Mid Sweden University

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have increased to earlier unrecorded levels, causing global climate change that increases GMT and threaten ecosystems and livelihoods. IPCC report suggest that agroforestry offers considerable carbon sequestration (c seq.) potential, especially for developing countries. The purpose of this study is to estimate the c seq. potential in different agroforestry systems suitable in Chinandega, Nicaragua - a deforested region where the ground is polluted by toxaphene and other POP:s. Three scenarios where studied; Shading system using Tectona grandis and Pogostemon cablin; Alley cropping using Erythrina poeppigiana and Ricinus communis and Silvopasture using Cordia alliodora and Brachiaria ruziziensis, the last scenario being divided into two subscenarios; unmanaged (grazed) and managed (harvested) grass. Calculations were performed using the modelling program CO2FIX v. 3.2, with a runtime of 100 years and assuming deforested area with no previous land use. Results show a significantly higher c seq. potential in Shading system (168/217 MgC/ha). Alley cropping yields 71 MgC/ha and Silvopasture results in 80/84 MgC/ha unmanaged and 65/70 MgC/ha managed. The higher number includes products from harvest. All scenarios show fluctuations over time due to thinning and harvesting practices. Phytoremediation potential of POPs has been shown in Ricinus communis and grass species. Soil c seq. is especially important to consider in longterm scenarios as this c seq. can be sustained over longer time. The inclusion of crop residue, the effect of grazing animals or changes in density of trees and crops and environmental fate of the toxic compounds need further assessment before considering large scale applications. Agroforestry practices could contribute to several benefits, including climate change mitigation and phytoremediation.

Fiberbanksfrom the pulp and paper industry are typically contaminated with a wide range ofchlorinated aromatic and aliphatic toxins such as HCB and other chlorinated benzenes, PCB,HCH, DDT, PCDD, PCDF and Chlorophenols. This poses a formidable challenge for theanalyst to develop appropriate analytical methodology for the monitoring of the progress ofremediation.In preparation to this undertaking, an examination of a practical analytical method using oneextraction method, one clean-up and one analysis method for the aforementioned targetcompounds found in the fibrous sediment. This method was performed using acceleratedsolvent extraction (ASE), a modified silica gel column and GC-FID/ECD. 

Additionally,an assessment of the levels of organic pollutants was conducted,with the purposeofmeasuringthe potential alteration in contaminantswhenfreeze-drying, air-drying andautoclavingpretreatments are applied to the sediment samples, prior to be used as a media forbiological remediation.The results showed that the ASE is a very fast and reliable method of extraction, with yieldscomparableorhigher than the reference Soxhlet extraction method. Theactivatedsilica gelcolumn demonstrated adequate purification of the sediment extract for analysisusingthe twodetectors, FID and ECD, whichwere able to identify the target analytes fromonlyone purifiedextract. The method employed in this study has the potentialto reduceboth processing timeand materialusedfor analytical sample preparation. Lastly, some modifications inconcentrations anddistribution of target analyteswere revealedin thesediments pre-treated byautoclave and air-driedwhencompared withthefreeze-dried sediments, which can helpunderstanding the development of the biological remediation process.

Alternative food production technologies are being developed to meet the global increase in population and demand for a more sustainable food supply. Aquaponics, a combined method of vegetable and fish production, is an emerging technology that is widely regarded as sustainable. Yet, there has been limited research on its environmental performance, especially at a commercial scale. In this study, life cycle analysis (LCA) was used to assess the environmental impacts of food produced by an urban commercial aquaponic system located next to a retail store in a cold-weather region (Östersund, Sweden). The functional unit (FU) used is 1 kg of fresh produce, which includes cucumber (Cucumis sativus), tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum), and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The system boundary is set from cradle to farm or retailer's gate due to the proximity of the aquaponic system to the retail store. Results were reported employing eight environmental impact categories, including global warming potential (GWP), marine eutrophication (MEU), and cumulative energy demand (CED). According to contribution analysis, the main hotspots of the system are electricity, CO2 enrichment, and heating. Potential areas to mitigate the impact of these parameters were highlighted in this study, including the establishment of symbiotic links to utilize urban waste and by-products. The impact per vegetable or fish produced was partitioned using energy and economic allocation and compared to other common cultivation methods. The yearly harvest from the aquaponic system was also compared to importing these food items from other European countries which showed lower annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the aquaponic system.

