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We investigated how a community of microbial decomposers adapted to a reference site responds to a sudden decrease in the water quality. For that, we assessed the activity and diversity of fungi and bacteria on decomposing leaves that were transplanted from a reference (E1) to a polluted site (E2), and results were compared to those from decomposing leaves either at E1 or E2. The two sites had contrasting concentrations of organic and inorganic nutrients and heavy metals in the stream water. At E2, leaf decomposition rates, fungal biomass, and sporulation were reduced, while bacterial biomass was stimulated. Fungal diversity was four times lower at the polluted site. The structure of fungal community on leaves decomposing at E2 significantly differed from that decomposing at E1, as indicated by the principal response curves analysis. Articulospora tetracladia, Anguillospora filiformis, and Lunulospora curvula were dominant species on leaves decomposing at E1 and were the most negatively affected by the transfer to the polluted site. The transfer of leaves colonized at the reference site to the polluted site reduced fungal diversity and sporulation but not fungal biomass and leaf decomposition. Overall, results suggest that the high diversity on leaves from the upstream site might have mitigated the impact of anthropogenic stress on microbial decomposition of leaves transplanted to the polluted site.

This study highlights how Chinese economic development detrimentally impacted water quality in recent decades and how this has been improved by enormous investment in environmental remediation funded by the Chinese government. To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the variability of surface water quality in inland waters in China, the affecting drivers behind the changes, and how the government-financed conservation actions have impacted water quality. Water quality was found to be poorest in the North and the Northeast China Plain where there is greater coverage of developed land (cities + cropland), a higher gross domestic product (GDP), and higher population density. There are significant positive relationships between the concentration of the annual mean chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the percentage of developed land use (cities + cropland), GDP, and population density in the individual watersheds (p < 0.001). During the past decade, following Chinese government-financed investments in environmental restoration and reforestation, the water quality of Chinese inland waters has improved markedly, which is particularly evident from the significant and exponentially decreasing GDP-normalized COD and ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations. It is evident that the increasing GDP in China over the past decade did not occur at the continued expense of its inland water ecosystems. This offers hope for the future, also for other industrializing countries, that with appropriate environmental investments a high GDP can be reached and maintained, while simultaneously preserving inland aquatic ecosystems, particularly through management of sewage discharge.

AbstractThe potential impacts of future climate scenarios on water balance and flow regime are presented and discussed for a temporary river system in southern Italy. Different climate projections for the future (2030–2059) and the recent conditions (1980–2009) were investigated. A hydrological model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) was used to simulate water balance at the basin scale and streamflow in a number of river sections under various climate change scenarios, based on different combinations of global and regional models (global circulation models and regional climate models). The impact on water balance components was quantified at the basin and subbasin levels as deviation from the baseline (1980–2009), and the flow regime alteration under changing climate was estimated using a number of hydrological indicators. An increase in mean temperature for all months between 0.5–2.4 °C and a reduction in precipitation (by 4–7%) was predicted for the future. As a consequence, a decline of blue water (7–18%) and total water yield (11–28%) was estimated. Although the river type classification remains unvaried, the flow regime distinctly moves towards drier conditions and the divergence from the current status increases in future scenarios, especially for those reaches classified as I‐D (ie, intermittent‐dry) and E (ephemeral). Hydrological indicators showed a decrease in both high flow and low flow magnitudes for various time durations, an extension of the dry season and an exacerbation of extreme low flow conditions. A reduction of snowfall in the mountainous part of the basin and an increase in potential evapotranspiration was also estimated (4–4.4%). Finally, the paper analyses the implications of the climate change for river ecosystems and for River Basin Management Planning. The defined quantitative estimates of water balance alteration could support the identification of priorities that should be addressed in upcoming years to set water‐saving actions.

