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Brazil features prominently in the world’s textile industry due to its know-how in cotton cultivation. However, the denim production chain generates relevant environmental impacts due to some characteristics of its production chain. This study investigated the usefulness of actions for improving environmental – measured in terms of Climate Changes (CC) –, and energy performances, represented by Primary Energy Demand (PED), to be implemented in the supply chain of trouser jeans produced in Brazil. A diagnosis of the current process provided by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) indicated CO2 (liming and mechanization) and N2O (N-fertilizer) emissions in cotton cultivation, and CH4 and CO2 (natural gas) releases from heat for the industrial branch as CC impact sources. Reliance on natural gas (heat supply) industrial processes and the BR grid (energy supply) provided PED contributions. With a view of improving this performance, scenarios based on cotton and yarn imports, and even trouser jeans themselves from the United States, as well as the replacement of natural gas for wood have been proposed. The LCA for such conditions did not offers a unanimous alternative. The lesser impact for CC (4.44 kg CO2eq/FU) refers to the manufacture of trouser jeans in Brazil using wood as a heat source. An Integrated Analysis combined the effects of both analyzed dimensions for all the different scenarios and the same alternative achieved the best combined indicator Moreover, if the CC estimate takes into account CO2 fixation from the air and biogenic CO2 emissions, the use of wood becomes advisable. The current scenario kept the best energy outcomes (124 MJ/FU) given a performance in terms of utilities and transport. Moreover, Sensitivity and Trend Analyzes sought to magnify the effects of the parameter oscillations that integrate the analyzed systems models. Overlap areas among scenarios were identified, confirming that measures to reduce consumptions along the trouser productive cycle are necessary to achieve satisfactory results in terms of environmental and energy performance.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate is an important surfactant used by the Specialty Chemical Industry. However, little quantitative information regarding its environmental impacts in a systemic perspective is available. Therefore, this study assessed the environmental performance of 1.0 ton of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate containing 3 mol of ethylene oxide (SLES 3EO), by means of a ‘cradle-to-gate’ Life Cycle Assessment. Environmental impacts were quantified in terms of Global Warming Potential and Primary Energy Demand (PED). Carbon Footprint was also estimated according to ISO 14067 guidelines. The Global Warming indicator was calculated as 1.87 t CO2eq/t for the baseline scenario, while PED was estimated as 71.7 GJ/t. Based on the main sources of impact, four individual alternatives aiming at environmental performance improvement were proposed, based on the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production philosophy: S1) production using palm kernel oil from Brazil; S2) production from synthetic lauryl alcohol; S3) generation of thermal energy from biomass; S4) SLES 3EO synthesis using ethylene oxide obtained from sugarcane. Possible synergies deriving from the combinations of these propositions were also assessed, considering seven additional scenarios (S5 – S11). It was observed that lauryl alcohol performance was very influential and decisive for the results. Moreover, thermal energy from biomass was beneficial in terms of Global Warming, while increasing the renewable fraction of the PED indicator. On the other hand, ethylene oxide production from sugarcane ethanol was not an advantageous alternative, due to high fuel and thermal energy demands throughout its production chain. The Carbon Footprint assessment according to the ISO 14067 standard indicates a beneficial change in the impact profiles between the scenarios presenting renewable source assets participating in their life cycle, with a strong reduction in relation to the results obtained by applying the IPCC approach. Synergy among cleaner production propositions was observed and highly influenced by the amount of biomass incorporated to SLES 3EO life cycle. This can be considered an innovative approach regarding the Brazilian context. As a pioneer initiative, it is expected that the outcomes from this investigation would contribute to future initiatives investigating detergent formulation from an environmental perspective.

