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From deepest of heart containing the warm pleasuring well wishes we are feeling very lucky and honoured to present you the thoroughly revised, willingly prepared and studied with high efforts, the first edition of.We hope the book will become helpful to all the readers of this book who have taken it as a source of knowledge what they seek for. The book is written with immense hard work; dedication and desperation. We have tried to put all the information available to me on these topics for the readers and tried to make it as easy as possible for the easy and correct understanding of the topics by readers. The book is written with dedicated practices of restless work with determination and passion for the writing of a book helpful on this subject. The book is containing the information mostly for the students but we believe that it can also be helpful for everyone.The book is consisting 7 Units al together in it. The unit 1 is focusing on the topic History of Development of Microbiology. The unit 2 is containing the about Diversity of Microorganisms. Unit 3 is filled with the Information about the Different types of Microscopy. The details on the Different types of sterilization technique is described in unit 4. Microbes in Human Health (Medical Microbiology and Immunology) & Environmental Microbiology is widely discussed in unit 5. The unit 6 contains about Industrial Microbiology or Microbes used in Industry. The Unit 7 is discussed about the Food and Dairy Microbiology.We are thankful to the publishers for the speedy and quality production. We shall welcome the constructive suggestion, if any, from the reader.

Technology can be used for creation and communication of information. The term Information and Communication Technology (ICT) includes various forms of technologies that are used to create, display, store, process, transmit, share or exchange information by electronic means (UNESCO 2007). Higher education institutions are beginning to recognize the growing significance of ICT in education. Through process simplification and automation, ICT has aided in operational cost reduction and transaction speed increases. It has been discovered that ICT adds value to the way that education is delivered in the classroom, supports the advancement of research, broadens the educational opportunities available to students, especially those who have limited access to education, and generally improves the teaching and learning environment. The goal of this edited book, "ICT Technology for Education," is to improve our theoretical understanding of technology and education. It will be especially helpful for people who want to investigate how technology has affected education in a variety of contexts and industries, both formal and informal. The aim of the book is then to clarify the idea of theory and to encourage researchers to be more theoretical. The Purpose of the book is to explain the conceptual framework of Information and Communication Technology in Education. To apply the learning theories in ICT enabled Teaching-Learning Process. To study the emerging Trends in the ICT enabled Teaching-Learning Process. To study the various Instructional Designs. To understand the development of various Instructional Design. To study and understand the online resources and ethical practices in ICT enabled Teaching-Learning Process.

Plastic entering the environment is a growing threat for ecosystems. We estimate the annual mass of known Dutch plastic waste generated and littered and where it ends up. We use two methods: (1) a material flow analysis of plastic waste separately collected from 13 economic sectors (including households, industry and imports) and estimate the amount sent to processing plants or exported and (2) a mismanagement model from observations of litter (on Dutch beaches and riverbanks) plus estimates of inadequately managed exported plastic scraps entering the environment abroad. In 2017 (the most recent complete data set available), an estimate of 1990 (±111) kilotonnes [kt] of plastic waste was separately collected. The top three plastic waste generating sectors (74% of the total) were households, clothing and textiles, and importation. Our mismanagement model estimates that 4.3-21.2 kt enters the environment annually; almost all of which occurs in foreign countries after inadequate management of imported Dutch waste. We highlight unknowns, including the source and/or destination of imported (623 kt) and exported (514 kt) plastics, plastics in non-household mixed waste streams and the plastic fraction of some separately collected waste, for example, e-waste. Our results stress the need for improved monitoring and reporting of plastic waste. Beyond the Netherlands, our recommendations could also help other high-income countries' decision-makers reach their circular economy goals.

En Venezuela existen políticas para la gestión de los desechos sólidos peligrosos, pero no están definidas las directrices para el caso de recuperación, tratamiento y disposición de los residuos de aparatos eléctricos y electrónicos. Por ello, estos residuos pueden representar un problema en la gestión ambiental. Una de las estrategias empleadas para promover la gestión de los residuos electrónicos es a través del impulso de líneas de investigación que contribuyan al aprovechamiento de los residuos y mejoras a los sistemas de gestión; por ello, la presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar las potenciales líneas de investigación para la gestión de los residuos electrónicos que se pueden emplear con las capacidades nacionales. A partir de la elaboración de una matriz FODA, se proponen 11 líneas de investigación que se enfocan en el desarrollo de proyectos que promueve la generación de estadísticas, implementación de normativas y cumplimiento de los convenios internacionales. Con el análisis FODA también se observó que las fortalezas están asociadas al capital humano y a la experiencia en el tratamiento de los residuos electrónicos, y las debilidades están relacionadas con limitaciones del financiamiento e incertidumbre concerniente al marco legal., In Venezuela there are policies for the management of hazardous solid waste, but there are no defined guidelines for the recovery, treatment and disposal of electrical and electronic waste. As a result, these wastes can represent a problem in environmental management. One of the strategies used to promote the management of electronic waste is through the promotion of research lines that contribute to the use of waste and improvements to management systems; therefore, the present research aims to analyze the potential research lines for the management of electronic waste that can be used with national capacities. Based on the elaboration of a SWOT matrix, 11 lines of research are proposed that focus on the development of projects that promote the generation of statistics, implementation of regulations and compliance with international agreements. The SWOT analysis also showed that the strengths are associated with human capital and experience in the treatment of electronic waste and the weaknesses are related to financing constraints and the uncertainty concerning current legal frameworks.

Bioethanol production using the lignocellulosic biomass of banana viz., banana raw peel, ripe peel and pseudostem were attempted. Among the three feed stocks, maximum total reducing sugar content of 21.98% was observed in the banana ripe peel. Pretreatments of the feed stocks with acid resulted in higher lignin removal and increased total reducing sugar content compared to the alkali treatment. Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation (SHF), Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) and Single Batch Bioconversion (SBB) were carried out for the fermentation process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By SSF fermentation processs, 6.63% of ethanol was produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the untreated samples of banana raw peel. Enhancement of bioethanol production was done using a native cellulolytic microorganism isolated from the degraded banana samples. Using the native microorganism along with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in SBB resulted in 6.88% of bioethanol conversion. This is the first report of using native microorganism for enhanced degradation of cellulose in banana biomass for higher bioethanol production.

The issue of waste management in Indonesia is a persistent environmental issue. Waste is any unwanted material from human activities. Waste management means planned, comprehensive, and sustainable activities that include waste reduction and management. This research aims to examine the effectiveness of implementing Sidoarjo Regional Regulation No. 6/2012 on Waste Management. The research method used is the empirical method, which analyzes the law based on community behavior using field data, interviews, and observations. The results indicated that the implementation of Sidoarjo Regional Regulation No. 6/2012 on Waste Management has not been effective because some elements in the theory of legal effectiveness have not been complied with, such as minimal public understanding of the regulations, suboptimal law enforcement, inadequate facilities and infrastructure, relatively low public awareness, and cultural factors.

