4th World Conference on Sustainability, Energy and Environment

.The logistics sector has grown significantly in recent decades due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the expansion of the e-commerce industry. This growth has caused logistics to be one of the primary contributors to environmental pollution, mainly due to fossil fuel usage across various transportation modes. As cities expand and logistical demands increase, sustainable methods within global and urban logistics have become essential to reduce this ecological impact. In this line, the concept introduced as sustainable city logistics has emerged specifically to address the environmental impact of urban transportation. As electric vehicles continue to gain popularity, they are becoming a fundamental solution for reducing emissions, particularly in densely populated urban areas where air quality is a serious concern. In addition, implementing multi-echelon, or multi-tier, distribution systems is emerging as another key sustainability practice in logistics. At each stage of such systems, goods are consolidated at intermediate facilities, often referred to as transhipment hubs or 'satellites,' before being transferred to different vehicles for the next delivery phase. Adopting eco-friendly vehicles, especially for last-mile delivery, along with multi-echelon distribution systems, provides numerous benefits. These include reduced traffic congestion, lower pollution levels, and minimized transportation costs. However, the success of these strategies depends on optimized transportation planning and the efficient allocation of resources. Advanced decision-making approaches from operations research and artificial intelligence are critical in addressing problem-specific complexities, such as limited battery range, en-route recharging requirements of electric vehicles, and the complex structure of the multi-echelon distribution networks. This study presents a holistic approach to sustainable city logistics, focusing on energy-efficient transportation through multi-echelon distribution, eco-friendly vehicles, and advanced route optimization.

Piipee, an award-winning Brazilian startup, is pioneering efforts to reduce urban water consumption by transforming toilet flushing practices. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that toilet flushing accounts for nearly 30% of daily household water use, each flush can consume up to 13 liters of potable water. According to Sabesp, which supplies the megacity of São Paulo in Brazil, 42% of daily water consumption is dedicated solely to toilet flushing. A similar situation occurs in Mexico, where, according to a 2019 report by UNIAM, flushing represents, on average, 40% of daily water use, the first daily use of water in Mexico. Piipee addresses this issue with a biodegradable product, using natural extracts and nanotechnology, that treats urine waste and neutralizes odors, eliminating the need for flushing. Piipee replaces the average 13 liters per flush with just 1 ml of its solution. This study examines Piipee’s product development process, market viability, and environmental impact. Trials show Piipee can reduce water use by up to 30% in residential and commercial settings, drawing attention from sustainability-focused businesses and institutions. Customer feedback highlights both environmental benefits and cost savings from reduced water use. Customer feedback consistently highlights both environmental benefits and cost savings associated with reduced water usage. In conclusion, Piipee offers a scalable, sustainable solution to mitigate urban water waste, with significant implications for global water conservation efforts. This case study illustrates Piipee’s potential to drive significant change in resource efficiency and serve as a model for integrating sustainability into everyday urban practices.

An Increasing environmental concern over plastic waste have heightened interest in sustainable polymer recycling, especially for polypropylene, which is widely used in textile industry spool cones. This study investigates the potential of recycling polypropylene from these spools to create filament for 3D printing, using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) technology. The research involves three primary phases: collecting and preparing post-consumer polypropylene spools, extruding the recycled polypropylene into filament, and optimizing the filament properties for effective use in 3D printing. The recycling process starts with cleaning, shredding, and treating the polypropylene spools to ensure consistent feedstock quality. During filament extrusion, critical parameters such as temperature, screw speed, and cooling rates are carefully adjusted to achieve a uniform filament diameter and minimize distortion. The mechanical properties of the recycled filaments, including tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus, are tested through tensile analysis on dog-bone-shaped samples printed in various orientations (0°, 45°, and 90°). The filament's effectiveness for FDM printing is evaluated by measuring dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and layer adhesion on both standard test specimens and more complex shapes. The study demonstrates that recycled polypropylene could serve as a sustainable option for 3D printing applications. With suitable optimization, recycled filaments may perform comparably to virgin materials, thus supporting waste reduction and advancing circular economy principles in additive manufacturing. Future research will focus on long-term performance assessments and further improvements to the recycling process, broadening the material's potential use across a wider range of applications.

