Livestock Wastes Sustainable Use and Management: Assessment of Raw Sheep Wool Reuse and Valorization

Abstract

Worldwide, around 998 million tons of agricultural waste are generated yearly, including livestock wastes, which create several critical environmental issues if not properly treated. In this study, a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based model to locate and quantify both the yearly amount of livestock waste, i.e., sheep wool, and the territorial distribution of sheep farms, was carried out and applied within the selected study area. The aim was to identify those territorial areas most suitable for localizing new shared wool collection centers to sustainably manage the reuse of this waste as potential green building material. Data related to both sheep farms and sheep number and the related sheep shared wool (SSW) yearly production were acquired and applied in GIS. By GIS-based model results, two collection centers have been identified within the provinces of Agrigento and Enna. Then, to develop a sustainable reuse in terms of reducing environmental impact due to the SSW logistics and supply phase, a possible third collection center was localized within the territorial area belonging to the province of Ragusa (south area of the Sicily). In this research, for the first time the issue above reported was addressed, by achieving results that contribute at developing an efficient collection chain for recovering and properly reusing SSW to respond adequately to a further industrial scale production.

Eco-Friendly Processing of Wool and Sustainable Valorization of This Natural Bioresource

“…Its properties like breathability, moisture management, and low heat and sound conduction, together with natural flame-retardancy [9], make wool a useful material for house insulation. For the efficient application of wool as a building insulator, a study identifying the best locations for wool collection centers is of great help, reducing transport pollution and achieving the sustainable development of the region [212].…”

Circular Economy in the Food Chain: Production, Processing and Waste Management

“…Sensors, such as image, thermal or moisture detectors, could verify conditions to avoid spoilage of fruits, vegetables, meats and processed foods on the market shelves as well as along the supply chain. GIS technologies could promote traceability, reducing wastes, losses and improving food security [ 69 ].…”

“…Examples References Regenerate • Food production associating plantation or cattle raising with agro forestry [48] • Integration of carbon capture and food/biomass production [49] • Use of alternative proteins in food formulation [50] Share • Shared food manufacturing facilities [51] • Food-sharing platforms to share surplus food [52] • Shared practices in food waste management [53] Optimize • Energetic optimization in food processes [54,55] • Food production optimization with minimization of food losses [56] • Technologies to increase traceability and decrease food losses [57] Loop • Returnable packages technologies and management [58,59] • Reutilization of food residues for production of other non-food materials, including biofuels [35,[60][61][62][63] • Extraction of bioactive compounds from food residues [64] • Extraction of macronutrients from food residues [65] Virtualise • Online food shopping technologies [66] • Food formulation using virtual reality [67] • Use of GIS (Geographical Information System), big data, and other 4.0 Industry technologies to monitor food chain, avoiding losses and increasing quality [68][69][70][71][72][73] Exchange • Replacement of non-renewable solvents or other feedstock by renewable/more sustainable chemicals for food production [74] • Food formulation by 3D printing [75] • Replacement of non-renewable energy sources by renewable ones in food processes [76]…”

Investigation of Physical Properties of Polymer Composites Filled with Sheep Wool

“…Sheep wool is a natural animal fiber derived from the shear activity of the fleece of sheep. It consists of 60% animal protein fibers, 15% moisture, 10% fat, 10% sheep sweat, and 5% impurities [ 1 , 2 ]. The leading countries in wool production are Australia, China, the United States, and New Zealand.…”