The pursuit of effective strategies for implementing environmental protection regulations towards sustainable waste management in Oyo State is a critical challenge. The state amidst its burgeoning population and economic activities, grapples with the generation of substantial waste, emphasizing the urgency for robust waste management strategies and the absence of comprehensive and well-executed waste management initiatives in the state poses a serious threat to the ecosystem, public health, and overall environmental sustainability. Therefore the study assessed strategies for the implementation of environmental protection regulations towards sustainable waste management in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study unit was drawn from the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Oyo State Waste Management Authority, Mottainai Recycling Limited Ibadan, and the Oyo State Local Government Environmentalist. The population for this study was 369, while the sample size was 191 derived using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination formula.  An in-depth interview was conducted to complement respondents’ opinions. Findings from the study showed that Oyo State has approved the establishment of dumpsites, awareness campaigns and educational programs focused on environmental conservation in the state. The study also revealed that there is implementation of penalties and fines for improper waste disposal. The study recommends that the Oyo State Government should establish a recycling plant to facilitate the conversion of waste into valuable resources and enhance robust public awareness and education campaigns, including the strengthening and enforcement of waste management regulations with stiff penalties for violations, to deter illegal dumping and improper waste disposal.

Waste management is still a major topic in environmental issues because the growth in waste production is much higher than its utilization. Moreover, population growth in Indonesia continues and causes the amount of waste increasing continues. One of the very large amounts of waste is organic waste which is the remains of vegetables or fruits. Organic waste can be processed into several useful products, such as eco-enzyme, bath soap, fertilizer, and others. This service activity aims to improve participants' abilities in processing organic waste. The activities consists of two stages, namely counselling about awareness of shorting waste and training in processing organic waste into eco enzymes. The training participants were members of the Dasawisma XI, Banyuraden Village, totaling 24 people. After the activity, the participants are motivated to can start processing their own organic waste and produce eco enzyme. This activity is also expected to be an initial activity for the initiation of a waste bank.

The rapid economic growth correlated with population growth has resulted in increased activities and consumption by society, which in turn increases waste production. If waste continues to accumulate, it will certainly pollute the surrounding environment. In waste management in Nganjuk Regency, especially in the Nganjuk District area, there are TPST Kartoharjo and TPS 3R Payaman which manage waste with different systems. Waste generation in Nganjuk District is 2,577.73 tons per year. TPST Kartoharjo can process waste up to 97.20% while TPS 3R Payaman is 70.32%.

We are currently facing a change in the production model, moving from the traditional linear model to a model based on circular economy. This new paradigm implies minimization of waste. In this context, this work presents a laboratory practice focused on introducing the concept of circular economy and waste valorization to undergraduate students. The experimental procedure is a simpler adaptation of earlier work by the research group in which metals were recovered from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) and it is composed of four stages: acid leaching to dissolve the zinc, selective precipitation to eliminate dissolved iron, cementation to recover metals more noble than zinc, and finally obtaining basic zinc carbonate by precipitation. In this way, students can convert a residue into a valuable product while cleaning it, so that it can be reintroduced into the steel-producing process. Fourth year students of the Materials Engineering Degree at the University of Seville (Spain) have successfully performed this laboratory experiment since the 2015–16 academic year. In addition, to evaluate the achievement of the pedagogical objectives, pre- and postlaboratory questionnaires have been carried out in the past two academic years showing that more than 75% of the students improve their answers after performing the laboratory practices.

The efficient utilization of food waste (FW) resources through Food Waste Valorization (FWV) has received increasing attention in recent years. Various decision-making studies have been undertaken to facilitate FWV implementation, such as the studies on decision-making framework and FWV technology assessment. Food waste hierarchy is a widely discussed framework in FW management, but it was found too simplified and does not always contribute positively to environmental sustainability. Moreover, decision-making studies in FWV often focus on specific aspects of the food system and employ distinctive decision-making approaches, making it difficult to compare the results from different studies. Therefore, our literature review is conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of FWV decision-making. This study identifies what decisions are needed, and three levels of decisions are revealed: system-level, FW stream-level, and FWV option-level. The assessment approaches and criteria used to support decision-making in FWV are also collected and analyzed. Building upon these findings, an hourglass model is synthesized to provide a holistic illustration of decision-making in FWV. This study untangles the complexities of FWV decision-making and sheds light on the limitations of current studies. We anticipate this study will make more people realize that FWV is a multidisciplinary issue and requires the collective participation of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and consumers. Such collective engagement is essential to effectively address practical challenges and propel the transition of the current food system toward a more resource-efficient paradigm.

Plastic pollution in the natural environment poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health, prompting urgent needs for monitoring, prevention and clean-up measures, and new policies. To effectively prioritize resource allocation and mitigation strategies, it is key to identify and define plastic hotspots. UNEP's draft global agreement on plastic pollution mandates prioritizing hotspots, suggesting a potential need for a defined term. Yet, the delineation of hotspots varies considerably across plastic pollution studies, and a definition is often lacking or inconsistent without a clear purpose and boundaries of the term. In this paper, we applied four common definitions of hotspot locations to plastic pollution datasets ranging from urban areas to a global scale. Our findings reveal that these hotspot definitions encompass between 0.8 % to 93.3 % of the total plastic pollution, covering <0.1 % to 50.3 % of the total locations. Given this wide range of results and the possibility of temporal inconsistency in hotspots, we emphasize the need for fit-for-purpose criteria and a unified approach to defining plastic hotspots. Therefore, we designed a step-wise framework to define hotspots by determining the purpose, units, spatial scale, temporal scale, and threshold values. Incorporating these steps in research and policymaking yields a harmonized definition of hotspots, facilitating the development of effective plastic pollution prevention and reduction measures.

This research delves into a detailed exploration of the thermal decomposition behavior of bio-based polymers, specifically thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polylactic acid (PLA), under varying heating rates in a nitrogen atmosphere. This study employs thermogravimetry (TG) to investigate, providing comprehensive insights into the thermal stability of these eco-friendly polymers. In particular, the TPS kinetic model is examined, encompassing the decomposition of three distinct fractions. In contrast, PLA exhibits a simplified kinetic behavior requiring only a fraction described by a zero-order model. The kinetic study involves a systematic investigation into the individual contributions of key components within TPS, including starch, glycerin, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This detailed analysis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the thermal degradation process of TPS and PLA, enabling the optimization of processing conditions and the prediction of material behavior across varying thermal environments. Furthermore, the incorporation of different starch sources and calcium carbonate additives in TPS enhances our understanding of the polymer’s thermal stability, offering insights into potential applications in diverse industries.