Design is discussed as a way of shaping the surrounding and as an expression of the culture to which it belongs (Skjerven and Reitan, 2018). By designing meaning is created (Ehn, Nilsson & Topgaard, 2014; Escobar, 2018). Recently, there has been wide interest in research focusing on design in a circular economy (Moreno, De los Rios, Charnley, 2016; Wastling, Charnley and Moreno, 2018). Studies on new business models pay attention to design strategies for a circular economy but does not provide guidance for designers developing new circular business models (Moreno, De los Rios, Rowe and Charnley, 2016). In addition, there is a huge gap between the concept of circular economy and its practical implementation in the industry (Bianchini, Rossi and Marco Pellegrini, 2019). Furthermore, there are few academic publications in the area of design specifically focusing on visualizations (Vande Moere and Purchase, 2011). Hence, additional studies focusing on the visual aspects of circular processes are needed. 

Against this background, the purpose of this study is to examine visualizations of circular business models in the food industry. First, the concept of circular business models is discussed from a design perspective. Second, this study summarizes how visual presentations of circular business models are visualized within the food industry.  

The study begins with a literature review and is followed by a visual content analysis on how a selection of companies within the food industry visually present their circular business models. Results are presented on how the concept of circular business models is discussed from a design perspective. Also, this study summarize results on how visual presentations of circular business models are visualized within the food industry.  

This study addresses the relation between the increasing role of the sustainability agenda in society and the visual presentation of circular business models by companies. With this study, we hope to provide a better understanding of the visual aspect of business models based on circular principles and from a design aspect, contribute to knowledge about visual presentations of sustainable processes in society. In a reality where the earth's resources are limited, a shift in production and consumption is required and knowledge of new circular business models are needed. This is in line with global goal number 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production – 12.2: by 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, and 2.5: by 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.  

The world after the pandemic will not be what it was before the crisis and this enables a transition to a circular economy (Regeringskansliet, 2020). To succeed, sustainable business models are required (FAO, 2020). During 2020, domestic and global markets are facing challenges due to the restrictions on people’s movement that were imposed to contain its spread of of COVID-19 (FAO, 2020) and changes in access to groceries in stores (Wetter, Rosengren & Törn, 2020; Sim, Chua, Vieta & Fernandez, 2020). 

In previous research waste is described as a design flaw, as the processes that generate waste are a result of poor design (Anastas & Zimmerman, 2006; Ordónez, 2017). Ekberg (2009) points out that waste is what is left behind when imagination fails and this also reflects a reconsidering of waste as resources if given another context.   

In a globalized world with international trade, there is a greater range of products on the market and the amount of waste is constantly increasing (Avfall Sverige, 2021). A challenge is therefore to reduce the amount of waste. De Laney (2018) points out that there is a huge opportunity to reduce landfill waste and improve consumer habits through design. In this process, we must learn to include new and more inclusive ways of thinking and acting that support long-term social sustainability through design (Wikberg Nilsson & Jahnke, 2018).  

More than forty years ago, Dilnot (1982) emphasized that through design, we humans give shape, direction and meaning to our individual and collective existence in the world. Today, there are different design solutions for household waste and recycling and Vollaard and van Soest (2020) argue that reducing unsorted waste normally requires little in the way of capital investment beyond buying a set of in-home recycling bins. Although, many times consumers aren´t aware of the impact of their disposal decisions and many facilities for local waste disposal and recycling have processes that are unique to them that could cause confusion (De Laney, 2018). In accordance, we must find a way to get consumers to care and to motivate a change in habits.  

The research question of this study is how waste is understood and managed and this is explored through a case study with a local housing company and waste management company, interested in improving waste sorting.   

In order to answer the research question, interviews are conducted with people living in the specific buildings belonging to the housing company, respondents from the local housing company and the waste management company and results are presented on perceptions of waste and what the barriers are to improve waste sorting. This is complemented by a literature review to provide a better understanding of research through design for a sustainable behavior related to waste.  

This paper presents a norm-critical aspect on universal design and waste in a collaborative research project with the objective of creating more inclusive solutions for waste systems. The overall ambition of this study is to build on knowledge of the role of design as an activity of shaping the human surroundings and as an expression of the culture to which it belongs (Skjerven & Reitan, 2018).   

The study is related to global goal number 2.5: by 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.   

Panelsamtal/Intervju · 32 min

Mer än 820 miljoner människor i världen har inte tillräckligt med mat. Samtidigt stressas vår planet av våra matvanor och västvärldens resursslöseri. Hur kan vi öka matproduktion genom att äta insekter och hur kan design göra skillnad? Ett utbildningssamtal över ett bord dukat med insektsmat mellan Henrik Haller, universitetslektor i ekoteknik, och Anna-Sara Fagerholm, universitetslektor i grafisk design. Inspelat den 6 maj på campus Sundsvall, Mittuniversitetet. Arrangör: Mittuniversitetet.

