Pub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200290
Yuxin Yang , Pingping Wang
The influence of rural digital economy growth on agricultural carbon emissions is yet unknown as a new driver of rural development. This study uses Spatial Durbin and Mediation models to examine how rural digital economy development (RDED) affected agricultural carbon emissions (ACE) across 261 prefecture-level Chinese cities between 2018 and 2020. The paper also looks at how green innovation and agricultural mechanization (AME) affect agricultural carbon emissions. The results show that (1) RDED significantly increases ACE in localized areas by 19.2 % but decreases ACE in neighboring areas by 10.8 %. (2) At this stage, RDED increases ACE by increasing the level of AME; at the same time, although it promotes the level of green innovation, lower share of green innovation would also have a positive correlation with ACE. (3) The impact of RDED on ACE is more pronounced in western regions and regions with higher levels of digital infrastructure input.
{"title":"The impact of rural digital economy development on agricultural carbon emissions: A study based on prefecture-level cities in China","authors":"Yuxin Yang , Pingping Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of rural digital economy growth on agricultural carbon emissions is yet unknown as a new driver of rural development. This study uses Spatial Durbin and Mediation models to examine how rural digital economy development (RDED) affected agricultural carbon emissions (ACE) across 261 prefecture-level Chinese cities between 2018 and 2020. The paper also looks at how green innovation and agricultural mechanization (AME) affect agricultural carbon emissions. The results show that (1) RDED significantly increases ACE in localized areas by 19.2 % but decreases ACE in neighboring areas by 10.8 %. (2) At this stage, RDED increases ACE by increasing the level of AME; at the same time, although it promotes the level of green innovation, lower share of green innovation would also have a positive correlation with ACE. (3) The impact of RDED on ACE is more pronounced in western regions and regions with higher levels of digital infrastructure input.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 200290"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159814","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 : 2025-09-14DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200289
Kristen Sodam Park , Maciej Zajac , Thomas Matschei , Anya Vollpracht
Enforced carbonation of recycled concrete paste (RCP) presents a promising solution for carbon capture and utilization (CCU) in the cement and construction industries. By transforming concrete waste into a reactive pozzolan while sequestering CO2, enforced carbonation addresses major environmental challenges and aligns with the circular economy concept in the cement and concrete sector. This review contextualizes the impact of enforced carbonation on heavy metals in RCP to ensure sustainable and ecological compatibility of both the process and the final product, carbonated RCP (cRCP). It summarizes current knowledge on heavy metals in cement and proposes hypotheses on their plausible immobilization mechanisms in enforced-carbonated materials. The review highlights gaps in the literature concerning the impact of carbonation on heavy metals in cement, underscoring the necessity of exploring novel approaches for assessing the heavy metal behaviors from RCP to cRCP.
{"title":"The fate of heavy metals in recycled concrete paste upon enforced carbonation: A review","authors":"Kristen Sodam Park , Maciej Zajac , Thomas Matschei , Anya Vollpracht","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enforced carbonation of recycled concrete paste (RCP) presents a promising solution for carbon capture and utilization (CCU) in the cement and construction industries. By transforming concrete waste into a reactive pozzolan while sequestering CO<sub>2</sub>, enforced carbonation addresses major environmental challenges and aligns with the circular economy concept in the cement and concrete sector. This review contextualizes the impact of enforced carbonation on heavy metals in RCP to ensure sustainable and ecological compatibility of both the process and the final product, carbonated RCP (cRCP). It summarizes current knowledge on heavy metals in cement and proposes hypotheses on their plausible immobilization mechanisms in enforced-carbonated materials. The review highlights gaps in the literature concerning the impact of carbonation on heavy metals in cement, underscoring the necessity of exploring novel approaches for assessing the heavy metal behaviors from RCP to cRCP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 200289"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097861","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 : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200288
Juan Carlos Flores Lara , Mutasem El-Fadel , Abdul Rauf , Malik Mansoor Ali Khalfan