Plastic consumption in Australia is steadily increasing and is estimated to reach 8.8 million tonnes by 2050. Alongside plastic consumption, plastic waste management (PWM) faces rising environmental challenges in Australia as most of them are currently landfilled. Therefore, the Australian government has published a policy to transition to a circular economy as well as a new strategy for PWM with higher recycling rates. To understand the implications of the policy changes and the environmental impacts of End-of-Life (EoL) options, life cycle thinking is necessary. This study evaluates and compares the environmental impacts of the Australian PWM for 2018–2019 to the policy envisaged for 2030 that includes higher recycling rates and waste export bans from a life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. From the results, it can be seen that the current PWM is majorly linear (take, make, use and dispose) as most of the wastes gets landfilled and exported to other countries but the future PWM strategy for 2030 results in higher resource recovery and significant reduction in the environmental impacts. There is a reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) by a factor of almost 10, if the recycling rates increase from 13 to 70%. The state and the federal governments along with other stakeholders need to implement stringent measures to recover plastic wastes if a transition to a circular economy is to happen by 2030.

In recent times, waste menace has become a global challenge that threatens man and his environment. The management of waste that accrue domestically, industrially and commercially are global issues that require the attention and involvement of every field of which visual art is inclusive. In view of this, this study presented the possibilities of waste management using the instrument of visual art. It explored how commercially generated sugarcane wastes can be managed by transforming them into a work of art. Being practice-based research, the practice - based methodology was adopted with the aesthetic and artistic possibilities derivable from sugarcane waste practically x-rayed. The frame-work of the study was inspired by Marcelina Amputator, a Nigerian artist who uses cut-out pieces of cloths from tailors and sewing houses to create astonishing works of art. Based on the stated objectives, the findings were discussed with recommendations proffered for future art scholarship. Conclusively the contributions made to knowledge were established.

Detta arbete fokuserade på en metod att ge nyfunnen användning av blandat matavfall som ären väldigt stor del av avfallssektorn och en faktor som måste minskas för att skapa en hållbar framtid. Studien handlar om att undersöka möjligheten att använda blandat matavfall som ett substrat för svampen Rhizopus delemar. Effekten av två olika förbehandlings metoder undersöktes samt vilken koncentration av matrester som var mest gynnsamt för svampen och ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv. Den första förbehandlingen innebar applicering av värme för att lösa upp de vattenlösliga ämnena i substratet, den andra var en enzymbehandling med amylas för att lösa upp stärkelsen i substratet. Utöver det undersöktes även möjligheten av skala upp processen. Arbetet utfördes genom att odla upp agarplattor med Rhizopus delemar extrahera dess sporer efter 5 dagar tid i inkubatorn. Denna sporsuspension tillsattes därefter till vardera flaska/reaktor. Det utfördes odlingar i två olika skalor, vattenbadodling med 500 ml Erlenmeyerflaskor och reaktorodling med 4.5 L lufttransportsreaktorer. Det var totalt två olika vattenbadsodlingar som gjordes, en med 48 h odlingstid och båda förbehandlingsmetoderna och en med endast 24 h odlingstid och bara förbehandlings metoden som löste upp de vattenlösliga näringsämnena. Reaktorodlingen hade också 48 h odlingstid och även vid den så användes endast samma varmvattenbehandling som 24 h vattenbadsodlingen. Resultatet av studien visade att Rhizopus delemar kunde växa effektivt i blandat matavfall i samtliga odlingar, dock fanns det förhållanden som svampen kunde växa bäst i. Utav de två förbehandlingarna så växte den bäst i den som endast löste de vattenlösliga näringsämnena vilket sågs som positivt ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv då amylas-behandlingen kostar betydligt mer. Svampen växte bäst när matavfallskoncentrationen var i ett mellanläge av de koncentrationerna som testades, den optimala koncentrationen låg på 2.18 % matavfall. Vid denna koncentration av matre, This study focused on a method to valorize mixed food waste which is a large part of the annual global waste being produced, the food waste is a significant factor that needs to be reduced to create a sustainable future. During the work, it was studied to if food waste could be used as asubstrate for the fungus Rhizopus delemar. The effect of two pretreatment methods was examined along with which concentration of food waste was the most beneficial for the fungus and from an economic standpoint. The first pretreatment method was applying heat to dissolve the water-soluble nutrients, and the second one was an enzymatic pretreatment with amylase to liquefy the starch. What concentration of food waste gave the best yield was also examined along with how well the cultivations were able to be scaled up. The work included incubating agar plates with Rhizopus delemar on them in an incubator for 5days and then extracting the spores by creating a spore suspension. This spore suspension was then added to the shake flasks/reactors. The cultivations were performed in two different scales, two of the cultivations were water bath cultivations using 500 ml Erlenmeyer flasks and one ofthe cultivations was in 4.5 L bench-scale airlift reactors. The two cultivations that were done in the water baths had cultivations times of 48 h and 24 h respectively, with the first one including both pretreatment methods. The fungal cultivation in bioreactors had a cultivation time of 48 hand had the same heat pretreatment as the 24 h fungal cultivation in shake flasks. The results gained from the study were that Rhizopus delemar was able to grow efficiently in mixed food waste in all cultivations but conditions like food waste concentrations and pretreatment methods affected the fungal growth. Out of the two pretreatment methods used it was seen that the simple pretreatment with heat resulted in the highest yield which was seen as positive from an economic standpoint since the amylase treatment cos

The construction industry is the second largest producer of waste in Sweden, generating 14.2 million tons in 2020. The traditional linear economy in the construction industry contributes to significant waste generation and resource inefficiency. Effective material and waste management are critical to reducing this waste and meeting increased sustainability requirements from international and national organizations. Therefore, aims this study, as part of the larger project BÖRjA, to investigate and evaluate various strategies for waste management at construction sites through simulation models. The BÖRjA project, funded by Vinnova, aims to promote circular material flows and improve resource efficiency and transport efficiency in the construction industry. This study focuses on simulating waste flows at a construction site to evaluate and improve waste management strategies. By developing multiple simulation models, the study aims to assess the effect of different waste management methods on overall site efficiency, specifically by examining the use of elevators for waste transport, space utilization, fill levels, and container pickups. To address the aim, two research questions have been posed: How do different strategies for container and waste management impact workflow at the construction site? How does the pickup frequency of trucks affect the efficiency of waste management? The method used in the study is discrete event simulation, where a simplified construction site has been modeled. The model enables experimentation without disrupting actual site operations, offering a cost-effective and efficient way to gather insights. The model is based on one of NCC's construction projects, named Silverskatten, which includes two apartment buildings with a total of 77 units. Data for the models have been collected through observation, interviews, and collaborations with NCC and Ragn-Sells. The strategies tested in the simulation environment include a baseline scenario, r, Byggindustrin är den näst största producenten av avfall i Sverige, med 14,2 miljoner ton genererat under 2020. Den traditionella linjära ekonomin i byggindustrin bidrar till betydande avfallsmängder och resursslöseri. Effektiv material- och avfallshantering är kritisk för att minska detta slöseri och uppfylla ökade hållbarhetskrav från internationella och nationella organ. Därför syftar denna studie, som är en del av det större projektet BÖRjA till att undersöka och utvärdera olika strategier för avfallshantering på byggarbetsplatser genom simuleringsmodeller. Projektet BÖRjA, finansierat av Vinnova, strävar efter att främja cirkulära materialflöden och förbättra resurseffektiviteten och transporteffektiviteten i byggindustrin. Denna studie fokuserar på att simulera avfallsflöden på en byggarbetsplats för att utvärdera och förbättra avfallshanteringsstrategier. Genom att utveckla flera simuleringsmodeller syftar studien till att bedöma effekten av olika avfallshanteringsmetoder på den övergripande arbetsplatseffektiviteten, specifikt genom att undersöka användningen av hissar för avfallstransport, utrymmesanvändning och fyllnadsgrader samt upphämtningar av lastbärare. För att besvara syftet har två frågeställningar använts: Hur påverkar olika strategier för hantering av lastbärare och avfall arbetsflödet på byggarbetsplatsen? Hur påverkar upphämtningsfrekvensen för lastbilar avfallshanteringens effektivitet? Metoden som använts i studien är diskret händelsestyrd simulering där en förenklad byggarbetsplats modellerats. Modellen möjliggör experiment utan att störa faktiska arbetsplatsoperationer, vilket erbjuder ett kostnadseffektivt och effektivt sätt att samla insikter. Modellen bygger på ett av NCCs byggprojekt, kallat Silverskatten, vilket inkluderar två lägenhetshus med totalt 77 lägenheter. Data för modellerna har samlats in via observation, intervjuer och samarbeten med NCC och Ragn-Sells. De strategier som testats i simuleringsmiljön innefattar ett grundscenar