O Brasil é um país que se destaca pela pujança da pecuária e como importante ator no mercado de biodiesel. Entretanto, há uma carência de estudos que investiguem o desempenho ambiental do biodiesel produzido a partir de gordura animal segundo uma lógica sistêmica. Trata-se de um tema controverso em função do tratamento dado à gordura pois, embora haja demanda e mercado bem estabelecido, há casos em que esta substância é tratada como um rejeito da produção de carne, desconsiderando-se os impactos ambientais pregressos. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a criticidade de diferentes abordagens para as situações de multifuncionalidade da cadeia de produção do biodiesel obtido de gordura animal. Para tanto, fez-se uso da técnica de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida de produtos segundo o enfoque atribucional com escopo do \"berço-ao-portão\" para se determinar o desempenho do biodiesel produzido nas regiões Sul, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste, e disponibilizado (tanto puro quanto na forma das misturas B15 e B8) para a região metropolitana de São Paulo entre os anos de 2013 e 2015. As situações de multifuncionalidade foram analisadas a partir da aplicação de critérios físicos (proporção mássica e conteúdo energético), de critérios econômicos e do Método Surplus, além da expansão das fronteiras do sistema e substituição de cargas ambientais evitadas. Os resultados foram expressos em termos das categorias de impacto de Mudanças Climáticas, Acidificação terrestre, Eutrofização aquática, Formação fotoquímica de oxidantes, Demanda de Energia Primária. Adicionalmente, foram feitas considerações a respeito do indicador de Energy Return On Investment (EROI) e do balanço de emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Os resultados indicaram que a alocação das cargas ambientais do processo de refino de petróleo - para a produção do diesel fóssil usado em atividades de transporte - mostrou-se irrelevante no contexto do presente estudo. No que diz respeito ao processo de transesterificação, os efeitos das abordagens para as situações de multifuncionalidade foram pouco influentes sobre os resultados. Isto porque a magnitude do impacto da atividade pecuária foi tamanha que a amplitude dos resultados variou cerca de 817 vezes (no caso da categoria de Mudanças Climáticas) ou até 1084 vezes (para a Demanda de Energia Primária). Brazil is a country that stands out for the internal importance of cattle farming and as an important player in the biodiesel market. However, there is a lack of studies focusing the investigation of the environmental performance of biodiesel produced from animal tallow according to a systemic scope. This is a controversial issue, due to the treatment given to tallow as, although there is consistent market demand, there are cases in which this substance is treated as a waste from meat production activities. In this context, this study was conducted aiming the evaluation of the criticality of different approaches to multifunctional situations of the biodiesel production chain from animal tallow. In order to do so, attributional Life Cycle Assessment technique was used according to a \"cradle-to-gate\" scope in order to determine the environmental performance of biodiesel produced in the South, Midwest and Southeast regions, and commercialized (either purely or in the form of B15 and B8 mixtures) at São Paulo metropolitan region between 2013 and 2015. Multifunctionality situations were analyzed based on the application of physical criteria (mass ratio and energy content), economic criteria and the Surplus Method, as well as based on system boundaries expansion and the substitution of avoided environmental burdens. The results were expressed in terms of the following impact categories: Climate Change, Terrestrial Acidification, Aquatic Eutrophication, Photochemical Oxidants Formation, and Primary Energy Demand. In addition, considerations were made regarding the Energy Return On Investment (EROI) indicator and the greenhouse gases emission balance. The results indicated that the allocation of environmental burdens at petroleum refining process - for the production of fossil diesel used in transport activities - proved to be irrelevant in the context of the present study. Regarding the transesterification process, the effects of the approaches for multifunctionality situations were not very influential on the results. This is because the magnitude of the impact of cattle raising activity was such that the results varied by about 817 times (in the case of the Climate Change impact category) or up to 1084 times (considering the Primary Energy Demand).

Vinasse and filter cake are residues of bioethanol processing that are used to be recycled as fertilizers in sugarcane plantation. Studies related to the environmental dimension on this practice are concerned only with the effects on water and soil. The present study examines the systemic effects of replacing chemical fertilizers with vinasse and filter cake on the environmental performance of ethanol, via life cycle assessment (LCA). The analysis was carried out by comparing various scenarios structured from two control variables: crop management techniques (manual and mechanized harvesting) and source of nutrients (for supplying the nutritional needs of sugarcane crops): chemical fertilizers, chemical fertilizers + vinasse, and chemical fertilizer + vinasse + filter cake. Impact assessment was carried out in terms of primary energy demand, climate change, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, human toxicity, and terrestrial ecotoxicity. LCA has been applied according to both attributional and consequential perspectives. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was performed in order to verify the effects of the varying amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the composition of vinasse on the results obtained for the impact profile. From the attributional LCA perspective, the most expressive contributions regarding primary energy demand occurred in terms of depletion of non-renewable fossils. Replacing chemical fertilizers with vinasse and filter cake was beneficial for the environmental performance of ethanol as it reduces climate change, terrestrial acidification, and human toxicity impacts and sustains freshwater eutrophication and terrestrial ecotoxicity unaltered in relation to scenarios using only fertilizers. In terms of consequential LCA, ethanol’s environmental performance is influenced by the inclusion of the production of calcium fluorite to compensate the hexafluorosilicic acid deficit occurring in conjunction to the decrease of phosphate fertilizer and is compensated by the benefits provided by the general reduced consumption of chemical fertilizers for most of the impact categories. The exception occurred for primary energy demand. The reuse of residues from bioethanol production—vinasse and filter cake—as primary nutrient suppliers for the cultivation of sugarcane instead of chemical fertilizers is a valid practice that improves the environmental performance of ethanol, even if it is analyzed under a consequential LCA perspective. The transport of these inputs to the field must be managed, however, in order to minimize primary energy demand and climate change impacts.

