Article
Environmental Sciences
Ezequiel M. Arrieta, Milva Geri, Julia Becaria Coquet, Carlos Matias Scavuzzo, Maria Elisa Zapata, Alejandro D. Gonzalez
Summary: The survey revealed inadequate intake of healthy foods and excess of unhealthy nutrients among different socio-economic levels in Argentina, along with high environmental footprints. The Argentinian diet was found to be unhealthy and unsustainable across all socio-economic levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Durba Kashyap, Marion de Vries, Annette Pronk, Witono Adiyoga
Summary: This study aimed to quantify the environmental impacts of Indonesian vegetable production and the relative contribution of different farm inputs. Results showed that organic fertilizer use contributed the most to impact categories of global warming, freshwater eutrophication, and acidification, indicating the importance of including organic fertilizer use in vegetable production in Indonesia.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fusong Wang, Inge Hoff, Fei Yang, Shaopeng Wu, Jun Xie, Na Li, Lei Zhang
Summary: This study compares the energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of advanced asphalt pavement constructions using self-healing, steel slag recycling, and warm mix technology. Results show that warm mix asphalt pavement is the most environmentally friendly overall, but the environmental burdens generated in materials extraction stage are significant. Factors such as recycled materials applications, transport distance managements, and located climate conditions have a striking impact on the environmental effects of asphalt pavement construction.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica A. Gephart, Patrik J. G. Henriksson, Robert W. R. Parker, Alon Shepon, Kelvin D. Gorospe, Kristina Bergman, Gidon Eshel, Christopher D. Golden, Benjamin S. Halpern, Sara Hornborg, Malin Jonell, Marc Metian, Kathleen Mifflin, Richard Newton, Peter Tyedmers, Wenbo Zhang, Friederike Ziegler, Max Troell
Summary: This study provides estimates of environmental stressors for farmed and wild capture blue foods, showing that farmed bivalves and seaweeds generate the lowest stressors while capture fisheries predominantly generate greenhouse gas emissions.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ashraf Alkhtib, Philippe Wilson, Mike R. Bedford, Helen Nell Masey O'Neill, Emily Burton
Summary: This systematic review investigates the relevance of existing life cycle analysis (LCA) and environmental assessment studies in informing sustainable poultry meat production strategies. A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was conducted on articles published from 2000 to 2020, covering LCA studies on meat poultry strains, poultry manure emission, and environmental assessments of plant-based feed ingredients. The review found that there is a lack of reliable in vivo data to support the use of existing studies for guiding nutritional strategies and poultry meat production.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xin He, Qiang Hu, Jialing Chen, Wei Quan Leong, Yanjun Dai, Chi-Hwa Wang
Summary: This paper demonstrates the potential and advantages of chicken manure gasification through the energy, environmental, and microbial risk assessments of an industrial-scale plant in Singapore.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shouheng Sun, Myriam Ertz
Summary: This study investigates the impact of mutualized mobility on urban transportation systems' greenhouse gas emissions in Beijing and Toronto. The results suggest that mutualized mobility can positively affect the sustainability of urban transport systems, although the impacts vary depending on the specific mode of mutualized transportation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yan Jiang, Yizhen Zhang, Shun Wang, Zhongzhong Wang, Yanchen Liu, Zhenhu Hu, Xinmin Zhan
Summary: The study found that the co-digestion of food waste and pig manure performs better in reducing environmental impacts compared to existing practices, but there are still hotspots such as methane emissions during digestate storage, ammonia emissions during land application, and energy consumption. The global warming potential only becomes negative when the food waste proportion is over 2000 t/yr.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alan Rotz, Robert Stout, April Leytem, Gary Feyereisen, Heidi Waldrip, Greg Thoma, Michael Holly, David Bjorneberg, John Baker, Peter Vadas, Peter Kleinman
Summary: Through simulation of dairy farms in different regions, it was found that the dairy industry in the United States has a certain impact on national environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, fossil energy use, water resources, and nitrogen loss. While the environmental footprint of dairy farms in the U.S. is relatively small in the national context, their contribution to reactive nitrogen losses is significant.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Clare Bassi, Rachael Maysels, Rob Anex
Summary: The food system plays a major role in climate change and shifts in consumption patterns, particularly regarding beef consumption, have led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with the US diet. From 2003 to 2018, the average GHG emissions of the US diet decreased by over 35%, mainly due to a 40% decline in beef consumption. All demographic subgroups showed a reduction in GHG emissions associated with their diets, but the extent of change varied. Black women had the lowest emissions, while men aged 20-34 had the largest rate of reduction in emissions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Ali Pourahmadiyan, Pouria Ahmadi, Erik Kjeang