Studien syftar till att undersöka energi-, vatten- och kemikaliåtgång inom processerna blekning och färgning för nyproduktionsimiterande remake respektive nyproduktion. Genom att undersöka det kan en diskussion föras om huruvida nyproduktionsimiterande remake är ett möjligt alternativ för textilindustrin att hantera dess miljöproblem och textilavfall. Genom att testa att bleka, färga och mäta utvalda parametrar har vi i en labbmiljö skapat en testbild av hur en möjlig process skulle kunna se ut. Genom användning av Higg-Index har vi sedan kunnat få fram en indikation på hur hög resursåtgången skulle kunna vara på industriell nivå med konventionella och resurssparande metoder. Resultatet visar att om målet är att färga om till en så mörk färg som möjligt så skall remakeprodukten inte blekas i förväg. Resultaten gav även en indikation på hur många blekningar som skulle behöva göras i labbmiljö för att få ett helt vitt prov. Detta gav en indikation på hur hög energi-, vatten- och kemikaliåtgång skulle varit beroende på önskat resultat. Detta examensarbete har som mål att uppmuntra kritisk diskussion av remake samt ligga till grund för vidare forskning inom området. Detta för att på sikt bidra med lösningar som kan få textilindustrin att bli mer cirkulär., The study aims to investigate the consumption of energy, water, and chemicals in the bleaching and dyeing processes for new-production imitating remakes versus new production. By examining this, a discussion can be initiated on whether new-production imitating remakes are a viable alternative for the textile industry to address its environmental issues and textile waste. By testing bleaching, dyeing, and measuring selected parameters in a lab environment, we have created a test representation of how a potential process could work. Using the Higg-Index, we have then been able to get an indication of how high the resource consumption would be at an industrial level with conventional and resource-saving methods. The results show that if the goal is to re-dye to the darkest color possible, the remake product should not be pre-bleached. The results also provided an indication of how many bleaching cycles would need to be done in a lab environment to achieve a completely white sample. This gave an indication of what the energy, water, and chemical consumption would be depending on the desired outcome. This thesis aims to encourage discussion of remakes and serve as a foundation for further research in the area, ultimately contributing to solutions that can make the textile industry more circular.

The concept of the circular economy has existed for a long time in various historical and political contexts. Still, it has gained significant popularity over the past decade, primarily due to the efforts of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Today, it is embraced by diverse stakeholders, including governmental bodies, influential forums, leading corporations, consulting firms, cities, and regions. This thesis details the development of narratives surrounding the circular economy and examines how contemporary university researchers perceive and define the concept. The findings reveal strong contrasts between different narratives, both in the literature and among interviewed researchers. The varied interpretations of the circular economy concept allow it to be adapted to different contexts, contributing to its widespread appeal. However, some view the circular economy as a consultant-driven concept that struggles to meet its promises, while others see it as the only viable alternative to the linear economy. Despite its name, the circular economy is primarily a model of material flows rather than an economic model. In the built environment, particularly in the construction and demolition sector, the principles of the circular economy—such as reduced resource use and increased recycling—are of higher interest due to the sector's substantial emissions and waste., Cirkulär ekonomi som idé har funnits under lång tid i olika historiska och politiska sammanhang, men dess popularitet har ökat de senaste tio åren, främst till följd av Ellen MacArthur Foundations arbete. Idag har begreppet omfamnats av allt ifrån statliga organ, inflytelserika forum, ledande företag, konsultfirmor, till städer och regioner. Denna studie undersöker hur narrativen kring cirkulär ekonomi har utvecklats över tid och hur samtida universitetsforskare uppfattar och definierar begreppet. Resultatet visar att det finns en stark kontrast mellan de olika narrativen, både i litteraturen och bland de intervjuade forskarna. De varierande tolkningarna av begreppet cirkulär ekonomi gör att det kan anpassas till olika ändamål, vilket har bidragit till dess popularitet, även om synen på cirkulär ekonomi skiftar – vissa ser den som ett konsultdrivet koncept som har svårt att uppfylla sina löften, medan andra ser den som det enda hållbara alternativet till den linjära ekonomin. Trots sitt namn är cirkulär ekonomi främst en modell för materiella flöden snarare än en ekonomisk modell. Inom den byggda miljön, särskilt inom bygg- och fastighetssektorn, är grundprinciperna för cirkulär ekonomi såsom minskad resursanvändning och ökad återvinning av större intresse på grund av sektorns betydande utsläpp och avfall.

