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All Environment Publications (92)

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A new tool to measure the carbon reduction impact of urban concrete recycling
  • Academic journal
  • Xiangjin Wang, corresponding author Beijia Huang

Recycling waste concrete is essential to sustainably manage the large amounts produced by urban expansion. Using Shanghai, China, as a case study, this research presents a model to assess the carbon reduction potential of concrete recycling methods. This serves as a tool for decision-makers.

Microplastics found in washing machine wastewater can be transformed into useful nanomaterials
  • Academic journal
  • Directorate-General for Environment, Silvia Parrilla-Lahoz, corresponding author Melis S. Duyar

Cleaning synthetic textiles in washing machines introduces microplastics to wastewater. This study assesses a method of upcycling this waste through heating, finding it able to produce carbon nanomaterials that may be useful across a range of technologies and industries – and supporting circularity.

Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
  • Academic journal
  • Pengyu Chen, corresponding author QianYing Chen

Using data from 279 Chinese cities, this study examines the relationship between green finance and the circular economy. It finds that with good regulation green finance can promote the circular economy, drive innovation and social lending, and help achieve carbon neutrality, among other effects.

Study assesses use of bacteria to build sustainable bioplastic
  • Academic journal
  • Beatriz Altamira-Algarra, corresponding author Joan Garcia

Bioplastics are sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to fossil fuel produced plastics. This study outlines a strategy to produce the bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). It uses diverse communities of photosynthetic microbes (cyanobacteria) to make PHB using sunlight and carbon dioxide.

Finding better method to recycle tricky plastic packaging
  • Academic journal
  • Bhavik R. Bakshi

Multilayer plastic films, used in packaging, are hard to recycle. This study compares six recycling options. The most effective targets each plastic layer with a different solvent. This method reduces climate impacts by about 40% versus landfill, though its gains drop as material quality declines.