Consumer markets have questioned the use of plastics in packaging because of their environmental impact, and alternative, bio-based films are being developed for this purpose. This study employs Life Cycle Assessment to analyze the environmental and energy performances of producing cassava starch-based film made from casting in Brazil. Results indicate that impacts are mainly caused by the cassava crops, the film manufacture, and the fossil glycerin and ethanol additives used. Resource efficiency and cleaner production measures were devised to reduce the environmental and energy impacts of the product. In terms of energy, an arrangement using both renewable glycerin and biofilm made by extrusion combining cassava starch and polyethylene was shown to be an adequate option to reduce impact. The use of sugarcane ethanol led to an increase in impact for most of the analyzed categories. On the other hand, if the carbon balance considers both carbon dioxide sequestration and biogenic carbon dioxide emissions, the use of renewable alcohol leads to lower impact in Climate Changes. This systemic analysis also allowed for the identification of trade-offs in terms of environmental impacts when considering cultivating and processing cassava in other sites.

Although in the last 40 years only sugarcane has been harnessed for the production of ethanol in Brazil, corn production has grown strongly in certain areas, and may serve as a supplementary feedstock for ethanol production in integrated plants during the sugarcane off-season. The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental and energy performance of ethanol production from sugarcane, corn, and grain sorghum in a Flex Mill in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. A life cycle assessment was carried out to survey the production of ethanol from each individual feedstock, and the integration of two of these to increase production during a one-year period. Results indicate that the environmental and energy performance are greatly influenced by agricultural activities, highlighting the importance of sugarcane cultivation. Still, there was an increasing trend of Climate Change impacts, Human Toxicity (carcinogenic) and Ecotoxicity, as well as reduced impact of Photochemical Oxidant Formation and Energy Return on Investment (EROI) as the proportion of ethanol from starchy sources in integration scenarios increases.

Department of Environmental Engineering Campus Experimental de Sorocaba Universidade Estadual Paulista, Sorocaba, Sao Paulo

Post-consumer cooking oil and soft drink PET bottles (PEToil and PETsoft drink) were ground and washed only with water (conventional washing). The polymer was then chemically washed (10 min in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide 5 mol·L−1 at 90°C) and rinsed. The materials before and after chemical washing were characterized by intrinsic viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray spectrum microanalysis, and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The results indicated that conventionally washed PEToil is the material that most differs among the four tested ones, and that the other three are more similar to each other and to what is expected for pure PET. For example, the composition of PEToil washed only in water contained 30 volatile organic compounds, 5 nonvolatile compounds, and 7 metals, while PETsoft drink washed conventionally and chemically contained 5 volatile organic compounds and no metal or nonvolatile...

When manual harvesting of sugarcane was discontinued in many regions of Brazil, interest in power generation by burning the bagasse and straw in cogeneration units rose. Exergy analysis is often applied to increase the thermodynamic yield of these plants by identifying irreversibility and work availability. Conversely, pressure for adopting clean energy requires these systems to be evaluated for suitable environmental performance. This study identified and discussed the thermodynamic and environmental effects of scaling up systems that operate according Rankine cycle with reheating. Ten scenarios have been designed considering different levels of steam pressure and addition rates of straw remaining in the sugarcane cultivation. The thermodynamic analysis revealed a 37% improvement in the exergy efficiency and 63% of increasing in power generation to raise the steam pressure from 20 to 100 bar. Moreover, the use of 50% of residual straw into units operating at 100 bar can more than double the amount of electricity exported. If addressed considering a life cycle perspective, the use of straw improves the environmental performance of the cogeneration for Climate Change and Particle Matter Formation but provides additional impacts in terms of Water and Fossil resources depletions.

