C.M.V.B. Almeida

Developing eco-technologies: A possibility to minimize environmental impact in Southern Brazil

Abstract This article discusses the need to integrate scientific research with the concept of Industrial Ecology, acting as support for the development of Eco-technologies. In order to proceed with the discussion, an initial section presents the concepts. A new and more accurate position concerning the extension of Eco-technologies in the context of Industrial Ecology is proposed. Emphasis on the role of academic scientific research as a way to propose and support specific solutions for local problems. Thus, alternative solutions based on the application of non-conventional technologies, which explore the unique regional characteristics of a Brazilian region, are examined. The sharing of waste streams generated by two polluting industries, mining and leather tanning, can lead to lower environmental impact if compared with separate management of their wastes. A comprehensive bibliographic review of non-conventional technologies related to heavy metal attenuation is included.

Cleaner production initiatives and challenges for a sustainable world

A medium size agribusiness located at Sao Sebastiao do Paraiso, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is evaluated in order to determine the effects of the integrated production process in its productivity. Results are compared with those obtained for agribusiness without integration. The farm is composed by an integrated production of corn, eggs, pigs and milk. Emergy accounting is applied to evaluate the energy and materials flows driving the production process. The farm total emergy is 1,23 x 10 seJ/ano. The values obtained for eggs, pigs and milk are, respectively, 24, 5 e 6 times higher than the results observed in literature for traditional production systems. Global productivity values for the three by-products are indicate that integrated production processes are more environmentally efficient.

Primary evidences on the robustness of environmental accounting from emergy

Agricultural systems operate in the interface between environment and human economy, combining the use of natural and purchased resources in food production. With the aid of the ternary diagram, data of agricultural systems taken from literature are organized in order to evidence the influence of the type of culture and of the analyst’s criteria on the results of environmental accounting in emergy. All the systems represented in the ternary diagram determine a qualitatively well-defined region, less or more extended according to the case. Points defined for the emergy coordinates were localized in defined regions observed in the diagram. Emergy accounting is presented as a method able to environmentally characterize production systems in a robust way, even with variations in analyst’s criteria and data nature or origin. It is shown that the results of environmental accounting obtained with the use of the emergy methodology are only slightly influenced by the analyst’s criteria. On the other hand, the ternary diagram appears as an interesting graphical tool to determine finding and checking robustness of emergy accounting. The robustness of emergy methodology is remarkable.

An evaluation of a MSW-to-energy system using Emergy synthesis

This paper presents a biophysical understanding of the MSW-to-energy facility located at the Sao Joao landfill in Sao Paulo using Emergy synthesis. Accounting for the material inputs and the biogas accumulation Emergy-based indices are calculated to evaluate the environmental load and sustainability level of the concerned biogas project. The study was conducted by combining the analysis of transformities, Emergy indicators and the net Emergy yield ratio to establish long-term sustainability and measure global environmental stress. The implementation of a project for environmental compensation in fulfilment of state’s requirements was also assessed. The findings reveal that the Emergy investment to the use of biogas is quite low and, therefore, advantageous. Transformities show that the global productivity of the MSW-to-energy plants can compete with traditional plants. The conclusions justify the effort invested in developing MSW-to-energy plants and are relevant for policy makers in a highly sensitive sector to accomplish sustainability goals.

Implementação de Eco-Tecnologias rumo à ecologia industrial

This work displays a reflection on conceptual changes of the development/implementation of EcoTechnology from an Industrial Ecology perspective. Initially, the fundamentals of the concepts Cleaner Technology and Eco-Technology are discussed. An extensive bibliographic review of non-conventional technologies is presented for positioning Production in a strategic context. Drawing on examples fromThis work displays a reflection on conceptual changes of the development/implementation of Eco-Technology from an Industrial Ecology perspective. Initially, the fundamentals of the concepts Cleaner Technology and Eco-Technology are discussed. An extensive bibliographic review of non-conventional technologies is presented for positioning Production in a strategic context. Drawing on examples from heavy metal attenuation, such as chromium from tannery industry, this work discusses the need of including scientific research on the concept of Industrial Ecology, by means of the development of Eco-Technologies. This paper brings to discussion a clear definition of Eco-Technology employing a proposition for application of these technologies to industrial sectors in South Brazil. The work attributes great responsability to professionals who may estimulate sinergistic actions in industries, regarding the disposal and effluent treatment, as alternative to the present isolated practices.

