1. The environmental and biodiversity impacts of a new cableway system : a comprehensive life cycle assessmentAnnamaria Vujanović, Andrea Mio, Rok Pučnik, Nicola Blasuttigh, Damjan Krajnc, Maurizio Fermeglia, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Cars are still used as the primary mode of transportation for daily commuting, with their emissions significantly affecting urban air quality, contributing to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to reduce car dependency have led to exploration of alternative transportation options such as cableway systems in urban areas. However, limited information exists regarding the environmental impacts and biodiversity implications of such systems. This study conducted a comparative life cycle assessment between a proposed cableway system for the city of Trieste, Italy and its current car transportation mode. The analysis considered both daily operational profiles and passenger occupancy rates of the cableway system. Drawing from similar cableway systems worldwide, it was calculated that the proposed Trieste cableway would accommodate 2007 daily passengers, on average. Results from the environmental assessment revealed that the cableway's operational phase had by far the greatest impact on all environmental categories, followed by its construction and by land clearance. Additionally, the use phase was found to be the major cause for most biodiversity loss, particularly towards terrestrial ecosystems. Comparisons of life cycle GHG emissions between the cableway and car transportation indicated that the cableway system would be a preferable option if the daily average passengers would reach at least 3,908, which is almost double than the expected ones. Furthermore, the cableway system exhibited larger environmental impacts across most categories compared to current car transportation. Thus, this study challenges the perception that the cableway system is a more sustainable option compared to conventional modes of transport, as additional factors need to be considered for a broader overview of the environmental performances.
Keywords: life cycle assessment, cableway, ropeway, urban, biodiversity, carbon footprint
Published in DKUM: 23.04.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
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2. When technology meets sustainability: microplastic removal from industrial wastewater, including impact analysis and life cycle assessmentJan Puhar, Michael Toni Sturm, Erika Myers, Dennis Schober, Anika Korzin, Annamaria Vujanović, Katrin Schuhen, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) that are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and industrial wastewater streams have been identified as key hotspots of MP contamination. It is significantly more effective to remove MPs at these points before they enter municipal wastewater streams. This study is an environmental assessment of a novel pilot plant for the removal of MPs and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater with a high MP contamination from a plastics manufacturer in Germany. MP removal is based on physical–chemical agglomeration–fixation by organosilanes. Formed agglomerates are separated using a belt filter. The COD is removed by an adsorption process. The resulting MP removal was 98.0 ± 1.1% by mass and 99.9987 ± 0.0007% by particle count, while the COD was reduced by 96 ± 2.7%. The system’s sustainability is evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, evaluating system construction, operation, and end-of-life considerations. The current pilot plant is also compared to an optimized circular and sustainable upgrade, where drivers of environmental burdens are eliminated and collected MPs are reused. Significant reductions in environmental impact categories are achieved and the global warming potential is reduced by 96%. This study provides a sustainability assessment of a novel technology and circular solution to remove MPs from highly polluted industrial wastewater.
Keywords: microplastics, life cycle assessment, impact analysis, removal technology, sustainable process design, carbon footprint, water quality, circular economy
Published in DKUM: 14.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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3. Sustainability for planetary health : a seventh domain of quality in primary careZalika Klemenc-Ketiš, Andree Rochfort, 2022, other scientific articles Abstract: Climate change is one of the biggest threats to public health. Sustainability is characterized by using resources wisely in a way that protects finite resources and the environment, and takes into account the needs of our planets’ inhabitants in the future. Sustainability in health care should be considered as a seventh domain of quality, as it can lead to improvement of patient outcomes, and more capacity for health care workers to engage in quality improvement and thereby improve the quality of care.
The carbon footprint of primary care is high, mainly due to prescribing medication, but also due to the transport of patients to hospitals and primary care services for interventions requested by family medicine. Other causes are the transport of staff and supplies, consumables and staff involved in laboratory analysis and radiation, medical and non-medical equipment, clinical and non-clinical waste, heating and cooling systems and other activities. Small adjustments in these areas could significantly decrease the carbon footprint of primary care practices. The suggested steps for primary care to achieve a more sustainable practice are fostering research, raising awareness, reducing the burden on primary care, engaging in quality improvement, and leadership and advocacy.