This article seeks to contribute new insights into inclusive recycling environments through universal design. The aim is to develop knowledge on how waste is understood and managed by exploring the practice and design of a recycling environment. Applying a norm-critical view, this is explored in a study with participants from a municipal housing company and waste management company in northern Sweden. Methods used are go-along interviews together with professionals and observations of a recycling environment. The results are discussed as: 1) the “(un)social norm;” where our results show that the waste system is perceived as a social system, contradicting previous approaches where waste systems are treated as technical environments. 2) the “(un)design factor;” where we identify how design in a recycling context that doesn´t emphasise diversity may affect activities of sorting.

Contaminated sites in low prioritized regions demand remediation technologies that are cost- and energy-effective and locally adapted. Parameters such as the time frame during which bioremediation degradation needs to occur may not be as restraining as in urban environments. This licentiate project aims to explore opportunities and constraints for appropriate soil remediation based on organic by-products in tropical developing countries and sparsely populated areas in industrial countries. Ecological Engineering and the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development were explored as planning tools to steer bioremediation methods towards sustainability. The use of the five concepts of Ecological Engineering within the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development can steer bioremediation in low prioritized regions towards sustainability. Pilot-scale and laboratory experiments were undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of such bioremediation methods. Experiments carried out at the experiment station in Chontales, Nicaragua showed some promising results, but also revealed problems associated with the clay rich soils, which are typical for tropical regions. Treatment of diesel contaminated ultisol with 6 mL whey kg^-1 dw in a pilot-scale experiment considerably increased the degradation rate of diesel constituents, but no effects on the degradation rates were observed after treatment with compost tea or pyroligneous acid.The soil columns study suggests that despite a favorable particle size distribution for microbial transport, the sandy loam retained a greater fraction of the microorganisms present in the ACT in the top 10 cm than the clay loam, presumably because the lower bulk density and higher SOM in the clay loam aided transport and growth of microorganisms.

The scope of this doctoral thesis is appropriate soil remediation methods for marginalized regions that go beyond pollution reduction targets and include strategies to support sustainable development. Contaminated soil from industrial or agricultural activities poses potential health threats to animals and humans and also threatens economic systems by making land unsuitable for agriculture and other economic purposes. Remediation of contaminated sites in marginalized regions such as rural areas in developing countries or sparsely populated regions in industrialized countries, need strategies that meet a different set of criteria compared to urban industrial sites in order to be appropriate. A pilot-scale experimental station was built to assess the feasibility of using organic by-products to enhance the degradation of diesel fuel. It was demonstrated that bioremediation based on the use of readily available organic by-products as amendments or phytoremediation based on locally present plants can be appropriate choices of technology in marginalized regions. Systematic sustainability assessments of the regions local environmental and social context of the contaminated site are necessary to design appropriate bioremediation projects. The inclusion of ecological engineering into the framework for strategic sustainable development, as an integrated planning guide, was demonstrated by two case studies to give valuable input to the strategic process when bioremediation is used as a tool to reach sustainability goals. Results from pilot-scale experiments confirm that whey can significantly increase the degradation rate of diesel fuel, but the slow overall degradation rates due to the high clay content in ultisol (a common tropical soil) could be a considerable constraint for efficient pollutant removal in full scale applications. Results from an experiment in soil cylinders show that the vertical migration of added microorganisms was limited in dense soils. Three species of amaranth tested in the field experiment effectively bioaccumulated toxaphene and other persistent organic pollutants which make them potentially interesting candidates for phytoremediation in the region.