Syfte: Undersöka om det är möjligt att utveckla en mobilapplikation som utbildar personal och studenter inom det tandtekniska yrket kring avfallshantering av dentala material på ett lättförståeligt, visuellt tilltalande och motiverande sätt. Metod: Produkter som kan användas vid såväl konstruktionsframställning som städning på tandtekniska laboratorium och på Odontologiska fakulteten fotograferades, och redigerades därefter genom flera redigeringsprogram. Med assistans av apputvecklare skapades en mobilapplikation där deltagarna erhöll sig lärandeinsatser för korrekt avfallshantering. Applikationen inkluderar sammanlagt 12 nivåer med totalt 118 olika produkter och objekt, fördelade över sju avfallstyper per nivå. Endast testgrupperna använde applikationen. Kunskapsprov med totalt 20 quizfrågor indelat i två delar sammansattes, Single Best Answer och Multiple Choice Questions. Utvärderingsenkäten sammansattes med totalt 27 frågor. Det anordnades två träffar med deltagarna. Första träffen: kunskapsprovet genomfördes för att fastställa utgångspunkten för samtliga deltagares kunskapsnivå, samt utlämning av studiematerial och APP. Andra träffen: kunskapsprovet genomfördes igen för att fastställa kunskapsutvecklingen inom ämnet samt utvärderingsenkät av momentet genomfördes. Resultat: Resultatet visade en sämre prestation på kunskapsproven för både kontroll- och testgrupper efter utlämning av studiematerial och APP. Provresultaten uppvisade ingen statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan grupperna. Slutsats: Varken tillgång till säkerhetsdatablad eller mobilapplikation för utbildning i avfallshantering förbättrar kunskaperna för avfallshantering av dentala material. Den utvecklade mobilapplikationen upplevdes som motiverande, lättförståeligt och visuellt tilltalande av deltagarna. Samtliga deltagare var statistiskt enade att studiens ämne var intressant samt var positivt inställda till spelbaserat lärande., Purpose: Investigate whether it is possible to develop a mobile application that educates staff and students in the dental technology profession in waste management of dental materials. Method: Products utilized in dental laboratories were photographed then edited. Collaborating with an app developer, an application was created with educational materials on waste management. The application included 12 levels, featuring a total of 118 different products, distributed over seven waste types per level. Only the test groups used the application. A knowledge test of 20 questions divided into two parts was developed: Single Best Answer and Multiple Choice Questions. A review form was developed, with a total of 27 questions. Two sessions were scheduled with the participants. First session: the knowledge test was carried out to determine the baseline of knowledge, and study material and the APP were distributed. Second session: the test was carried out again to assess knowledge progression, and a review of the exercise was conducted. Results: The results show worse performance for both test and control groups on the tests after handing over study material and APP. The test results showed no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Neither access to safety data sheets nor mobile application for education in waste management improves knowledge in waste management of dental materials. The developed mobile application was perceived as motivating, easy to understand and visually appealing by the participants. All participants were statistically in agreement that the study’s subject was interesting and had a positive attitude towards game-based learning.

Cheese whey is an industrial by-product that is generated in excess during the cheese production process in the dairy industry. Despite the potential utility of whey, it continues to pose environmental threats in the industry. This study comprehensively evaluates the utilization of two fermentation techniques (solid-state fermentation and submerged fermentation) for producing fungal biomass from cheese whey powder, employing Aspergillus oryzae, Rhizopus oryzae, and Neurospora intermedia for sustainable food production. It has been observed that submerged fermentation is more effective in increasing the protein content of whey powder compared to solid-state fermentation. The highest biomass yield was achieved with A. oryzae (5.29 g/L, 0.176 g biomass/g substrate), followed by N. intermedia (3.63 g/L, 0.121 g biomass/g substrate), and R. oryzae (1.9 g/L, 0.063 g biomass/g substrate). In the bubble column reactor, the protein content of the substrate (78.65 g/kg) increased by 165.54 and 176.69% with A. oryzae (208.85 g/kg) and N. intermedia (217.62 g/kg), respectively. This study has demonstrated that whey powder can be converted into protein-rich biomass through fungal bioconversion. The obtained biomass has the potential to be developed as an alternative food and feed source, contributing to waste management and sustainable food production.

Carpet fibres have demonstrated the potential to mitigate early-age cracking and improve tensile properties in concrete. However, a detailed analysis of the varied types of standard carpet fibres in reinforced concrete has been lacking. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the performance of concrete reinforced with widely used waste carpet fibres, namely Nylon, Polypropylene, Polytrimethylene terephthalate, and Polyester. The study employs fibres at 0.3 % and 0.5 % volume fractions with a 12 mm length. The research examines mechanical properties, shrinkage and cracking behaviour, pore structure, microstructure, and the ITZ. Results show that 0.3 % fibre volume yielded optimal performance based on GRA analysis. All fibre types reduced shrinkage compared to the control with no fibres. Nylon T1 at 0.3 % achieved a 22.3 % reduction at 90 days. Furthermore, fibre inclusion enhanced flexural and splitting tensile strengths up to 12 % and 39 % respectively due to fibre bridging, pore refinement, and reduced porosity. Notably, individual fibre mechanical properties influenced concrete performance significantly. Hydrophilic fibres exhibited a thinner 10 µm ITZ compared to 15 µm for hydrophobic fibres, contributing to denser interfacial regions and improved bonding. This study demonstrates the potential of carpet fibre-reinforced concrete as a sustainable solution, offering enhanced mechanical properties, shrinkage mitigation, and effective utilization of carpet waste, addressing critical issues in construction and waste management sectors., Funder: Australian Research Council;Full text license: CC BY 4.0

Waste segregation at source, particularly at the household level, is an integral component of sustainable solid waste management, which is a critical public health issue. Although multiple interventions have been published, often with contradictory findings, few authors have conducted a comprehensive systematic synthesis of the published literature. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review to synthesize all published interventions conducted in any country in the world which targeted household-level waste segregation with or without additional focus on recycling or composting. Following PRISMA guidelines, Web of Science, Medline, Global Health, and Google Scholar were searched using a search strategy created by combining the keywords ‘Waste’, ‘Segregation’, and ‘Household’. Two-stage blinded screening and consensus-based conflict resolution were done, followed by quality assessment, data extraction, and narrative synthesis. 8555 articles were identified through the database searches and an additional 196 through grey literature and citation searching. After excluding 2229 duplicates and screening title abstracts of 6522 articles, 283 full texts were reviewed, and 78 publications reporting 82 intervention studies were included in the data synthesis. High methodological heterogeneity was seen, excluding the possibility of a meta-analysis. Most (n = 60) of the interventions were conducted in high-income countries. Interventions mainly focused on information provision. However, differences in the content of information communicated and mode of delivery have not been extensively studied. Finally, our review showed that the comparison of informational interventions with provision of incentives and infrastructural modifications needs to be explored in-depth. Future studies should address these gaps and, after conducting sufficient formative research, should aim to design their interventions following the principles of behaviour change.