This chapter discusses the present scenario and market trend of regenerated cellulosic fibers, and the properties of principal fibers existing in the market as well as some new fibers recently developed and yet to be explored. Production technologies of these fibers are discussed and their potential applications are presented. Various sustainability issues related to the production of regenerated cellulosic fibers are dealt within this chapter. The last section discusses the results of research studies conducted to assess the environmental impacts and sustainability aspects of regenerated cellulose fibers. Serie: Textile science and clothing technology, ISSN 2197-9863

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with focus on carbon footprint, followed by Life Cycle Costing (LCC) of municipal solid waste (MSW) management were conducted in a residential area of a medium-sized European city of 80,000 inhabitants. The initial results showed high environmental impacts and lack of economic sustainability, due to the high amounts of waste landfilled, the low extent of separate collection, low performance of mechanical-biological treatment as well as absence from alternatives to landfilling of non-recyclable materials. Taking this result as a baseline scenario, three improvement.s were tested with the aim of turning the carbon footprint of the local MSW management system into a neutral value: (i) increased separate collection of recyclables, (ii) enhanced biogas production and (iii) refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production. Successively adding the improvements, three alternative improved scenarios were defined, until reaching a negative carbon footprint, meaning that an optimised system would avoid GHG emissions. The proposed changes were sufficient to achieve carbon neutrality, as well as reduce overall environmental impacts, but were not enough for achieving economic sustainability due to the great influence of collection costs, especially for separate collection. It was concluded that by using an adequate combination of several treatment options and increasing the separate collection of recyclable materials it is possible to turn MSW management into a carbon neutral activity as well as improve its economic balance.

Esta dissertação explora o modo como a empresa multinacional Unilever tem por objetivo a reconciliação da lógica Comercial e a de Sustentabilidade nas suas principais atividades de negócio, de modo a atingir o hibridismo organizacional. Baseando-se num estudo de caso, demonstra como a Unilever interliga estas duas lógicas através de três fatores distintos: liderança, comunicação e ações. O estudo qualitativo revela que o sucesso desta integração e a sustentação das mesmas não deriva de um único fator em específico, mas sim da interação planeada entre esses três fatores. De acordo com os resultados da minha análise, desenvolvi um modelo que demonstra como as duas lógicas mudam ao longo do tempo, influenciadas por dinâmicas tanto internas como externas. This dissertation explores how the multinational company Unilever aims at reconciling two logics, a Sustainability and a Commercial Logic within its core business activities to achieve organizational hybridity. Based on a case study, it shows that Unilever reconciles the two logics through three distinct drivers: leadership, communication and actions. The qualitative study reveals that there is not a specific single driver that can lead to a successful integration and sustaining of logics, but rather the planned interplay between the three drivers. Resulting from my findings, I developed a model that elucidates how the two logics change over time through both internal and external dynamics.

The current fashion design, production, and consumption system, known as ‘fast fashion’, is characterized by the manufacturing of low-quality garments in a short period of time carried out in developing countries. In parallel with the deficits in social responsibility and human rights, the prevailing ‘take-make-dispose’ system in the fashion industry is one of the main causes of environmental pollution that concerns the climate change, scarcity of natural resources and health problems for the living beings. Due to these facts, discussions on Circular Design strategies – for waste reduction, components recycling, and materials reuse – became increasingly relevant throughout the globe. This paper’s aspiration is to outline a perspective towards a Circular Fashion. The concept of the Design for Sustainability requires a holistic view throughout de-signing strategies as well as the establishment of cyclical systems for the production site. Notwithstanding, the efficient integration of social and cultural dimensions are vital for Sustainable Fashion’s triumph. This work is supported by FEDER funds through the Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

An experiment in open-top chambers was carried out in summer 2008 in Curno (northern Italy) in order to study the effects of ozone and drought stress on net photosynthesis, growth and stable isotope partitioning on cuttings of an ozone-sensitive poplar clone (Oxford). The biomass (as dry weight) of stems, leaves and roots was assessed five times during the growing season on a set of plants intended for destructive measurements (set 1). Another set of plants (set 2) was used for repeated measurements (net photosynthesis) and then destroyed at the end of the experiment. The dry weight of the stems in set 1 plants was calculated using allometric relations. The results showed that drought stress had a strong effect on all the parameters assessed. Ozone did not have any effect on biomass allocation in woody stems and stable isotope composition but reduced root/shoot ratios and caused loss of leaves during the growing season. The loss of leaves in the lower part of the crown was partly recovered with the emission of new young leaves in the upper part, thus restoring the overall photosynthetic apparatus. We conclude that the metabolic costs suffered to repair damage and support growth, and the reduction in starch reserves in the roots can compromise growth and the capacity to cope with stress factors in subsequent years.