Pub Date : 2023-04-17DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1170467
Francesco Marra
Can the combination of computer aided food engineering and electro-heating applications contribute to food processing sustainability? To what United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) this combination could contribute? Those are the questions addressed in this perspective. SDG7 is aimed to ensure the access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable and modern energy for all. According to World Bank, ensuring access to modern food cooking solutions is a key component to achieving for SDG7, and -since cooking is mainly based on heating processing- also the access to modern food heating solutions must be considered as a key component to achieving for SDG7. Electro-heating applications (EHA) in food processing include all processes using the interaction of a food material or product with an electromagnetic field, as in microwave, radio-frequency, and moderate electric fields processing. These technologies involve the use of electrical and -more recently- electronic circuits and require professional figures in their design. As result, the installation cost of these technologies is way higher than installation cost for heating processes using fossil sources, as fuel for fire boilers, as an example. Furthermore, at industrial level, these technologies may require ad-hoc design. Consequently, the food processing industry is quite slow in embracing such technologies along the productive lines. Computer aided food engineering (CAFE) has been recognized as valuable approach to shifts the paradigm from trial-and-error-based design to model-based design, using digital tools for the virtual representation of a food product or process, predicting the behavior of it. The combination of CAFE and EHA is the only way to help the food industry to embrace sustainability in most operations in which the heat transfer is involved. This paper presents a viewpoint on the challenges and opportunity to combine CAFE and EHAs as contribution to food processing sustainability.
{"title":"Combining computer aided food engineering and electro-heating applications as contribution to food processing sustainability","authors":"Francesco Marra","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1170467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1170467","url":null,"abstract":"Can the combination of computer aided food engineering and electro-heating applications contribute to food processing sustainability? To what United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) this combination could contribute? Those are the questions addressed in this perspective. SDG7 is aimed to ensure the access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable and modern energy for all. According to World Bank, ensuring access to modern food cooking solutions is a key component to achieving for SDG7, and -since cooking is mainly based on heating processing- also the access to modern food heating solutions must be considered as a key component to achieving for SDG7. Electro-heating applications (EHA) in food processing include all processes using the interaction of a food material or product with an electromagnetic field, as in microwave, radio-frequency, and moderate electric fields processing. These technologies involve the use of electrical and -more recently- electronic circuits and require professional figures in their design. As result, the installation cost of these technologies is way higher than installation cost for heating processes using fossil sources, as fuel for fire boilers, as an example. Furthermore, at industrial level, these technologies may require ad-hoc design. Consequently, the food processing industry is quite slow in embracing such technologies along the productive lines. Computer aided food engineering (CAFE) has been recognized as valuable approach to shifts the paradigm from trial-and-error-based design to model-based design, using digital tools for the virtual representation of a food product or process, predicting the behavior of it. The combination of CAFE and EHA is the only way to help the food industry to embrace sustainability in most operations in which the heat transfer is involved. This paper presents a viewpoint on the challenges and opportunity to combine CAFE and EHAs as contribution to food processing sustainability.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"92 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115879408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-04-12DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1117814
Tom Geme, E. Nijman, E. B. Ntawuhiganayo, Doryn Negesa
Transitioning to a circular economy (CE) has been touted as the necessary paradigm shift to counterbalance the ever-increasing socio-economic metabolism in the face of global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, population growth, pollution, and unemployment. Previous research has indicated that the transition to CE requires stakeholder collaboration. Yet, at present, a dearth of literature exists about stakeholder knowledge and perceptions of CE, more so in Africa. This begs the question; how will stakeholders collaborate when their understanding on the subject is dissimilar? To contribute to closing this knowledge gap, this research employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the knowledge and perception of CE among key stakeholders in selected cities in Uganda. Interview data from 230 respondents selected via a snowballing process in the Ugandan cities of Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area indicate that several stakeholder groups are involved in Uganda's CE space. These include government, businesses, civil society, the public as well as academia, research and think tanks. In terms of CE knowledge, the findings show that respondents were generally knowledgeable about CE. However, much of the knowledge is about the 3Rs (reduce, repair, and recycle) and waste management to the point that many respondents misconstrued recycling to be synonymous with CE. Overall, participant knowledge and perception of CE are determined by the level of education, sector of operation, position at the workplace, how long one has been in the CE space and whether one participated in decision-making. The findings indicate that respondents believe that the government had not done enough in promoting CE concepts and practices including creating avenues for stakeholder collaboration. The findings offer insights for CE proponents on attributes to consider when advocating and communicating about CE. This research could also inform the formulation of policies that stimulate CE development particularly with determining entry points for CE interventions and effective stakeholder engagement.
