Assessing the value of Green Conservation for Cultural Heritage: positive and critical aspects of already available methodologies

Abstract

In recent years, the use and the necessity of green materials and methodologies have been 
\npromoted in the field of Cultural Heritage, aiming to a low impact on the operator health and 
\nthe environment [1, 2]. Strictly connected to the green conservation is also the concept of 
\nsustainability: a complex topic that involves three main pillars (environment, society and 
\neconomy) and that often leads the direction of the intervention and research in the Cultural 
\nHeritage field [1, 3]. For a long time, in restoration and conservation science, the main goal 
\nwas searching for the most compatible solutions with the materials of the artifacts not 
\nthinking sometimes about the possible issues for the operator and/or for the environment. 
\nRecently, thanks also to an increasing attention to a respectful consumption of environmental 
\nresources and waste management, new scientific methodologies has been proposed for more 
\nsustainable and green interventions, promoting furthermore the concept of preventive 
\nconservation [3, 4, 5]. The aim of this work is to present an overview about some of the most 
\ninteresting technologies and methodologies already available as alternative to traditional and 
\nmore invasive/dangerous restoration treatments towards artefact, operators and environment. 
\nIn particular, the methods described in this paper have been critically analysed focusing on 
\nwhich might be the positive and negative points considering the convenience of use by the 
\nrestorers and the reasons why these methods are still not well known and diffused. Up to 
\nnow, still most of the green methodologies and products are proposed by Universities and 
\nresearch centres and do not reach the industrial scale production as often not economically 
\nattractive or supported by private or public institutions.