The construction industry is a significant driver of resource consumption and waste generation, particularly through construction and demolition waste (CDW). Circular economy (CE) principles, which emphasize recycling and material reuse, offer a sustainable approach to CDW management, although achieving market viability for recycled CDW products remains complex. This study undertakes a systematic literature analysis of CDW market development within a CE framework, combining bibliometric analysis and critical review to identify key market dynamics, stakeholder roles, regulatory challenges, and innovative business models. The findings reveal persistent barriers, including fragmented regulations, inconsistent standards, and economic constraints, particularly in regions with inadequate recycling infrastructure. To address these challenges, this study proposes the Circular Market Strategic Framework for CDW (CMSF-CDW), aligning policy harmonization, financial incentives, advanced recycling technologies, and stakeholder collaboration to foster resilient and scalable markets for recycled CDW materials. The study emphasizes the need for region-specific policies, scalable digital tools, and further efforts on CE implementation to enhance resource efficiency and drive market growth. Key findings highlight the central role of public-private partnerships in aligning market incentives with regulatory goals, the importance of digital traceability tools in building trust and material transparency, the effectiveness of green procurement and certification schemes in accelerating demand for recycled CDW products, and the need to align performance-based standards with procurement protocols to create stronger market signals and investor confidence. By offering these insights, the study supports policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers in advancing sustainable construction practices and accelerating the circular transition in the built environment.
{"title":"Insights and innovations in construction and demolition waste management: Strategic framework for circular market development","authors":"Juan Carlos Flores Lara , Mutasem El-Fadel , Abdul Rauf , Malik Mansoor Ali Khalfan","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The construction industry is a significant driver of resource consumption and waste generation, particularly through construction and demolition waste (CDW). Circular economy (CE) principles, which emphasize recycling and material reuse, offer a sustainable approach to CDW management, although achieving market viability for recycled CDW products remains complex. This study undertakes a systematic literature analysis of CDW market development within a CE framework, combining bibliometric analysis and critical review to identify key market dynamics, stakeholder roles, regulatory challenges, and innovative business models. The findings reveal persistent barriers, including fragmented regulations, inconsistent standards, and economic constraints, particularly in regions with inadequate recycling infrastructure. To address these challenges, this study proposes the Circular Market Strategic Framework for CDW (CMSF-CDW), aligning policy harmonization, financial incentives, advanced recycling technologies, and stakeholder collaboration to foster resilient and scalable markets for recycled CDW materials. The study emphasizes the need for region-specific policies, scalable digital tools, and further efforts on CE implementation to enhance resource efficiency and drive market growth. Key findings highlight the central role of public-private partnerships in aligning market incentives with regulatory goals, the importance of digital traceability tools in building trust and material transparency, the effectiveness of green procurement and certification schemes in accelerating demand for recycled CDW products, and the need to align performance-based standards with procurement protocols to create stronger market signals and investor confidence. By offering these insights, the study supports policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers in advancing sustainable construction practices and accelerating the circular transition in the built environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 200288"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050520","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 : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200287
Raimonda Soloha , Elina Dace
Quantifying food loss and waste (FLW) is a priority on the international agenda, as it is essential to establish effective prevention and reduction measures for FLW generation. Nevertheless, FLW data remain inconsistent, making it challenging to compare data across sectors, monitor long-term trends and thus set attainable prevention targets, specifically aligning with SDG12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. With the mandatory food waste accounting in the European Union (EU), accurate FLW quantification becomes relevant. In this study, a systematic literature review of FLW quantification research within the EU agri-food chain was done. The information was synthesised and coded to identify definitional and methodological differences across studies and common FLW quantification frameworks – the Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard and the EU delegated decision 2019/1597. In addition, limitations outlined in the studies were synthesised to identify aspects limiting the credibility of the quantification procedure and applicability of the FLW data. Our findings indicate significant variability in research methods, representativity and scope across studies. Results show that food service and households are the most studied stages of the food supply chain, with questionnaires being the most used method. Unrepresentative sample, lack of accurate data and self-reporting error emerged as major limitations in the analysed studies. Studies also highlight economic and environmental considerations beyond mass estimates of FLW, and consideration of the agricultural production (pre-harvest/pre-slaughter and harvest/slaughter) stage in FLW quantification. This study provides insights into overlooked aspects and potential advances in FLW quantification research for broader impact beyond mandatory reporting.
