Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108758
Yifei Liu , Qiuxia Zou , Yunchang Ding , Zeguo Yang , Ning Zhang , Ruichang Mao , Huabo Duan , Jiakuan Yang
Amid escalating climate risks, electric bicycles (e-bikes) are emerging as a prominent low-carbon micromobility option in densely populated cities across China and Southeast Asia. However, their overall decarbonization potential has yet to be systematically and comprehensively quantified. Using a spatially explicit life-cycle assessment, we quantifie the carbon emissions and reduction potential of e-bikes in Chinese cities during 2025–2050. Results show that e-bikes emit 45 g CO₂e per kilometer, with a life-cycle footprint of 576–890 kg CO₂e, which is 48–64 % higher than earlier estimates due to more complete inventories and incorporation of provincial grid-intensity factors. In 2024, China’s e-bike sector generated 32.4 ± 1.3 Mt CO₂e, while reducing 7.4 Mt CO₂e through modal substitution, alongside annual reductions of 36 kt NOₓ and 15 kt SO₂. Looking ahead, strategic integration of e-bikes into urban mobility systems could offset 2.9–5.1 % of China’s urban transport emissions by 2050, underscoring their critical role in decarbonizing urban mobility.
{"title":"Life-cycle carbon footprint and mitigation potentials of e-bikes in urban transport systems","authors":"Yifei Liu , Qiuxia Zou , Yunchang Ding , Zeguo Yang , Ning Zhang , Ruichang Mao , Huabo Duan , Jiakuan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid escalating climate risks, electric bicycles (e-bikes) are emerging as a prominent low-carbon micromobility option in densely populated cities across China and Southeast Asia. However, their overall decarbonization potential has yet to be systematically and comprehensively quantified. Using a spatially explicit life-cycle assessment, we quantifie the carbon emissions and reduction potential of e-bikes in Chinese cities during 2025–2050. Results show that e-bikes emit 45 g CO₂e per kilometer, with a life-cycle footprint of 576–890 kg CO₂e, which is 48–64 % higher than earlier estimates due to more complete inventories and incorporation of provincial grid-intensity factors. In 2024, China’s e-bike sector generated 32.4 ± 1.3 Mt CO₂e, while reducing 7.4 Mt CO₂e through modal substitution, alongside annual reductions of 36 kt NOₓ and 15 kt SO₂. Looking ahead, strategic integration of e-bikes into urban mobility systems could offset 2.9–5.1 % of China’s urban transport emissions by 2050, underscoring their critical role in decarbonizing urban mobility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108758"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108763
Bo Peng , Zhiyong Zhou , Li Xu , Nianpeng He
China’s wetlands store substantial carbon in vegetation and soils,yet depth-resolved estimates remain inconsistent. Using 18,798 field records (2000–2023), we integrated vegetation and soil data at 20–cm intervals (0–100 cm) to map carbon stocks nationwide. Combining climate, soil, vegetation and topography, a Random Forest model produced spatial estimates of vegetation carbon (aboveground 385.4 Tg C; belowground 662.26 Tg C; total 1047.66 ± 437 Tg C) and soil carbon (0–100 cm: 8336.51 ± 1216 Tg C). Climate and topography dominated spatial variability, while performance was higher for the aboveground than for the deeper soil layers. These maps can be used to identify priority regions for conservation and hydrological restoration, providing actionable baselines for wetland carbon management and China’s mitigation targets.