The use of waste foundry sand (WFS) in concrete production has gained attention as an eco-friendly approach to waste reduction and enhancing cementitious materials. However, testing the impact of WFS in concrete through experiments is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, this study employs machine learning (ML) models, including support vector regression (SVR), decision tree (DT), and AdaBoost regressor (AR) ensemble model to predict concrete properties accurately. Moreover, SVR was employed in conjunction with three robust optimization algorithms: the firefly algorithm (FFA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and grey wolf optimization (GWO), to construct hybrid models. Using 397 experimental data points for compressive strength (CS), 146 for elastic modulus (E), and 242 for split tensile strength (STS), the models were evaluated with statistical metrics and interpreted using the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) technique. The SVR-GWO hybrid model demonstrated exceptional accuracy in predicting waste foundry sand concrete (WFSC) strength characteristics. The SVR-GWO hybrid model exhibited correlation coefficient values (R) of 0.999 for CS and E, and 0.998 for STS. Age was found to be a significant factor influencing WFSC properties. The ensemble model (AR) also exhibited comparable prediction accuracy to the SVR-GWO model. In addition, SHAP analysis revealed an optimal content of input variables in the concrete mix. Overall, the hybrid and ensemble models showed exceptional prediction accuracy compared to individual models. The application of these sophisticated soft computing prediction techniques holds the potential to stimulate the widespread adoption of WFS in sustainable concrete production, thereby fostering waste reduction and bolstering the adoption of environmentally conscious construction practices., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-07-01 (hanlid);Full text license: CC BY

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are currently touted as the next evolution of nuclear energy. They are a type of nuclear reactor designed to be smaller in size than a traditional reactor. Nevertheless, they are based on the same fission technology that splits atoms to create heat, which can then be used to generate electricity. SMRs can offer clean, reliable power and heat at manageable costs for both on- and off-grid communities. Currently, there are more than 100 proposed SMR reactor designs worldwide participating in the race to commercialization. This article presents a comprehensive review of the different SMR technologies that are currently being developed. The technical characteristics of the SMRs have been evaluated to provide insights into their complementary role in a renewable energy system and highlight how they can accelerate the journey toward a deeply decarbonized world., QC 20240524

Production and consumption lead to eutrophication and acidification of land and watercourses and affect the biological diversity of people's habits and needs (Naturvårdsverket, 2024).In attempts to gain control over waste, waste policies can be implemented, this means , among other things, that policy instruments such as concrete measurements and tools to achieve overall goals are introduced as a governing body and include the use of public funds (Bergeron, 2016). In Sweden a new law entered into force in the beginning of 2024 with requirements for the sorting of bio-waste from business and municipalities, including 68 municipalities that had applied for exemption by March 2024 ( Naturvårdsverket, 2024). The aim of the study was to examine which strategies six municipalities use in current waste management and which differences there were between these municipalities. The question aimed to answer whether there was any difference between municipalities that have a dispensation compared to those that have implemented the new law, as well as similarities with those that applied for a dispensation. The empirical material consisted of a total of four interviews and six waste plans. The results showed that municipalities primarily use similar strategies regardless of whether without or with a dispensation., Produktion och konsumtion leder till övergödning och försurning på marker och vattendrag samt drabbar den biologiska mångfalden av människors vanor och behov (Naturvårdsverket, 2024). I försök om att få kontroll på avfall kan avfallspolicys implementeras, detta innebär bland annat att policyinstrument som konkreta mätningar och verktyg för att uppnå övergripande mål introduceras som ett styrande organ och innefattar användning av offentliga medel (Bergeron, 2016). I Sverige trädde en ny lag i kraft i början av 2024 med krav på utsortering av bioavfall från verksamheter och kommuner, däribland 68 kommuner hade ansökt om dispens vid mars 2024 (Naturvårdsverket, 2024). Syftet med undersökningen var att undersöka vilka strategier sex kommuner använder sig av gällande avfallshantering samt vilka skillnader och likheter det fanns sinsemellan dessa kommuner. Frågeställningen syftade till att besvara om det fanns någon skillnad mellan kommuner som har dispens jämfört med de som har implementerat den nya lagen samt likheter med de som ansökt om dispens. Det empiriska materialet bestod av totalt fyra intervjuer och sex avfallsplaner. Resultatet visade att kommuner främst använder sig av liknande strategier oavsett utan eller med dispens.

Tourism has been a cornerstone of Mallorca's economy since the 1960s, contributing significantly to GDP and job creation. However, this economic boon comes with substantial environmental costs, particularly in waste generation and management. This study investigates the dual impact of tourism on Mallorca, examining both the economic benefits and environmental costs, with a specific focus on waste management within the hospitality industry. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including a comprehensive literature review, case studies from similar tourism-centric regions, and qualitative data collection through interviews with hotel managers, waste management professionals, and surveys of tourists and residents. The research aims to identify sustainable strategies that can mitigate the environmental impact of tourism while ensuring the continued economic prosperity of the island. Key findings include the need for improved waste segregation and recycling infrastructure, targeted education campaigns, and stronger regulations to enhance waste management practices. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of fostering collaboration between the hospitality industry, waste management companies, and government agencies to develop and implement effective waste management strategies. By addressing these challenges and implementing sustainable practices, Mallorca can create a more sustainable tourism sector, attracting environmentally conscious travelers and preserving the island's natural beauty. The study emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach that prioritizes both economic growth and environmental protection.

This report explores the interactions between wildlife and waste at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, using a comprehensive project management plan. The introduction in Chapter 1 details the critical need for improved waste management to mitigate its effects on biodiversity loss and contributions to climate change. The following three chapters illustrate the deliverables produced by this project: the Integrated Project Plan (Chapter 2), Communication Outreach (Chapter 3), and the main component of this project, the Wildlife and Waste Interactions Project report (Chapter 4). The Integrated Project Plan covers the essential project management aspects, such as the project charter and scope, used to carry out the entire project. Chapter 3 details how communication outreach was implemented to raise awareness about the project going on at the zoo and engage a broader audience. Finally, Chapter 4 presents the final project report submitted to the Assiniboine Park Zoo. This report provides insights into wildlife and waste interactions at the zoo based on trail camera data and field observations. It offers practical recommendations based on the results from the study, aimed at improving waste management practices, reducing wildlife attraction to waste, and suggests future studies to enhance waste management efforts further. The last chapter critically reflects on the practicum, discussing learning outcomes and insights gained from the project’s execution and completion. In summary, this document used a project management approach to implement a study highlighting the unique relationship between wildlife and waste.

This thesis investigates the implementation of circular economy principles in plastic waste management, focusing on challenges and strategies within the European context. The study highlights the significance of CE in transforming the plastic industry by promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction, and systemic collaboration among stakeholders. It explores the theoretical foundations of CE, the 9R framework, and waste hierarchy, alongside European regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the Waste Framework Directive, and the Circular Economy Action Plan. Through a comparative analysis of two companies, one in Germany and one in Sweden, the research examines the diverse approaches to plastic waste management, emphasizing the role of regulatory compliance, partnerships, and consumer engagement. The findings reveal that while both companies are committed to circularity, their strategies differ based on market position, operational context, and customer dynamics. The study identifies key obstacles, such as inefficiencies in recycling systems, consumer behavior, and regulatory challenges, that hinder the full realization of CE principles. The thesis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative solutions, and robust policy frameworks in advancing CE transitions. It is concluded that, although CE provides a promising framework for addressing plastic waste, achieving its full potential requires focused efforts across multiple sectors. Recommendations for future research include expanding case studies, exploring specific supply chain stages, and examining the long-term effectiveness of CE initiatives.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate how different types of CSR activity signaling affect company valuation on the stock market within the Swedish industrial sector. By combining insights from CSR and signaling theory literature, we attempt to fill a research gap in this area and increase understanding of the relationship between CSR initiatives and company valuation. Method: This study is quantitative in nature with a deductive approach and a positivist research strategy. The selection consists of 47 large and medium-sized Swedish companies listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Two types of data have been collected, partly on an annual basis (94 observations) and partly on a quarterly basis (376 observations), taken from financial reports for the years 2020-2021. Results and Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that on an annual basis there is no statistically significant relationship between CSR activities and stock prices. Conversely, the quarterly analysis shows a positive relationship between stock prices and employee health initiatives. This relationship means that such CSR activities can act as signals for the company to potentially influence market perceptions and thereby positively affect share prices. Contribution of the thesis: theoretically this study contributed to explore how different types of CSR activities affect company valuation on the stock market within the Swedish industrial sector. It also seeks to contribute to signaling theory by analyzing how CSR activities act as signals and shape investors' perceptions and decisions. Practically, the study can help companies formulate effective CSR strategies by identifying specific CSR activities that can affect company valuation. Suggestions for future research: In the future, it would be excellent to also investigate the effect of additional CSR activities such as environmentally friendly water, energy or resource use on share prices through signaling. In addition, comparative resea