Avaliação de impacto da escala econômica na dimensão ambiental das empresas do ISE da BM & FBOVESPA conforme parâmetros da Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente (Lei nº 10.165)

Stock exchange is the space in which companies can raise capital by stimulating entrepreneurial activity. Environmentally responsible investors seek to invest in stocks of sustainable enterprises because they are more profitable. Given this demand, the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) was created in Brazil in 2005 - a pioneer initiative in Latin America and the fourth indicator of this kind in the world. This index compares the performance of the companies listed on the Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM & FBOVESPA) considering aspects of the sustainability concept. It is an index of referential actions for socially responsible investments comprising companies that excel in sustainability in the long term. The purpose of this index is to create an environment for investment compatible with the demands of society`s sustainable development and encourage more sustainable practices in businesses. Investments in sustainable companies create value for the shareholder, because these companies are better prepared to face economic, social and environmental risks. Integrating the ISE is equivalent to having a quality seal recognized by the market as a company that operates under the concepts of sustainability. For the 40 companies listed in the ISE in 2013, according to standards of the National Environmental Policy Act (Law No. 10,165), interference on a territory was ranked by their potential for pollution and use of natural resources. However, Law No. 10,165 does not include in its classification the economic scale impact of the potential pollution and use of natural resources of these enterprises. When the impact of the economic scale of the members of the ISE in 2013 is considered, the original classification of Law No. 10,165 is expanded, enabling stakeholders to measure the interference of these companies in the biosphere. SABESP, CPFL ENERGIA, TELEFONICA BRASIL (Vivo), CEMIG, OI, FOODS BRF (Sadia, Perdigao, Batavo and Elege), ELETROBRAS, BRASKEN, GERDAU, IPIRANGA and VALE are companies that require greater attention from stakeholders, because they present high potential for pollution and use of natural resources according to the extended parameters of Law No. 10,165.

Greening A Cuban Local Mango Supply Chain: Sustainability Options and Management Strategies

Resumo Articulating all actors and activities of supply chain having an impact on sustainability is a complex task especially for a limited domestic market production sector. This complexity is the result of several factors, such as the quality of the product, the degree of competitiveness and the high costs of transactions, which arise from a small economic scale. This paper proposes a sustainability analysis using emergy accounting and the Cleaner Production approach applied to the case study of a mango pulp supply chain on a local level in Santiago de Cuba. The results obtained show that the current agricultural economy model is characterized by i) the use of chemical fertilizers, II) a large presence of labor and iii) a small use of natural resources. The cleaner production strategy applied to the local fruit supply chain increased the benefits for ecosystems and society. Emergy indices pointed towards higher efficiency, lower energy appropriation for production, lesser pressure on the environment, and a greater contribution to the local economy. The assessment method used proved to be helpful in evaluating the agricultural chains dynamics, especially, after the introduction of Cleaner Production practices

Avaliação em emergia como ferramenta de gestão nos parques urbanos de São Paulo

O municipio de Sao Paulo vem investindo na implantacao de areas verdes para melhoria da qualidade de vida da populacao. Neste sentido, a Secretaria do Verde e do Meio Ambiente do municipio de Sao Paulo vem ampliando a cobertura vegetal por meio de um programa de arborizacao e da criacao de novos parques urbanos. Entretanto, nao ha uma avaliacao quantitativa dos beneficios ambientais providos por esta iniciativa. Este trabalho utiliza a contabilidade ambiental em emergia para avaliar 73 parques da cidade de Sao Paulo. Para todo o conjunto dos parques, foram calculados os indicadores e os custos em emergia a fim de avaliar quais parques aproveitam mais os recursos da natureza, quais demandam maiores investimentos da prefeitura e quais fornecem maior quantidade de servicos ambientais para a cidade. A razao entre os recursos da natureza e os recursos provenientes da economia (I/F) foi estabelecida como um importante indicador para a gestao dos parques urbanos existentes e a relacao I/F x Em

Streamlined Life Cycle Inventory of Dental Syringes Manufacturing

/m2 e proposta como indicador para tomada de decisao, permitindo determinar a melhor configuracao de cada parque e priorizar as acoes para novos projetos e para a manutencao dos antigos.

Activity-Based Costing Using Multicriteria Drivers: An Accounting Proposal to Boost Companies Toward Sustainability

Among the methods proposed to environmental management of productive activities, Life Cycle Assessment is one of the most integrated, complete and effective. The product assessed is the dental Carpule syringe. The aim of this work is to achieve a Streamlined Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) to quantify the electric energy consumption and the solid waste release from dental Carpule syringes manufacture. The methodological framework is based on ISO 14040/2006. The LCI covers the syringe life cycle from mining to disposal. The limits of the system include the stages of copper and zinc mining and ore beneficiation, the production of polyethylene used for syringe and needle packing, the production of steel for needles and syringe coils, and the use of the whole set by dentists. The functional unit was defined as 10 6 (one million) applied anesthesia. During improvement assessment, the proposed solutions allow reducing the energy consumption at about 20% in the manufacturing stage. The solid waste quantity may be reduced by almost 40 % in the manufacturing stage, equivalent to approximately 6.5 % of the total solid waste released during the entire life cycle of the Carpule dental syringe.