life cycle assessment introduction
TRANSCRIPT
GEO, 2010
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
28TH May 2010
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy, CEO, GEO
http://e-geo.org
Centre for Social Initiative and Management
GEO, 2010
What does it mean to be Green?? What is Sustainability??
What does it mean to be Green?? What is Sustainability??
What does it mean to be Green?? What is Sustainability??
What does it mean to be Green?? What is Sustainability??
What does it mean to be Green?? What is Sustainability??
GEO, 2010
Sustainability
United Nations World Commission on Environment
and Development (1987) Sustainable Development
definition:“… development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
• Biodegradable• Recyclable• Ozone friendly• Eco-design• Greenwashing• Environmentally
Friendly• Sustainable
Products• Green product• Environmentally
Preferable
wwblog.miragestudio7.com
GEO, 2010
What Can the Earth Handle?
Population (2007)
Annual Growth Rate (00 – 07)
World 6.7 Billion 1.24%
LDC 5.4 Billion 1.44%
MDC 1.2 Billion 0.36%
US 301 Million 1.03%
World Population StatisticsUN Population Division• The estimate of Earth’s
Maximum supportable population is 13.4 billion.
• Looking at the population statistics, where are we headed?
Renewable Energy Source Will Limit Our Growth! Average per capita energy consumption is 3
kW/person•US 12 kW/person•Industrialized 7.5 kW/person•Denmark 5.1 kW/person•Developing 1kW/person
GEO, 2010
Being Green is Trendy . . . . . . . . . . .What Does Science Say?
• Industry is looking for ways to green their products and manufacturing processes.
• Individuals and Families are looking to green their homes and lifestyles.
• How can you tell if something really is green??
• What is currently happening to achieve this goal?
• Scientists perform a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
www.scienceinthebox.com
GEO, 2010
Definition:
“Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle”
This establishes an environmental profile of the system!
ISO = International Organization for Standardization
Ensures that an LCA is completed in a certain way.
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH LCA?
1.Product or project development and improvement2.Strategic planning3.Public policy making4.Marketing and eco-declarations
www.davidreport.com
GEO, 2010
• Producing one ton of recycled steel saves the energy equivalent of 3.6 barrels of oil and 1.5 tons of iron ore, compared to the production of new steel?
• Producing paper using a chlorine-free process uses between 20 and 25 percent less water than conventional chlorine-based paper production processes?
GEO, 2010
Worldwatch Institute, Worldwatch Paper 166: Purchasing Power: Harnessing Institutional Procurement for People and the Planet, July 2003, www.worldwatch.org
GEO, 2010
Life Cycle Assessment
A process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product by identifying and
quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released into the environment; to assess the impact of
those energy and material uses and releases to the environment; and to identify and evaluate
opportunities to affect environmental improvements. (SETAC, 1991)
GEO, 2010
Product Life Cycle
Raw MaterialAcquisition
MaterialProcessing
Manufacture& Assembly
Use &Service
Re tirement& Recovery
TreatmentDisposal
open-loop recycle
reuse
remanufacture
closed-loop recycle
M, E
W W W W W
M, E M, E M, E M, EM, E
W
M, E = Material and Energy inputs to process and distributionW = Waste (gas, liquid, or solid) output from product, process, or distribution Material flow of product component
GEO, 2010
What Makes Up LCA
• Goal & Scope Definition What is the purpose of the LCA
and who is the audience?
• Inventory Analysis (LCI)1. What is the function & functional
unit?
2. Where are the boundaries?
3. What data do you need?
4. What assumptions are you making?
5. Are there any limitations?
• Impact Assessment (LCIA)What are the environmental, social,
and economic affects?
• InterpretationWays to reduce environmental
impacts.
What conclusions can you draw from the study?
What recommendations can be made?
GEO, 2010
Items To Consider??
Inputs
What is needed to make the substance!
1. Energy
2. Materials
3. Labor
Outputs
What comes out of the system!
1. Products (electricity, materials, goods, services)
2. Waste
3. Emissions
4. Co-products
GEO, 2010
Data CollectionLife Cycle Inventory Analysis
1. Time-sensitive = past 5 years2. Geographical = does it match
the location from the goal3. Technology = best available
technology for process4. Representativeness = reflects
population of interest5. Consistency = matches the
procedure6. Reproducibility = another
person could find it
Never Forget . . . . . . .
Precision:The consistent reproducibility
of a measurement
Completeness:Covers all the areas outlined
in the scope
GEO, 2010
LCA in Action: Think About It!Paper Plate vs. China (Plate You Wash & Reuse)
What is the function? What is the functional
unit? What materials &
resources are used? What does it take to
produce both?
What are the impacts to the environment?
Is there waste? Does washing the
China produce waste? What types of data do
you need? How do you know
which is better?
GEO, 2010
Data AnalysisEnvironmental Impact Categories
Global Warming Potential • Gases in the
atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation
• Trap heat from the sun• Water vapor, CO2 , CH4 ,
ozone, NO2
Abiotic Depletion• Consumption of non-
living resourcesHuman Toxicity Potential• Value that shows harms
to humans from chemicals
Land Use• How much land is
needed
GEO, 2010
Environmental Impact CategoriesContinued . . . . .
Eutrophication• Increase in chemical
nutrients containing nitrogen or phosphorus
• land or water• overgrowth of plants• killing organisms at
bottom of waterWater UseMercury
Acidification• caused by pollution from
fuels & acid rain• low pHSmog (Winter or Summer)
Energy UseSolid Waste
Oil. . . . . . . AND MANY MORE!!
