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Introduction: The increasing environmental impact of pharmaceutical logistics has sparked interest in the use of tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to achieve less environmentally aggressive operations. Despite this, its use remains fragmentary and there is little evidence of its application in the logistics of medicines in Cuba. Therefore, it is necessary to design a tool to support decision-making with a focus on the environmental impact of logistics operations. Objective: To design a tool to support decision-making with a focus on the environmental impact of logistics operations. Materials and Methods: Based on a review of the specialised literature, a methodology was designed with a focus on LCA and for calculating the environmental impact of pharmaceutical logistics in Cuba. In addition, the logistical functioning of the pharmaceutical supply chain was characterised in order to contextualise the application of the methodology and facilitate decision-making. Results and Discussion: A methodology adapted to the characteristics of pharmaceutical logistics in Cuba was designed. It constitutes a guideline for decision making focused on sustainable logistics operations. The design is carried out with a focus on continuous improvement and feedback to ensure effective implementation. Conclusions: The application of the methodology will enable the design of logistics processes along the medicines supply chain for the selection of cleaner alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work carries out the environmental evaluation of the cement production in Siguaney Factory as well as the calculation of the Eco-efficiency indicators according to the ISO 14045 norms; the Recipe methodology was used including 18 impact categories and the SimaPro 8.1 software was also used. In order to evaluate the eco-efficiency indicators according to the ISO 14045 norm, the results of the impact categories are related to the monetary value indicators, allowing the evaluation of the current situation as well as the consequences of the suggested modifications. As a result, the environmental profiles of P-35 cement (base case) were obtained as well as those of the low carbon ones (LC3-35 y LC3-50) resulting from the clinker substitution by kaolinitic clay after some studies carried out by CIDEM researchers; and the eco-efficiency profiles. The comparison made between P-35 cement and the low-carbon cements showed positive results in eight weather impact categories, however, toxicity-related ones rise due to the increase in electricity consumption connected to the grinding of materials to obtain burnt clay bringing about a greater amount of emissions of volatile organic compounds to the air. An improvement in the eco-efficiency of 6 out of 8 calculated indicators is observed due to a simultaneous decrease in the production costs and the environmental impacts. LC3-50 cement shows the best results. The methodology used permits to evaluate alternatives related to the material substitution in the construction sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the environmental assessment conducted in the centrifugation process fuel that is used as raw material for generating electricity in Power Plants (CE) operating with diesel and the physicochemical characterization of oleaginuos water (ARO) that it generates, it was performed the environmental impact assessment of these waters if they are discharged without any treatment. A matrix of importance was made, which allowed us to identify the impact on the actions and factors by the activity and the generated waste. From the physico-chemical characterization of ARO, a sustainable treatment is proposed with the use of a fixed-bed column filled with sugar cane bagasse as biosorbent material to minimize the environmental impact caused by oleaginous water if spilled. A physicochemical characterization was made to the natural sugar cane bagasse in terms of moisture, density, porosity and high adsorption capacity. The results allowed to define the fraction of interest (+1 -2 mm), given by the performance in the screening (41%), the homogeneity of this fraction and sorption capacity (2g diesel/g BN). The breakthrough curve was obtained by a continuous flow system 2 l/h of ARO through a fixed bed of 59.997 g of BN and an initial concentration of hydrocarbon of 1444.9 mg/l. Studies showed that the sugarcane bagasse has potential as biosorbent oil, achieving a significant removal of the indicator total hydrocarbon, of 65%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Steel foundries are significant pollution sites with manual molding and demolding processes, therefore technology has moved on to molding using self-fragrance resins. In this paper, the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology is applied to evaluate the environmental impacts in a foundry process subject to this technological investment. Objetive: To evaluate the environmental impact of a technological proposal in the molding stage in a steel foundry. Materials and Methods: The input and output flows of the mixtures of sand, gases and solid waste in the traditional molding and chemical molding processes for the production of one ton of steel, as a functional unit, were evaluated and inventoried. SimaPro 8.0 software was used to obtain LCA results. Results and discussion: The results demonstrate the economic and environmental feasibility of chemical molding. In the analysis, it was verified that the return sand is the raw material with the greatest benefit to the impact categories, favoring from climate change to human health and limiting the formation of particles that affect health, ecosystems and natural resources. Conclusions: The LCA methodology quantifies the environmental impacts of steel production and justifies the economic-environmental feasibility of chemical molding, verifying that the return sand is the raw material with the greatest contribution to the impact categories and, as an avoided product that is recycled, favors in the new technology the environmental and damage categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was developed in the dyeing section of the Basic Unit "Desembarco del Granma". The aim of this research was to propose actions of cleaner productions in the dyeing of polyester-cotton fabric. