Green GDP Indicator with Application to Life Cycle of Sugar Industry in Thailand

The objective of this study was to develop new indicators that reflect economic growth by taking into account the impact on the environment and natural resources as well. The indicator calculated by subtracting environmental cost from the “Gross Domestic Product (GDP)” and is used in the assessment of the GDP by taking into consideration the cost of natural resources and the environment, called “green GDP”. This study uses Life Cycle Assessment, which is a technique used to assess the environmental impact of sugar industry from raw materials, distribution, production, and waste management. The system boundary for the life cycle inventory are cultivation, planting, transportation and sugar production. The results of the green GDP and GDP is difference about 6–12% due to the depletion cost resulting from the use of natural resources between 9.0–9.52 $/ton of sugar production and the degradation cost caused by the airborne emission and waterborne emission between 37–57 $/ton of sugar production. The quantity of Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) generated from the sugar production process is the main causing the environmental cost about 55%. In order to solve environmental causes, the policy making as Circular Economy Strategies can be used to meet the sustainable development in the future.

Experimental Investigation of Unconfined Compression Strength and Microstructure Characteristics of Slag and Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Stabilized Riverside Soft Soil

To solve the issues of insufficient early strength of cement stabilized soil and high resource cost, high reduction cost, and high environmental cost induced by the application of cement, the slag and fly ash-based geopolymer was adopted as the stabilizer to treat riverside soft soil. This study mainly investigated the effects of stabilizer content, slag-to-fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content on the strength of geopolymer stabilized soils with different curing ages. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray energy spectrum analysis (EDS) tests were carried out. The results show that the stabilizer content, slag–fly ash ratio, and alkaline activator content have a decisive influence on the UCS of geopolymer-stabilized soil. The mix-proportions scheme of geopolymer stabilized riverside soft soil, with a geopolymer content of 15%, a slag–fly ash ratio of 80:20, and an alkaline activator content of 30%, is considered optimum. It is proven by SEM that the uniformly distributed gelatinous products formed in the geopolymer-stabilized soil bind the soil particles tightly. Moreover, the EDS analysis confirms that the gelatinous products are mainly composed of C-S-H gel and sodium-based aluminosilicate (N-A-S-H).

The Extension of Vegetable Production to High Altitudes Increases the Environmental Cost and Decreases Economic Benefits in Subtropical Regions

Global warming has driven the expansion of cultivated land to high-altitude areas. Intensive vegetable production, which is generally considered to be a high economic value and high environmental risk system, has expanded greatly in high-altitude mountainous areas of China. However, the environmental cost of vegetable production in these areas is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated pepper production at low (traditional pepper production area) and high (newly expanded area) altitudes in Shizhu, a typical pepper crop area. The output and environmental cost at the two altitudes were identified. We evaluated the influence of resource inputs, climate, and soil properties on pepper production. There were obvious differences in output and environmental cost between the two altitudes. High-altitude pepper production achieved a 16.2% lower yield, and had a higher fertilizer input, resulting in a 22.3% lower net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB), 23.0% higher nitrogen (N) footprint and 24.0% higher carbon (C) footprint compared to low-altitude farming. There is potential for environmental mitigation with both high- and low-altitude pepper production; Compared to average farmers, high yield farmers groups reduced their N and C footprints by 16.9–24.8% and 18.3–25.2%, respectively, with 30.6–34.1% higher yield. A large increase in yield could also be achieved by increasing the top-dress fertilizer rate and decreasing the plant density. Importantly, high-altitude pepper production was achieved despite less advanced technology and inferior conditions (e.g., a poor road system and uneven fields). It provides a reference for the study on environmental cost of other high-altitude regions or other crop systems at high altitude area.

Raw milk collection in Ireland: insights into the challenges facing the industry

PurposeThis paper provides insights into national practices used to schedule, collect and manage the transportation infrastructure of raw milk by Irish processors.Design/methodology/approachA survey was designed and distributed to 14 processors, collecting details regarding suppliers, seasonality, costs per litre, planning, processing sites and emissions related to milk collection.FindingsIrish raw milk transportation costs €95 million per annum, with an average weighted cost of 1.1 cents per litre. Primary route clustering of suppliers is based on farm location. Typically, collections employ forty-eight-hour rotas. Just three of the processors reported transportation emissions data. A disjointed approach to the adoption of scheduling and transportation technology was revealed.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the broad scope of the survey covering financial, operational and environmental aspects of milk collection, it was challenging to find a single representative such as a transport manager who could be tasked with responding to the entire survey. Future research may consider a more focused interview-based approach with the various stakeholders to provide a more in-depth analysis.Practical implicationsProcessors can gain an improved understanding of diversified milk collection methods. The research supports policymakers in considering environmental issues related to milk transportation. Costs could be reduced if transportation was better managed collectively with benefits accruing to the industry, suppliers and wider rural community. Stakeholders will need to address aspects of responsibility concerning environmental issues going forward.Social implicationsIn this paper the authors recognise the environmental cost of milk collection. By improving the transportation infrastructure, this will have a positive impact on society in general.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the unique challenges and extends present knowledge in relation to milk collection; thus, this paves the way for new approaches to raw milk transportation.

Comparative study on Conventional and Smart Building Material in terms of TQC

There are several new-age „smart‟ building materials which are cost effective and long lasting and which would help to build or rebuild smart buildings, as a more eco- friendly and sustainable habitat. In India since ancient time construction is done by using conventional building materials. But now a days concept of smart building materials is introduced. These are durable, eco-friendly, cost effective. Still use of conventional materials is more than smart building materials. Due to lack of knowledge about smart building materials we don't use such materials. Control over quality and sustainability of finished building. Justification of the environmental cost of manufactures. So with the help of project i.e. Comparative study between smart and conventional building, there is comparison as per cost, strength, durability. In this, how both buildings are different in their features like long lasting life, implementation of materials, speed of construction, sustainability of materials is shown. For this project there is use of software for developing, analyzing and designing the reinforced concrete building. Keywords: smart material, conventional material, cost

MODEL OF THE MUTUAL INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND ENERGY RATIONING ON TRAIN TRACTION IN RAILWAY LOGISTICS

The article deals with the issues of environmental taxation of carbon dioxide emissions by the countries of the European Union and the methodology for calculating the amount of emissions by regulatory documents of Ukraine. It is established that our country's methodology is not adapted to real operating conditions under the influence of cross-border carbon taxation and the "Emissions Trading System". A mathematical model of the impact of power generating stations of states and their contribution to the overall energy balance of the country on the environmental cost and mass emissions of 1 kWh of electricity generation is proposed. The amount of electricity losses during its transportation from the power plant to the electric moving warehouse is determined and is taken into account in the total amount of deductions for the "Emissions Trading System" for DC and AC railway networks. Schemes of transit and local cargo routes are considered on the basis of a real fleet of traction rolling stock of Railways and a network of logistics lines. The passport characteristics of locomotives are analyzed and the amount of emissions and deductions during operation at Rated mode and idle speed is determined. Specific norms for selected routes and train conditions are calculated. The total costs, their cost and the amount of emissions and taxation of selected routes are determined, and rational economic and environmental logistics lines of train traffic are determined on their basis.