Summary: This study developed a regional life cycle assessment framework to evaluate CNG and LNG as fuel alternatives for transit buses in Victoria, Canada. Results showed switching from diesel to CNG or LNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4.8% and 8.1% respectively, with the majority of emissions associated with on-board emissions.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ligang Shi, Xinzhu Qi, Zhaojing Yang, Lulu Tao, Yuqing Li, Jinghan Qiu, Xintong Jiang
Summary: The building sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to conduct extensive research on low-carbon buildings with the implementation of China's carbon peak and carbon-neutral strategies. This study compared residential and public buildings in China, Finland, and the United States using life cycle assessment, and identified significant differences in greenhouse gas emissions during various stages of the building life cycle. The results suggest that utilizing clean energy sources, materials with low global warming potential, and specific building structures can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. A. Parvez Mahmud, Shahjadi Hisan Farjana
Summary: The choice of power plants in different nations depends on the availability, abundance, and reliability of resources. Renewable energy generation systems provide a more sustainable solution than fossil fuels, but they also have overall environmental impacts. This paper addresses the environmental effects caused by different types of renewable energy generation systems through life-cycle impact analysis. A comparative study is carried out among wind, photovoltaic, biomass, and hydro power. The key findings reveal the environmental impacts of different technologies and conclude that hydropower plants are more environment-friendly.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maryam Safaripour, Ahmad Ghanbari, Esmaeel Seyedabadi, Ghasideh Pourhashem
Summary: This study investigates the potential environmental advantages of converting wheat straw to bioethanol and finds that the production and collection of straw are the main contributors to the environmental impacts of bioethanol.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Febelyn Reguyal, Kun Wang, Ajit K. Sarmah
Summary: New Zealand's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 has led to the encouragement of electric vehicle (EV) use. A study using life cycle assessment (LCA) found that lithium-ion battery (LIB) production and disposal contribute the most to the environmental impact of EV adoption in the country. Increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity production and reusing spent LIB could significantly reduce the environmental impacts of EVs in New Zealand.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elisabeth H. M. Temme, Reina E. Vellinga, Henri de Ruiter, Susanna Kugelberg, Mirjam van de Kamp, Anna Milford, Roberta Alessandrini, Fabio Bartolini, Alberto Sanz-Cobena, Adrian Leip
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elly Mertens, Sander Biesbroek, Marcela Dofkova, Lorenza Mistura, Laura D'Addezio, Aida Turrini, Carine Dubuisson, Sabrina Havard, Ellen Trolle, Johanna M. Geleijnse, Pieter van't Veer
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Samantha N. Heerschop, Sander Biesbroek, Elisabeth H. M. Temme, Marga C. Ocke
Summary: The study identified three major healthy and sustainable dietary patterns in the Dutch population, with the low meat dietary pattern being the most healthy and sustainable. However, diets high in fruits and vegetables were associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions and blue water use compared to the average population. The addition of blue water use as an environmental impact indicator highlights the challenge of finding dietary patterns with low environmental impact across all determinants.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Minami Sugimoto, Elisabeth H. M. Temme, Sander Biesbroek, Argyris Kanellopoulos, Hitomi Okubo, Aya Fujiwara, Keiko Asakura, Shizuko Masayasu, Satoshi Sasaki, Pieter Van't Veer
Summary: This study used a data envelopment analysis diet model to explore more sustainable dietary patterns for Japanese. The results showed that improvements can be made in terms of nutritional quality, economic cost, and greenhouse gas emissions, but there are trade-offs and limitations between different indicators.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Michelle Eykelenboom, Margreet R. Olthof, Maartje M. van Stralen, Sanne K. Djojosoeparto, Maartje P. Poelman, Carlijn B. M. Kamphuis, Reina E. Vellinga, Wilma E. Waterlander, Carry M. Renders, Ingrid H. M. Steenhuis
Summary: The study found that a nutrient profiling tax targeting a wide range of foods and beverages had a larger impact on consumer food purchases compared to taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages alone.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Marion R. Eckl, Sander Biesbroek, Pieter van't Veer, Johanna M. Geleijnse
Summary: This narrative review aims to identify the drivers and inhibitors underlying replacing meat with non-meat protein sources in omnivores and flexitarians in developed countries. Factors such as female gender, information on health and the environment, and lower price may act as drivers, while factors such as male gender, meat attachment, food neophobia, and lower situational appropriateness of consuming non-meat protein sources may act as inhibitors. Further research is needed to understand the relevance of various socio-economic factors and to standardize definitions for meat and non-meat protein replacements.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Reina Elisabeth Vellinga, Matthijs Sam, Hans Verhagen, Lea Sletting Jakobsen, Gitte Ravn-Haren, Minami Sugimoto, Duarte Torres, Ryoko Katagiri, Beate Julie Thu, Kit Granby, Jeljer Hoekstra, Elisabeth Helena Maria Temme
