Timeline

The origin

1992

The founder of the research group, Prof. Biagio F. Giannetti, starts his teaching activities at Universidade Paulista, working under coordination of Prof. Milton Caetano Ferreroni.
The first researches are conducted in Prof. Tibor Rabóczkay’s (IQ-USP) research laboratory in environmental electrochemistry, supported by the Graduate Vice-Rectory of Universidade Paulista (Individual Research Program for Professors). Professors Cecilia M. V. B. Almeida and Silvia H. Bonilla start their research activities as collaborators.

1995

The research group is registered in the Brazilian Research Group Directory of CNPq (agency of the Ministry of Science and Technology for the fostering of scientific and technological research, as well as the formation of human resources for research in Brazil). The registered researchers are Prof. Biagio F. Giannetti (the group leader) and professors Cecilia M. V. B. Almeida and Silvia H. Bonilla. Initially, the research group had the denomination of ‘Applied and Theoretical Physicochemistry’; with the intensification of the researches on the environment, the research group changes its denomination to ‘Production and Environment’.

The facilities

1997

The laboratory is installed on the new floor of the Luís Góis I building, Complex of the Indianápolis Campus, with a 250 m2 area being destined. Initially, it receives the name of LaFTA (Applied and Theoretical Physicochemistry Laboratory), and subsequently the name changes to LaProMA (Environment and Production Laboratory). Professors Cecilia M. V. B. Almeida and Silvia H. Bonilla are hired and start their research activities in the laboratory.

The installation resources are derived from project No 95/09333-2 (1997-2002, Young Researchers Program) of FAPESP (Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo) and from the Research and Graduate Vice-Rectory of Universidade Paulista.

The beginning of the research activities in Environment and Production

The beginning of the research activities in Environment and Production

1997

The research group leader starts his advising activities in the newly formed Production Engineering Masters Course. Researches related to materials and environment, studies on metal stability in corrosive environments, development of useful materials for the generation of cleaner energy and exploration of the industrial use of gangue mineral. In the subsequent years, researchers Cecilia M. V. B. Almeida and Silvia H. Bonilla are incorporated as professors of the Production Engineering Masters Course.

1998

The Production Engineering Masters Course is recommended by the Higher Education Personnel Improvement and Coordination (Capes, a foundation of the Ministry of Education) and the research laboratory starts to integrate the CAPES reports as support infrastructure.

The first subjects on Cleaner Production and Industrial Ecology are taught. The acquired experience and the organized material enabled the elaboration of the first book in Portuguese language on Industrial Ecology.

1999

The book by Professors Enzo Tiezzi and Nadia Marchettini ‘Che cos'e lo sviluppo sostenibile?: le basi scientifiche della sostenibilita e i guasti del pensiero único’ and subsequently the book by Prof. Howard T. Odum ‘Environmental Accounting: Emergy and environmental decision making’ are seminal to the researched implemented in Environment and Production that address Sustainability Indicators.

The official opening

1999

The opening ceremony counted with the attendance of Prof. Francisco Romeu Landi, chief executive officer of the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP), of Profa Marília Ancona-Lopez, Vice-Rector of Post-Graduation and Research, Prof. Fábio Romeu de Carvalho, Vice-Rector of Planning, Administration and Finance, by other authorities of the University and academic colleagues.

The consolidation

1999

The first masters’ student, who developed his work fully in the research laboratory, defends his thesis. The first defenses address researches related to materials and environment (stability of metals in corrosive environments).

2001

The first article addressing the production and the environment is published in a national circulation journal.

2002

Researchers of LaProMA become founding partners of the Cleaner Production Board of São Paulo during the First Cleaner Production Week of São Paulo.

2003

The first masters course thesis defense in Cleaner Production applied to a medium-sized industry is completed.
The research group implements the concentration area in Environment and Production and the research line in Cleaner Production and Industrial Ecology in the Production Engineering Masters Course.

The expansion

2004

The first publication in the most important journal on Cleaner Production, the Journal of Cleaner Production, addressing a case study of technological prospection for implementation of Industrial Ecology in Brazil.

2005

Universidade Paulista and the Graduate Program in Production Engineering are the signatories of the Cleaner Production International Statement of PNUMA (United Nations Program for the Environment).

2006

The book ‘Ecologia Industrial: Conceitos, Ferramentas e Aplicações’ is published by Blücher publisher.

2007

The Graduate Program in Production Engineering obtains recommendation by the Higher Education Personnel Improvement and Coordination (Capes, a foundation of the Ministry of Education) at Doctoral level.

The internationalization

2007

Prof. Biagio Giannetti conceives and organizes, along with his research group, the ‘First International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’. The event counted with the participation of 111 academic institutions and had 75 papers presented.