Galamsey, illegal small-scale mining in Ghana, organised outside Ghana’s mining regulatory framework, has surged in popularity, largely due to poverty, unemployment, and its seemingly attractive prospect. The glaring impact of galamsey is not only on the economy but the environment, communities, and future generations. This study explores the application of Philip Zimbardo’s "Lucifer Effect" to understand behaviors fueling Galamsey, or illegal small-scale mining, in Ghana. The Lucifer Effect suggests that ordinary individuals may engage in harmful or unethical actions when exposed to environments that foster moral erosion. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, about 210 respondents were surveyed from key mining communities such as Anyinam, Asamang Tamfoe, and Osino. Findings revealed that economic pressures, weak institutional controls, and the normalization of Galamsey within communities are significant drivers of participation, with over 60% of respondents indicating financial incentives or “get-rich-quick” motives as primary motivators. The study highlights Galamsey's adverse impacts on environmental sustainability, economic stability, and social equity, which impede progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like Clean Water (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15). By illustrating how situational and systemic pressures lead to moral disengagement, this research provides critical insights into the socio-economic and psychological dynamics sustaining Galamsey, offering policymakers valuable recommendations for addressing illegal mining and its detrimental impact on Ghana’s communities and environment.

This study explores three key initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable consumption in the textile industry by leveraging consumer engagement, fabric waste reduction, and cultural heritage integration. The first initiative examines Komda, a platform for second-hand clothing resale, where consumers buy and sell pre-owned clothing directly among themselves, encouraging circular fashion and reducing waste. Although Komda is a separate initiative not conducted by the authors, it serves as an example of a successful platform in the circular fashion movement. The second initiative involved a textile manufacturing company distributing fabric waste free of charge to individuals with sewing skills, enabling them to create new products like hair ties and lingerie at home. Additionally, the company provided a sales space for these handmade products in its stores, empowering local entrepreneurs and further promoting circularity. The third initiative consisted of hosting events for the company’s customer club, where customers were taught basic clothing repair techniques, allowing them to extend the life of their garments. A survey conducted as part of the study revealed that consumers were more likely to engage with products featuring designs connected to the country's cultural and artistic heritage. Notably, 70% of respondents reported that incorporating traditional designs and learning garment repairs at home led them to buy fewer clothes. These findings demonstrate the potential of combining cultural identity with sustainable practices to reduce fast-fashion consumption while fostering long-term consumer attachment. The results suggest that such initiatives can effectively promote sustainability within the fashion industry, highlighting the importance of consumer education and engagement in creating lasting change.

In anticipation of the approaching end of exhaustible energy reserves, in the context of ever higher needs for electricity production, in the framework of the transition to a circular economy and achieving the goals of sustainable development, the issue of energy supply is becoming more and more closely related with renewable energy sources These investment intentions bring with them a huge ecological problem, namely the construction of photovoltaic parks on very large areas of really valuable natural territories - protected areas, agricultural lands and pastures, even dams. The impact of photovoltaic plants, located out of urbanized areas, can be summarized as follows: loss of habitats, barrier effect to wildlife, disruption of soil layers, ground cover induced by the panels (shading, rain regime change, erosion due to runoff), changes in the abiotic factors of the environment. By covering the soil with solar modules, the amount of precipitation (rain, snow, dew) is reduced. This can lead to surface drying of the soil. When large PV modules have been used, run-off rainwater can lead to soil erosion, especially during heavy rainfall, mainly in installations on slopes and exposed soils where water does not absorb well. The heating of the modules in large photovoltaic plants can lead to an impact on the local microclimate, e.g. heating of the adjacent territory or convection. In the case of small and large mammals, there is a complete loss of habitat as a result of the fencing of the production site.