{"title":"Assessing spatial variation in carbon stocks across China’s wetland ecosystems","authors":"Bo Peng , Zhiyong Zhou , Li Xu , Nianpeng He","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108763","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China’s wetlands store substantial carbon in vegetation and soils,yet depth-resolved estimates remain inconsistent. Using 18,798 field records (2000–2023), we integrated vegetation and soil data at 20–cm intervals (0–100 cm) to map carbon stocks nationwide. Combining climate, soil, vegetation and topography, a Random Forest model produced spatial estimates of vegetation carbon (aboveground 385.4 Tg C; belowground 662.26 Tg C; total 1047.66 ± 437 Tg C) and soil carbon (0–100 cm: 8336.51 ± 1216 Tg C). Climate and topography dominated spatial variability, while performance was higher for the aboveground than for the deeper soil layers. These maps can be used to identify priority regions for conservation and hydrological restoration, providing actionable baselines for wetland carbon management and China’s mitigation targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108763"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108729
Alessandro Creazza , Roland Geyer , Mitchell P. Jones , Tamar Makov , Nicola Saccani , Gerald Shurson , Katrien Steenmans , Andrea Urbinati
{"title":"Reframing law and behavior for circular economies","authors":"Alessandro Creazza , Roland Geyer , Mitchell P. Jones , Tamar Makov , Nicola Saccani , Gerald Shurson , Katrien Steenmans , Andrea Urbinati","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108729","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108729"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108756
Ying Zheng , Ziwen Dai , Fan Yang , Zhaoyang Li , Guang Hu , Sha Liang , Wenbo Yu , Shushan Yuan , Huabo Duan , Liang Huang , Jingping Hu , Huijie Hou , Jiakuan Yang
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have revolutionized portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage. However, the resulting surge in spent LIBs poses severe challenges to environmental sustainability and resource security. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling technologies are hindered by fundamental limitations, including high energy consumption, the generation of secondary pollution, complex processes, and inefficient lithium recovery. These challenges have driven the development of short-route, efficient, and green recycling technologies. Among these, selective lithium recovery strategies targeting lithium extraction while preserving valuable transition metal cathode structure, show exceptional promise. This review critically assesses recent advancements in selective lithium recovery technologies, including selective leaching, roasting–leaching hybrid processes, mechanochemical methods, and electrochemical approaches. By analyzing their underlying mechanisms, comparing the techno-economic and environmental trade-offs across pathways, and identifying key research challenges, we provide a forward-looking perspective on future research directions for designing next-generation sustainable LIBs recycling processes.
{"title":"Advanced strategies for selective lithium extraction from spent lithium-ion battery cathodes","authors":"Ying Zheng , Ziwen Dai , Fan Yang , Zhaoyang Li , Guang Hu , Sha Liang , Wenbo Yu , Shushan Yuan , Huabo Duan , Liang Huang , Jingping Hu , Huijie Hou , Jiakuan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have revolutionized portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage. However, the resulting surge in spent LIBs poses severe challenges to environmental sustainability and resource security. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling technologies are hindered by fundamental limitations, including high energy consumption, the generation of secondary pollution, complex processes, and inefficient lithium recovery. These challenges have driven the development of short-route, efficient, and green recycling technologies. Among these, selective lithium recovery strategies targeting lithium extraction while preserving valuable transition metal cathode structure, show exceptional promise. This review critically assesses recent advancements in selective lithium recovery technologies, including selective leaching, roasting–leaching hybrid processes, mechanochemical methods, and electrochemical approaches. By analyzing their underlying mechanisms, comparing the techno-economic and environmental trade-offs across pathways, and identifying key research challenges, we provide a forward-looking perspective on future research directions for designing next-generation sustainable LIBs recycling processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108756"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High-resolution spatiotemporal column-averaged CO2 (XCO2) data is essential for understanding anthropogenic carbon emissions, but current satellite limitations hinder detailed analysis. To address this, we develop the Spatial-Temporal Attention XCO2 Network (STAXN) to improve prediction accuracy by capturing spatial-temporal variability and multiscale influences of auxiliary variables. Monte Carlo validation demonstrates robust performance, with an RMSE of 0.90 ppm and an R² of 0.97. Using this model, we generate a 1-km resolution daily XCO2 dataset for China (2015–2020) and analyze XCO2 anomaly patterns. Seasonal XCO2 anomalies peak in summer and winter, with nighttime light exhibiting strong positive effects (β = 0.134, 0.107), and GPP exerting the most substantial adverse influence in winter (β = −0.200). The centroid trajectories of XCO2 anomalies exhibit consistent seasonal shifts, shaped by regional disparities in carbon efficiency, industrial structure, and emission intensity. These findings offer valuable insights into China’s carbon emission dynamics, informing policy and management strategies.