GEO, 2010
Where Do We Go From Here?
• What is the purpose of all this data??
• Scientists can make recommendations of choices that are less impactful
• Scientists can analyze a particular impact and focus on a solution
• Industry & Individuals can take a closer look at how they can make a difference
Class Project
Evaluate 2 products using the LCA method and
make change!
GEO, 2010
Where Does Our “Stuff” Come From?
Let’s check it out with . . . .
“The Story of Stuff”
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
GEO, 2010
What is LCA?
• Enables estimation of cumulative environmental impacts results from all stages of the product life cycle
• A “cradle-to-grave” approach “for assessing the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product by;– compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs of a
system– evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with
these inputs and outputs– interpreting the results of the inventory and impact phases in
relation to the objectives of the study.” (ISO 14040)
GEO, 2010
Raw Materials
Materials Processing
Product Manufacture
Retail Outlets
Product Use and Service
Reuse - Recycling
Disposal
Materials
Energy
Transport
Water Effluents
Air Emissions
Solid Wastes
Other Releases
Usable Products
Areas covered by LCA
T-shirt example (cotton)
• Growing• Harvesting• Spinning• Weaving/knitting• Bleaching, dyeing, washing
and treatment• Cutting and sewing• Use - reuse• Disposal - recycling Use and maintenance
Disposal/end of life
Processing of materials
Production
Extraction of materials
GEO, 2010
Objectives of LCA• To provide a complete a picture as possible of the
interactions of an activity with the environment.
• To contribute to the understanding of the overall and interdependent nature of the environmental consequences of human activities.
• To provide decision makers with information which defines the environmental effects of these activities and identifies opportunities for environmental improvements
GEO, 2010
LCA Applications
External uses:• Marketing or support for specific
environmental claims.• Labelling.• Public education and communication.• Policy making.• Supporting the establishment of purchasing
procedures
GEO, 2010
LCA Applications
Internal uses:• Strategic planning.• Product & process design, improvements &
optimisation.• Identifying environmental improvement
opportunities.• Support the establishment of purchasing
procedures or specifications.• Environmental auditing & waste minimisation
GEO, 2010
assembly
poly- aluminium
extrusion
+ transport
disposal inmunicipalwaste
disposal of
in org. waste
use
paper
duction filter pro-
sheet steel
stampingforming
glass
forming
filters + coffee
coffee
roasting
packaging
water
injectionmoulding
bean styrene
electricity
Simplified Process Tree for a Coffee Machine
GEO, 2010
assembly
poly- aluminium
extrusion
+ transport
disposal inmunicipalwaste
disposal of
in org. waste
use
paper
duction filter pro-
sheet steel
stampingforming
glass
forming
filters + coffee
coffee
roasting
packaging
water
injectionmoulding
bean styrene
electricity
Process Tree:Amounts & Assumptions7.3 kg 1 kg 0.1 kg 0.3 kg 0.4 kg
White boxes are not included in the inventory
375 kWh
GEO, 2010
Impact Analysis1. Define impact categories2. Determine which loads affect different impact categories3. Assign indicators to impact categories4. Weigh importance of each category
27
Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Load
greenhouse effect
ozone layer depletion
eutrophication
depletion of abiotic resources
(summer) smog
acidification
copper
CO2
CFC
SO2
NOx
phosphorous
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
heavy metals
PCB
pesticides
styreneeco-toxicity
depletion of biotic resources
human toxicity
odour
Scalar IndicatorScalar Indicator
GEO, 2010
Resource depletion
Green houseeffect
Depletion ofozone layer
• Source: Use of copper, zinc, oil etc.• Effect: Reduction of possibilities for future generations
• Source: Combustion (transport, energy etc.)• Effect: Increase in temperature, desert formation etc.
• Source: CFC and HCFC from foam and coolants• Effect: UV radiation, skin cancer etc.
Global Impact Categories
GEO, 2010
Regional Impact Categories
Persistent toxicity
Acidification
Ozone formation
Eutrofication
• Source: Transport, energy, industry (Hydrocarbons etc.)• Effect: Ozone formation (Damage of lung tissue etc. )
• Source: Transport, energy, agriculture• Effect: Damage to woodlands, lakes and buildings (SOx, NOx, NH3 )
• Source: Fertilisers, waste water, transport and energy• Effect: Eutrophication (Damage to plants and fish)
• Source: Waste water, incineration, industry, ships etc. • Effect: Accumulation: Chronic damage to ecosystems and organisms
GEO, 2010
Plastic versus Paper Bag
• The paper bag causes more winter smog and acidification, but scores better on the other environmental effects.
• The classification does not reveal which is the better bag. What is missing is the mutual weighting of the effects.
Classification / Characterisation
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
greenhouseeffect
ozone layerdepletionacidification
eutrophicationheavy metals carcinogens winter smog
summer smog
pesticides
Paper bag
LDPE bag
GEO, 2010
Source: Electrolux 1998
• Calculated environmental impacts across the products life cycle• identifies and quantifies energy & materials used,
waste emissions, etc• identifies improvement potentials
GEO, 2010
LCA of washing machines
98%2%Water Consumption5%87%
1%
7%Solid Waste
96%
1%
4%Water Pollution
98%2%Air Pollution
96%4%Energy
DisposalUseDistributionProduction
GEO, 2010
Ref: http://....
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