Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns
This study aimed to quantify and evaluate the main environmental impacts generated in each phase of tofu production as well as its main co-products (soy milk, food integrators, etc.) and by-products (straw, hulls, etc.) from organic and conventional soybean cropping and to compare them with the impa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Environments |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/10/5/73 |
| _version_ | 1797600200492056576 |
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| author | Martina Colimoro Maddalena Ripa Remo Santagata Sergio Ulgiati |
| author_facet | Martina Colimoro Maddalena Ripa Remo Santagata Sergio Ulgiati |
| author_sort | Martina Colimoro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to quantify and evaluate the main environmental impacts generated in each phase of tofu production as well as its main co-products (soy milk, food integrators, etc.) and by-products (straw, hulls, etc.) from organic and conventional soybean cropping and to compare them with the impacts of conventional protein sources (e.g., livestock meat and snails). The starting case study was the tofu production company “Tigusto SA” located in Cugnasco-Locarno (Switzerland). The analysis was performed by means of the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, applying a systematic cradle-to-gate approach, from cultivation and extraction of raw materials to the final products. The aim of the analysis was to identify the phases that cause the main environmental burdens and to propose alternative solutions to minimize the impacts. Results show the importance of applying circularity-based scenarios, such as reuse/recycling of residues and the use of renewable energy, which could increase the sustainability of the investigated system, providing environmental and economic benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:46:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f645c1d12c8f49c989614cc1b63564ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:46:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-f645c1d12c8f49c989614cc1b63564ee2023-11-18T01:17:04ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982023-04-011057310.3390/environments10050073Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy PatternsMartina Colimoro0Maddalena Ripa1Remo Santagata2Sergio Ulgiati3Department of Food and Nutrition Science, University “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyNational Centre for Waste and Circular Economy, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, Parthenope University of Naples, 80143 Naples, ItalySchool of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaThis study aimed to quantify and evaluate the main environmental impacts generated in each phase of tofu production as well as its main co-products (soy milk, food integrators, etc.) and by-products (straw, hulls, etc.) from organic and conventional soybean cropping and to compare them with the impacts of conventional protein sources (e.g., livestock meat and snails). The starting case study was the tofu production company “Tigusto SA” located in Cugnasco-Locarno (Switzerland). The analysis was performed by means of the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, applying a systematic cradle-to-gate approach, from cultivation and extraction of raw materials to the final products. The aim of the analysis was to identify the phases that cause the main environmental burdens and to propose alternative solutions to minimize the impacts. Results show the importance of applying circularity-based scenarios, such as reuse/recycling of residues and the use of renewable energy, which could increase the sustainability of the investigated system, providing environmental and economic benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/10/5/73tofuorganic agricultural productionsoybeansLCAcircular economy |
| spellingShingle | Martina Colimoro Maddalena Ripa Remo Santagata Sergio Ulgiati Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns Environments tofu organic agricultural production soybeans LCA circular economy |
| title | Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns |
| title_full | Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns |
| title_fullStr | Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns |
| title_short | Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Tofu Production from Organic and Conventional Soybean Cropping: Improvement Potential from Renewable Energy Use and Circular Economy Patterns |
| title_sort | environmental impacts and benefits of tofu production from organic and conventional soybean cropping improvement potential from renewable energy use and circular economy patterns |
| topic | tofu organic agricultural production soybeans LCA circular economy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/10/5/73 |
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