materials is causing climate changing, by an acceleration of glaciers, oceans, and forests’ depletions with the contemporary accumulation of waste materials. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has further incremented the waste material of plastics because of the obligatory use of surgery masks, made prevalently by the non-biodegradable polypropylene. Thus, the necessity to change the way of producing and consuming transforming the linear economy based on the taking, make, and waste in the circular economy of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Changing the actual way of living, it will be also possible to drastically reduce the increasing plastics waste that, invading lands and oceans are entering into the food chain with negative effects on fauna flora and the human’s wellbeing. Just to remember the global production of plastics exploded from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to nearly 350 million metric tons in 2017 and, disposed to the landfill as waste, are producing global greenhouse gas emissions of 2.8 billion tons per year. Being the technology ready, it is proposed to produce natural polymers, such as chitin and lignin which, obtainable from waste materials, may be used to produce biodegradable goods and surgical and beauty masks. By this way it will be possible to maintain the natural raw materials for future generations, saving human wellbeing and the world’s biodiversity.

Natural Polymers for Biodegradable Dressings to Save the Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Current System ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
By Products ◽  
Global Water

The current fashion system uses high volumes of non-renewable resources to produce clothes, being responsible for 10% of the global greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere every year and 20%of the global water wasted. At the same time people are buying 60%more clothing than 15 Years ago, which going in the landfills, causes 92 million tons of waste each year. This waste has been further increased by the surgical masks used for COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, a new way of designing and producing clothing needs to be incorporated into the current system to facilitate its recycling making it more circular. New tissues, therefore, are proposed made by natural polysaccharides, embedded by micro- Nano capsules of chitin Nano fibrils and Nano lignin all obtained as by- products from food and forestry waste respectively. Thus, pollution and waste will be reduced and the natural raw materials will be maintained for the future generations.

Ecological Responsibility and Sustainable Development as Preconditions for Development of the Concept of Circular Economy

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Olja Munitlak Ivanovic
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Intergenerational Justice ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Ecological Responsibility ◽  
Production And Consumption

Ethical and ecological responsibility represent the root of sustainable development taking into account intergenerational justice. Mass production and consumption have left negative effects on the environment. Disregarding ecological responsibility, production processes were mainly based on uncontrollable use of raw materials and non-renewable energy sources. Taking into account limitation of raw materials, economic and ecological disasters, a concept of resilience has been developed to make all elements of society flexible in terms of unwanted shocks. This chapter describes two conceptual economic models: linear and circular. The linear model is based on the principle “take, produce, consume, and throw,” meaning that usability of waste is reduced and that waste is simply thrown out after consumption. Circular economic model takes into account environmental responsibility, but it also makes companies more competitive. Waste is treated and processed adequately and used as raw material in production, thus increasing competitiveness. Waste that cannot be processed is disposed permanently.

scholarly journals Geopolymers based on plasma incineration waste as a material for circular economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 942 (1) ◽  
pp. 012008
Author(s):  
K Plawecka ◽  
B Figiela ◽  
A Grela ◽  
K E Buczkowska
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Waste Materials ◽  
Treatment Technology ◽  
Incineration Plant

Abstract Plasma waste treatment technology is one of the promising methods of reducing problematic waste, but the technology itself create other kind of waste that must be effectively used to recognize this technology as a suitable for circular economy. The aim of the article is to show the possibility of using waste materials from a plasma incineration plant as a raw material for the production of geopolymeric materials. The samples were made based on waste from plasma incineration plant in Liberec (Czech Republic), fly ash from thermal power plants in Skawina (Poland) and sand mixed with an aqueous chemical solution. Next they mechanical properties, microstructure and mineralogical composition have been investigated. The results show the combination of these raw materials can increase the strength of the material and, consequently find applications in the utilization of plasma incineration waste. The article show the geopolymerization could be effective process for using waste materials from a plasma incineration plant as a raw material for creating the products for construction industry.

scholarly journals Nature-inspired Circular-economy Recycling (NaCRe) for Proteins: Proof of Concept

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Giaveri ◽  
Adeline M. Schmitt ◽  
Laura Roset Julià ◽  
Anna Murello ◽  
Laure Menin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Free Cell ◽  
Translation System ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
Green Fluorescent