One third of the world´s land surface (or half of all cultivable land) is currently used for cultivation of crops or raising of livestock. The global population is expected to increase to about 10 billion in 2050 which entails a need for increased food production while the land that can be sustainably used for food production remains constant. The world´s agroecosystems are not only limited in terms of area but are also losing their capacity to produce safe and reliable yields due to loss of topsoil, soil pollution, and extreme weather events due to climate change. This study assesses the potential to establish food production systems on marginal and degraded land with the purpose of avoiding new land clearings resulting from agricultural sprawl. A scoping review of the risks and opportunities associated with different approaches to exploit marginal land for food production was conducted and some illustrative examples were highlighted. The study suggests that marginal land, degraded by desertification, urban development and even soil pollution can contribute substantially to food security and thus decrease the need for further expansion of the agricultural frontier. Prominent challenges associated with such practises include the risk that pollutants enter the food chain. Several strategies to manage or avoid such risks were identified. Furthermore, well-designed restoration projects of degraded lands can provide ecosystem services such as soil remediation, carbon sequestration, and increased biodiversity, at the same time as food is safely produced. In order to sustainably produce more food on a limited land area with decreasing quality, innovative approaches such as the inclusion of marginal lands of little industrial or agricultural value are needed. Private gardens also occupy a large part of many cities making them a significant contributor to the food security in urban areas. This study conclude that the use of marginal and degraded land is a promising option to address the need to feed a growing population on limited land resources without interfering with areas worthy of protection due to ecological or cultural values.

The endeavour to align the goals of the Swedish food strategy with the national environmental quality objectives and the 17 global SDGs, presents an extraordinary challenge that calls forsystemic innovation. Industrial symbiosis can potentially provide the means for increasing sustainable food production, using locally subexploited resources that can reduce the need for land, agro-chemicals, transport and energy. This case study of the municipality of Härnösand, aims to assess opportunities and challenges for using waste flows and by-products for local food production, facilitated by industrial symbiosis. A potential symbiotic network was developed during three workshops with the main stakeholders in Härnösand. The potential of the COVID-19 pandemic to instigate policy changes, behavioural changes and formation of new alliances that may catalyse the transition towards food systems based on industrial symbiosis is discussed. The material flow inventory revealed that many under exploited resource flows were present in quantities that rendered them commercially interesting. Resources that can be used for innovative food production include, e.g., lignocellulosic residues, rock dust, and food processing waste. The internalised drive among local companies interested in industrial symbiosis and the emerging symbiotic relations, provide a fertile ground for the establishment of a local network that can process the subexploited material flows. Although there are multiple challenges for an industrial symbiosis network to form in Härnösand, this study shows that there is a significant potential to create added value from the region’s many resources while at the same time making the food system more sustainable and resilient, by expanding industrial symbiosis practices.

Environmental governance is a challenge for many developing countries, and soil pollution is typically overlooked by authorities in the Global South. Soil governance should protect people and environment from the hazards of pollution and promote sustainable remediation of polluted sites through legislation and soil policies that facilitate the use of appropriate technology. Today, however, the soil governance landscape is highly fragmented and often fails to adequately address these concerns. Combining soil remediation with profitable activities (alone or in combination) such as food and fiber production, biomass energy production, erosion control, carbon sequestration, favoring biodiversity, etc. is potentially an appropriate strategy to promote the decontamination of polluted agriculture soil in low-income countries. Many potential pitfalls follow such a strategy but decision support tools may provide insights from the latest scientific remediation findings to stakeholders in their exploration of policy options. This chapter explores challenges and opportunities for sustainable soil governance in developing countries.

Innumerable private households and small-scale producers currently operate on polluted soils. Phytoremediation is one of the most cost-effective remediation options but as a stand-alone technology, it is often not lucrative enough to make it appealing for farmers, especially in economically vulnerable regions. Economic incentives are crucial for remediation projects to materialise and synergies can be obtained by integrating phytoremediation with other profitable activities including food production. This review aims to synthesise state-of-the-art scientific data to provide a general understanding of opportunities and risks for sustainable remediation of agricultural soil by the use of combined phytoremediation and food production (CPFP). The results show that strategies based on CPFP may be appropriate options for most pollutants in virtually all climatic or socioeconomic contexts but a number of challenges need to be surpassed. The challenges include remediation-technological issues such as undeveloped post-harvest technology and inadequate soil governance. The need for remediation solutions for polluted fields is increasingly urgent since many farmers currently operate on polluted land and the scarcity of soil resources as the human population continuously increases will inevitably force more farmers to cultivate in contaminated areas. We conclude that, although large scale CPFP has not yet reached technological maturity, appropriate combinations of soil types, plant species/cultivars, and agronomic practices together with thorough monitoring of the pollutants’ pathways can potentially allow for safe food production on polluted soil that restricts the transfer of a number of pollutants to the food chain while the soil pool of pollutants is gradually reduced.