.Aerobic digestion has been commonly applied in wastewater treatment; however, it consumes much electricity due to its aeration process. In this study, anaerobic digestion (AD) is used as an alternative to treat wastewater using non-aerated condition and also methane generated during the AD can be used as potential energy source, thus the overall energy requirement and carbon dioxide emission can be significantly reduced. Prior to AD, pre-concentration of organic content of wastewater like chemical oxygen demand (COD) using forward osmosis (FO) was attempted to improve the treatment efficiency of the AD process. Seawater is used for toilet flushing in coastal areas, e.g. Hong Kong, resulting in high salinity would be found in sewage, therefore, 28‰ sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was selected as draw solution to effectively extract water from sewage during the FO process. Synthetic domestic wastewater (SDW) containing 4‰ NaCl was tested by a small-scale FO chamber (3 cm x 7 cm membrane) with 250 mL/min flowrate using peristaltic pumps. Results showed that high water flux (>5 litres per m2 hour, LMH) and high-volume reduction of SDW (5X) can be achieved after 96 hours of FO operation. Besides, in the presence of salinity (~2.25‰), >80% COD removal was observed after 21 days of anaerobic digestion of SDW, using AD inoculum isolated from mangrove sediment. Further optimization study on methane generation and COD removal during the AD process would be conducted. This study demonstrates a promising direction to reduce energy consumption in wastewater treatment by using innovative hybrid system.

Human activities have significantly increased the global CO2 level (>400 ppm) resulting in global warming and extreme climate changes. Microalgae can be used to remove CO2 by its high bio-fixation rate. In this study, microalgae bio-fixation at different levels of CO2 (i.e., atmospheric condition and flue gas ~20%) was conducted in the presence and absence of enzyme; carbonic anhydrase (CA), which was extracted from microbial cells to catalyse the conversion process between dissolved CO2 gas and HCO3- ion in the growth medium, while microalgae can readily utilize the HCO3- for their growth and biomass production. Growth of microalgae was measured by OD600nm, medium pH was critically monitored and bio-fixation rate was determined by dry weight of the biomass produced after the cultivation process. Results showed that growth of marine green microalgae; Tetraselmis sp. was double (OD600nm) when adding higher amount of essential nutrient NaNO3 (i.e., 0.4 to 0.8 mM). On the other hand, supply of CO2 without proper pH control greatly affected the bio-fixation process, since initial acidification of culture medium in the presence of high CO2 content (i.e., flue gas) was observed. Furthermore, slow microalgae growth was also observed at elevated pH (> 9) when more CO2 was removed from the culture medium. The bio-fixation rates were determined in 2.473 g/L/day and 1.160 g/L/day at 20% CO2 with 5 mL CA (3.304 mg/mL of total protein) and 0.04% CO2 (atmospheric level) without CA, respectively. Optimization study on medium pH, CO2 level and amount of CA would be further conducted to enhance the bio-fixation rate for achieving higher CO2 removal. In summary, effective CO2 removal is demonstrated by a simple microalgae cultivation process assisted with enzyme CA.

This study presents a techno-economic and environmental analysis of carbon capture in constructed buildings using natural means, focusing on its alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using OpenLCA data analysis, a comparison was conducted between conventional and green buildings. The research identified the net cost and added value of both conventional and green buildings. The economic analysis revealed that while the initial investment in green building technologies and materials may be higher, the long-term benefits, such as reduced energy consumption and operational costs, contribute to cost savings over the building's lifespan. Additionally, the added value of green buildings, including improved indoor air quality, enhanced occupant comfort, and positive environmental impact, further strengthens their economic viability. The results showed that the conventional building emitted approximately 4.9*10^11 kg of CO2, while the green building released only 3236 kg of CO2. This significant difference highlights the environmental benefits of implementing sustainable practices in construction. Aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and the SDGs, the findings underscore the importance of incorporating sustainable practices in the construction industry. By reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy-efficient design, the construction sector can contribute significantly to the country's environmental goals and create a more sustainable future. The results of this research highlight the potential for adopting carbon capture technologies in the construction industry, not only in Oman but also in other regions facing similar sustainability challenges. Future studies can build upon these findings by exploring additional aspects of sustainable construction and evaluating the long-term environmental and economic benefits in more detail.