This study presents the laboratory scale results of an extra step in Poly (ethylene terephthalate) – PET mechanical recycling (grinding, washing, drying and reprocessing): a chemical washing after the conventional one. Cooking oil PET bottle flakes were washed in water and then subjected to a reaction with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide 5 M at 90 °C for 10 min (chemical washing). After rinsing and drying, the flakes were characterized by thermogravimetry, gas chromatography and elemental analysis tests. The results indicated that the chemically washed material had higher purity than PET washed only with water: 99.3% and 96.7%, respectively, which undoubtedly implies properties, applications and prices closer to those of virgin resin. The production of purified terephthalic acid (TPA) from the chemical washing residue was optimized and reached a purity of 99.6%. Despite the results, the use of chemically washed PET and of TPA obtained is not recommended for direct contact with food, since they still contain some impurities.

Submitted by Guilherme Lemeszenski (guilherme@nead.unesp.br) on 2013-08-22T19:01:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 S0104-14282008000400006.pdf: 124141 bytes, checksum: 2c38712da8c151d86c681b1d6fc26cc9 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-22T19:01:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 S0104-14282008000400006.pdf: 124141 bytes, checksum: 2c38712da8c151d86c681b1d6fc26cc9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-01 Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T20:02:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S0104-14282008000400006.pdf: 124141 bytes, checksum: 2c38712da8c151d86c681b1d6fc26cc9 (MD5) S0104-14282008000400006.pdf.txt: 41355 bytes, checksum: 8acce1c56d046ca4c90eb0fb9691762e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T15:15:56Z No. of bitstreams: 2 S0104-14282008000400006.pdf: 124141 bytes, checksum: 2c38712da8c151d86c681b1d6fc26cc9 (MD5) S0104-14282008000400006.pdf.txt: 41355 bytes, checksum: 8acce1c56d046ca4c90eb0fb9691762e (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T15:15:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S0104-14282008000400006.pdf: 124141 bytes, checksum: 2c38712da8c151d86c681b1d6fc26cc9 (MD5) S0104-14282008000400006.pdf.txt: 41355 bytes, checksum: 8acce1c56d046ca4c90eb0fb9691762e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Filmes de polipropileno (PP) e de polietilenos de alta (HDPE) e baixa densidades (LDPE) foram estudados avaliando-se a presença de impurezas e o efluente da lavagem de seus resíduos provenientes tanto de coleta comum (resíduos misturados) quanto seletiva (resíduos separados). Os resultados apontam que os filmes estavam impregnados com, no mínimo, 30% de impurezas quando provenientes de coleta comum e com, no máximo, 10% quando de coleta seletiva. Esses resultados, associados aos da turbidez do efluente de lavagem, indicam que dos filmes de coleta seletiva, preferidos pelos recicladores, se obtém pelo menos 20% mais material e tem-se uma lavagem mais fácil, por envolver praticamente só a retirada de sólidos, ao contrário da coleta comum, associada a resíduos úmidos impregnados. Os efluentes foram também avaliados segundo sólidos totais, sólidos sedimentáveis e o teor de nove metais. Os resultados indicaram que os dois tipos de coleta geram efluentes semelhantes e que no máximo duas etapas devem ser suficientes para seus tratamentos: decantação e diluição do efluente no corpo d'água receptor. Polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) films were studied according to the way their wastes are collected (segregated from or mixed with other residues) by evaluating the amount of impurities and the washing wastewater. It was found that the films from mixed collection presented at minimum 30% of impurities, while the films from segregated (or curbside) collection presented at maximum 10% of impurities. The amount of impurities and the wastewater turbidity indicated that 20% more material can be obtained from the films of segregated colletion, preferred by recyclers, in addition to having a simpler washing process because it only involves solids removal, unlike mixed collection which is associated with the impregnation of wet wastes. The effluents were also evaluated according to the total amount of solids, sediments and concentration of nine metals. The results showed that both types of collection generated similar wastewaters and their treatment requires two steps at the most: sedimentation and effluent dilution in the water body. UNESP Engenharia Ambiental UNESP Engenharia Ambiental