Textilindustrin utgör en betydande resursförbrukning och genererar omfattande mängder avfall genom hela värdekedjan. Denna studie har genomfört litteratursökning och en enkätundersökning, för att analysera textilindustrins avfallshantering och de utmaningar som uppstår med EU-kommissionens förslag om ökat producentansvar och avfallskrav. Resultaten belyser textilföretagens utmaningar, inklusive administrativa och ekonomiska belastningar, infrastrukturproblem, materialåtervinningens komplexitet samt osäkerhet kring producentansvar. Studien har identifierat de övergripande strategier som svenska textilföretag använder för att hantera avfall, såsom materialbesparande tekniker, återanvändning av förpackningar och samarbete med leverantörer. Trots dessa insatser kvarstår tekniska och ekonomiska hinder. Studien föreslår förbättringar genom investeringar i infrastruktur, utveckling av innovativa tekniker såsom, samt ekonomiska incitament för att stödja hållbara processer., The textile industry is a significant consumer of resources and generates substantial amounts of waste throughout the entire value chain. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review and survey to analyze the waste management practices in the textile industry and the challenges posed by the EU Commission's proposals for increased producer responsibility and waste regulations. The results highlight the challenges faced by textile companies, including administrative and economic burdens, infrastructure issues, the complexity of material recycling, and uncertainty regarding producer responsibility. The study identifies the strategies used by Swedish textile companies to manage waste, such as material-saving techniques, reuse of packaging, and collaboration with suppliers and manufacturers. Despite these efforts, technical and economic barriers remain. The study suggests improvements through investments in infrastructure, the development of innovative technologies, and economic incentives to support sustainable processes.

The construction sector is the largest producer of waste in the European Union (EU) and each EU member state needs to take the necessary steps to reduce the quantity of construction waste. Similarly, Sweden's construction and demolition (C&D) sector generates the majority of the country's waste. Consequently, Sweden is now striving to make its construction operations more sustainable. With an emphasis on the function of a Swedish property owner, this study attempts to explore ways of managing materials and waste from interior office remodeling projects in a sustainable manner andinvestigate challenges and opportunities while getting insights and viewpoints from different parts of the value chain. The study additionally explores what measures the property company can apply to enhance their sustainable efforts.To accomplish this, coding and thematic analysis were conducted on data obtained from semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders, articlesfrom peer-reviewed journals and grey literature, alongside observations gathered from site visits. The analysis resulted in nine themes that highlightthe challenges and opportunities within sustainably managing material and waste from remodeling projects. The identified themes were (1) Regulations and strategies, (2) Economic aspects, (3) Stakeholder impact, (4) Collaboration, (5) Routines, (6) Material and waste management, (7) Reuse market, (8) Quality of product and (9) Digital systems. The study discusses the findings and initiatives that support sustainable operations in interior office renovation projects and concludes with suggestions for future work and recommendations for the property company.

The Fast Fashion industry, which operates on a take-make-waste model, has a significant environmental impact due to its high-water consumption, use of chemical substances, and waste production. Consequently, textiles and clothing waste have become a major global concern. In response, the Circular Economy model has garnered considerable attention worldwide, with theEuropean Union showing notable progress in transitioning towards this sustainable approach. New regulations are creating an enabling framework for the circular economy to thrive and for better waste management. This transition necessitates substantial changes in both legal and business practices. The present study aims to analyse EU measures that influence the development of sustainable practices and the shift to a circular economy in the Fast Fashion industry. It employs a legal analysis and a business case study to identify and evaluate the laws implemented by the EU and the strategies used by Fast Fashion companies to adapt their waste management practices to the circular economy.

This research aims to optimize operational sustainability and minimize the environmental impacts of lead-acid battery recycling, identifying, and establishing improvements in the smelting and refining stages. Through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) using the SimaPro and STAN tools, recycling processes were modelled to quantify material flows and evaluate environmental impacts. The results indicate the level of control over air emissions, hazardous waste and lead recovery within the operation can be significantly improved with the application of technologies and increased efficiency of the operation process. Concerning the impact assessment, essential categories have been defined including carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects on human health, global warming, and particle formation. The data conclude that the use of technologies and improvement of operational efficiency is crucial it helps to enhance the sustainability of the process while complying with regulatory requirements and producing economic benefits by getting more valuable materials. Within this context, the principles of circular economy can be effectively integrated to maximize resource value throughout their lifecycle, minimizing waste generation, and reducing natural resource consumption., Denna forskning syftar till att optimera driftens hållbarhet och minimera miljöpåverkan av återvinning av blybatterier genom att identifiera och etablera förbättringar i smält- och raffineringsstadierna. Genom livscykelbedömning (LCA) och materialflödesanalys (MFA) med hjälp av verktygen SimaPro och STAN modellerades återvinningsprocesser för att kvantifiera materialflöden och utvärdera miljöpåverkan. Resultaten indikerar att nivån på kontroll över luftutsläpp, farligt avfall och blyåtervinning inom verksamheten kan förbättras avsevärt med tillämpning av teknologier och ökad effektivitet i driftsprocessen. När det gäller påverkansbedömningen har väsentliga kategorier definierats inklusive cancerframkallande och icke-cancerframkallande effekter på människors hälsa, global uppvärmning och partikelbildning. Data drar slutsatsen att användningen av teknologier och förbättring av driftseffektiviteten är avgörande då det hjälper till att förbättra processens hållbarhet samtidigt som man uppfyller lagkrav och genererar ekonomiska fördelar genom att få mer värdefulla material. Inom denna kontext kan principerna för cirkulär ekonomi effektivt integreras för att maximera resursvärdet under hela deras livscykel, minimera avfallsproduktion och minska konsumtionen av naturresurser.