{"title":"Research on quantification of food loss and waste in Europe: A systematic literature review and synthesis of methodological limitations","authors":"Raimonda Soloha , Elina Dace","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantifying food loss and waste (FLW) is a priority on the international agenda, as it is essential to establish effective prevention and reduction measures for FLW generation. Nevertheless, FLW data remain inconsistent, making it challenging to compare data across sectors, monitor long-term trends and thus set attainable prevention targets, specifically aligning with SDG12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. With the mandatory food waste accounting in the European Union (EU), accurate FLW quantification becomes relevant. In this study, a systematic literature review of FLW quantification research within the EU agri-food chain was done. The information was synthesised and coded to identify definitional and methodological differences across studies and common FLW quantification frameworks – the Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard and the EU delegated decision 2019/1597. In addition, limitations outlined in the studies were synthesised to identify aspects limiting the credibility of the quantification procedure and applicability of the FLW data. Our findings indicate significant variability in research methods, representativity and scope across studies. Results show that food service and households are the most studied stages of the food supply chain, with questionnaires being the most used method. Unrepresentative sample, lack of accurate data and self-reporting error emerged as major limitations in the analysed studies. Studies also highlight economic and environmental considerations beyond mass estimates of FLW, and consideration of the agricultural production (pre-harvest/pre-slaughter and harvest/slaughter) stage in FLW quantification. This study provides insights into overlooked aspects and potential advances in FLW quantification research for broader impact beyond mandatory reporting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 200287"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097813","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}
To support the transition to circular economy (CE), companies are called to develop and implement CE initiatives through CE strategies. To be effective, CE capabilities are required, defined as appropriate skills, knowledge, abilities, organizational processes, and routines needed to develop CE strategies. This paper investigates two relevant issues concerning the assessment of CE capabilities possessed by country’s companies and the identification suitable CE strategies to be adopted for different economic sectors. We adopt the economic complexity and develop two assessment schemes: the Country Circular Economy Capability Space, assessing the CE capabilities of countries’ companies, and the Circular Economy Capability Proximity Matrix, identifying effective CE strategies to implement by companies in different industries. To build our assessment schemes, we use the multi-regional input‐output tables provided by EXIOBASE3. Based on indices designed, our analyses offer a clear picture of CE capabilities possessed by countries and suggest which CE strategies to adopt for supporting the effective CE transition of economic industries.
{"title":"Economic complexity tools to analyze circular economy capabilities in global economy","authors":"Ilaria Lombani , Luca Fraccascia , Ilaria Giannoccaro","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To support the transition to circular economy (CE), companies are called to develop and implement CE initiatives through CE strategies. To be effective, CE capabilities are required, defined as appropriate skills, knowledge, abilities, organizational processes, and routines needed to develop CE strategies. This paper investigates two relevant issues concerning the assessment of CE capabilities possessed by country’s companies and the identification suitable CE strategies to be adopted for different economic sectors. We adopt the economic complexity and develop two assessment schemes: the Country Circular Economy Capability Space, assessing the CE capabilities of countries’ companies, and the Circular Economy Capability Proximity Matrix, identifying effective CE strategies to implement by companies in different industries. To build our assessment schemes, we use the multi-regional input‐output tables provided by EXIOBASE3. Based on indices designed, our analyses offer a clear picture of CE capabilities possessed by countries and suggest which CE strategies to adopt for supporting the effective CE transition of economic industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 200286"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097812","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}
Agri-food supply chains generate significant waste, yet adopting side-stream valorization to improve sustainability is not straightforward due to conflicting stakeholder objectives. Existing research often overlooks how divergent economic and environmental priorities among key actors, such as farmers and processors, inhibit the design and implementation of effective valorization strategies. This study addresses this gap by investigating these conflicts within the Dutch potato and coffee supply chains using a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative surveys and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Potato farmers strongly favored economic goals over environmental ones, prioritizing primary sales revenue and soil quality, which led to composting and feed pathways. In contrast, processors adopted a more balanced perspective, focusing on profit, by-product revenue, and energy and water efficiency, favoring food ingredient pathways. Coffee growers and processors assigned similar weight to economic and environmental domains but differed significantly on specific objectives, such as raw material cost versus subsidies and soil quality versus wastewater demand. These differences influenced their distinct approaches to food ingredient valorization. Our findings demonstrate that actor-specific priorities critically shape valorization pathway selection and overall supply chain configuration. This research contributes an actor-centric analysis to delineate these conflicts, providing valuable insights for developing tailored policies and collaborative strategies that align diverse interests and enhance the potential of sustainable side-stream valorization in agri-food supply chains.