{"title":"Mapping daily 1-km resolution XCO2 in China using deep learning and multi-source data","authors":"Wei Shao , Tianxiang Yue , Lili Zhang , Wenjie Tian , Hao Wang , Haowei Zhou , Chenchen Wu , Liqiang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-resolution spatiotemporal column-averaged CO<sub>2</sub> (XCO<sub>2</sub>) data is essential for understanding anthropogenic carbon emissions, but current satellite limitations hinder detailed analysis. To address this, we develop the Spatial-Temporal Attention XCO<sub>2</sub> Network (STAXN) to improve prediction accuracy by capturing spatial-temporal variability and multiscale influences of auxiliary variables. Monte Carlo validation demonstrates robust performance, with an RMSE of 0.90 ppm and an R² of 0.97. Using this model, we generate a 1-km resolution daily XCO<sub>2</sub> dataset for China (2015–2020) and analyze XCO<sub>2</sub> anomaly patterns. Seasonal XCO<sub>2</sub> anomalies peak in summer and winter, with nighttime light exhibiting strong positive effects (β = 0.134, 0.107), and GPP exerting the most substantial adverse influence in winter (β = −0.200). The centroid trajectories of XCO<sub>2</sub> anomalies exhibit consistent seasonal shifts, shaped by regional disparities in carbon efficiency, industrial structure, and emission intensity. These findings offer valuable insights into China’s carbon emission dynamics, informing policy and management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108755"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145813867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108759
Zhengxuan Wu , Elena Werner , Daniel Maga , Venkat Aryan , Manfred Renner
Mealworms are a potential alternative protein source, offering the potential to reduce environmental impacts while meeting nutritional demands. The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental impacts of a large-scale mealworm production in Germany as food, incorporating nutritional value into the assessment. To achieve this, a nutritional life cycle assessment (nLCA) was performed considering Nutrition Rich Food index (NRF) with OpenLCA and Environment Footprint 3.1. The findings suggest that mealworms offer environmental advantages over conventional animal-based foods across most assessed impact categories. For instance, when adjusting for nutritional quality with NRF9.3, their climate change impact appears substantially lower than that of animal products, while contributing less to the intake of nutrients to be limited. These results highlight the potential of mealworms as a sustainable alternative to traditional animal-based foods, offering a promising solution to reduce environmental impacts while delivering a balanced and adequate nutrient profile.
{"title":"Nutritional life cycle assessment of mealworm as a potential sustainable protein-rich food","authors":"Zhengxuan Wu , Elena Werner , Daniel Maga , Venkat Aryan , Manfred Renner","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mealworms are a potential alternative protein source, offering the potential to reduce environmental impacts while meeting nutritional demands. The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental impacts of a large-scale mealworm production in Germany as food, incorporating nutritional value into the assessment. To achieve this, a nutritional life cycle assessment (nLCA) was performed considering Nutrition Rich Food index (NRF) with OpenLCA and Environment Footprint 3.1. The findings suggest that mealworms offer environmental advantages over conventional animal-based foods across most assessed impact categories. For instance, when adjusting for nutritional quality with NRF9.3, their climate change impact appears substantially lower than that of animal products, while contributing less to the intake of nutrients to be limited. These results highlight the potential of mealworms as a sustainable alternative to traditional animal-based foods, offering a promising solution to reduce environmental impacts while delivering a balanced and adequate nutrient profile.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108759"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145813866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108764
Tu Xayachak , Nawshad Haque , Deborah Lau , Raj Parthasarathy , Nargessadat Emami , Biplob Kumar Pramanik
Pyrolysis and gasification are often presented in the life cycle assessment (LCA) literature as environmentally promising solutions for plastic waste management. However, the lack of validated large-scale inventory data and limited use of uncertainty/statistical analysis cast doubts on the findings. This study aims to investigate the validity of these conclusions by modelling LCA for pyrolysis (PYR) and gasification (GASI) using two data sources: Aspen-generated data (ASP) and aggregated literature data (LIT). The novelty of this study lies in applying uncertainty propagation tailored to each source, enabling systematic evaluation of result variability. Using a functional unit of 1 kg mixed polyolefin (MPO) waste treated, our results show that Aspen-based scenarios exhibit narrower uncertainty ranges than their literature-based counterparts. For instance, the variability in terms of global warming potential for PYRO (ASP) ranged from 0.751 to 1.53 kg CO2 eq/kg MPO waste treated, whereas that of PYRO (LIT) ranged from 1.24 to 6.51 kg CO2 eq/kg MPO waste treated. Similarly, GASI (ASP) had a more constrained 95 % confidence interval (from 2.56 to 4.97 kg CO2 eq/kg MPO waste treated) compared to that of GASI (LIT), which spanned from 2.20 to 15.58 kg CO2 eq/kg MPO waste treated. Other impact categories, including acidification, freshwater eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, and resource depletion, also showed considerably varied results. These disparities largely stem from many underlying assumptions and simplification during Aspen modelling, leading to reduced number of variables. Conversely, literature-based LCA models are constrained by repeated reuse of data and by inconsistencies in system boundaries, which exacerbate result variability. These issues suggest that the consensus in support of chemical recycling rests on a narrower data foundation than often assumed. As such, we recommend that LCA findings be used as policy reference only when supported by robust case-specific data, and transparent uncertainty analysis. While these findings provide crucial perspective for stakeholders and decision-makers, it is important to note that the methodology applied in this study is limited by various practical factors, including simplification of Aspen modelling and LCA system boundaries, as well as inherent limitations related to data gathering protocol.