AbstractIn 2070, 1012 Kg of polymer-based materials (i.e. plastics) might be produced yearly, posing one of the greatest challenges that humanity has to face. Even though natural polymers, such as proteins and nucleic acids, are more abundant than synthetic ones, they are sustainable. The key property of such natural polymers is that they are sequence-defined. This allows for recycling to start with depolymerization into monomers, and end in the re-assembly of new polymers of arbitrarily different sequence. This process breaks a common recycling paradigm that a material is recycled only into itself. An organism digests proteins into amino acids. These are re-assembled into new proteins whose identity depends on the cell’s needs at the time of protein synthesis. Here we show that the process described above is achievable extra-cellularly. Specifically, we depolymerized a mixture of different peptides and/or proteins into their amino acid constituents and used these amino acids to synthesize fluorescent proteins using an amino acid-free cell-free transcription-translation system. We were successful in recycling proteins with high relevance in materials engineering (β-lactoglobulin films, used for water filtration, or silk fibroin solutions) into a biotechnologically relevant protein (green fluorescent protein). The potential long-term impact of this approach to recycling lies in its compatibility with circular-economy models where raw materials remain in use as long as possible, thus reducing the burden on the planet.

Textile Industry in a Changing World

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-97
Author(s):  
Catarina Costa ◽  
Nuno Azoia ◽  
Carla Silva ◽  
Eduardo Marques
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Textile Industry ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Clothing Industry ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Apparel Manufacturing ◽  
Excessive Consumption

In the last years, sustainable practices have been developed to minimize the negative effects of production and excessive consumption on the environment. The textile and clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries globally and needs to rethink its strategies. The fast-fashion caused an increase in production, and the environmental weight associated with the textile industry also increased. The problems range from the enormous expenditure of water resources to the carbon and greenhouse gas emissions to reaching the consumer. This review focuses on the eco-friendly approaches taken by the industry towards supportable apparel manufacturing, from the choice of raw materials to the last step in the textile industry.

scholarly journals The Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of Geopolymers Using Mine Tailings as Precursors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petrica Vizureanu ◽  
Dumitru Doru Burduhos Nergis ◽  
Andrei Victor Sandu ◽  
Diana Petronela Burduhos Nergis ◽  
Madalina Simona Baltatu
Keyword(s):  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Waste Materials ◽  
Mining Wastes ◽  
Physical Density ◽  
Different Types

Mine tailings are waste materials that resulted from the extraction and processing of raw materials to form mineral products. These dusty particles present negative environmental effects after being deposited in different types of dumping areas. Based on the circular economy concepts and the presently pushing need of identifying wastes as a potential replacement for natural resources, this chapter aims to present the physical (density, microstructure) and mechanical (compressive strength, flexural strength) characteristics of different types of geopolymers which use mine tailings as precursors or blended systems (mixes of different raw materials). The main reasons of approaching this topic are the need to decrease the consumption of natural resources, reduce environmental pollution and create an economic system aimed to capitalize the mining wastes. Accordingly, this chapter includes information regarding the availability of this waste and its potential utilization as a raw material in civil engineering applications. Therefore, reports of specific agencies and multiple research studies which approach tailing based geopolymers or blended systems have been summarized.

Ecological Responsibility and Sustainable Development as Preconditions for Development of the Concept of Circular Economy

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Olja Munitlak Ivanovic
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Intergenerational Justice ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Ecological Responsibility ◽  
Production And Consumption

Ethical and ecological responsibility represent the root of sustainable development taking into account intergenerational justice. Mass production and consumption have left negative effects on the environment. Disregarding ecological responsibility, production processes were mainly based on uncontrollable use of raw materials and non-renewable energy sources. Taking into account limitation of raw materials, economic and ecological disasters, a concept of resilience has been developed to make all elements of society flexible in terms of unwanted shocks. This chapter describes two conceptual economic models: linear and circular. The linear model is based on the principle “take, produce, consume, and throw,” meaning that usability of waste is reduced and that waste is simply thrown out after consumption. Circular economic model takes into account environmental responsibility, but it also makes companies more competitive. Waste is treated and processed adequately and used as raw material in production, thus increasing competitiveness. Waste that cannot be processed is disposed permanently.

