Globalisation of the food trade leads to various impacts on the economy, the environment, and society. Emerging economies that have expanded their agricultural trade and have become net agricultural exporters are particularly affected. The proposed research collaboration aims at combining interdisciplinary research expertise from Switzerland and ...

Which processes in a hospital are particularly resource-intensive? How can cost-efficiency in hospitals be increased and environmental impact be reduced? How can life cycle innovation be applied in the health care sector in order to increase its sustainability?

The Life Cycle Assessment Research Group of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ...

Hero AG is producing more than 100 different jams in various packaging sizes, whereof Mini-, Midi- and MaxiJars are available. Basically, three packaging options are good solutions: aluminium, glass and plastic. Recently, Hero was confronted with critique, regarding to the use of aluminium Cups, which are assossiated with high environmental impact.
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Within this subproject in the framework of the National Research Programm 70 regarding energy turnaround, an environmental sustainability assessement of power-to-gas (PtG) methane will be conducted by applying life cycle assessment methodology. In the PtG technology, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are converted to methane, using renewable energies ...

There are currently just over 30 large wind turbines in Switzerland, with strong expansion of wind energy in the next few years as part of the Energy Strategy 2050. Wind turbines are designed for a service life of approximately 20 years. The plants are then dismantled and disposed of. There are different views on the extent to which the foundations ...

Based on long-standing work and a unique market position, Eaternity successfully distributes a solution for managing CO2 transparency covering the entire value added chain, from food product to full menu. This CTI project enables Eaternity to use the results of its groundwork and turn it into an attractive, scalable and cost-efficient product, ...

Life holds temptations ready, which make each one of us to be carried away to a greater or lesser sin. But what are the truly ecologically relevant sins, what are they doing, and what can each individual do to avoid them and thus contribute to a more sustainable society?

The "Ökobeichtstuhl" is an innovative science entertainment concept for ...

The Process Industries require a high degree of automation, monitoring, and advanced simulation and control

for their often complex manufacturing processes and operations. Emphasis is on continuous or batch production,

mixing, reaction and separation of materials of higher value. Indeed, increased globalisation and competition are

drivers for ...

The consumption of food and beverages causes more than a quarter of an average person’s environmental impact in Switzerland. Apart from meat, fish and dairy products, beverage and semiluxury food – especially spirits and coffee – contribute to a significant share. Over the entire life cycle of wine – from the cultivation of the vineyard to ...

The opportunities for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy conversion to support the requested transition for the realization of the Energy Strategy 2050 are widely recognized. However, if PV is to make a significant contribution to satisfy global energy requirements, issues of sustainability need to be addressed with increased urgency. This project aims ...

Due to its soil improving properties peat is regarded as an ideal component of growing media. However, peat cutting has a high environmental impact. In Switzerland, the extraction of peat is prohibited since 1987, but 130’000 tons of peat are imported every year. To reduce peat consumption, alternative substrates are needed. This projects aims at ...

This project aims at evaluating the sustainability of the joint project’s “Reduction and reuse of CO2” value chain, i.e. the carbon dioxide methanation value chain – from the production of hydrogen through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting (partner project 2), through the methanation of carbon dioxide from the cement industry with ...

Power to gas allows using excess renewable electricity to produce Hydrogen and to transform it to renewable methane. Methane can be used to drive natural gas vehicles. The processes described use building blocks made of existing technologies, link the grids for electricity and natural gas and make large existing storage capacities accessible for ...

Current life cycle assessments are an essential basis for a scientific and comprehensive comparison of the environmental impact of various power generation technologies. The low environmental impact (e. g. carbon footprint per kWh) is an important argument for the expansion of wind energy in Switzerland. However, the available Life Cycle Inventory ...

The project contributed to the important global question of how to reduce environmental impacts from food production, with a focus on South African food value chains. The Swiss and South African project team joined forces to ensure basic data collection for South African maize, dairy and fruit production, life cycle inventory generation and ...

The carbon footprint of foodstuffs is a key factor for sustainable development of the food sector. One of the major factors contributing to the carbon footprint of foodstuffs is the heating of greenhouses. The required quantity of heating is highly variable depending on production season and local climatic conditions.

The objective of this project ...

The Agrifood database is collection of life cycle inventory data for agricultural and food products. This database can be used to analyse the environmental impacts of processes in the agricultural and food value chain and to determine the corresponding environmental hotspots.

The Agrifood database includes life cycle inventories for meat products, ...