Sheep Wool Waste Availability for Potential Sustainable Re-Use and Valorization: A GIS-Based Model

Giusi Midolo, Simona M. C. Porto, Giovanni Cascone and Francesca Valenti ()
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Giusi Midolo: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, n. 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Simona M. C. Porto: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, n. 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Giovanni Cascone: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, n. 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Francesca Valenti: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin, n. 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Worldwide, 1.3 to 2.1 billion tons of agricultural waste are generated yearly, including livestock wastes (i.e., sheep wool), which create several critical environmental issues if not properly treated. In order to reduce the environmental issues related to the management and disposal, their use as natural fibers for green building components has notably developed over the last years. Indeed, sheep wool, which is a natural animal fiber that comes from shearing sheep fleece, is considered to be a problem of increasing concern due to its complex and difficult disposal management. Recently, several researchers have demonstrated that “low-quality wool” (i.e., not appropriate for textile uses) is suitable for the thermal and acoustic insulation of buildings. Indeed, thanks to its thermo-hygrometric and acoustic characteristics, it can be used as a reinforcing fiber for composite materials. In this study, a Geographic 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 through their Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, was developed and applied within the selected study area (i.e., the Sicily region). The aim was to identify the territorial areas highly characterized by this kind of waste and therefore most suitable for localizing new shared sheep wool collection centers to sustainably manage the reuse of this waste as a potential green building component.

Keywords: circular economy; livestock waste; GIS; spatial analysis; environmental impact; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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