{"title":"Stakeholder knowledge and perceptions of the circular economy in Ugandan cities","authors":"Tom Geme, E. Nijman, E. B. Ntawuhiganayo, Doryn Negesa","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1117814","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1117814","url":null,"abstract":"Transitioning to a circular economy (CE) has been touted as the necessary paradigm shift to counterbalance the ever-increasing socio-economic metabolism in the face of global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, population growth, pollution, and unemployment. Previous research has indicated that the transition to CE requires stakeholder collaboration. Yet, at present, a dearth of literature exists about stakeholder knowledge and perceptions of CE, more so in Africa. This begs the question; how will stakeholders collaborate when their understanding on the subject is dissimilar? To contribute to closing this knowledge gap, this research employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the knowledge and perception of CE among key stakeholders in selected cities in Uganda. Interview data from 230 respondents selected via a snowballing process in the Ugandan cities of Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area indicate that several stakeholder groups are involved in Uganda's CE space. These include government, businesses, civil society, the public as well as academia, research and think tanks. In terms of CE knowledge, the findings show that respondents were generally knowledgeable about CE. However, much of the knowledge is about the 3Rs (reduce, repair, and recycle) and waste management to the point that many respondents misconstrued recycling to be synonymous with CE. Overall, participant knowledge and perception of CE are determined by the level of education, sector of operation, position at the workplace, how long one has been in the CE space and whether one participated in decision-making. The findings indicate that respondents believe that the government had not done enough in promoting CE concepts and practices including creating avenues for stakeholder collaboration. The findings offer insights for CE proponents on attributes to consider when advocating and communicating about CE. This research could also inform the formulation of policies that stimulate CE development particularly with determining entry points for CE interventions and effective stakeholder engagement.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127736882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-04-06DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1023480
M. García-Hermosa, L. Woodall
Despite the increase in the documentation on, and interest in marine debris, there remains a gap between the analytic information available and the recommendations developed by policy and decision makers that could reduce this pollutant. Our paper summarizes some successful initiatives across policy, industry, infrastructure and education; and where they sit in the value chain of plastic products. We suggest that a multidisciplinary approach is required to most effectively address the marine plastic litter problem. This approach should emphasize (1) minimizing plastic production and consumption (where possible), and waste leakage; by (2) improving waste management (taking into consideration the informal sector) rather than focussing on clean-up activities. We then suggest some steps that once addressed would assist policy professionals, and a wide variety of entities and individuals with decision-making to reduce marine plastic litter. We suggest the creation of a user-friendly framework (tool) would facilitate transparency and democratization of the decision-making process across stakeholders and the wider community. This tool would be most useful if it comprised information on (i) defining appropriate metrics for quantifying plastic waste for the study/work case; (ii) providing a list of possible interventions with their key associated enabling and disabling factors, (iii) identifying the main influential factors specific to the situation/region; (iv) recognizing the risks associated with the selected interventions and the consequences of these interventions on the most influential factors; (v) objectively ranking solutions using the information gathered (metrics, targets, risks, factors) based on the regional, national, and/or international context. This tool then provides an opportunity for user groups to explore different suites of options for tackling marine plastic pollution and co-create a suite that is optimum for them.