Circular economy (CE) is gaining traction in cities as an approach to reducing local and global environmental impacts. Yet, how effective are these strategies in terms of their environmental impacts? To find out, we took a deep dive into 30 CE policies from cities in high-income countries across Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. We assessed the relevance of their indicator sets with regards to their major environmental concerns. To do so, we conducted a qualitative analysis of policy documents published in eight languages, examining common environmental goals, concerns, and progress indicators of various cities. The review reveals a broad spectrum of municipal CE policies, from waste management to climate action. Key concerns include climate mitigation and securing local resource availability, but overall, very diverse environmental targets could be identified. Some of these targets aim at local impacts such as air quality and public health, while others envision global impacts such as biodiversity conservation and intergenerational justice. While greenhouse gas emissions of territorial scope are frequently monitored, the indicator sets mostly ignore that climate mitigation involves a footprint scope. Moreover, the sets mostly lack indicators to monitor other environmental pressures and impacts. To better monitor these, we provide a set of recommendations for research and policy to bridge the gap between environmental concerns and indicator needs. We suggest complementing current resource flow dominated indicator sets with measures of the local environmental state and the application of urban footprint models to help cities monitor the desired global environmental impact of their measures.

Given the anticipated global population of approximately 10 billion by 2050, the task of ensuring adequate sustenance for all within the constraints of Earth's limited resources presents a significant challenge. The production of food and beverages demands considerable energy investment, as well as other essential resources such as water and nutrients. In addition to this, food production is associated with different kinds of environmental impact, such as global warming, eutrophication, acidification, and biodiversity loss. This thesis analyzes energy and environmental factors in food and beverage production systems, focusing on tomatoes, whisky, and beer production. It aims to identify energy and environmental hotspots in these systems while also exploring the potential benefits of selected waste management practices, such as anaerobic digestion, for improving system circularity and environmental performance. The thesis uses several methods for energy and environmental systems analysis, including life cycle assessment and material flow analysis, as well as energy system simulation and optimization. A key finding is the role of local resources, such as renewable energy and access to waste treatment facilities, in determining the environmental impact. Additionally, electricity use and production methods significantly influenced the environmental impact of the studied systems. The importance of transportation varied across the systems, due to differences in transport requirements of both inputs and outputs. Furthermore, this study evaluates various alternatives for increased circularity, particularly through waste treatment and improved resource efficiency. The results contribute to increased understanding of environmental performance across several production systems, offering insights for decision-makers aiming to enhance environmental sustainability of food and beverage production., Med tanke på den förväntade globala befolkningen på ungefär 10 miljarder människor år 2050 är det en stor utmaning att säkerställa tillräcklig matförsörjning inom jordens begränsade resurser. Mat- och dryckesproduktion kräver betydande energimängder, samt andra väsentliga resurser som vatten och näringsämnen, och är förknippad med miljöpåverkan som global uppvärmning, övergödning, försurning och förlust av biologisk mångfald. Denna avhandling presenterar en analys av energi- och miljöfaktorer i system för produktion av mat och dryck, med fokus på produktion av tomater, whisky och öl. Den syftar till att identifiera energi- och miljöproblem i dessa system, samt utforska potentiella fördelar med utvalda avfallshanteringstekniker, såsom rötning, för att förbättra systemens cirkularitet och miljöprestanda. Avhandlingen använder flera olika metoder för energi- och miljösystemanalys, inklusive livscykelanalys, materialflödesanalys, samt simulering och optimering av energisystem. En viktig upptäckt som visade sig för alla system är rollen som lokala resurser, såsom förnybar energi och tillgång till avfallshantering, spelar för produkternas miljöpåverkan. Även mängderna och produktionsmetoderna för elektricitet hade en avsevärd påverkan på miljöpåverkan för de studerade systemen. Transporternas betydelse varierade mellan systemen, på grund av olika transportbehov för insatsvaror, produkter och avfall. Denna studie utvärderar också flera alternativ där förbättrad cirkularitet ökade systemets miljömässiga hållbarhet, främst genom avfallsbehandling och förbättrad resursanvändning. Vidare visade denna studie på potentialen för ökad cirkularitet, särskilt genom avfallsbehandling och förbättrad resursanvändning. Resultaten bidrar till ökad förståelse för miljöprestanda för flera produktionssystem och ger insikter för beslutsfattare som syftar till att förbättra miljömässig hållbarhet vid produktion av mat och dryck.

Waste management in the northern latitudes is often more challenging than in the more central regions. Under the Arctic climate conditions with large distances between settlements and to the recycling facilities, and relatively smaller markets and volume of produced waste, there are special needs for developing new innovative solutions for waste management. WANO focuses on cross-border business and innovation cooperation in the field of waste management, including municipal and industrial waste, in the regions of Troms, Finnmark and Nordland (Norway), Lapland and North Ostrobothnia (Finland) and Norrbotten (Sweden). The project identifies key actors, technologies, innovation trends, and cross-border collaboration possibilities in the Arctic waste sector. Among the lessons learned so far which are highlighted in this policy brief are that waste management in Norway has already taken important steps to promote innovation and cooperation but that there is a demand for additional knowledge-based expertise among the waste management actors in north Norway. Cross-border initiatives are welcomed in north Norway by the actors. The big hindrance seems to be “know-who”: the Norwegian actors need more information about the actors across the border in north Finland and north Sweden.

Environmental degradation and resource overuse can affect business operations. Sustainable development is therefore a global economic priority. Food companies must develop strategies to ensure food security and seek business models to provide economic, social, and environmental benefits. This paper presents the combinations of water and waste management practices (water efficiency targets, water consumption ratio, water intensity ratio, waste recycling ratio, and waste intensity ratio) that lead to an overvaluation of food companies in the stock market (Tobin's Q > 1). These combinations of practices were identified using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) of a global sample of 61 listed companies from the food production sector. No necessary conditions were found for the outcome of a Tobin's Q >1. In contrast, the sufficiency analysis revealed five sufficient configurations for overvaluation. The presence of significant recycling and waste reuse performance and the absence of a strong intensity of water withdrawal and waste production are key conditions to achieve the presence of the outcome. The findings provide useful insights for managers, who can focus their business strategies on sustainable and efficient water and waste management to support high financial performance. The findings can also help investors in their decision making.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) models quantifying the environmental aspects of waste management have become an integral part of waste management decision-making over the last two decades and have provided ample knowledge on both environmental benefits and drawbacks in the way we handle waste. Waste management and LCA modelling of waste management systems will soon be challenged by profound changes necessary in our societies and sectors to meet sustainable development goals. Foreseen changes in energy, material, and nutrient provision will directly and indirectly affect waste management in terms of its operation and goals. This study reflects on anticipated changes in society and industrial sectors and how these changes may affect waste management and LCA modelling of waste management systems in terms of waste input, the modelling of technologies and systems and exchanges of energy, materials, and nutrients, as well as how it may affect impact assessment and the interpretation of results. The study provides practical recommendations for LCA modelling of future waste management systems, which will hopefully lead to robust assessments that can support decision-making in an evolving society subject to great changes.