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Environmental Sustainability Analysis of Case Studies of Agriculture Residue Exploitation

Author

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  • Alessia Amato

    (Department of Life and Environmental Sciences-DiSVA, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Marianna Mastrovito

    (Department of Life and Environmental Sciences-DiSVA, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Alessandro Becci

    (Department of Life and Environmental Sciences-DiSVA, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Francesca Beolchini

    (Department of Life and Environmental Sciences-DiSVA, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

The agriculture sector produces significant amounts of organic residues and the choice of the management strategy of these flows affects the environmental sustainability of the sector. The scientific literature is rich with innovative processes for the production of bio-based products (BBP) from agriculture residues, aimed at the implementation of circular economy principles. Based on literature data, the present paper performed a life cycle assessment and assessed the environmental sustainability of five processes for the exploitation of rice and wheat straw, tomato pomace, and orange peel. The analysis identified as significant issues the high energy demand and the use of high impact organic solvent. The comparison of BBP with conventional products showed higher environmental loads for the innovative processes that used organic residues (except for rice straw case). The obtained results do not want to discourage the circular strategy in the agriculture sector, but rather to draw the attention of all stakeholders to the environmental sustainability aspects, focusing on the necessity to decrease the electricity demand and identify ecological agents to use in BBP manufacturing, in agreement with the most recent European policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessia Amato & Marianna Mastrovito & Alessandro Becci & Francesca Beolchini, 2021. "Environmental Sustainability Analysis of Case Studies of Agriculture Residue Exploitation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3990-:d:529556
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amato, A. & Becci, A. & Birloaga, I. & De Michelis, I. & Ferella, F. & Innocenzi, V. & Ippolito, N.M. & Pillar Jimenez Gomez, C. & Vegliò, F. & Beolchini, F., 2019. "Sustainability analysis of innovative technologies for the rare earth elements recovery," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 41-53.
    2. Mitchell K. van der Hulst & Mark A. J. Huijbregts & Niels van Loon & Mirjam Theelen & Lucinda Kootstra & Joseph D. Bergesen & Mara Hauck, 2020. "A systematic approach to assess the environmental impact of emerging technologies: A case study for the GHG footprint of CIGS solar photovoltaic laminate," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1234-1249, December.
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    1. Oana Dobre-Baron & Alina Nițescu & Dorina Niță & Cătălin Mitran, 2022. "Romania’s Perspectives on the Transition to the Circular Economy in an EU Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-26, April.
    2. Emilio Abad-Segura & Ana Batlles-delaFuente & Mariana-Daniela González-Zamar & Luis Jesús Belmonte-Ureña, 2021. "Implications for Sustainability of the Joint Application of Bioeconomy and Circular Economy: A Worldwide Trend Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-24, June.

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