{"title":"Marine plastic: The solution is bigger than removal","authors":"M. García-Hermosa, L. Woodall","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1023480","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1023480","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the increase in the documentation on, and interest in marine debris, there remains a gap between the analytic information available and the recommendations developed by policy and decision makers that could reduce this pollutant. Our paper summarizes some successful initiatives across policy, industry, infrastructure and education; and where they sit in the value chain of plastic products. We suggest that a multidisciplinary approach is required to most effectively address the marine plastic litter problem. This approach should emphasize (1) minimizing plastic production and consumption (where possible), and waste leakage; by (2) improving waste management (taking into consideration the informal sector) rather than focussing on clean-up activities. We then suggest some steps that once addressed would assist policy professionals, and a wide variety of entities and individuals with decision-making to reduce marine plastic litter. We suggest the creation of a user-friendly framework (tool) would facilitate transparency and democratization of the decision-making process across stakeholders and the wider community. This tool would be most useful if it comprised information on (i) defining appropriate metrics for quantifying plastic waste for the study/work case; (ii) providing a list of possible interventions with their key associated enabling and disabling factors, (iii) identifying the main influential factors specific to the situation/region; (iv) recognizing the risks associated with the selected interventions and the consequences of these interventions on the most influential factors; (v) objectively ranking solutions using the information gathered (metrics, targets, risks, factors) based on the regional, national, and/or international context. This tool then provides an opportunity for user groups to explore different suites of options for tackling marine plastic pollution and co-create a suite that is optimum for them.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"78 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128287777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-04-06DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1154059
Katrien Steenmans, F. Lesniewska
The circular economy (CE) concept has gained significant attention globally and nationally largely due to anticipated economic, environmental, and social benefits for sustainable development. As a result, laws and policies to advance CEs are increasingly being adopted nationally and regionally. In this perspective article we argue that a systematic approach to designing and implementing CE laws is necessary to cover the multi-level, multi-actor, and multi-sector dimensions of the CE concept. Such an approach should be built on a CE concept with clarified boundaries and scale to ensure it remains a meaningful concept and avoids perpetuating an unsustainable status quo. Moreover, a systematic approach should incorporate justice dimensions to deliver CEs that are fair, just, and inclusive. In the article we first identify five fundamental limitations to existing CE laws: (1) unclear boundaries and scale, (2) oversimplification of goals, (3) side-lining of justice dimensions, (4) reinforcement of the status quo, and (5) unintended consequences. Secondly, based on these limitations, we identify four directions for further research that can contribute to developing more effective CE laws. As there is no one-size-fits-all CE approach, any changes to existing laws and policies, or development of new ones, will require a wider evidence-base, from both the Global South and marginalized communities in the Global North, to reflect, inter alia, different practices, cultural relationships with material flows, and epistemological diversity.
{"title":"Limitations of the circular economy concept in law and policy","authors":"Katrien Steenmans, F. Lesniewska","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1154059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1154059","url":null,"abstract":"The circular economy (CE) concept has gained significant attention globally and nationally largely due to anticipated economic, environmental, and social benefits for sustainable development. As a result, laws and policies to advance CEs are increasingly being adopted nationally and regionally. In this perspective article we argue that a systematic approach to designing and implementing CE laws is necessary to cover the multi-level, multi-actor, and multi-sector dimensions of the CE concept. Such an approach should be built on a CE concept with clarified boundaries and scale to ensure it remains a meaningful concept and avoids perpetuating an unsustainable status quo. Moreover, a systematic approach should incorporate justice dimensions to deliver CEs that are fair, just, and inclusive. In the article we first identify five fundamental limitations to existing CE laws: (1) unclear boundaries and scale, (2) oversimplification of goals, (3) side-lining of justice dimensions, (4) reinforcement of the status quo, and (5) unintended consequences. Secondly, based on these limitations, we identify four directions for further research that can contribute to developing more effective CE laws. As there is no one-size-fits-all CE approach, any changes to existing laws and policies, or development of new ones, will require a wider evidence-base, from both the Global South and marginalized communities in the Global North, to reflect, inter alia, different practices, cultural relationships with material flows, and epistemological diversity.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124156188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-04-03DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1115865
N. Dytianquin, N. Kalogeras, J. V. van Oorschot, Nurhan Abujidi
In studying circularity in the construction and demolition industry (CDI) in the EU, five projects in selected EU countries were compared to assess how the application of circularity achieved balance in the environment, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. The selected projects using secondary data based on a web search of these projects involved different stages of the circularity ladder, used diverse design principles, and focused on different stages of the construction life cycle, making them interesting comparators for applying circularity in CDI. For strong sustainability to exist, there should be a balance between the sustainability triptych covering environment, social and economic dimensions which is often overlooked in many circular and sustainability projects with an overemphasis on one dimension and disregard for another. Selected indicators for the three dimensions included those found in environmental impact and life cycle assessments for environmental criteria, social impact assessments for social criteria and economic feasibility, and project appraisal and evaluation reports for economic criteria. In weighting criteria, several methods exist comprising subjective, objective, and integrated techniques. The robustness of objective vs. subjective weights is rather debatable. The objective of the research is to test different weighting techniques using subjective and objective methods to determine if differences in project rankings exist in terms of sustainability balance. The ranking of projects and conclusions about best practices in the CDI circular economy could be influenced by the weighting techniques used. As the weighting of criteria could influence project outcomes, objectivity in weighting is often advised. However, in this study, computational comparisons indicated that subjective methods do not significantly differ from objective ones that use mathematical and statistical rigor. As such, subjective weighting methods still conveniently capture credible and consistent results. Nonetheless, this should not detract from efforts to objectify weighting methods that lend more credence and justification to scoring and ranking results.