In many tropical developing countries, economic incentives are small for soil remediation to take place. Such locations demand special strategies that are energy-efficient, locally adapted and economic. In situ technologies are appealing where energy and material costs are more limiting than the time factor. One potentially sustainable and economic way to enhance the self-organizing capacity of soil ecosystems is by applications of locally available organic by-products to stimulate the polluted ecosystem´s inherent capacity to heal by utilising the embodied energy of the organic pollutant itself, as an energy source for the necessary biochemical transformations. Tropical climate is favourable for biodegradation but many tropical soils are rich in clay which can inhibit the bioavailability of the pollutant and reduce biodegradation kinetics.  A pilot scale experiment was performed in order to assess the capability of three amendments based on by-products; whey, pyroligneous acid and compost tea, to enhance degradation of diesel in ultisol. Biweekly applications of 6 mL whey kg^-1 soilsignificantly increased the degradation rate but no positive effect on degradation was found of any of the other amendments.

This study explores a systematic strategy to design appropriate bioremediation projects for marginalized regions that have the potential to contribute to sustainable development in that region. Ecological Engineering (EE) is of particular value for the development of appropriate bioremediation technology for such regions but a stricter planning tool than provided by EE itself, is also needed when the goal of the project goes beyond remediation targets. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) applies basic principles for sustainability and includes a stepwise strategic planning mechanism for their application. The inclusion of EE within the FSSD may steer soil bioremediation projects in rural areas in developing countries and sparsely populated regions in industrialized countries towards sustainability. The utility of the approach was tested on two cases of soil pollution in marginalized regions: the Chinandega region in Nicaragua (pesticide polluted agricultural soil) and a former filling station (diesel polluted residual area) in Gäddede, northern Sweden. The study demonstrates how the inclusion of the EE key concepts within the FSSD may increase the utility of EE for strategic sustainable development within the region. No difficulties in terms of conflicting suggestions were found in the proposed integrated approach; the two tools were found to contribute on different aspects to provide support to project management and decision making.

Contaminated soil from industrial or agricultural activities poses a health threat to animals and humans and can also have a detrimental effect on economic systems by making land unsuitable for agriculture and other economic purposes. This problem is of particular concern in tropical developing countries where agriculture is the economic base. Traditional methods for soil remediation are often expensive and energy consuming. In-situ bioremediation has been proposed as a cheaper alternative to conventional methods in areas where remediation would otherwise not be implemented. Despite encouraging results in the laboratory, the practice of in-situ bioremediation is limited, partially due to its inefficiency at low temperatures. The objective of this study is to provide an inventory of some waste products that potentially can be used as amendments for in-situ bioremediation in developing countries in tropical climate. Emphasis has been given to map efficient methods that are appropriate to economically marginalised people in such countries. Waste from livestock operations, crop residues and processing waste constitute the major waste flows in many developing countries. A number of organic by-products can potentially be used to stimulate microbial activity for bioremediation purposes. Three amendments; whey, pyroligneous acid and compost teas were selected to be studied in detail due to their liquid nature and documented capacity to stimulate microorganisms with capacity to degrade pollutants. Experiments are needed to determine their potential for in-situ bioremediation in developing countries in tropical climate.

Soils polluted by persistent organic pollutants threatens habitats for plants and animals as well as basic human needs such as food security and provision of potable water. Toxaphene is a persistent organic pollutant that was heavily used as a pesticide in Central America, Brazil, Soviet Union etc. until it was banned in 1993. The objective of this study was to determine the bioaccumulation and translocation characteristics of three different cultivars of amaranth in soils contaminated with field-weathered toxaphene and other POPs in former cotton fields in Chinandega, Nicaragua to identify safety issues for human consumption and/or potential for phytoremediation. The concentration of toxaphene and other POPs in the edible parts of the amaranth (leaves and seeds) exceeded the maximum residue level for human consumption established by the European Union for most of the tested compounds. Concentrations of toxaphene congeners and other POPs were found in all vegetative organs. Many substances were accumulated to concentrations more than 10 times higher than in the soil. Of the three cultivars, A. caudatus 'CAC48 Perú' and A. cruentus 'Don Leon' presented the highest average BAF. None of the 3 cultivars can be considered a panacea hyperaccumulator for either toxaphene alone or in conjunction with other POPs but since many agricultural soils comprise a range of different contaminants, the broad-spectrum bioaccumulating capacity of amaranth can make it an interesting candidate for phytoremediation.