The urban solid waste of the city of Indaiatuba (pop. 175 000), located in the state of São Paulo, was characterized, focusing on the recycling potential. For this purpose, collected waste was subdivided into 27 items, classified by mass and volume. About 90% of this waste was found to be potentially recyclable and only 10% requiring landfilling. The compostable organic matter, in the form of food and garden waste, both with high moisture content (51 and 41%, respectively), represents 54% in mass and 21% in volume. The most common type of plastic in this waste is high density polyethylene, whose estimated disposal is about 5000 kg day—1. A socio-economic analysis of the waste generation indicates that low-income neighbourhoods discard relatively less packaging and more food waste, shoes and construction debris than middle and high income ones, which may be due to low purchasing power and schooling. Our findings indicate that more aluminium and uncoloured polyethylene terephthalate is discarded in the warmest months of the year, probably due to a greater consumption of canned and bottled drinks.

Recentemente, a sociedade tem empreendido ações visando minimizar os impactos ambientais associados ao atendimento de suas necessidades. A reciclagem é uma atividade de destaque e que pode contribuir para que este novo objetivo seja atingido. Porém, as eventuais vantagens decorrentes da reciclagem devem ser analisadas de forma quantificada e sistêmica, ou seja, através de estudos de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) dos produtos. Por outro lado, o método de execução de estudos de ACV apresenta aspectos não consolidados. Um exemplo, é a modelagem de sistemas de produto que envolvam o reaproveitamento de rejeitos, para a qual não há consenso na comunidade científica a respeito da abordagem mais adequada. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa visa a consolidação das alternativas para a abordagem do reaproveitamento de rejeitos em estudos de ACV. Os modelos identificados variam, basicamente, segundo três abordagens. Uma delas é baseada na expansão do sistema, com o objetivo de se evitar a necessidade de alocação de cargas ambientais. Esta abordagem tem a vantagem de considerar diretamente os eventuais benefícios decorrentes do reaproveitamento dos resíduos. Já a segunda abordagem baseia-se na alocação das cargas ambientais associadas aos processos de obtenção das matérias-primas e/ou ao reaproveitamento em si, bem como a disposição final dos rejeitos entre os Sistemas de Produto envolvidos. Por fim, a última abordagem prega a atribuição das cargas ambientais associadas aos processos citados anteriormente exclusivamente à função atendida por cada sistema. Assim, o sistema que fornece um produto pós-consumo para o reaproveitamento arca com as cargas decorrentes da obtenção das matérias-primas, enquanto o sistema que reaproveita o produto pós-consumo fica responsável pelas cargas associadas à reciclagem em si, bem como à eventual disposição final. Salienta-se que este tipo de modelagem privilegia as situações em que um determinado sistema de produto utiliza insumos reciclados, uma vez que estes entram no sistema livres de carga ambiental pregressa. Recently, human society has taken actions in order to minimize the environmental impacts associated with meeting their needs. Recycling is an important activity that can contribute to the achievement of this new goal. However, the possible benefits of recycling should be considered systemically, i.e., through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of products. On the other hand, LCA method implementation has some unconsolidated aspects. One example is the modeling of product systems end-of-life involving waste recycling, for which there is no consensus in the scientific community regarding the most appropriate approach. In this context, this research aims to consolidate the alternative approaches for modeling wastes recycling in LCA studies. The identified models vary primarily according to three approaches. One of them is based on product system expansion in order to avoid the need for environmental burdens allocation. This approach has the advantage of directly considering the possible benefits of reusing waste. The second approach is based on the allocation of environmental burdens associated with raw materials processing, recycling and final waste disposal between product systems involved. Finally, the last approach considers the attribution of environmental burdens associated with the mentioned processes exclusively the function served by each system. Thus, the system providing a post-consumer product for reuse bears the burdens arising from raw materials processing, while the system that recoveries the post-consumer product is responsible for the loads associated with the recycling as well as eventual final waste disposition. It is noted that this modeling approach favors situations in which a particular system uses a recycled product as raw material, since they enter the product system free of previous environmental burdens.