{"title":"Circularity in the construction and demolition industry: Comparing weighting methods for multi-criteria decision analysis","authors":"N. Dytianquin, N. Kalogeras, J. V. van Oorschot, Nurhan Abujidi","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1115865","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1115865","url":null,"abstract":"In studying circularity in the construction and demolition industry (CDI) in the EU, five projects in selected EU countries were compared to assess how the application of circularity achieved balance in the environment, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. The selected projects using secondary data based on a web search of these projects involved different stages of the circularity ladder, used diverse design principles, and focused on different stages of the construction life cycle, making them interesting comparators for applying circularity in CDI. For strong sustainability to exist, there should be a balance between the sustainability triptych covering environment, social and economic dimensions which is often overlooked in many circular and sustainability projects with an overemphasis on one dimension and disregard for another. Selected indicators for the three dimensions included those found in environmental impact and life cycle assessments for environmental criteria, social impact assessments for social criteria and economic feasibility, and project appraisal and evaluation reports for economic criteria. In weighting criteria, several methods exist comprising subjective, objective, and integrated techniques. The robustness of objective vs. subjective weights is rather debatable. The objective of the research is to test different weighting techniques using subjective and objective methods to determine if differences in project rankings exist in terms of sustainability balance. The ranking of projects and conclusions about best practices in the CDI circular economy could be influenced by the weighting techniques used. As the weighting of criteria could influence project outcomes, objectivity in weighting is often advised. However, in this study, computational comparisons indicated that subjective methods do not significantly differ from objective ones that use mathematical and statistical rigor. As such, subjective weighting methods still conveniently capture credible and consistent results. Nonetheless, this should not detract from efforts to objectify weighting methods that lend more credence and justification to scoring and ranking results.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"49 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114483063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-30DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1136725
S. Lingegård, Kristina von Oelreich
Circular public procurement (CPP) is one way to increase sustainability and circularity in public spending. As previous research focuses primarily on procurement, more insight is needed on the latter stages CPP. Real-life examples of CPP implementation are also required to promote the concept to practitioners, improve governance, and add depth to the literature. This study, therefore, provides in-depth knowledge of CPP implementation and management by analyzing a case of circular furniture flows and its implications for the procuring organization. The focus on furniture is motivated by the large volumes sent to landfills every year despite its remanufacturing potential, as well as the large environmental impact for production, a potentially long lifetime, and an often-high purchasing price. The results show that strategic decisions to prioritize sustainability are necessary when resource efficiency and cost reductions do not align in a short-term perspective. A more centralized governance structure facilitates decisions on reuse, remanufacturing and disposal in an organization, e.g., coordination of products for remanufacturing, pooling products for reuse, and standardization of design choices. Follow-up and inventory systems are crucial tools for integrating previously installed products with CPP, keeping track of circular flows, and providing feedback to improve subsequent procurements. Crucial elements in the follow-up include adaptation to circularity in the economy system and accounting for the prolonged life and reuse of furniture. The study's results emphasize how an organization's prerequisites play an essential part in the implementation of CPP and that contextual solutions are needed for circular challenges. The study contributes to the fields of policy implementation, CPP, and the use of circular business models in a public context, as well as to the less explored field of procurement in a circular economy context. Suggestions for future research include studies on product categories with other environmental impact profiles, and on waste management regulations that can make or break circular systems.