在生命周期评估（LCA）文献中，热解和气化通常被认为是塑料废物管理的环保解决方案。然而，由于缺乏有效的大规模库存数据和不确定性/统计分析的有限使用，对研究结果产生了怀疑。本研究旨在通过使用两个数据源：aspen生成数据（ASP）和汇总文献数据（LIT），对热解（PYR）和气化（GASI）的LCA进行建模，来研究这些结论的有效性。本研究的新颖之处在于应用针对每个源的不确定性传播，从而能够系统地评估结果的可变性。使用处理过的1公斤混合聚烯烃（MPO）废物的功能单位，我们的研究结果表明，基于aspen的方案比基于文献的方案具有更小的不确定性范围。例如，PYRO （ASP）的全球变暖潜能值变化范围为0.751至1.53千克CO2当量/千克处理过的MPO废物，而PYRO （LIT）的变化范围为1.24至6.51千克CO2当量/千克处理过的MPO废物。同样，GASI （ASP）的95%置信区间（从2.56到4.97 kg CO2当量/kg处理过的MPO废物）比GASI （LIT）的95%置信区间（从2.20到15.58 kg CO2当量/kg处理过的MPO废物）更有限。其他影响类别，包括酸化、淡水富营养化、淡水生态毒性和资源枯竭，也显示出相当不同的结果。这些差异很大程度上源于许多潜在的假设和阿斯彭建模过程中的简化，导致变量数量减少。相反，基于文献的LCA模型受到数据重复重用和系统边界不一致的约束，这加剧了结果的可变性。这些问题表明，支持化学物质回收的共识所依据的数据基础比通常假设的要窄。因此，我们建议LCA的研究结果只有在有可靠的具体案例数据和透明的不确定性分析支持的情况下才能用作政策参考。虽然这些发现为利益相关者和决策者提供了重要的视角，但重要的是要注意，本研究中应用的方法受到各种实际因素的限制，包括Aspen建模和LCA系统边界的简化，以及与数据收集协议相关的固有限制。
{"title":"How accurate are LCAs for pyrolysis and gasification in the context of plastic waste management?","authors":"Tu Xayachak , Nawshad Haque , Deborah Lau , Raj Parthasarathy , Nargessadat Emami , Biplob Kumar Pramanik","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pyrolysis and gasification are often presented in the life cycle assessment (LCA) literature as environmentally promising solutions for plastic waste management. However, the lack of validated large-scale inventory data and limited use of uncertainty/statistical analysis cast doubts on the findings. This study aims to investigate the validity of these conclusions by modelling LCA for pyrolysis (PYR) and gasification (GASI) using two data sources: Aspen-generated data (ASP) and aggregated literature data (LIT). The novelty of this study lies in applying uncertainty propagation tailored to each source, enabling systematic evaluation of result variability. Using a functional unit of 1 kg mixed polyolefin (MPO) waste treated, our results show that Aspen-based scenarios exhibit narrower uncertainty ranges than their literature-based counterparts. For instance, the variability in terms of global warming potential for PYRO (ASP) ranged from 0.751 to 1.53 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/kg MPO waste treated, whereas that of PYRO (LIT) ranged from 1.24 to 6.51 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/kg MPO waste treated. Similarly, GASI (ASP) had a more constrained 95 % confidence interval (from 2.56 to 4.97 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/kg MPO waste treated) compared to that of GASI (LIT), which spanned from 2.20 to 15.58 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/kg MPO waste treated. Other impact categories, including acidification, freshwater eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, and resource depletion, also showed considerably varied results. These disparities largely stem from many underlying assumptions and simplification during Aspen modelling, leading to reduced number of variables. Conversely, literature-based LCA models are constrained by repeated reuse of data and by inconsistencies in system boundaries, which exacerbate result variability. These issues suggest that the consensus in support of chemical recycling rests on a narrower data foundation than often assumed. As such, we recommend that LCA findings be used as policy reference only when supported by robust case-specific data, and transparent uncertainty analysis. While these findings provide crucial perspective for stakeholders and decision-makers, it is important to note that the methodology applied in this study is limited by various practical factors, including simplification of Aspen modelling and LCA system boundaries, as well as inherent limitations related to data gathering protocol.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108764"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108760
Tao Liu , Le Yu , Xiaoran Wu , Wenchao Qi , Qiming Zheng , Hui Wu , Xin Chen , Dailiang Peng , Changkun Shao , Yuyu Zhou