Corn is one of the possibilities for diversification of Brazilian ethanol production. Four scenarios of analysis were established. The environmental dimension was evaluated by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, whereas the Thermodynamic performance was verified by applying the techniques of Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and Cumulative Exergy Demand (CExD). The production of ethanol from corn using wood chips for energy supply of the plant resulted in a homogeneous environmental performance. Factors such direct seeding – and the LHV of the wood for energy support this result. For both Thermodynamic analysis the production of sugarcane ethanol had better indexes because the use of bagasse replaced other sources of primary energy. This result remained for a combined analysis between the two dimensions, which related environmental effects in terms of Climate Change with the aggregation of primary energy consumption for ideal systems.

Filmes de polipropileno (PP) e de polietilenos de alta (HDPE) e baixa densidades (LDPE) foram estudados avaliando-se a presença de impurezas e o efluente da lavagem de seus resíduos provenientes tanto de coleta comum (resíduos misturados) quanto seletiva (resíduos separados). Os resultados apontam que os filmes estavam impregnados com, no mínimo, 30% de impurezas quando provenientes de coleta comum e com, no máximo, 10% quando de coleta seletiva. Esses resultados, associados aos da turbidez do efluente de lavagem, indicam que dos filmes de coleta seletiva, preferidos pelos recicladores, se obtém pelo menos 20% mais material e tem-se uma lavagem mais fácil, por envolver praticamente só a retirada de sólidos, ao contrário da coleta comum, associada a resíduos úmidos impregnados. Os efluentes foram também avaliados segundo sólidos totais, sólidos sedimentáveis e o teor de nove metais. Os resultados indicaram que os dois tipos de coleta geram efluentes semelhantes e que no máximo duas etapas devem ser suficientes para seus tratamentos: decantação e diluição do efluente no corpo d'água receptor. Polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) films were studied according to the way their wastes are collected (segregated from or mixed with other residues) by evaluating the amount of impurities and the washing wastewater. It was found that the films from mixed collection presented at minimum 30% of impurities, while the films from segregated (or curbside) collection presented at maximum 10% of impurities. The amount of impurities and the wastewater turbidity indicated that 20% more material can be obtained from the films of segregated colletion, preferred by recyclers, in addition to having a simpler washing process because it only involves solids removal, unlike mixed collection which is associated with the impregnation of wet wastes. The effluents were also evaluated according to the total amount of solids, sediments and concentration of nine metals. The results showed that both types of collection generated similar wastewaters and their treatment requires two steps at the most: sedimentation and effluent dilution in the water body.

A Brazilian agrochemical company agreed to conduct an initiative to further evaluate the environmental impact caused by its product SC50. This agrochemical is obtained from thiophanate-methyl, an active ingredient produced in Brazil as well as in Japan, where another industrial plant of the same corporation is located. The initiative evaluated the environmental performance of the SC50 life cycle so as to provide the company’s private management with information to influence stakeholders in the sector. The working method comprised five steps. Step 1 established the impact profile associated to the SC50 life cycle. The diagnosis was obtained by LCA from a ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach. Step 2 identified the stages causing significant environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle. In Step 3, improvement actions were proposed in order to mitigate, reduce, or even minimize the effects detected. Step 4 comprised the modeling, in which specific scenarios and their environmental impacts were analyzed. The synergistic effect was checked by successive additions of improvement actions, characterizing each scenario. Step 5 analyzed the results, comparing impact profiles of each scenario with the original diagnosis (as a baseline scenario) and verifying the individual effect of each action. The results indicate relevant contributions of the dispersion from the SC50 life cycle in terms of global warming, terrestrial ecotoxicity, human toxicity, and eutrophication. Regarding to the manufacture, the use of diesel has great influence in the impacts of SC50, and its performance as eutrophication is conditioned to the low efficiency of the wastewater treatment. While the company decided not to implement improvements in the dispersion stage fearing market losses, five alternatives based on cleaner production principles were proposed to improve performance: to review the instrumentation systems in the plant, to adjust wastewater treatment, to stop importing thiophanate-methyl from Japan, to install an energy cogeneration system, and to substitute renewable glycerin with a fossil counterpart. All scenarios led to improvements from baseline. The use of LCA determined the impact profile associated to SC50 in soybean pest control. Because of strategic reasons, the company decided not to propose improvements in the most significant stage of this life cycle. Among the improvements, we highlight the replacement of imported thiophanate-methyl by a Brazilian equivalent and the installation of a combined cycle for energy recovery. For both these cases, however, the appropriate organizational measures must be taken before implementation.