{"title":"Implementation and management of a circular public procurement contract for furniture","authors":"S. Lingegård, Kristina von Oelreich","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1136725","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1136725","url":null,"abstract":"Circular public procurement (CPP) is one way to increase sustainability and circularity in public spending. As previous research focuses primarily on procurement, more insight is needed on the latter stages CPP. Real-life examples of CPP implementation are also required to promote the concept to practitioners, improve governance, and add depth to the literature. This study, therefore, provides in-depth knowledge of CPP implementation and management by analyzing a case of circular furniture flows and its implications for the procuring organization. The focus on furniture is motivated by the large volumes sent to landfills every year despite its remanufacturing potential, as well as the large environmental impact for production, a potentially long lifetime, and an often-high purchasing price. The results show that strategic decisions to prioritize sustainability are necessary when resource efficiency and cost reductions do not align in a short-term perspective. A more centralized governance structure facilitates decisions on reuse, remanufacturing and disposal in an organization, e.g., coordination of products for remanufacturing, pooling products for reuse, and standardization of design choices. Follow-up and inventory systems are crucial tools for integrating previously installed products with CPP, keeping track of circular flows, and providing feedback to improve subsequent procurements. Crucial elements in the follow-up include adaptation to circularity in the economy system and accounting for the prolonged life and reuse of furniture. The study's results emphasize how an organization's prerequisites play an essential part in the implementation of CPP and that contextual solutions are needed for circular challenges. The study contributes to the fields of policy implementation, CPP, and the use of circular business models in a public context, as well as to the less explored field of procurement in a circular economy context. Suggestions for future research include studies on product categories with other environmental impact profiles, and on waste management regulations that can make or break circular systems.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"167 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128619749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-28DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1013810
S. Wahlen, Aurianne Stroude
Consumption is a key issue for more sustainable development. In our quest to understand the role of care for more sustainable consumption, we make use of the concept of resonance. Resonance assists in explaining the role of care for more sustainable consumption, emphasizing the relationships people have with the world. Through resonance, we add to debates on sustainable consumption that focus on the good life. Resonance describes a responsive mode of being-in-the-world and therefore depends on how we (passively) experience the world and how we (actively) appropriate or assimilate it. It is a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the world through which both are shaped. According to Hartmut Rosa, resonance as world relationship can be detected on three axes on which individuals relate to the world: (1) horizontal (people and politics), (2) diagonal (things), and (3) vertical (collective singulars such as nature, art, history, and religion). Using these axes as heuristic, we analyze solicited journaling method as well as in-depth interview data. Caring relationships can be detected along the three axes of resonance. Resonance thus helps to advance the characteristics of care as not limited to relationships between humans but also for things or collective singulars such as nature. Resonance also highlights how caring relationships support sustainable consumption in a positive way by focusing on its relational and reciprocal dimensions.
{"title":"Sustainable consumption, resonance, and care","authors":"S. Wahlen, Aurianne Stroude","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1013810","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1013810","url":null,"abstract":"Consumption is a key issue for more sustainable development. In our quest to understand the role of care for more sustainable consumption, we make use of the concept of resonance. Resonance assists in explaining the role of care for more sustainable consumption, emphasizing the relationships people have with the world. Through resonance, we add to debates on sustainable consumption that focus on the good life. Resonance describes a responsive mode of being-in-the-world and therefore depends on how we (passively) experience the world and how we (actively) appropriate or assimilate it. It is a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the world through which both are shaped. According to Hartmut Rosa, resonance as world relationship can be detected on three axes on which individuals relate to the world: (1) horizontal (people and politics), (2) diagonal (things), and (3) vertical (collective singulars such as nature, art, history, and religion). Using these axes as heuristic, we analyze solicited journaling method as well as in-depth interview data. Caring relationships can be detected along the three axes of resonance. Resonance thus helps to advance the characteristics of care as not limited to relationships between humans but also for things or collective singulars such as nature. Resonance also highlights how caring relationships support sustainable consumption in a positive way by focusing on its relational and reciprocal dimensions.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114855098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-27DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1057064
G. Oluleye, Doss Bishay, Baptiste Kas