scholarly journals Smart and Sustainable Hair Products Based on Chitin-Derived Compounds

Cosmetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Pierfrancesco Morganti ◽  
Gianluca Morganti ◽  
Maria-Beatrice Coltelli
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
Environmental Disasters ◽  
Charged Polymers ◽  
Positively Charged ◽  
Interesting Alternative

According to previous research studies, consumers worldwide are searching for new natural-oriented hair products that are both skin and environmentally friendly. Worldwide waste and air pollution, with the consequent environmental disasters, represent the greatest risk to human health and economy, further increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among others, non-biodegradable molecules are present in hair products (fossil-based additives, surfactants, etc.) and macromolecules (plastics). Plastics waste is considered the most serious problem, representing a forecast amount of 460 million tons per year by 2030, 12% of which is reused or recycled. Most plastics consumed, therefore, go to landfills and incineration, also if their recycling is considered an important driver of industrial profitability. Thus, the use of biopolymers represents an interesting alternative to produce biodegradable goods and tissues. After an introduction to the worldwide waste problem and the hair structure, the present review proposes the possibility to make biodegradable tissues that, realized by chitin nanofibrils and nano-lignin as natural polymers, may be used to produce an innovative and smart cosmetic hairline. Chitin-derived compounds are considered interesting polymers to produce non-woven tissues able to repair the hair damages provoked by the aggressiveness of both the environment and some aggressive cosmetic treatments, such as setting, bleaching, permanent waving, and oxidative coloring. The possible activity, that positively charged polymers such as chitin could have, has been speculated, interfering with the constitution and organization of the hair fibrils’ structure, which is negatively charged. The possibility of selecting biopolymers for their packaging is also discussed. Moreover, the use of these biopolymers, obtained from forestry-agro-food waste, may be of help to safeguard the further consumption of natural raw materials, necessary for future generations, also maintaining the earth’s biodiversity.

European experience in transition to circular economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.V. Ratner
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
National Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
European Experience ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
The Eu

Subject. The article considers the concept of circular economy, which has originated relatively recently in the academic literature, and is now increasingly recognized in many countries at the national level. In the European Union, the transition to circular economy is viewed as an opportunity to improve competitiveness of the European Union, protect businesses from resource shortages and fluctuating prices for raw materials and supplies, and a way to increase employment and innovation. Objectives. The aim of the study is to analyze the incentives developed by the European Commission for moving to circular economy, and to assess their effectiveness on the basis of statistical analysis. Methods. I employ general scientific methods of research. Results. The analysis of the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy enabled to conclude that the results of the recent research in circular economy barriers, eco-innovation, technology and infrastructure were successfully integrated into the framework of this document. Understanding the root causes holding back the circular economy development and the balanced combination of economic and administrative incentives strengthened the Action Plan, and it contributed to the circular economy development in the EU. Conclusions. The measures to stimulate the development of the circular economy proposed in the European Action Plan can be viewed as a prototype for designing similar strategies in other countries, including Russia. Meanwhile, a more detailed analysis of barriers to the circular economy at the level of individual countries and regions is needed.

Pendayagunaan Sampah Menjadi Produk Kerajinan

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Nur Fatoni ◽  
Rinaldy Imanuddin ◽  
Ahmad Ridho Darmawan
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Waste Materials ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Garbage Disposal ◽  
Waste Separation ◽  
And Training

Waste management is still defined as limited to collection, transportation and garbage disposal. The follow-up of the meaning is the provision of facilities such as garbage bins, garbage trucks and waste collection land. Waste management has not included waste separation. Segregation of waste can minimize the amount of waste that must be discharged to the final place. Segregation of waste can supply recyclable raw materials and handicrafts made from garbage. The manufacture of handicraft products from garbage is still local and requires socialization and training. It is needed to increase the number of craftsmen and garbage absorption on the crafters. Through careful socialization and training, citizens' awareness of waste management becomes advanced by making handicrafts of economic value from waste materials.

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