{"title":"Conflicting objectives in the design of multi-actor supply chains: The case of agri-food side-stream valorization","authors":"Emmanuel Anom , Petronella Margaretha Slegers , Argyris Kanellopoulos , Renzo Akkerman","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agri-food supply chains generate significant waste, yet adopting side-stream valorization to improve sustainability is not straightforward due to conflicting stakeholder objectives. Existing research often overlooks how divergent economic and environmental priorities among key actors, such as farmers and processors, inhibit the design and implementation of effective valorization strategies. This study addresses this gap by investigating these conflicts within the Dutch potato and coffee supply chains using a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative surveys and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Potato farmers strongly favored economic goals over environmental ones, prioritizing primary sales revenue and soil quality, which led to composting and feed pathways. In contrast, processors adopted a more balanced perspective, focusing on profit, by-product revenue, and energy and water efficiency, favoring food ingredient pathways. Coffee growers and processors assigned similar weight to economic and environmental domains but differed significantly on specific objectives, such as raw material cost versus subsidies and soil quality versus wastewater demand. These differences influenced their distinct approaches to food ingredient valorization. Our findings demonstrate that actor-specific priorities critically shape valorization pathway selection and overall supply chain configuration. This research contributes an actor-centric analysis to delineate these conflicts, providing valuable insights for developing tailored policies and collaborative strategies that align diverse interests and enhance the potential of sustainable side-stream valorization in agri-food supply chains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"28 ","pages":"Article 200285"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097811","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 : 2025-08-16DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200284
Abdul Hai , Wan Mohd Ashri Wan Daud , Muhamad Fazly Abdul Patah , G. Bharath , Hamad AlMohamadi , Doris Ying Ying Tang , Pau Loke Show , Fawzi Banat
The increasing accumulation of bio-waste poses significant environmental challenges worldwide. Sustainable and effective resource management is essential to restore ecosystems. Activated carbon produced from agricultural biomass through pyrolysis offers a sustainable solution to these issues. Therefore, this study provides detailed insights into the synthesis of activated carbon, highlighting critical parameters affecting the quality by extracting data from 240 published articles. The parametric analysis evaluates variables such as pyrolysis temperature, activation agent, and biomass type that impact the yield and specific surface area (SSA) of the synthesized activated carbon. Key findings reveal that optimizing pyrolysis conditions can enhance both yield and SSA. Furthermore, the paper presents the development of 03 different machine-learning regression models for predicting the performance of engineered biochar production by physical and chemical activation processes. This approach offers a dual benefit of waste reduction and resource efficiency by transforming agricultural waste into high-quality activated carbon. The study lays a foundation for further exploration of innovative applications, data science and advanced production techniques, aiming to make activated biochar production more environmentally friendly and economically viable.