Summary: The consumption of seaweed foods has both potential benefits and risks to human health. This study evaluated the impact of substituting regular foods with seaweed foods on nutritional quality (iodine and sodium) and food safety (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury). The results showed that moderate seaweed consumption had no adverse effects on sodium intake and exposure to contaminants. However, high consumption of seaweed foods increased iodine intake and arsenic exposure.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Reina E. Vellinga, Marieke van Bakel, Sander Biesbroek, Ido B. Toxopeus, Elias de Valk, Anne Hollander, Pieter van 't Veer, Elisabeth H. M. Temme
Summary: This study examines the impact of processed foods and drinks on the nutritional quality, environmental impact, and costs of daily diets in the Dutch population. The results show that ultra-processed foods and drinks are less healthy compared to unprocessed or minimally processed foods, but they have lower greenhouse gas emissions and use less blue water. However, they are also cheaper. The study suggests considering the degree of processing when choosing foods and assessing their impact on nutrition, the environment, and costs.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Liselot Koelman, Inge Huybrechts, Sander Biesbroek, Pieter van 't Veer, Matthias B. Schulze, Krasimira Aleksandrova
Summary: The present study estimated diet-related greenhouse gas emissions and land use in a sample of adults and examined the main dietary contributors of emissions. It also evaluated socio-demographic, lifestyle, and well-being factors as potential determinants of high environmental impact. The results showed that dairy, meat, and non-alcoholic beverages were the food groups contributing the most to emissions. For women, being single, having a job, smoking, and having a higher BMI were associated with higher emissions, while for men, being married, having longer sleeping durations, and having a higher BMI were associated with higher emissions.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
R. E. Vellinga, M. Eykelenboom, M. R. Olthof, I. H. M. Steenhuis, R. de Jonge, E. H. M. Temme
Summary: This study investigated the effects of higher meat prices, an information nudge, and a combination of both measures on meat purchases. The results showed that a combination of a 30% meat price increase and an information nudge led to a significant reduction in meat purchases in a virtual supermarket.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Reina E. Vellinga, Iris van den Boomgaard, Jolanda M. A. Boer, Yvonne T. van der Schouw, Marjolein C. Harbers, W. M. Monique Verschuren, Pieter van 't Veer, Elisabeth H. M. Temme, Sander Biesbroek
Summary: This study aimed to assess the association between levels of ultraprocessed food and drink consumption and diet-related environmental impacts and all-cause mortality. The results showed that high consumption of ultraprocessed foods was negatively associated with environmental impact, while high consumption of ultraprocessed drinks was positively associated with environmental impact. High consumption of both ultraprocessed food and drinks was significantly associated with all-cause mortality.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Samantha N. N. Heerschop, Argyris Kanellopoulos, Sander Biesbroek, Pieter van 't Veer
Summary: To reduce the environmental impact of Western diets, a study evaluated the protein adequacy of diets optimized for nutritional health and diet-related greenhouse gas emission. The results showed that it is possible to reduce GHGE by 12-16% while maintaining protein adequacy and diet quality through optimizing dietary structure and limiting dietary change within 33% of current consumption.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sander Biesbroek, Frans J. Kok, Adele R. Tufford, Martin W. Bloem, Nicole Darmon, Adam Drewnowski, Shenggen Fan, Jessica Fanzo, Line J. Gordon, Frank B. Hu, Liisa Laehteenmaeki, Ngozi Nnam, Bradley G. Ridoutt, Juan Rivera, Boyd Swinburn, Pieter van't Veer
Summary: Four years after the landmark EAT-Lancet report, global movements are calling for action to align food systems with healthy diets and planetary boundaries. However, the local and personal nature of dietary habits presents a challenge for shifting towards sustainable and healthy diets. Research should address the tension between the biophysical and social dimensions, while science needs to scale up, become interdisciplinary, and engage with policymakers and food system actors. Achieving this food transformation requires a new social contract led by governments to redefine the power dynamics between consumers and food system actors at all levels.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chiara Colizzi, Marjolein C. Harbers, Reina E. Vellinga, W. M. Monique Verschuren, Jolanda M. A. Boer, Sander Biesbroek, Elisabeth H. M. Temme, Yvonne T. van der Schouw
Summary: This study aimed to construct a diet score measuring adherence to the Healthy Reference Diet (HRD) and explore its association with cardiovascular events and environmental impact. The results showed that high adherence to the HRD was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and modestly lower levels of most environmental indicators.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)