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology and the SimaPro V.8.0 software were applied. The impact on the environment of chemicals and other used resources was quantified. In applying the ReCiPe method, it was determined that, in the category of damages, the resources were the most impacted, where fossil fuel consumption and water have a primordial role. Color matching processes were performed using color matching equipment. The recipes obtained when sodium carbonate was added to the disperse dyes were more easily equated than those that did not have this chemical present at the time of equalizing the dispersion. Performing dyeing on an industrial scale with the optimized recipes saved $ 224.85; which is equivalent to spending 9713.52 $/year. To reduce the environmental impact of the burning of fossil fuel, the ADI3TEK additive was proposed. It could be saved 117.51 $/year if deteriorated insulation is replaced. The implementation of the ReCiPe method allowed to corroborate the benefits obtained by applying the optimized recipes for the dyeing of polyester-cotton fabric in a bath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the results of the study of the economic and social environmental impacts of concrete blocks production in Eco-materials workshop in Manicaragua city. This is an experimental area of local production in Villa Clara, which belongs to Habitat project. The Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool is used through the use of SIMAPRO 7.3 program. For the measurement of environmental impacts, the Eco indicator 99 methodology is applied, and the Life Cycle Cost Analysis (CCV) for the economic ones. The functional units evaluated are the 10 and 15 cm blocks manufactured with two alternatives: natural aggregate and recycled aggregate. The results show that the production of blocks of 10 and 15 cm with recycled aggregate have a greater environmental impact due to the fact that more cement is used than those made with natural aggregate, although they have less impact on the exploitation of the quarries. The economic effect indicates that the blocks with recycled aggregate are more economical at $ 0.16 for those of 10 cm and $ 0.23 for those of 15 cm because they reduce transportation costs and materials. The social impact reveals that the block manufactured with recycled aggregate tends to have a negative influence on health, since it uses more cement, but an additional production of two units is achieved in the case of the 10 cm blocks and three in the 15 cm blocks using the same amount of aggregates from the quarries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The conserved factory "Reinado" is an industry that contribute to environment degradation because it is a high water consumer and generates a great amount of effluents and gaseous emissions. Objective: To carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment in "Reinado" factory through the Life Cycle Analysis methodology. Materials and Methods: The Environmental Diagnosis was carried out using the Methodology for the Environmental Diagnosis Execution to obtain the National Environmental Recognition. The SimaPro software was used for the Life Cycle Analysis, with a focusing cradle-togate. The ReCiPe methodology was used for the impact assessment, in the midpoint and endpoint versions. Results and Discussion: Production process has the greatest influence on environmental impacts, including the pollutants emission into the atmosphere (CO2, SO2, NOx and particulate matter) and excessive water consumption. With proposed actions, the company reduces human health damage in 81.6 % and in 67.8 %; to the ecosystem. It reduces impacts in 54 % by global warming and in 88 % by particulate matter formation and land acidification. Conclusions: The production process is the main polluting factor and with the application of the proposed actions, impact reductions of over 50 % can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste management is essential for the sustainability of the planet, for that, toward it should be the tendency of the researches. The anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction constitutes an attractive process, the results of which show the advantages of phase separation, which allows to optimize acidogenesis and methanogenesis separately and provides high added value products such as hydrogen and others. The objective of this work was to evaluate technically, economically and environmentally an alternative for the management of urban solid waste in Manta, Ecuador from a model that includes recycling processes of the inorganic fraction of the waste, anaerobic digestion in separate phases of the organic fraction and final disposal in a sanitary landfill. The global experimental results show an average removal of total solids (TS) of 58, 24 % with a maximum value of 71,31 %; an average removal of 64,83 % of total volatile solids (STV) with a maximum value of 78,78 %, average yields of hydrogen production of 35 LH2/kg STV feed and methane production of 426 LCH4/kg STV feed. The evaluation by Life Cycle Analysis shows the advantages of the proposed alternative in relation to the current situation of the management of MSW in Manta, with single score values of -7,46 kPt and 15,55 kPt, respectively. The economic analysis reflects the feasibility of the required investment, with a NPV of $ 6 100 987,57 and an TIR of 66 %, which can be recovered in a period of approximately two years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tourist activity generates wastes that impact the environment. Among these, the classified as urban solid wastes occupy an important percentage. In coastal areas with tourist activity case, the integral management of wastes generated by human activity and natural phenomena, requires an efficient management system. Objective: To evaluate the impacts associated with current solid wastes management system generated in a tourist area, as well as treatment alternatives evaluation using Life Cycle Analysis. Materials and Methods: The Life Cycle Analysis using Eco indicator 99 and the landfill design using the Republic of Cuba's regulations for solid waste dumping. Results and Discussion: The results of analysis demonstrate the environmental impacts reduction, the pollutant load reduction and the impacts associated with solid waste management. classification and reuse of materials in transfer plant, reduces the amount of waste to be disposed in the landfill, while generating economic gains. Conclusions: The tourist zone management system after implementing the alternatives, show a decrease in all impacts categories. Proposed management system economic calculations yielded earnings of $ 1 624 462.11 per year and a period of investment recovery of 0.35 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]