O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial de carvão vegetal, utilizado majoritariamente no setor industrial e residencial. No setor industrial, é o único país que utiliza o carvão vegetal em larga escala para produção de ferro-gusa e aço. No setor residencial, seu uso está relacionado a particularidades de cada região. Historicamente, a produção de carvão vegetal esteve associada ao desmatamento ilegal de florestas nativas, condições degradantes de trabalho e de vida dos trabalhadores, uso de fornos de baixo rendimento e pelo baixo nível de inovações tecnológicas do setor. Entretanto, nos últimos anos, há evidências de modificação deste cenário, com preferência por matéria-prima de origem plantada, fornos com rendimentos superiores e melhores condições de trabalho. Porém, sabe-se que parte significativa da produção ainda é feita de forma tradicional, principalmente por pequenos produtores, que em geral, não possuem acesso às condições para melhoria do sistema produtivo. Esses fatores contribuem para a produção do carvão vegetal de baixa qualidade, que é em geral direcionado ao uso residencial. Diante deste contexto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o desempenho energético e ambiental da produção de carvão vegetal dedicado ao setor residencial brasileiro. A partir do levantamento de dados secundários e aplicação da metodologia de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV), foram verificados os principais impactos da produção de carvão vegetal em duas diferentes rotas: Rota 1 que realiza produção de carvão vegetal a partir de madeira de desmatamento ilegal e forno do tipo rabo-quente e, Rota 2 que produz o carvão vegetal a partir de plantações florestais em áreas degradadas com uso de forno com fornalha, que permite a queima prévia dos gases oriundos do processo de carbonização. A Rota 1 é típica de sistemas ilegais e/ou expansão de terras com pastagem para criação animal, principalmente na Amazônia Legal. A Rota 2 é apontada como uma das alternativas promissoras no cenário atual, pois possibilita a recuperação de áreas degradadas para a produção de florestas plantadas. Como principais resultados, foi verificado que, devido à falta de rastreabilidade do setor, não é possível garantir a origem florestal da lenha utilizada para a produção de carvão vegetal. Além disso, verifica-se que o uso do biocombustível está relacionado a especificidades de cada região brasileira, onde estudos expõem que, em geral, o combustível possui baixa qualidade para uso residencial. Por fim, no estudo de ACV, foi verificado que a produção de carvão vegetal na Rota 2 (aperfeiçoada) teve melhor desempenho em todas as categorias de impacto analisadas (mudanças climáticas, acidificação, eutrofização, toxicidade humana, ecotoxicidade terrestre e oxidação fotoquímica), como esperado. A partir desses resultados, foi possível concluir que o aproveitamento de terras degradadas para plantações florestais, é uma estratégia viável ambiental e economicamente, por proporcionar o suprimento da demanda por lenha ao passo que diminui a pressão sob florestas nativas. Fomentar políticas públicas, garantir a fiscalização e investir na cadeia produtiva deste setor são ações que podem colaborar com as Contribuições Nacionais Determinadas firmadas pelo governo brasileiro no âmbito do Acordo de Paris. Brazil is the world\'s largest producer of charcoal, used mainly in the industrial and residential sectors. In the industrial sector, it is the only country that uses charcoal on a large scale to produce pig iron and steel. In the residential sector, its use is related to the particularities of each region. Historically, charcoal production has been associated with illegal deforestation of native forests, degrading working, and living conditions of the workers, use of low yield kilns and a low level of technological innovations in the sector. However, in recent years, there is evidence that this scenario has changed, with a preference for raw material of planted origin, kilns with higher yields and better working conditions. However, it is known that a significant part of the production is still made in a traditional way, especially by small producers, who generally do not have access to conditions to improve the production system. These factors contribute to the production of low-quality charcoal, which is generally intended for households use. In this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the energy and environmental performance of charcoal production dedicated to residential sector. Based on secondary data collection and the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the main impacts of charcoal production were verified in two different routes: Route 1, which produces charcoal from illegally deforested wood, and a hot-tail kiln, and Route 2, which produces charcoal from forest plantations in degraded areas, using a furnace, which allows the previous burning of the gases from the carbonization process. Route 1 is typical of illegal systems and/or expansion of land with pasture for animal breeding, mainly in the Legal Amazon. Route 2 is pointed out by specialists as one of the promising alternatives in the current scenario, because it allows the recovery of degraded areas to produce planted forests. As main results, it was verified that, due to the lack of traceability of the sector, it is not possible to guarantee the forest origin of the firewood used for charcoal production. In addition, it was verified that the use of biofuel is related to the specificities of each Brazilian region, where studies expose that, in general, the fuel has low quality for residential use. Finally, in the LCA study, it was verified that charcoal production on Route 2 (improved) performed better in all impact categories analyzed (climate change, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and photochemical oxidation). From these results, it was possible to elucidate that the use of degraded land for forest plantations is an environmentally and economically viable strategy since it provides the supply of firewood demand while decreasing the pressure on native forests. Promoting public policies, guaranteeing inspection, and investing in the productive chain of this sector can collaborate with the Nationally Determined Contributions signed by the Brazilian government under the Paris Agreement.