Each individual primary care practice has the potential to be a leader and role model for sustainable health care. With the implementation of interventions to reduce carbon footprints, primary care could set an example within the health sector and for patients. This could significantly raise the awareness of the public about the need to take actions for a greener health system.
Keywords: primary care, sustainability, carbon footprint, quality
Published in DKUM: 24.06.2024; Views: 173; Downloads: 7
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4. A company’s carbon footprint and sustainable developmentJure Gramc, Rok Stropnik, Mitja Mori, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Climate changes are already here. And they will get much worse in time. The main reason for global warming is GHG emissions from anthropological sources. That includes transportation, industry, electricity production, agriculture, and others. The European Union has introduced a new Green Deal as an answer to climate change. The European Green Deal puts more pressure on companies to mitigate their carbon footprint and implement sustainable development. One of the basic steps in the analysis of the environmental profile of a company is the identification of hot spots by using the carbon footprint methodology. The workflow of the carbon footprint calculation follows GHG Protocol standardised methodology. The calculation was made for a medium-sized company in the plastics industry. For all GHG emission sources, hot spots were identified and analysed. Based on the hot spots, sensitivity analysis for different pre-defined scenarios has been made, which are aligned with the company’s mid- and long-term sustainability goals. The three main hot spots of the company within scopes 1 and 2 are purchased heat, purchased electricity, and combustion of fuels in company vehicles. GHG emissions of heat and electricity are dependent on their distributor and their electricity and heat sources. The hot spot of scope 3 is purchased goods, especially plastic granulate. In the study, we focus only on scope 1 and scope 2.
Keywords: carbon footprint, sustainable development, environmental impacts, GHG Protocol, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, sensitivity analysis
Published in DKUM: 30.10.2023; Views: 533; Downloads: 215
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5. Reducing carbon footprint in an oem supply chain caused by inadequate interpretation of x-ray results of hidden defects in ductile iron castingsTadej Pavlin, Iztok Brinovar, Bojan Stergar, Zdravko Praunseis, 2022, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: carbon footprint, ductile iron, X-ray inspection, cutting inspection, hidden mistakes, defects, porosity, inclusion, green energy, reduced production of energy, decrease in production emissions
Published in DKUM: 27.10.2023; Views: 317; Downloads: 11
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6. Reducing carbon footprint in an oem supply chain caused by inadequate interpretation of x-ray results of hidden defects in ductile iron castingsTadej Pavlin, Iztok Brinovar, Bojan Stergar, Zdravko Praunseis, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: In the global market, the casting industry recorded a growth trend for ductile iron last year. Ductile iron is used due to its excellent mechanical properties, machinability and castability. The microstructure of nodular cast iron consists of a metal matrix and graphite extruded in the form of beads and nodules. In recent years, the production of ductile iron castings has increased significantly for parts for heavy transport vehicles and containers for permanent disposal of nuclear waste, and it is expected that this trend of expansion will continue for at least the next twenty years. When poured in sand moulds, the quality of products can not be reached. There can be defects on the raw surface and/or on the machining surface, as well as hidden defects inside the material. For casting products, defects can be detected on raw and machining surfaces and inside material defects by carrying out a visual inspection. The results of the inspection depend on the inspection method used. In general, basic methods of cutting or milling inspection are used in the casting industry, which means that products are classified in terms of whether or not they meet the drawing specification(s). The authors of this paper focused on the hidden defects inside ductile iron material, which can be detected by carrying out a cutting or milling inspection or through an X-ray inspection. Huge amounts of energy and energy sources are used in the production of nodular cast iron, which creates a negative environmental footprint. Therefore, by being preventively rational and through appropriate control procedures it is possible to significantly reduce the carbon footprint.
Keywords: carbon footprint, ductile iron, X-ray inspection, cutting inspection, hidden mistakes, defects, porosity, inclusion, green energy, reduced production of energy, decrease in production emissions
Published in DKUM: 26.10.2023; Views: 373; Downloads: 7
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