.Biomass and plastic in Agro residue, organic industrial and civic waste provides a huge potential to harvest energy from waste. Biomass gasification is a quite mature technology finding its use in various sectors. Plastic is also a solid hydrocarbon waste like biomass. Biomass-Plastic co-gasification has been performed successfully with upto 25% plastic mix in biomass waste. Plastic yields more Hydrogen than biomass and is having high energy density. Oxy-steam gasification, in a downdraft configuration, yields syngas of high energy density (8-10 MJ/Nm3). Oxy-steam biomass gasifier is designed using oxygen and superheated steam mixture as reactant. Steam to biomass ratio is varied from 0.75 to 2.7 and ER from 0.2 to 0.3. H2 yield of 104 g/kg of biomass is obtained. System efficiency is evaluated and CFD based numerical model developed from fundamentals. Oxy-steam gasification has proved to be highly efficient system with over 80% efficiency achieved at lower steam to biomass ratio of 0.75. The high energy density in the range of 8-9 MJ/Nm3 has been achieved which makes it better fuel compared to producer gas obtained from air gasification.

.This paper explores the severe environmental, social, and economic impacts of ‘galamsey’ (illegal small-scale mining) on Ghana’s natural resources and communities. The study provides an in-depth analysis of how uncontrolled ‘galamsey’ operations have led to widespread deforestation, water pollution, and the destruction of arable land, particularly in rural mining areas. These activities undermine the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 15 (life on land) and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), threatening long-term environmental sustainability in Ghana. The study offers a unique perspective on the intersection of illegal mining and sustainable development, drawing from both field observations and existing literature providing a comprehensive and multi-dimensional analysis of galamsey. Through qualitative research methods, including interviews with local communities, environmental agencies, and government officials, the paper offers a comprehensive view of the causes and consequences of ‘galamsey’. Analysis of field data gathered revealed that overwhelmingly, the role of weak governance, corruption, and socio-economic factors are catalyst for the devastating ‘galamsey’ menace. This paper contributes original insights into the intersection of illegal mining and sustainable development in Ghana but also addresses its social and economic causes. Furthermore, the study’s multi-dimensional approach-linking environmental damage to broader socio-political challenges provides a holistic understanding of the crisis. In response to the challenges, the paper offers practical perspectives that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it relevant for policymakers, environmental advocates, and international development organizations. These including strengthening the enforcement of existing mining laws and environmental protection regulations, promoting alternative livelihood programs, such as sustainable agriculture, formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) through simplified licensing processes and providing miners with access to cleaner technologies that reduce environmental harm and raising public awareness about the long-term environmental and health risks associated with galamsey. The paper is particularly valuable to policymakers, environmental activists, and development practitioners seeking to align Ghana’s mining sector with the goals of sustainable development and environmental conservation.