Integration of alternative technological concepts such as switching to alternative fuels, advanced energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage in existing industrial energy systems can prove highly effective at minimizing emissions; however, their adoption is low since solutions using these concepts raise costs considerably. The hypothesis of this work is a hierarchical combination of these concepts can reduce mitigation cost. To this end a mixed method approach is applied combining energy simulation with a novel Mixed Integer Linear Programming model developed to explore 48 alternative solutions to make industrial energy systems more sustainable. The method was applied to the most common industrial energy systems configurations. Results show that the added cost of integrating alternative technological concepts are lowered when energy efficiency via direct heat recovery is explored first in an optimization-based hierarchy of options. The hierarchy is advanced energy efficiency before fuel and technology switching or integrating carbon capture and storage. This means process integration can pay for steeper reductions in carbon emissions. Integrating alternative technological concepts optimally and hierarchically reduced emissions by 61%, and costs by 55.7% compared to a partial integration for a heat-only business-as-usual industrial energy systems. Even though switching to an alternative fuel (blue hydrogen) reduces carbon emissions by 72%, costs increase by at least 3% compared to a system using fuel gas and fuel oil. A hierarchical integration of blue hydrogen reduces cost by 47% and carbon emissions by 88.7%. Partial integration of carbon capture and storage reduces carbon emissions by 36% but costs increase by 89%, with full integration using optimization and the hierarchy costs only increase by 6.3%. Therefore, the cost-effectiveness of integrating alternative technological concepts is highly influenced by the hierarchy which seeks to minimize demand for energy from industrial processes first, then increase the supply efficiency of industrial energy systems, and before switching to alternative fuels and technologies. Graphical Abstract
{"title":"Can a hierarchical ordering of alternative technological concepts for decarbonizing industrial energy systems minimize mitigation costs?","authors":"G. Oluleye, Doss Bishay, Baptiste Kas","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1057064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1057064","url":null,"abstract":"Integration of alternative technological concepts such as switching to alternative fuels, advanced energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage in existing industrial energy systems can prove highly effective at minimizing emissions; however, their adoption is low since solutions using these concepts raise costs considerably. The hypothesis of this work is a hierarchical combination of these concepts can reduce mitigation cost. To this end a mixed method approach is applied combining energy simulation with a novel Mixed Integer Linear Programming model developed to explore 48 alternative solutions to make industrial energy systems more sustainable. The method was applied to the most common industrial energy systems configurations. Results show that the added cost of integrating alternative technological concepts are lowered when energy efficiency via direct heat recovery is explored first in an optimization-based hierarchy of options. The hierarchy is advanced energy efficiency before fuel and technology switching or integrating carbon capture and storage. This means process integration can pay for steeper reductions in carbon emissions. Integrating alternative technological concepts optimally and hierarchically reduced emissions by 61%, and costs by 55.7% compared to a partial integration for a heat-only business-as-usual industrial energy systems. Even though switching to an alternative fuel (blue hydrogen) reduces carbon emissions by 72%, costs increase by at least 3% compared to a system using fuel gas and fuel oil. A hierarchical integration of blue hydrogen reduces cost by 47% and carbon emissions by 88.7%. Partial integration of carbon capture and storage reduces carbon emissions by 36% but costs increase by 89%, with full integration using optimization and the hierarchy costs only increase by 6.3%. Therefore, the cost-effectiveness of integrating alternative technological concepts is highly influenced by the hierarchy which seeks to minimize demand for energy from industrial processes first, then increase the supply efficiency of industrial energy systems, and before switching to alternative fuels and technologies. Graphical Abstract","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"199 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133862963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-27DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.965421
Soumyajit Bhar
Although deliberations around the idea of sustainable consumption have triggered pro-environmental consumption behaviors, empirical works show such consumption choices hardly manage to lower the overall environmental impacts of their total consumption baskets. Driven by corporate-led globalization, most developing countries have adopted the prevailing neoliberal economic model centered on growthism and developmentalism. What complicates the situation further is that this capitalistic economic model fetishizes the wealthy and valorizes aspirations that shape socio-culturally held notions of good life toward overconsumption, especially in the Global South. The discussion on sustainable consumption needs to expand its scope from the post-materialistic discourses in the Global North to realign itself better with the developmental discourse in the GS. Expanding this scope is easier said than done because of the fundamental dependency of the neo-liberal economic policy-driven developmentalism on consumerism. Once these macro-economic priorities percolate into socio-cultural priorities, further driving individuals' sense of the good life, it becomes even more challenging to decouple materialistically-oriented need-satisfiers from wellbeing. Therefore, it is to theorize how the act of consumption happens at the complex intersections of political-economic priorities, socio-cultural conventions, and individual aspirations for a better life, which is even more so relevant in the context of the GS. It is critical to understand, especially for the Global South, how these structural factors percolate into socio-cultural and individual priorities through the changing notions of the good life and eventually act as the fundamental sustaining factors that keep the prevailing political-economic arrangements running.
