| 1. |
- de Sadeleer, Irmeline, et al.
(författare)
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A methodological framework for assessing sustainability aspects of fruit and vegetables
- 2024
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Ingår i: Sustainable Futures. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 2666-1888. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Current European policies and the growing focus on sustainability show a clear need for defining and measuring aspects of sustainability at the food product level. The aim of this study was to develop an indicator-based framework to monitor the sustainability of fruits and vegetables. The framework includes production, packaging, transport, and distribution, and considers economic, ecological, and social aspects. The framework aims to be used by the food production and distribution sector and is intended to use specific data from the value chain for higher relevance for the food industry. Results of a sustainability assessment of carrots are presented, as the first example of application of the framework. Future research should focus on the framework’s validity when applied to other products and other countries.
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| 2. |
- Lerche Raadal, Hanne, et al.
(författare)
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The interaction between Electricity Disclosure and Tradable Green Certificates
- 2012
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Ingår i: Energy Policy. - : Elsevier. - 0301-4215 .- 1873-6777. ; 42, s. 419-428
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Guarantees of Origin (GO) and Electricity Disclosure, as defined in the EU's Renewable Energy and Electricity Market Directives, require that European consumers should be provided with reliable information about the origin of their electricity supply. At the same time, the Renewable Energy Directive requires that support mechanisms be implemented with the aim of increasing the proportion of energy from renewable sources. The Quota System with Tradable Green Certificates (TGC) was established in Sweden as a support mechanism in 2003 and is, from 2012, planned to be extended to become a Swedish-Norwegian system. This article discusses the effects of Electricity Disclosure and the TGC system when working as two separate entities, and the potential interaction between the systems when working in tandem. It appears that Electricity Disclosure may create a customer-driven demand for renewable electricity, which can supplement the TGC system. In the long-term, GOs may thus influence the decisions made by investors in renewable energy. However, currently Electricity Disclosure has very low, or no, impact on the total production of electricity from renewable sources when compared with a stand-alone TGC system.
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| 3. |
- Stenmarck, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Initiatives on prevention of food waste in the retail and wholesale trades
- 2011
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This project was initiated by the Nordic Council of Ministers and its waste prevention group. The project has been focusing on the following issues:*Amounts of food waste from the retail and wholesale sector*Causes for food waste generation*Initiatives to reduce the amounts of food waste*Recommendations for measures that could be taken to change the present situationThe results are based on a literature review and interviews with representatives from the retail and wholesale sector in the Nordic countries.AmountsIn all countries there exists detailed information from retail and wholesale chains but from Denmark and Sweden these data have not been made available for the project as they are not public. In Norway detailed data have been made available through the ForMat project. In Finland some chains have provided data within the project and an estimation of the total value has been made. The data from Norway is considered representative of the composition of food waste and used as to estimate the composition in the other Nordic countries. The most common product groups present in the waste flows are; fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh bakery products. At the bottom of the list there is canned, dried and frozen food, all with very long shelf lives.Causes for food waste generationThe main reason observed in the interviews is that the food becomes “un-saleable". All known causes for this are more or less linked to customers? behaviour or to the shop-owners top priority goal to sell (which means to provide full shelves and a broad variety of products). Other reasons are related to how the shops are operated or how the food is handled in the shops.Initiatives to reduce food wasteA number of initiatives have already been taken within the sector, for example optimisation of the selling of products, better management of orders, better handling of food and increased education of personnel. The interviews showed that one of the important obstacles in reducing food losses is the notion that customers expect full shelves with a great variety of “fresh" food. No one in the sector would introduce measures which might decrease the sales. Much would be won if the behaviour and desires of the customers could be changed.Suggestions for actionsIt is not efficient for authorities to develop regulations that directly interfere with the work being done in companies to limit food waste, but three types of actions should be given priority: *Actions to be taken with the customer in mind. These actions should aim at changing the behaviour and the demands of the customers.*Actions to prevent regulations and policies that might increase the amount of food waste in the retail sector.*Actions that lead to the best treatment of food waste and facilitates donating of food etc.