Polluted land in marginalized regions, such as tropical low-incomecountries and sparsely populated regions in industrialised countries, demand specialremediation strategies that are energy-efficient, locally adapted, economicallyviable. Strategies for appropriate bioremediation technology under such circumstancescan be based on locally available resources in combination with in situbioremediation technologies to keep energy and material costs down. A pilot scaleexperiment was set up to test the application of three organic by-products from thelocal industry (whey, pyroligneous acid and compost tea) to enhance the naturalbiodegradation of diesel in ultisol. Biweekly applications of 6 mL whey kg−1 soilsignificantly increased the degradation rate but no positive effect on degradationwas found with any of the other amendments. Tropical climate is favourable forbiodegradation but many tropical soils are rich in clay which can inhibit the bioavailabilityof the pollutant which in turn may be decisive for biodegradation kinetics. If low cost is a crucial factor, our results indicate that whey treatment has the potential to be an appropriate technology for treating petroleum-contaminated soils in tropical regions.

Soil bioaugmentation is a promising approach with applications in agriculture and in bioremediation of polluted soil. One way of supplying microorganisms to the soil that has received increasing attention during the last decade is by the addition of compost teas. The success of such strategies depends on whether the organisms are capable of migrating through the soil and reaching its target, i.e. the pollutants or soil pathogens. The structural conditions of the soil affect the microbial migration rate and this study aims to determine the migration rates of microorganisms found in aerated compost tea through both a sandy loam and a clay loam in soil columns. A considerably higher proportion of the microorganisms from the aerated compost tea were deposited at 2 cm in the sandy loam compared to the clay loam. Microbial deposition was concentrated to the top 2 cm in the sandy loam and then decreased abruptly at 10 cm whereas the clay loam presented an irregular pattern. Despite a favourable particle size distribution for microbial transport, the sandy loam retained a greater proportion of the microorganisms present in the aerated compost tea in the top 2 cm, presumably because the lower bulk density and higher soil organic matter in the clay loam aided transport and growth of microorganisms. The limited migration of aerated compost tea microorganisms in sandy soil suggests that its efficiency for bioremediation or pathogen control may be limited below 2 cm depth in similar soils. Our results indicate that in less dense soil with higher soil organic matter content the efficiency may be higher.

The contribution concerns Directives of the European Union related to environmental liability and the restoration of environmental damages caused by Fiber Banks in Swedish coastal waters. Fiberbanks and fiber-rich sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry. Large quantities of this toxic waste material have accumulated in the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. The Environmental Liability Directive, the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive of the EU addresses the liability against and restoration of damages of soil, water and biological diversity. The contribution aims to identify – based on the first results of an ongoing project -the potential to establish a liability for restoration measures also for cases of ongoing damages even if the discharges have been lawfully emitted prior to the release of these Directives. An in-depth literature review is applied as well as hermeneutic methods, such as comparative legal analyses and different types of text interpretation (e.g. historic, wording, rational).

The results show the kind of scientific evidence that exists for negative causal effects by Fiber Banks on soil, water and biological diversity respectively. Furthermore, the legal framework as well as the related judgement at EU-level will be presented which are relevant to establish the duty to restore and the liability of particular stakeholders to do so. Finally, first answers to questions about the level of evidence required to establish causality of negative effects by Fiber Banks as well as to questions about the burden of proof in such procedures will be presented.

The first results on this ongoing project show based on Swedish costal Fiber Banks the high potential of the interplay among the three Directives to effectively mitigate even past and ongoing environmental damages that have their origin in a time prior to the entering into force of these Directives. Such an institutional interplay can provide a blueprint for other restoration activities beyond the case study presented, in wider EU and globally. The presentation has its focus on SDG 16 as it particular guides SDG 16.3. “16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all” as well as 15.5 “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species”. It relates to the conference topic through its call for liability for and restoration of environmental damages that have been caused by past human culture of ignoring nature.

Lignocellulose-bearing sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry, causing large quantities of toxic organic waste on the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. Several km2 are covered with deposits of lignocellulosic residues, typically heavily contaminated with complex mixtures of organic and inorganic pollutants, posing a serious threat to human and ecological health. The high toxicity and the large volume of the polluted material are challenges for remediation endeavours. The lignocellulosic material is also a considerable bioresource with a high energy density, and due to its quantity, it could appeal to commercialization as feedstock for various marketable goods. This study sets out to explore the potential of using this polluted material as a resource for industrial production at the same time as it is detoxified. Information about modern production methods for lignocellulosic material that can be adapted to a polluted feedstock is reviewed. Biochemical methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion, as well as, thermochemical methods, for instance, HTC, HTL, pyrolysis, gasification and torrefaction have been assessed. Potential products from lignocellulose-bearing sediment material include biochar, liquid and gaseous biofuels, growing substrate. The use of a contaminated feedstock may make the process more expensive, but the suggested methods should be seen as an alternative to remediation methods that only involve costs. Several experiments were highlighted that support the conception that combined remediation and generation of marketable goods may be an appropriate way to address polluted lignocellulose-bearing sediments. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 