{"title":"Sustainable consumption and the Global South: A conceptual exposition","authors":"Soumyajit Bhar","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.965421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.965421","url":null,"abstract":"Although deliberations around the idea of sustainable consumption have triggered pro-environmental consumption behaviors, empirical works show such consumption choices hardly manage to lower the overall environmental impacts of their total consumption baskets. Driven by corporate-led globalization, most developing countries have adopted the prevailing neoliberal economic model centered on growthism and developmentalism. What complicates the situation further is that this capitalistic economic model fetishizes the wealthy and valorizes aspirations that shape socio-culturally held notions of good life toward overconsumption, especially in the Global South. The discussion on sustainable consumption needs to expand its scope from the post-materialistic discourses in the Global North to realign itself better with the developmental discourse in the GS. Expanding this scope is easier said than done because of the fundamental dependency of the neo-liberal economic policy-driven developmentalism on consumerism. Once these macro-economic priorities percolate into socio-cultural priorities, further driving individuals' sense of the good life, it becomes even more challenging to decouple materialistically-oriented need-satisfiers from wellbeing. Therefore, it is to theorize how the act of consumption happens at the complex intersections of political-economic priorities, socio-cultural conventions, and individual aspirations for a better life, which is even more so relevant in the context of the GS. It is critical to understand, especially for the Global South, how these structural factors percolate into socio-cultural and individual priorities through the changing notions of the good life and eventually act as the fundamental sustaining factors that keep the prevailing political-economic arrangements running.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132290493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-03-16DOI: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1014662
Steffen Hirth, Halliki Kreinin, D. Fuchs, Nils Blossey, Pia Mamut, Jeremy Philipp, Isabelle Radovan
Introduction Transforming consumption and lifestyles toward sustainability cannot be achieved by individual behavior change alone but requires changes in the structures in which this behavior is embedded. However, “structure” is a blurry concept and scholars use it in a multitude of ways. What often remains implicit in studies on structural phenomena are different types of structures, how they may or may not restrict the agency of individuals in particular ways, and how these restrictions support sustainable consumption patterns at the societal level. To move beyond the current state of research, this article systematizes political, economic, technological, and societal structural factors the literature identifies as impactful regarding the sustainability of consumption and lifestyles compatible with the targets of the Paris Agreement. Methods We draw on a systematic review of existing research and use empirical observations to develop conceptual terms that revisit the structure-agency dilemma and offer ways going forward about (un)sustainable consumption. Results We do so based on the material or ideational, as well as shallow or deep nature of these factors. Thereby, the article throws light on the deep and opaque material and ideational structural factors lying underneath and shaping the sustainability impact of the more visible, shallow structural factors typically considered in public debates about sustainability governance. Discussion The article, thus, highlights the need to consider and address these deep structural factors for any effective pursuit of transformation.
{"title":"Barriers and enablers of 1.5° lifestyles: Shallow and deep structural factors shaping the potential for sustainable consumption","authors":"Steffen Hirth, Halliki Kreinin, D. Fuchs, Nils Blossey, Pia Mamut, Jeremy Philipp, Isabelle Radovan","doi":"10.3389/frsus.2023.1014662","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2023.1014662","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction Transforming consumption and lifestyles toward sustainability cannot be achieved by individual behavior change alone but requires changes in the structures in which this behavior is embedded. However, “structure” is a blurry concept and scholars use it in a multitude of ways. What often remains implicit in studies on structural phenomena are different types of structures, how they may or may not restrict the agency of individuals in particular ways, and how these restrictions support sustainable consumption patterns at the societal level. To move beyond the current state of research, this article systematizes political, economic, technological, and societal structural factors the literature identifies as impactful regarding the sustainability of consumption and lifestyles compatible with the targets of the Paris Agreement. Methods We draw on a systematic review of existing research and use empirical observations to develop conceptual terms that revisit the structure-agency dilemma and offer ways going forward about (un)sustainable consumption. Results We do so based on the material or ideational, as well as shallow or deep nature of these factors. Thereby, the article throws light on the deep and opaque material and ideational structural factors lying underneath and shaping the sustainability impact of the more visible, shallow structural factors typically considered in public debates about sustainability governance. Discussion The article, thus, highlights the need to consider and address these deep structural factors for any effective pursuit of transformation.","PeriodicalId":253319,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sustainability","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131477976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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