Research Article
Towards Zero Waste Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Analysis of Sustainable Practices and Integration Strategies in Industrial Waste Management
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
1-21
Received:
17 August 2025
Accepted:
26 February 2026
Published:
12 March 2026
Abstract: Manufacturing and municipal waste are soaring at an unprecedented rate posing an environmental threat to the global industrial sector. Conventional forms of linear disposal, landfills and incineration are neither sustainable environmentally nor economically. Even though sustainability is a pressing need, there are still major gaps in infrastructure and financial constraints. Moreover, there is still a severe gap in the comprehensive implementation of global programs on zero-waste, as the available literature does not have systematic systems to coordinate technological innovations and the over-corporate plans. The aim of the research is to explore the way in which sustainable waste management strategies can be effectively embedded in manufacturing processes to have zero-waste target and to determine the multi-level compatibility of these activities with long-term corporate strategies. Mixed methods, sequential exploratory methods, were used. The study organized information around the world with the help of a systematic literature review, studied various industrial case studies to practically prove the validity of economic and regulatory obstacles, and applied semi-structured expert interviews. Results indicated that current systems were not congruent with the principles of zero-waste, with 37% of all waste in the world kept in landfills, and operational costs of waste management reaching over 100 dollars per ton in high-income countries. Nevertheless, these approaches of incorporating the 3R concept, circular economies, and waste-to-energy indicated that there had been a deep potential of reducing the estimated 3.40 billion tons of global waste by the year 2050. This research ends up developing a holistic strategic integration framework. With the following customized suggestions in mind, manufacturing businesses will be able to sail through systemic challenges easily, diminish their impact on the environment by far, and become the chief drivers of a transition to an environmentally friendly and airtight, zero-waste future.
Abstract: Manufacturing and municipal waste are soaring at an unprecedented rate posing an environmental threat to the global industrial sector. Conventional forms of linear disposal, landfills and incineration are neither sustainable environmentally nor economically. Even though sustainability is a pressing need, there are still major gaps in infrastructure...
Show More
Research Article
Comparative Evaluation of Thermal and Drying Performance of LPG, Charcoal, and Electrically Powered Multi-Chamber Fish Smoking Kilns
Enemugha Emmanuel Ebikabowei*
,
Adigio Emmanuel Munakurogha,
Koko Edwin Preye
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
22-35
Received:
1 July 2026
Accepted:
23 July 2026
Published:
10 August 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ie.20261001.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Conventional fish smoking kilns often suffer from non-uniform heat distribution, excessive thermal losses, and inefficient energy utilisation, resulting in inconsistent drying performance and poor fuel economy. Although several improved kiln designs have been reported, comparative information on the thermal behaviour of charcoal-, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-, and electrically powered multi-chamber fish smoking kilns operating under identical conditions remains limited. This study experimentally evaluated the thermal and drying performance of three heating systems using chamber temperature, fish weight reduction, heat generation, heat loss, and thermal efficiency as performance indicators. Fresh African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were smoked under controlled laboratory conditions, and the experimental data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression, and Pearson correlation analysis. The results showed that the charcoal-fired kiln produced the highest average chamber temperature (151.7°C) and the fastest reduction in fish weight, indicating superior drying intensity. The electrically heated kiln achieved the highest average thermal efficiency (54.67%), whereas the LPG-fired kiln exhibited intermediate thermal performance (45.00%). Statistical analysis confirmed that the heating source significantly affected chamber temperature (p < 0.001). Regression analysis demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between chamber temperature and fish weight reduction (R2 = 65.78%), while Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between chamber temperature and heat loss (r = 0.883). The findings demonstrate that the choice of heating source significantly influences heat distribution, drying behaviour, and energy utilisation in multi-chamber fish smoking kilns. The study provides practical engineering information for the design, optimisation, and selection of energy-efficient fish smoking systems for small- and medium-scale fish processing applications.
Abstract: Conventional fish smoking kilns often suffer from non-uniform heat distribution, excessive thermal losses, and inefficient energy utilisation, resulting in inconsistent drying performance and poor fuel economy. Although several improved kiln designs have been reported, comparative information on the thermal behaviour of charcoal-, liquefied petrole...
Show More