The researchers of the group are invited by the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cleaner Production, Prof. Donald Huisingh, to be part of the Editorial Board of the renowned scientific journal. Another invitation made by Prof. Huisingh was the publication of a special issue in the scientific journal, which gathered the best papers presented during the ‘First International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’.

The Executive Director of the US National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, Jeffrey Burke, grants the title of associates to the group’s researchers.

2008

Two doctorate students perform the  ‘Third European Advanced Course on Emergy and Complex Systems’ held at Universidade de Bolonha (Italy).

2009

Committee formed by a professor and three students (two doctoral students and a master’s student) from the research group conduct academic activities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China).
The research group organizes the ‘Second Workshop International on Advances in Cleaner Production’ and once more the group researchers are invited by the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Donald Huisingh, of the Journal of Cleaner Production to be special issue editors.

The professors of the research group joined the faculty of the Postgraduate Course in Industrial Engineering in the Specialization in Sustainable Development of the Universidade de Sonora (Mexico).

In May 2009, the LaProMA research group organizes the ‘Second International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’. In the event, 92 academic papers were presented. The quality of the presented papers resulted in the invitation, by the Journal of Cleaner Production, to publish a special issue of the journal containing papers presented in the 2nd Workshop.

2010

O Journal of Cleaner Production publica o número especial “The roles of cleaner production in the sustainable development of modern societies” contendo os melhores trabalhos do ‘First Workshop International on Advances in Cleaner Production’.

2011

In the Indianópolis campus of Universidade Paulista, the ‘Third International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ is organized. Once more, due to the quality of the 144 academic papers presented, the scientific journal of Cleaner Production invited the group’s researchers to publish a third special issue.

LaProMA researchers edit the book ‘Advances in Cleaner Production, Volume 01’. The book collects papers by researchers working in the Cleaner Production and Industrial Ecology area. The book is published by the North American publisher NOVA Publishers.        

Prof. Biagio Giannetti was named a member of the Ecological Footprint Committee of the Global Footprint Network, an international organization that utilizes the Ecological Footprint to aid decision making concerning Cleaner Production.

2012

A Professora Cecília Almeida tornou-se Editora de Conteúdo (Subject Editor) da revista científica Journal of Cleaner Production.

O LaProMA recebeu os Professores Visitantes Luís Velázquez, Nora Munguía e Andrea Zavala da Universidade de Sonora (UNISON) no México e o Professor Donald Huisingh da Universidade do Tennessee-EUA.

2013

The Journal of Cleaner Production publishes the second and third special issues, respectively entitled “Key elements, stages and tools for a sustainable world” and “Cleaner Production initiatives and challenges for a sustainable world”, with the best papers presented in the 2nd and 3rd Workshops.

One more edition of the ‘International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ is organized by the LaProMA researchers. The fourth edition of the event, as well as the second and third editions, presents remarkable growth compared to previous editions. Once more, the quality of the 166 presented papers draws the attention of the Journal of Cleaner Production and the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Donald Huisingh, invites LaProMA researchers to hold a fourth special issue in the magazine.

Prof. Biagio Giannetti became an Associated Editor of the scientific magazine Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management.

LaProMA hosts, as a Visiting Professor, professor Sergio Ulgiati from Universidade Partênope of Naples, Italy.

2014

Professors Sara Parkin (Forum for the Future – United Kingdom) and Federico Pulselli (Universidade de Siena – Italy), were hosted by LaProMA, as Visiting Professors.

2015

The fourth special issue “Integrating Cleaner Production into Sustainability Strategies”, containing the best works of the fourth workshop is published by the Journal of Cleaner Production.
LaProMA researchers organize the ‘Fifth International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’. In the event, 176 academic papers were presented. Once again, the researchers were invited by the Journal of Cleaner Production for the elaboration of a special issue, containing the best papers presented at the event.

A new Field of Study, entitled ‘Sustainability in Production Systems’, was inserted within the Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering (PPGEP). This Field of Study was created by LaProMA researchers, and has Prof. Biagio Giannetti as its coordinator.

Prof. Biagio Giannetti took part in the Forum of Presidents of the Universities of BRICS. The event, hosted by Beijing Normal University (China), was attended by leaders and representatives of the main universities of the constituent countries of the political block - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. During the event, UNIP, represented by Prof. Biagio Giannetti, became a signatory at the “Beijing Consensus”. Also during the event, Prof. Biagio Giannetti presented a lecture on the differences between the concepts of ‘Clean Production’ and ‘Cleaner Production’ and spoke at the Forum closing.