Unlocking the potential of abandoned cropland is widely recognized as a promising strategy for enhancing land-use efficiency and achieving land sustainability. However, the specific pathways and achievable yield potential remain poorly quantified. Here, we integrated geospatial data, multi-modeling, and scenario analysis methods to evaluate the potential for food production, carbon sequestration, and photovoltaic (PV) power generation via recultivation, afforestation, and PV deployment incentives on China’s abandoned cropland. Our results show that China’s abandoned land has the potential to yield 17.63 – 42.53 Pcal yr⁻¹ of food, sequester 4.58 – 6.21 Tg C yr⁻¹ of carbon, and generate 2.18 – 5.50 PWh yr⁻¹ of clean energy, depending on the scenario of land reuse. We found that prioritizing regionally tailored strategies could further amplify land-use efficiency. For example, afforesting 0.93 Mha of abandoned land in Southwest China (24.6 % of the total abandoned area) has the potential to sequester 2.13 Tg C yr⁻¹, accounting for 34.3 % of the maximum carbon sequestration potential. Further analysis reveals that transforming from rain-fed to irrigated practices could enhance food production potential from abandoned land by 30.4 – 55.3 %, and future climate changes may lead to potential spillover effects (increasing 1.67 ± 2.36 %, standard deviations across different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios) of PV power generation. Collectively, our findings underscore that multiple pathways for repurposing abandoned land are essential for harnessing its full suite of land resources.
{"title":"Releasing the compound potential of abandoned cropland through recultivation, afforestation, and photovoltaic solutions","authors":"Tao Liu , Le Yu , Xiaoran Wu , Wenchao Qi , Qiming Zheng , Hui Wu , Xin Chen , Dailiang Peng , Changkun Shao , Yuyu Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Unlocking the potential of abandoned cropland is widely recognized as a promising strategy for enhancing land-use efficiency and achieving land sustainability. However, the specific pathways and achievable yield potential remain poorly quantified. Here, we integrated geospatial data, multi-modeling, and scenario analysis methods to evaluate the potential for food production, carbon sequestration, and photovoltaic (PV) power generation via recultivation, afforestation, and PV deployment incentives on China’s abandoned cropland. Our results show that China’s abandoned land has the potential to yield 17.63 – 42.53 Pcal yr⁻¹ of food, sequester 4.58 – 6.21 Tg C yr⁻¹ of carbon, and generate 2.18 – 5.50 PWh yr⁻¹ of clean energy, depending on the scenario of land reuse. We found that prioritizing regionally tailored strategies could further amplify land-use efficiency. For example, afforesting 0.93 Mha of abandoned land in Southwest China (24.6 % of the total abandoned area) has the potential to sequester 2.13 Tg C yr⁻¹, accounting for 34.3 % of the maximum carbon sequestration potential. Further analysis reveals that transforming from rain-fed to irrigated practices could enhance food production potential from abandoned land by 30.4 – 55.3 %, and future climate changes may lead to potential spillover effects (increasing 1.67 ± 2.36 %, standard deviations across different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios) of PV power generation. Collectively, our findings underscore that multiple pathways for repurposing abandoned land are essential for harnessing its full suite of land resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108760"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145785183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-19DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108757
Wenlong Pang , Mengyu Zhai , Huijin Hu , Zhongxun Tian , Jun Yang , Shaonan Tian , Yufeng Wu
The effective recycling of waste polyurethane foam (PUF) is essential for reducing environmental burden, preventing littering, and decreasing reliance on virgin resources. In this study, we developed a mild, solvent-assisted glycolysis strategy using polyether polyol and various small-molecule diols to achieve complete depolymerization of waste PUF. The resulting recycled polyols (RPs) exhibited excellent reactivity and compatibility, enabling direct reuse-without purification-in the synthesis of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) at a substitution level of up to 40 wt%. Comprehensive characterization confirmed that the mechanical and physical properties of the recycled RPUF were comparable to those of commercial products. Importantly, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted, highlighting the minimal differences in environmental impacts of the process, with a focus on the limitations of the assessment, particularly in terms of global warming potential (GWP). This work provides important theoretical support for the industrialization of polyurethane waste recycling.