Fiberbanks and fiber-rich sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry that have accumulated large quantities of toxic organic waste on the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. Several km2 are covered with deposits of fibrous residues that are, typically, heavily polluted with a number of organic and inorganic substances, posing a serious threat to human and ecological health. High toxicity and the large volume of the polluted material are challenges for remediation endeavors. However, since the fibrous material is a bioresource with a high energy density, the sheer quantity of it could appeal to commercialization as feedstock for various marketable products. This study sets out to explore the potential of using this polluted material as a resource for industrial production, by reviewing and synthesizing data about modern production methods or reuse alternatives for lignocellulose material that can be adapted to a polluted feedstock. Biochemical methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion, as well as, thermochemical methods, for instance, HTC, HTL, pyrolysis, gasification etc. have been assessed. Potential end products from fiber bank material include biochar, liquid and gaseous biofuels, growth media, and fatty acids and proteins produced by white-rot fungi.

Soil pollution is a threat to food security and ecological and human health. Cd is one of the most common pollutants in agricultural soil and, due its human toxicity, one of the most hazardous. Amaranth is a documented hyperaccumulator of Cd and other pollutants, and it is commonly grown in Asia and South America. A considerable amount of amaranth is grown in suboptimal conditions, including nutrient-poor acidic soils. The objective of this experimental study was to examine the capacity of Amaranthus hypochondriacus to extract Cd from a nutrient-poor, acidic substrate that was spiked with different concentrations of Cd (2 and 20 mg kg−1 dw) during a period of 180 days. The plants grown in the substrate that was spiked with 20 mg Cd kg−1 dw did not develop into mature plants, but the plants grown in substrate that was spiked with 2 mg Cd kg−1 dw extracted a significant amount of Cd from the substrate by accumulating it into the above-ground biomass. The Cd levels varied from 113 to 176 mg kg−1 in the stems at the four measuring points, and from 64 to 94 mg kg−1 in the leaves. The concentrations in the plants increased with time and reached a maximal concentration of 176 ± 45 mg kg−1 dw for stems and 94 ± 41 mg kg−1 dw for leaves after 180 days. The mean bioaccumulation factor in the plants was 86 ± 15 after 90 days, 72 ± 12 after 120 days, 105 ± 37 after 150 days, and 99 ± 31 after 180 days, which confirms the previously reported capacity of Amaranthus hypochondriacus to hyperaccumulate Cd. Amaranthus hypochondriacus may, thus, be used to improve ecological and human health by remediating moderately Cd-polluted soils, even in nutrient-poor acidic soils.

The application of pesticides and inappropriate soil management during intensive cotton farming in Chinandega, Nicaragua has left the soil with high residues of toxaphene and potentially several toxic metalloids and heavy metals from the overuse of mineral fertilizers. Most effective remediation approaches are relatively expensive and use technologies that are energy-intensive and hence not applicable in regions with low economic incentives for remediation.

The selection of appropriate and low-cost approaches for soil remediation requires a structured and systematic process to ensure reliable outcomes with low environmental impact. The ideal situation is if such projects could contribute to a sustainable development in the region where the remediation is taking place. An Integrated Planning Guide which includes the key concepts of Ecological Engineering within the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development was used in the identification and design of some applicable and efficient approaches for the clean-up of soil in Chinandega.

This resulted in the design of a multi-process bioremediation strategy that meets the sustainability criteria of the Integrated Planning Guide and that has the potential to degrade toxaphene and remediate heavy metals and metalloids in the soil using Jatropha curcas L. for phytoremediation in combination with Bio-augmentation, biochar as a soil amendment, and the use of biochar and alginate as carriers of toxaphene degrading inocula.

Toxic compounds from industrial activities accumulate in the ecosystems at an unsustainable rate. Ecological engineering has been proposed as a tool to design ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of the both. Bioremediation is generally considered an ecological engineering practice but even if it addresses one of the core goals of ecological engineering, i.e. restoration of damaged ecosystems, bioremediation can be energy-intensive and have low reliance on self-design, particularly if excavation and ex situ methods are employed.

