The EU Battery Regulation (EBR) aims for environmentally sustainable batteries but relies solely on carbon footprint (CFB). This study investigates alignment with EU targets by analyzing a representative lithium-ion battery via scenario analyses (cut-off vs. Circular Footprint Formula, CFF) regarding recycled content (RC), recycling efficiency, and renewable energy. Results indicate mandatory RC yields only modest climate change (CC) reductions. While efficient recycling and renewable energy reduce CFB, they increase Resource Use of Minerals and Metals (RU-M). Correlation analysis confirms CC as a valid proxy for most categories, but explicitly not for RU-M (r = -0.62 for CFF and r = 0.36 for cut-off). Thus, CC alone is insufficient. Comparing CFF and cut-off, CC varies slightly with a standard deviation of 4.00 %. We recommend expanding impact categories, broadening RC requirements, and clarifying recycling guidelines.

Social reforestation programs plant trees on degraded, uncultivated land in low-income regions to allow the local population to generate income from selling wood products and—in case of agroforestry systems—to grow food. For fundraising it is of interest to demonstrate not only positive social impacts but also environmental ones. Proving negative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would allow the programs to enter the market for carbon offsetting projects and liberate further funding. In a case study, a social reforestation program in Kalimantan, Indonesia, is analyzed. GHG emissions (according to ISO 14067, PAS 2050 and EU ILCD Handbook for LCA) of the main product, laminated veneer lumber plywood, are determined as 622 and 21 kg CO 2 -e/m 3 for short-term and long-term (above 100 years) plywood use, respectively. Switching to lignin-based resins and renewable electricity could reduce emissions down to − 363 kg CO 2 -e/m 3 for long-term use. The analyzed agroforestry system produces almost carbon–neutral plywood today and could be climate positive in the mid-term.

Product life cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability assessment have proven as powerful methods to identify sustainability hotspots and support decision making. In practice, corporate decision support is often hampered by the complexity resulting from the three sustainability dimensions and inherent uncertainties. In this study, a novel a posteriori visualization is presented, based on the concept of satisficing or similarly sustainable alternatives integrating scenarios to account for different use options. This allows the decision makers (DMs) including management-relevant information in their decision while selecting a satisficing alternative. The presented approach supports consensus building among DMs with differing weighting preferences for the three pillars of sustainability as common in life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and leads to a consensus in product selection for relevant scenarios. This also supports the selection of more robust alternatives under a variety of use cases compared to the common focus on best performing alternatives for a particular use case. For illustration, a case study of a self-leveling compound (mortar) manufacturer interested in selecting a sustainable packaging system for a variety of different use cases is presented. Paper bags, flexible intermediate bulk container, one-way cardboard container and a pumping truck, all used with different machinery, are evaluated under several scenarios. Using first-hand field data, this case study shows how the proposed visualization supports consensus building among DMs. The case study shows that in 87% of all scenarios the use of the 25 kg paper bag in combination with a mixing drum and cart resulted as a satisficing sustainable alternative.

Stone corrosion by acid rain or biofilm formation is a global problem. In their Communication on page 14926 ff., S. G. Mitchell, C. Streb, and co-workers show how polyoxometalate ionic liquids (POM-ILs) can be used as brush-on anticorrosion coatings on natural stones. The POM-ILs are designed to withstand corrosive conditions and feature antimicrobial components, which prevent the formation of bacterial colonies on the surface of porous and non-porous limestones.

Corrosion of stone by acid rain and deterioration from biofilms are global problems for industrial and residential buildings as well as cultural heritage, such as statues or historic buildings. Herein we show how typical building stones can be protected from corrosion ("weathering") and biofilm formation ("biodeterioration") by application of thin films of polyoxometalate-based ionic liquids (POM-ILs). Stone samples are coated with hydrophobic, acid resistant POM-ILs featuring biocidal properties. Exposure of the samples to simulated acid rain showed negligible corrosion compared to the significant deterioration of unprotected samples; in addition the biocidal properties of the POM-ILs suppress the formation of biofilms on coated stone slabs. A new class of modular molecular materials for protecting stones can now be developed for use in construction, environmental protection, and cultural heritage preservation.

AbstractDie Korrosion von Steinen durch sauren Regen oder Biofilmbildung verursacht weltweit Schäden an Industrie‐ und Wohngebäuden sowie an kulturhistorischen Artefakten wie Statuen. Hier zeigen wir, wie typische Bausteine vor Korrosion (Verwitterung) sowie Biofilmbildung (biologischer Verfall) durch dünne Polyoxometallat‐ionische Flüssigkeitsfilme (POM‐ILs) geschützt werden. Steinproben, die mit wasserabweisenden, säureresistenten, antimikrobiellen POM‐ILs beschichtet wurden, widerstehen dem Angriff von simuliertem saurem Regen, wohingegen unbeschichtete Proben starke Korrosion zeigen. Zudem verhindern die bioziden Eigenschaften der POM‐ILs effektiv die Bildung von Biofilmen auf den beschichteten Steinen. Eine neue Klasse modularer molekularer Materialien für den Schutz von Steinen kann nun entwickelt werden. Mögliche Einsatzgebiete sind das Bauwesen, der Umweltschutz sowie der Kulturgutschutz.

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la Conferencia IBBS: "New Trends in Cultural Heritage Biodeterioration", celebrada en Coimbra (Portugal) del 5 al 7 de septiembre de 2018.