{"title":"Closed-loop recycling of polyurethane waste","authors":"Wenlong Pang , Mengyu Zhai , Huijin Hu , Zhongxun Tian , Jun Yang , Shaonan Tian , Yufeng Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effective recycling of waste polyurethane foam (PUF) is essential for reducing environmental burden, preventing littering, and decreasing reliance on virgin resources. In this study, we developed a mild, solvent-assisted glycolysis strategy using polyether polyol and various small-molecule diols to achieve complete depolymerization of waste PUF. The resulting recycled polyols (RPs) exhibited excellent reactivity and compatibility, enabling direct reuse-without purification-in the synthesis of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) at a substitution level of up to 40 wt%. Comprehensive characterization confirmed that the mechanical and physical properties of the recycled RPUF were comparable to those of commercial products. Importantly, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted, highlighting the minimal differences in environmental impacts of the process, with a focus on the limitations of the assessment, particularly in terms of global warming potential (GWP). This work provides important theoretical support for the industrialization of polyurethane waste recycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108757"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145785185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108753
Avery Hoffer, Dr. Evan Bentz, Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Societies across the globe are simultaneously trying to build much more housing while drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is precipitating debates about the nature of sustainable housing. ‘Conventional wisdom’ holds that taller buildings are worse for the environment coinciding with longstanding skepticism of height, yet the research and data is often anecdotal or incomplete and contradictory. This paper contributes to the discussion by examining how building height affects embodied emissions for new 5-to-20 storey reinforced concrete residential buildings. We find that while height contributes to embodied emissions, its impact is smaller than slab thickness and design tranches within the studied storey range, which offer more effective opportunities to improve resource productivity, reduce material intensity and associated embodied emissions, without reducing building function. Our findings encourage a shift beyond height-based restrictions, urging designers and policy makers to focus on design decisions to conserve resources, lower emissions, and support circular-economy objectives
{"title":"Just one more storey? The embodied greenhouse gas impacts of adding height, slab thickness, building code and design tranches","authors":"Avery Hoffer, Dr. Evan Bentz, Dr. Shoshanna Saxe","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108753","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108753","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Societies across the globe are simultaneously trying to build much more housing while drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is precipitating debates about the nature of sustainable housing. ‘Conventional wisdom’ holds that taller buildings are worse for the environment coinciding with longstanding skepticism of height, yet the research and data is often anecdotal or incomplete and contradictory. This paper contributes to the discussion by examining how building height affects embodied emissions for new 5-to-20 storey reinforced concrete residential buildings. We find that while height contributes to embodied emissions, its impact is smaller than slab thickness and design tranches within the studied storey range, which offer more effective opportunities to improve resource productivity, reduce material intensity and associated embodied emissions, without reducing building function. Our findings encourage a shift beyond height-based restrictions, urging designers and policy makers to focus on design decisions to conserve resources, lower emissions, and support circular-economy objectives</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 108753"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145785186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号