This study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic potential of PM1 organic extracts using the Ames test both with and without metabolic activation by employing Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 (to detect frameshift mutations) and TA100 (to detect base-pair substitutions) and quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Weekly samples were collected over a one-year period (2021-2022) from urban locations in Agra, utilizing an Envirotech APM577 sampler. The annual mean concentration of PM1 was found to be 82.9 ± 33.4 µg/m³, while the mean concentration of the sixteen priority PAHs (∑16PAHs) was 374.5 ± 17.2 ng/m³. Low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs, constituted 22 ± 2 % of the total PAHs associated with PM1, whereas high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs comprised the remaining 80 ±12 %. The concentration of carcinogenic PAHs (∑PAH carcinogens) was recorded at 251.6 ± 10.2 ng/m³. It was further observed that TA98 showed a six-fold increase in mutagenic response in winter compared to post-monsoon, while TA100 showed a 1.5-fold increase. This suggests a dominance of direct-acting compounds in winter. Conversely, the addition of S9 resulted in a three-fold increase in the mutagenic response in TA98 and a 2.5-fold increase in TA100 in post-monsoon, indicating a prevalence of indirect mutagens during this period. The mutagenic response was particularly pronounced in the TA100 strain, which is more sensitive to base pair mutations. Notably, the addition of the S9 mix did not significantly affect mutagenic activity in the TA100 strain, suggesting that direct mutagenesis is likely driven by nitrogenated and oxygenated compounds. However, in the TA98 strain, the mutagenic response increased with the addition of the S9 mix in samples collected during the summer and post-monsoon seasons. In contrast, winter samples showed a higher mutagenic response without the S9 mix, highlighting the complex interaction between air pollutants and their mutagenic potential across different seasons. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between PAHs and mutagenic ratio for both total PAHs and individual PAH compounds, such as Benzo (a)Pyrene (B[a]P) r = 0.7, Benzo (b) Fluoranthene (B[b]F) r = 0.5, and Acenaphthene (Ace) r = 0.7. These results underscore the significant role of PAHs in driving mutagenicity in urban air and emphasize the health risks associated with air pollution. The pronounced mutagenic effects observed, particularly during the winter and post-monsoon seasons, suggest that these PM1-bound compounds pose a substantial risk to public health in urban environments.

This research investigates the intricate nexus between CO2 emissions, economic growth, population dynamics, and the energy transition in the BRICS economies. Employing a panel ARDL approach, robust cointegration analyses provide proof of the long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. The panel ARDL model reveals that higher GDP per capita (indicating greater affluence) and population growth had positive long-run impacts, driving up CO2 emissions. However, these effects are counterbalanced by the negative consequences of increased renewable energy consumption (reflecting technological progress) and longer life expectancy (demographic transition), which help reduce emissions. Interestingly, the Panel Causality assessment uncovered bidirectional causality among GDP per capita and CO2 emissions, highlighting their complex interplay. Additionally, the research found that renewable energy consumption, population growth, and life expectancy had unidirectional causal impacts on CO2 emissions. Notably, the significant error correction term confirmed that the BRICS nations converge towards a long-run sustainable equilibrium path balancing these factors over time. The robustness estimation using the fully modified ordinary least squares and the dynamic ordinary least squares confirmed the results from the ARDL. The findings reinforce the validity of the IPAT (Impact = Population * Affluence * Technology) framework, recognizing the interconnectedness of population, affluence, and technology as key drivers of environmental impact. This study provides empirical insights to guide policymakers in designing coordinated interventions to promote sustainable economic development while mitigating adverse ecological consequences in the BRICS economies.

In recent years, significant interest has emerged in utilizing industrial waste by-products, such as blast furnace slag or fly ash, for the production of geopolymer concretes (GPC). However, the exploration, characterization, and optimization of geopolymer concretes incorporating magnesium slag (MS) remain under-researched. In this research, magnesium slag was used to create an environmentally friendly, one-part mixing geopolymer concrete that cures at ambient temperature. The alumino-silicate precursors employed were magnesium slag and fly ash, while hybridization of anhydrous sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) was used as alkaline activators. The initial properties were evaluated using workability tests; specifically setting time and flowability. To assess the hardened properties of the newly developed geopolymer concrete specimens- cube, cylinder and prism- were conducted for compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and drying shrinkage. To evaluate the microstructure of the geopolymer concrete mix; X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) examinations were conducted. After initial, hardened and microstructure analyses; the cost and environmental impact was assessed by measuring the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of the geopolymer concrete constituents. The experimental study demonstrated that incorporating fly ash into magnesium slag based one- part mixing geopolymers enhanced their reactivity, enabling hardening at ambient temperature.