The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was applied to identify the potential environmental impact of dredged sediments used as growing media for food crops. The dredged sediments used came from Livorno port and were previously phytoremediated. For the assay, strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch vr. ‘San Andreas’) were used. The plants were cultivated on three different substrates (100% peat, 100% dredged sediment and 50% mix peat/sediment) to identify the real impact of the culture media on the growing process. LCA was calculated and analyzed according to ISO 14040:2006 by SimaPro software. ReCipe Midpoint (E) V1.13/Europe Recipe E method was applied. One kilogram of produced strawberry, for each crop media tested, was defined as the functional unit. Eighteen impact categories were selected where Marine Eutrophication (ME), Human Toxicity (HT) and Freshwater Ecotoxicity (FET) were identified as relevant impact categories. The LCA results showed an increase in the environmental impact of strawberry cultivation using 100% sediment against 100% peat, due to the decrease in fruit production caused by the sediment. Nevertheless, the decrease in the environmental impact and the fruit production increase identified when the sediment is used mixed (<50%) with other substrates. The appropriate use of these substrates would be justified within the context of the circular economy.

The maritime ports and terminals periodically carry out dredging activities. This operation is necessary in order to avoid the excessive accumulation of sediments in the areas of maneuvering and berthing of ships. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect that dredged remediated sediments have on the quality and bioactive components of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivar “Purple Queen”. Pomegranate trees were grown on three substrate-based treatments: Peat 100% (Pt as a control), dredged remediated sediments 100% (DRS), and a 50% mixture of each (Pt-DRS). Pomegranate fruits and two types of juices (juice of arils and juice of arils plus carpellary membranes) were characterized. The results showed that the use of dredged remediated sediments 100% (DRS) negatively affected yield, numbers of fruit per tree, and fruit weight average of pomegranate fruits. However, neither fruit quality nor composition of pomegranates grown on this substrate and mixture were affected. The tested media showed suitable horticultural properties for pomegranate cultivation, at which the Pt and Pt-DRS had better plant responses than the DRS one.