2016

A Prof. Cecília Almeida was promoted to Executive Editor of the Journal of Cleaner Production.

2017

The fifth special issue “Cleaner Production Towards a Sustainable Transition”, containing the best works of the fourth workshop is published by the Journal of Cleaner Production.

LaProMA researchers organize the ‘Sixth International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’. In the event, 149 academic papers were presented. Once again, the researchers were invited by the Journal of Cleaner Production for the elaboration of a sixth special issue, containing the best papers presented at the event.

LaProMA hosted Visiting Professor Paul Sutton from the University of Denver (USA). Prof. Paul Sutton hosted a workshop entitled “Changes to the Global Values of the Ecosystem Services: A Market Flaw?” and granted an interview to the Meio Ambiente Industrial & Sustentabilidade Magazine.

2018

The LaProMA researchers organized, jointly with Advances in Cleaner Production Network (ACPN) and Universidad of La Costa (Colombia) the 'Seventh International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production'. The event, held on June 21st and 22nd, 2018 in Barranquilla-Colombia, had 99 academic works presented. As a guest from the Journal of Cleaner Production a seventh special number, having the best works performed in the event, will be prepared. In addition to the Journal of Cleaner Production, scientific magazines Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management and INGE CUC will also put out special numbers having works from the 'Seventh International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production'.

2019

The eighth edition of the ‘International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ (8th IWACP) was carried out by LaProMa researchers in conjunction with The Normal University of Beijing (China) and the Cleaner Production Advancement Network (ACPN). The event, which took place between November 13 and 15, 2018 in Sanya, China, had 169 academic papers presented. In addition to the Journal of Cleaner Production, which will publish another special issue (eighth) with the best works presented at the event, scientific magazines Journal of Environmental Accounting Management and ENERGY will publish special numbers related to the 8th (IWACP).

Between 20 and 22 November 2019, LaProMa researchers, ACPN, the University of Sheffield (UNITED KINGDOM) and the Matteo Ricci Network (Sino-Italian academic collaboration network) organized the First International Conference on Circular Economy of the Bay Area in Macau, China. Three Chinese universities were responsible for carrying out the event – University Guangdong of Technology, Normal University Normal of Beijing, University Dongguan of Technology – and an Italian one – University Parthenope.

The program was attended by four international speakers, one from China, one from Brazil and two from the United States. The PPGEP professor and coordinator of LaProMA, Biagio F. Giannetti, had the honor of academically representing UNIP by giving a conference on Brazilian and global experiences in Circular Economy.

The ‘International Society for the Advancement of Emergia Research (ISAER)’, a scientific association devoted to advancing the theory and application of the theories to Howard Odum’s concept, classified professors Biagio F. Giannetti, Cecília Almeida, and Feni Agostinho, among the scientific production leaders in 2018. The survey took into consideration publications in international circulation journals, with a quality editorial policy, having the word eMergy in the title, abstract or keywords.

2020

The ‘International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ was jointly carried out with the Deakin University (Australia) and the Network of Advances in Cleaner Production (ACPN). Due to the events related to COVID-19, the event was held entirely online on May/26th/2020.

2021

The ‘International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ was held in conjunction with the University of Ferrara (Italy) and the Advances in Cleaner Production Network (ACPN). Due to COVID-19 related events, the event was held entirely online on 11/11/2021.

2022

The ‘International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ it was carried out jointly with the University of Florence (Italy) and the Network of Advances in Cleaner Production (ACPN). Due to the events related to COVID-19, the event was held on 07/15/2022 at the University of Florence in a hybrid way.

2023

La duodécima edición del 'Taller Internacional sobre Avances en Producción Más Limpia' (12th IWACP) se llevó a cabo en conjunto con la Universidad de Stellenbosch (Sudáfrica) y la Red de Avances en Producción Más Limpia (ACPN). El evento tuvo lugar los días 23 y 24/11/2023 en la Universidad de Stellenbosch de manera híbrida.

El evento contó con 57 contribuciones académicas presentadas de 48 instituciones. La excelente calidad de las contribuciones resultó en invitaciones de dos reconocidas revistas científicas para publicar ediciones especiales con los mejores artículos del 12th IWACP: Journal of Cleaner Production (décima edición) y Frontiers in Sustainable Cities.

2024

The 13th edition of the ‘International Workshop on Advances in Cleaner Production’ (13th IWACP) was held jointly by PUCPR, CESMAC (Brazil) and the Network for Advances in Cleaner Production (ACPN). The event was held between November 5th and 7th at PUCPR in a hybrid format. The event had 57 academic contributions presented from 48 institutions. The excellent quality of the contributions resulted in an invitation from Springer Nature to publish the best articles from the 13th IWACP.