{"title":"A comprehensive insight on activated carbon production from agricultural biomass: Parametric analysis, challenges, future recommendations & machine learning modelling","authors":"Abdul Hai , Wan Mohd Ashri Wan Daud , Muhamad Fazly Abdul Patah , G. Bharath , Hamad AlMohamadi , Doris Ying Ying Tang , Pau Loke Show , Fawzi Banat","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing accumulation of bio-waste poses significant environmental challenges worldwide. Sustainable and effective resource management is essential to restore ecosystems. Activated carbon produced from agricultural biomass through pyrolysis offers a sustainable solution to these issues. Therefore, this study provides detailed insights into the synthesis of activated carbon, highlighting critical parameters affecting the quality by extracting data from 240 published articles. The parametric analysis evaluates variables such as pyrolysis temperature, activation agent, and biomass type that impact the yield and specific surface area (SSA) of the synthesized activated carbon. Key findings reveal that optimizing pyrolysis conditions can enhance both yield and SSA. Furthermore, the paper presents the development of 03 different machine-learning regression models for predicting the performance of engineered biochar production by physical and chemical activation processes. This approach offers a dual benefit of waste reduction and resource efficiency by transforming agricultural waste into high-quality activated carbon. The study lays a foundation for further exploration of innovative applications, data science and advanced production techniques, aiming to make activated biochar production more environmentally friendly and economically viable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 200284"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886795","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}
Water, recognised as a scarce resource, has been considered for sustainable development goals (SDG-6) and acknowledged 2018–2028 as the water action decade. Water is essential for the construction industry, and it consumes around 15–16 % of the global freshwater. While water is directly utilised for construction, for instance, in preparation of mortar, an enormous quantity of water is indirectly consumed through building materials, energy sources, etc. The combination of direct and indirect water components is termed Embodied Water (EW). Minimising EW throughout the building life cycle is imperative to drive towards sustainable development. However, EW has not yet received its due recognition as an essential element in evaluating the sustainability of the building life cycle, with limited research studies addressing its significance. Thus, this paper aims to analyse the contemporary status, barriers, strategies, research trends, and future directions of EW within the building life cycle. The systematic literature review approach was adopted to attain the aim of this paper. The results of this study reveal twenty-two barriers hindering the reduction of EW and twenty-eight strategies to overcome them. Frequent usage of high water-consuming materials, water and material wastage, and difficulties in estimating EW are some of the main barriers identified in this study. Selecting materials with low EW, effective and efficient usage of materials and machinery, and introducing water management-related policies are some of the key strategies derived from this research. Additionally, this paper presents nine research trends and fifteen prospective research avenues identified through existing studies.
{"title":"Embodied Water in the building life cycle: current research and future directions","authors":"Namal Gamage, Srinath Perera, Sepani Senaratne, Sameera Pathirana","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water, recognised as a scarce resource, has been considered for sustainable development goals (SDG-6) and acknowledged 2018–2028 as the water action decade. Water is essential for the construction industry, and it consumes around 15–16 % of the global freshwater. While water is directly utilised for construction, for instance, in preparation of mortar, an enormous quantity of water is indirectly consumed through building materials, energy sources, etc. The combination of direct and indirect water components is termed Embodied Water (EW). Minimising EW throughout the building life cycle is imperative to drive towards sustainable development. However, EW has not yet received its due recognition as an essential element in evaluating the sustainability of the building life cycle, with limited research studies addressing its significance. Thus, this paper aims to analyse the contemporary status, barriers, strategies, research trends, and future directions of EW within the building life cycle. The systematic literature review approach was adopted to attain the aim of this paper. The results of this study reveal twenty-two barriers hindering the reduction of EW and twenty-eight strategies to overcome them. Frequent usage of high water-consuming materials, water and material wastage, and difficulties in estimating EW are some of the main barriers identified in this study. Selecting materials with low EW, effective and efficient usage of materials and machinery, and introducing water management-related policies are some of the key strategies derived from this research. Additionally, this paper presents nine research trends and fifteen prospective research avenues identified through existing studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 200283"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886794","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 : 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200281
Elena Abgottspon, Jan Freihardt, Jakub Tkaczuk, Elizabeth Tilley
Improving solid waste management (SWM) can better public health locally and mitigate climate change globally. However, it requires thorough financing and business models. This study assessed the willingness to pay (WTP) of four stakeholder groups in the village Cape Maclear, Malawi, using the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method as well as direct questions. Households (N 259) would be willing to pay an average of MWK 1507 (USD 0.90) per month if they did not have to separate their waste themselves, as opposed to MWK 899 (USD 0.54) per month if they had to separate their waste at the collection point. Lodges were willing to pay USD 13.00 per month for their own waste management and an additional USD 4.22 for public waste removal. The WTP of businesses was assumed to be zero due to an unrepresentative sample. Tourists were found to have an average WTP of USD 1.75 per day. We recommend a sustainable business model based on all cost and revenue streams of the system. Thereby, tourists show the greatest potential. Nevertheless, it is recommended to make the monthly operation of the system independent from external sources, but to use these sources for long-term investments and infrastructure improvements.
