The role of life cycle thinking-based methodologies in the development of waste management plans

The aim of this article is to examine how Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) contributes to the development of Waste Management Plans (WMPs). The case of Italy has been deeply investigated. The article first analyses whether and how the LCT methodologies were applied to the 21 regional WMPs; then, it draws indications for using LCT in the preparation of a WMP. Moreover, it outlines why the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology could be used as a powerful tool for regional planning in the waste field, analysing the indications for preparing a WMP that already exist at the European level and in the Italian National WM Programme. Results reveal that only four of the 21 regional WMPs include comprehensive and site-specific LCA studies. Building on these case study results, insights into the opportunities and benefits associated with incorporating LCT methodologies into WMP development and implementation are provided. This study underscores the critical importance of LCT and LCA in promoting sustainable waste management practices, ensuring compliance with European directives, and offering a foundation for more informed regional planning strategies

Environmental Performance of Semi-Aerobic Landfill by Means of Life Cycle Assessment Modeling

The potential impacts and the environmental performance of the semi-aerobic landfill technology were assessed through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Project data that referred to a hypothetical Italian plant design were used and ISO 14040/14044 standards were applied. All the life cycle phases were considered, from landfill construction to filling, aftercare, closure and conversion for future use. All the landfill processes and the inflow of materials, energy and rainwater, and the outflow of biogas and leachate, were included in the system boundaries. The results show that the overall environmental impacts associated to semi-aerobic landfill are primarily due to the filling and aftercare phases, but the impacts related to construction and closure phases are not negligible. The contribution analysis underlines the processes with major responsibility within the environmental profile, while the normalization of results demonstrates what are the environmental categories on which the landfill impacts fall most. Important lessons emerging from this research can support practitioners and scientists in optimizing semi-aerobic landfill design and management

Environmental Performance of Semi-Aerobic Landfill by Means of Life Cycle Assessment Modeling

The potential impacts and the environmental performance of the semi-aerobic landfill technology were assessed through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Project data that referred to a hypothetical Italian plant design were used and ISO 14040/14044 standards were applied. All the life cycle phases were considered, from landfill construction to filling, aftercare, closure and conversion for future use. All the landfill processes and the inflow of materials, energy and rainwater, and the outflow of biogas and leachate, were included in the system boundaries. The results show that the overall environmental impacts associated to semi-aerobic landfill are primarily due to the filling and aftercare phases, but the impacts related to construction and closure phases are not negligible. The contribution analysis underlines the processes with major responsibility within the environmental profile, while the normalization of results demonstrates what are the environmental categories on which the landfill impacts fall most. Important lessons emerging from this research can support practitioners and scientists in optimizing semi-aerobic landfill design and management

Environmental performance of glass foam as insulation material from waste glass with the alkali activation process

Glass foams is an interesting option for the use of fractions of glass cullet otherwise destined to landfills. As building insulation materials, glass foams obtained by conventional processes have still some drawbacks in the purity of starting feedstock, which can be avoided by implementing an alkali activation process. Using the life cycle assessment methodology, the research analyses the potential impacts associated to the glass foam obtained from waste glass through the alkali activation in a laboratory scale plant with ‘cradle to grave’ perspective. The main phases included in the system boundaries are the downstream activities related to the transportation of glass waste and avoided landfill disposal, the production process to obtain the glass foam, and the upstream activities related to the transportation to potential use phase and the end of life. The life cycle environmental profile of glass foam is calculated starting from primary data integrated with the Ecoinvent database, and using the ReCiPe 2016 impact assessment method and the SimaPro software. Results demonstrate the greatest contribution on the overall environmental impacts due to the production, in which the main impacts are linked to electricity consumption for drying and firing and surfactant for the foaming. Sensitivity analyses clarify that consistent improvement in overall environmental impacts can be obtain with minimization of distances both between glass waste and production site, and between glass foam production and use; otherwise, different energy-mix and lower temperature in chemical processes have negligible effects in the environmental profile. The research reveals useful information to optimize the upcycling of glass foam production before moving on the industrialization: future investigations should involve the selection of biodegradable surfactants, from renewable sources

Il ruolo della metodologia LCA nei piani regionali di gestione dei rifiuti in Italia

Se l’utilizzo della metodologia Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) è particolarmente efficace in fase di progettazione di un sistema-prodotto, in ambito di gestione dei rifiuti essa dovrebbe guidarne la pianificazione strategica territoriale. La domanda di ricerca “In Italia, gli studi di LCA sono effettivamente a supporto dei Piani Regionali di Gestione dei Rifiuti (PRGR)?” ha guidato il lavoro qui presentato, realizzato da un sottogruppo del Gruppo di Lavoro Gestione e Trattamento dei Rifiuti dell’Associazione Rete Italiana LCA. Il sottogruppo ha analizzato i PRGR di tutte le regioni italiane seguendo criteri condivisi definiti all’inizio dell’analisi. Il risultato è una mappa del territorio nazionale che testimonia livelli diversi di utilizzo dell’LCA come strumento strategico di pianificazione territoriale nel campo della gestione dei rifiuti

Management of Patients Affected by Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis with JAK Inhibitors in Real-World Clinical Practice: An Italian Delphi Consensus

Abstract Introduction Several systemic therapies have been approved for the treatment of severe AD. In particular, Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), including abrocitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib, recently received approval for the treatment of patients with severe AD after being evaluated in several clinical trials. However, a few concerns have been raised regarding their long-term safety and the management of these drugs in real-world clinical practice. In this article we described the results of a Delphi consensus aimed at describing the knowledge on JAKi and focusing, in particular, on providing clinical recommendations for dermatologists in daily practice regarding the use of these drugs. Methods Twelve Italian dermatologists reviewed the most recent literature regarding the efficacy and safety profiles of JAKi and proposed 24 statements. Results Agreement was reached for statements focusing on three main topics: (1) place in therapy of JAKi in patients with moderate-to-severe AD; (2) effectiveness and safety of JAK inhibitors in different phenotypes; (3) different approaches to the management of patients treated with JAKi in clinical practice. The panel proposed several recommendations regarding all the statements. Conclusion Given the wide use of JAKi in clinical practice, it is crucial to establish a specific follow-up for each patient’s phenotype in order to achieve the best possible clinical outcome and minimize potential adverse events