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise de eco-eficiência de diferentes coalescentes afim de indicar uma alternativa com maior eco-eficiência avaliando os efeitos da substituição de coalescente de uso tradicional na formulação de tinta decorativa, por moléculas projetadas segundo princípios de DfE (Design for Environment). A análise de eco-eficiência baseouse no uso da ferramenta de avaliação de desempenho ambiental, a ACV - Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida atribucional, com uma abordagem \"do berço ao túmulo\" e em uma Unidade Funcional de: \"proteger uma superfície de 50 m2 \". Os modelos do sistema do produto foram gerados por dados primários e secundários e nenhuma situação multifuncional foi identificada. A comparação levou em consideração os impactos nas formas de mudança climática, depleção fóssil, depleção de água, toxicidade humana e smog. Adicionalmente foi realizada uma análise econômica dos diferentes coalescentes com base nos preços de mercado. O trabalho buscou ainda contribuir com a proposição de práticas industriais mais eficientes do segmento de tintas, que privilegiem o equilíbrio entre o crescimento econômico e a preservação do meio ambiente. O coalescente alternativo (CA-2) alcançou o melhor resultado de eco-eficiência quando comparado ao coalescente tradicional de mercado (CA-P) e ao coalescente alternativo (CA-1). Os resultados gerados pelo estudo de ACV mostram que o coalescente CA-2 possui desempenho ambiental superior ao coalescente tradicional de mercado em todas as categorias de impacto estudas sendo elas a de Mudança Climáticas (MC), Toxicidade Humana (TH), Depleção de água (DA) e Depleção Fóssil (DF) e Smog, superando uma lacuna deixada pelo coalescente alternativo CA-1 na categoria Smog. Neste trabalho foi possível então conciliar as funções técnicas do produto com aspectos relacionados à sustentabilidade favorecendo a alternativa de produtos eco-eficientes em mercados maduros, mantendo competitividade e permitindo atingir novos mercados. This study presents an eco-efficiency analysis of different coalescent agents in order to indicate a more eco-efficient alternative by evaluating the effects of traditional coalescent agents\' replacement in traditional paint formulation by molecules designed according to DfE (Design for Environment) principles. The eco-efficiency analysis was based on the use of the environmental performance assessment tool, the LCA - Attributional Life Cycle Assessment, with approach \'cradle-to-grave\' and for a Functional Unit of: \"to protect a surface of 50 m2\". The Product system models have been generated by primary and secondary data and no multifunctional situations were identified. The comparison took into account impacts in the form of climate change, human toxicity), water depletion, fossil depletion and smog. Additionally, an economic analysis of the different coalescent agents has been developed based on the market prices. The work also contributed to the proposition of more efficient industrial practices in the coatings segment, which favor the balance between economic growth and the preservation of the environment. The alternative coalescent (CA-2) achieved the best eco-efficiency result when compared to traditional market coalescent (CA-P) and alternative coalescent (CA-1). The results generated by the LCA study show that the CA-2 coalescent has better environmental performance than the traditional coalescent market in all impact categories studied, being these Climate Change (MC), Human Toxicity (TH), Water Depletion ( DA) and Fossil Depletion (DF) and Smog, overcoming a gap left by the alternative coalescent CA-1 in the Smog category. In the study was possible to reconcile the technical performance of the product with aspects related to sustainability favoring the alternative of eco-efficient products in mature markets, maintaining competitiveness and opportunities in the new markets.