XXXVII CICLO | Tola Francesco

My research focuses on ship dismantling and recycling within the European Union, with the goal of establishing a circular supply chain for materials recovered from decommissioned ships. I work in a variety of fields, such as econometrics and commodities science for material quantification and predictive modeling. In order to improve process efficiency and environmental effect, I am also very involved in advanced production management techniques, environmental regulations, integrated and multimodal logistics, industrial certification standards, and port sustainability.

The PhD research project focused on the study of ship recycling on a global scale, with a specific emphasis on the European area, aiming to promote industrial development based on the principles of circular economy and end-of-waste. Initially, a thorough literature review was conducted to identify key knowledge gaps and to understand the functioning and market size of ship recycling. Macro and meso-level analyses were carried out to assess the actual volume in terms of future quantities of recyclable materials and potential business turnover.

A critical aspect of the research involved the application of predictive models to the European ship fleets, evaluating different ship dismantling methods, costs, and demolition times for individual vessel units, as well as the environmental and social impacts these activities may have within the European context. Special attention was given to identifying the most suitable areas for recycling, analyzing the entire industrial supply chain, including recycling and recovery hubs such as steel mills.

The dissemination of findings was achieved through the publication of scientific and popular articles and participation in national and international conferences, ensuring broad dissemination of the acquired knowledge. The project also explored the regulatory and strategic implications to facilitate the transition towards more sustainable ship recycling practices in Europe.

Tola, F., Mosconi, E. M., & Gianvincenzi, M. (2024). Demolition of the European ships fleet: A scenario analysis. Marine Policy, 166, 106222. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MARPOL.2024.106222

Tola, F., Mosconi, E.M., Marconi, M., Gianvincenzi, M. (2023). Perspectives for the Development of a Circular Economy Model to Promote Ship Recycling Practices in the European Context: A Systemic Literature Review. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075919

ISSN 2071-1050

Tola, F., Mosconi, E.M., Branca, G., Natali, F., Gianvincenzi, M., Nosova, B., & Colantoni, A. (2023). Analysis of wastage mechanisms in the supply chain of fish products in a circular economy perspective: Empirical research. Heliyon, 9(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17449   ISSN 2405-8440  

Tola, F., Mosconi, E. M., Marconi, M., & Gianvincenzi, M. (2024). The Recovery of Materials and Management at the End of Life of Ships.  Models and Strategies for a Critical Raw Materials Circular Market in Europe. 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55206-9_34

Gianvincenzi, M., Mosconi, E. M., Marconi, M., & Tola, F. (2024). Battery Waste Management in Europe: Black Mass Hazardousness and Recycling Strategies in the Light of an Evolving Competitive Regulation. Recycling 2024, Vol. 9, Page 13, 9(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/RECYCLING9010013

Gianvincenzi, M., Marconi, M., Mosconi, E. M., & Tola, F. (2024). Eco-design Framework for a Battery Sustainable Lifecycle Management. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-58094-9_9

Gianvincenzi, M., Marconi, M., Mosconi, E. M., & Tola, F. (2024). Personal Protective Equipment Recycling Scenarios for the Production of Reinforced Bituminous Conglomerates. 253–259. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55206-9_32