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| 4. |
- Wallhagen, Marita, 1979-
(författare)
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Environmental Assessment of Buildings and the influence on architectural design
- 2010
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This licentiate thesis examines environmental assessment tools for buildings. This is done by investigating, analysing, comparing and testing how different environmental assessment tools measure the environmental performance of buildings and examining the consequences this may have on architectural design. The study begins by analysing three environmental assessment tools: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and EcoEffect. These tools are then tested on a case study building (an eight-storey residential building) to analyse differences regarding assessment results, improvement proposals and potential impacts on architectural design. One of the environmental impacts assessed in the three tools, namely Climate Change caused by gases having Global Warming Potential (GWP), is then analysed in greater detail from a life cycle perspective by measuring CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq). A basic calculation tool (referred to as the ENSLIC tool), based on life cycle assessment methodology, is used to assess a case study building (a four-storey office building in Gävle). The CO2-eq emissions from a building’s material production and energy use are calculated and the impacts of a number of suggested building improvements and changes of energy sources are analysed. The studies show the complexity of assessment tools and different ways to make comparisons. Both similarities and differences between the tools are apparent, regarding hierarchical structure and also on each hierarchical level, from categories to issues and parameters. It is also shown that the choice of environmental assessment tool may have an influence on the architectural design of buildings. The difficulty with assessing complex buildings is apparent even when only one environmental issue is assessed with the LCA-based ENSLIC tool. Many aspects influence the assessment result. These include energy use, choice of materials and choice of energy sources. The complexity and difficulty in linking buildings to environmental impact create a need for interactive tools measuring environmental performance, which can be useful as decision support in the early design phase.
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| 5. |
- Watson, David, et al.
(författare)
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EPR-systems and new business models. Part II: Policy packages to increase reuse and recycling of textiles in the Nordic region
- 2015
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Abstract in ArabicThis report is the primary outcome from Part II of the project “An extended producer responsibility (EPR) system and new business models to increase reuse and recycling of textiles in the Nordic region” initiated by the Nordic waste group (NAG). The full project – comprising Part I and II – is part of the Nordic Prime Minister’s green growth initiative, The Nordic Region – leading in green growth. The aim of the Part II of the project is to propose three packages of policy instruments for EPR systems and business models based on lessons learned in Part I of the project. Further, the aim is to assess the potential of the different EPR systems and business models in terms of critical factors, risks and synergies. It has been carried out through a combination of literature studies and consultation with key stakeholders.
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| 6. |
- Williams, Helén, 1969-
(författare)
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Food Packaging for Sustainable Development
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Packaging has been on the environmental agenda for decades. It has been discussed and debated within the society mainly as an environmental problem. Production, distribution and consumption of food and drinks contribute significant to the environmental impact. However, consumers in the EU waste about 20% of the food they buy. The function of packaging in reducing the amount of food losses is an important but often neglected environmental issue.This thesis focuses on the functions of packaging that can be used to preserve resources efficiently and reduce the environmental impact of the food-packaging system. The service perspective is used to increase knowledge about consumer interaction with packages. Fifteen packaging attributes, for example, ‘easy to empty’, ‘hygienic’ and ‘contain the right quantity’, were identified as influencing the amount of food losses at the consumer. The result showed that there are potentials to both increase consumer satisfaction and decrease the environmental impact of the food-packaging system, when new packaging design reduces food losses. A model was developed that calculates the balance of environmental impact between reduction of food losses, and more packaging material. The result showed that it can be environmentally motivated to increase the environmental impact of packaging, if the amount of food losses is reduced. This is especially true for food items with high environmental impact, e.g. meat and dairy products, and for food items that have a high share of loss, e.g. bread.I have also explored to what extent packaging can influence food losses in households. The study showed that about 20% to 25% of household food waste was related to packaging. The households noted three packaging attributes as the main causes for food losses; ‘too big packaging’, ‘difficult to empty’ and ‘best-before-date’.Finally there is a discussion of packaging research in the context of sustainability principles, and suggestions for further research.
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