A bi-dimensional assessment to measure the performance of circular economy: A case study of tires end-of-life management

Although circular initiatives emerge around the world, the process of decoupling the economic activity from resource consumption and environmental impacts is far of being achieved. The concept of circular economy embodies the opportunity to reconcile an improved resource use while reducing the environmental footprint. Appropriate assessment metrics and methodologies are needed to identify potential trade-off between these 2 sides of a single coin. In this paper, we apply the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to analyse tires end-of-life strategies aiming at improving the circular flow of all tire materials. Results reveal re-treading is interesting to produce trade-offs on environmental impacts while re-grooving offers a fully decoupled strategy that improves material circularity avoiding environmental burdens. Further improvements should integrate environmental assessment as well as economic factors to link micro scale to macro scale contributions to sustainable development

A comparison of the effect of CdCl2 and MgCl2 processing on the transport properties of n-CdS/p-CdTe solar cells and a simple approach to determine their back contact barrier height

<p>Data are presented as means ± SD. Sample sizes are indicated for each species (muscle, organ tissues). Monthly fish consumption limits (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) are indicated for MeHg. The consumption limits are 12 meals/month (59–78 ppb), 8 meals/month (78–120 ppb) and 4 meals/month (120–230 ppb).</p

Mean (± SE) contribution of individual fatty acids to total phospholipids in blood (%) for participants from Wapekeka and Kasabonika First Nations consuming three levels of wild food consumption.

<p>WF1 (n = 28; ≤1 meal per month), WF2 (n = 22; <1 meal per week), and WF3 (n = 21; ≥1 meal per week) Letters indicate significant differences in groups (p<0.05).</p

Participant characteristics (N = 71) of Kasabonika and Wapekeka First Nations based on wild food consumption frequency.

<p>WF1 (n = 28; ≤1 meal per month), WF2 (n = 22; <1 meal per week), and WF3 (n = 21; ≥1 meal per week). Data are presented as means (±SD) where appropriate.</p

Map showing Wapekeka and Kasabonika First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada (inset).

<p>Map showing Wapekeka and Kasabonika First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada (inset).</p

Mean (±SE) concentrations of POPs in blood (μg/L) and mercury (Hg) in hair (ppm) for participants from Wapekeka and Kasabonika First Nations consuming three levels of wild food consumption.

<p>WF1 (n = 28; ≤1 meal per month), WF2 (n = 22; <1 meal per week), and WF3 (n = 21; ≥1 meal per week). Inset is an enlargement of the concentrations for the nine contaminants on the right side of the x-axis (cis-nonachlor through HCB). Letters indicate a significant difference in groups (p<0.05) after adjustment for age. The PBDE-47 concentrations were not adjusted for age.</p