From a thermodynamic point of view, most organic pollutants are composed of molecules with high embodied energies and free energy potential that are appealing features for the use of ecological engineering, especially in locations where economic incentives are small for any kind of remediation to be performed,

Based on positive experiences from an ongoing research project in Nicaragua, in which by-products and waste material are used as primary feedstock, it is concluded that the principles of ecological engineering can be useful to make in situ bioremediation a more sustainable practice in remote locations and developing countries.

Eating habits are among the strongest drivers of negative environmental impact. Public procurement has been suggested as an efficient lever to catalyze changes within the food system. This study examines alternative purchase processes that may decrease the carbon footprint of publicly procured food through a case study of a municipality in the Northern part of Sweden. The GHG emissions associated with the current food service in the case study were 2.2 kg CO2e per kg food and must be reduced by 40.9% by 2030 to comply with the Paris Agreement; 76% of the emissions derive from food of animal origin (44% from unprocessed red meat). Three alternative diet scenarios, “zero red meat,” “−50% red meat,” and “flexitarian free from red meat,” were explored. Only 6% of the total purchased food kilograms were altered, yet the cutback of meat caused GHG emissions reductions turned out to be as high as 44%. The Swedish Law on Public Procurement, deficient infrastructure, unsustainable food culture, and local politicians' reluctance to change were mentioned as the main obstacles to materializing necessary changes in the food procurement system. The respondents also pointed out essential policy changes at the national and municipal levels.

Global sustainability challenges associated with increasing resource demands from a growing population call for resource-efficient land-use strategies that address multiple sustainability issues. Multifunctional agroforestry-based phytoremediation (MAP) is one such strategy that can simultaneously capture carbon, decontaminate soils, and provide diverse incomes for local farmers. Chinandega, Nicaragua, is a densely populated agricultural region with heavily polluted soils. Four different MAP systems scenarios relevant to Chinandega were created and carbon sequestration potentials were calculated using CO2FIX. All scenarios showed the potential to store significantly more carbon than conventional farming practices, ranging from 2.5 to 8.0 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1. Overall, carbon sequestration in crops is relatively small, but results in increased soil organic carbon (SOC), especially in perennials, and the combination of crops and trees provide higher carbon sequestration rates than monoculture. Changes in SOC are crucial for long-term carbon sequestration, here ranging between 0.4 and 0.9 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, with the most given in scenario 4, an alley cropping system with pollarded trees with prunings used as green mulch. The adoption rate of multifunctional strategies providing both commodity and non-commodity outputs, such as carbon sequestration, would likely increase if phytoremediation is included. Well-designed MAP systems could help reduce land-use conflicts, provide healthier soil, act as climate change mitigation, and have positive impacts on local health and economies. 

This Letter outlines the EU's & UN's latest environmental principle towards Net-Gains. It defines this principles' progress compared to recent “No-Net-Loss"/“Reduce-the-Rate-Of-Loss” approaches. Furthermore it introduces Environmental Net-Gain Governance as normative transition pathway and provides first practical approaches for increasing the worlds' biocapacity and for reducing impact from production and consumption. © 2021

Soil pollution by pesticides is a serious problem, especially in developing countries where incentives are limited to remediate these soils. Toxaphene was a widely used insecticide during the 1950s – 1980s, but even after a total ban on its use in 2001 there are still many harmful consequences that can be observed. High levels of toxaphene on agriculture fields in Nicaragua continues to be a threat to local inhabitants and wildlife and to the surrounding ecosystems. Phytoremediation is one of the methods used for cleaning polluted soils. It requires growing plants in-situ and relies on their ability to absorb and accumulate or degrade toxic elements. Some advantages are environmental safety and cost-effectiveness.

Amaranth (Amaranthus) was investigated as a primary candidate for the phytoremediation project. Beside this, some other plants, such as Cucurbita pepo, Spinacia oleracea, Medicago sativa, were reported to be able to successfully absorb common persistent organic pollutants. In addition, uptake mechanisms and patterns of distribution of toxic elements in plants were studied to determine further use of plants.

To assess the viability and sustainability potential of implementing amaranth for phytoremediation, an Integrated Planning Guide (IPG) was used. The IPG uses a number of principles and concepts to provide guidelines for bioremediation actions. As a result, several conclusions and suggestions were produced, the most important being: amaranth has a potential for toxaphene uptake and has a high yield and historical significance; locally available poultry manure can be used as a fertilizer for amaranth; a monoculture should be avoided while growing amaranth; local community is the main driver of success and beneficiary of the project. Further research should be undertaken on this matter to improve the understanding of key factors for the success of the project.