{"title":"Willingness to pay for and economic feasibility of solid waste management in Cape Maclear, Malawi","authors":"Elena Abgottspon, Jan Freihardt, Jakub Tkaczuk, Elizabeth Tilley","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving solid waste management (SWM) can better public health locally and mitigate climate change globally. However, it requires thorough financing and business models. This study assessed the willingness to pay (WTP) of four stakeholder groups in the village Cape Maclear, Malawi, using the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method as well as direct questions. Households (N <span><math><mo>=</mo></math></span> 259) would be willing to pay an average of MWK 1507 (USD 0.90) per month if they did not have to separate their waste themselves, as opposed to MWK 899 (USD 0.54) per month if they had to separate their waste at the collection point. Lodges were willing to pay USD 13.00 per month for their own waste management and an additional USD 4.22 for public waste removal. The WTP of businesses was assumed to be zero due to an unrepresentative sample. Tourists were found to have an average WTP of USD 1.75 per day. We recommend a sustainable business model based on all cost and revenue streams of the system. Thereby, tourists show the greatest potential. Nevertheless, it is recommended to make the monthly operation of the system independent from external sources, but to use these sources for long-term investments and infrastructure improvements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 200281"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866495","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 : 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200282
Tuomas Sormunen , Ella Mahlamäki , Satu-Marja Mäkelä , Mikko Mäkelä
Textile blends are challenging to recycle due to usage of multiple different blend percentages, but also due to composition change caused by fiber degradation over time. This is particularly crucial for workwear, which must meet strict performance and safety requirements. This paper discusses estimating blend composition changes using near infrared hyperspectral imaging. We analyzed 30 used hospital workwear garments with known number of laundering cycles and identical polyester-cotton blend composition at production. A latent variable regression model, based on hyperspectral data, estimated their current composition, which was determined using ISO-standardized chemical analysis. Results showed that near infrared hyperspectral imaging accurately estimated composition changes, with a root mean squared error below 0.5 wt-%, compared to over 1.4 wt-% error when utilizing the number of laundering cycles for estimation. Our approach could be used as a quality control method in sorting, leading to more granular sorted fractions, facilitating increased workwear recycling rates.
{"title":"Hyperspectral imaging quantifies blend composition change in workwear textiles","authors":"Tuomas Sormunen , Ella Mahlamäki , Satu-Marja Mäkelä , Mikko Mäkelä","doi":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Textile blends are challenging to recycle due to usage of multiple different blend percentages, but also due to composition change caused by fiber degradation over time. This is particularly crucial for workwear, which must meet strict performance and safety requirements. This paper discusses estimating blend composition changes using near infrared hyperspectral imaging. We analyzed 30 used hospital workwear garments with known number of laundering cycles and identical polyester-cotton blend composition at production. A latent variable regression model, based on hyperspectral data, estimated their current composition, which was determined using ISO-standardized chemical analysis. Results showed that near infrared hyperspectral imaging accurately estimated composition changes, with a root mean squared error below 0.5 wt-%, compared to over 1.4 wt-% error when utilizing the number of laundering cycles for estimation. Our approach could be used as a quality control method in sorting, leading to more granular sorted fractions, facilitating increased workwear recycling rates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74689,"journal":{"name":"Resources, conservation & recycling advances","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 200282"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866494","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}
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