Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Silvia Guillen-Lambea, Raphael Abrahao, Monica Carvalho
Summary: Developing new clean power generation systems is important for the energy sector. This research assesses the environmental impacts of two medium power generation systems using consequential life cycle assessment methods. The results highlight the importance of considering the temporal variation of environmental impacts and the need for improved methodologies and standards in environmental assessments.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Rizal Taufiq Fauzi, Patrick Lavoie, Audrey Tanguy, Ben Amor
Summary: Buildings have a significant impact on the environment, with the choice of attributional or consequential approach affecting the results. The application of consequential LCA and LCC methods in the building sector is limited, but necessary for policy-making and uncovering hidden impacts.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Thomas Schaubroeck, Simon Schaubroeck, Reinout Heijungs, Alessandra Zamagni, Miguel Brandao, Enrico Benetto
Summary: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a common method to assess the potential environmental impact of human/industrial systems, with attributional (ALCA) and consequential (CLCA) being two prominent types. This article aims to argue for and select definitions for each concept, specify their characteristics, and go beyond current findings. ALCA attributes environmental impact to a product life cycle, while CLCA assesses the consequences of decisions, with different modelling restrictions and evaluation approaches for each type.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Dieuwertje L. Schrijvers, Philippe Loubet, Bo P. Weidema
Summary: This paper evaluates the extent to which the Circular Footprint Formula follows a consequential LCA approach, identifying main discrepancies including the lack of including marginal suppliers and users, predetermined limitations on substitution modeling, and incomplete modeling of recycling effects under constrained demand. Some inconsistencies were identified that should be corrected in an updated version.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ben Maes, Romain Sacchi, Bernhard Steubing, Massimo Pizzol, Amaryllis Audenaert, Bart Craeye, Matthias Buyle
Summary: This study proposes a novel method for constructing consequential life cycle inventory (LCI) databases based on the heuristic approach by Bo Weidema. The method is tested on the future electricity sector using projections from two integrated assessment models (IMAGE and REMIND). Results show that the choice of modeling technique in each step has a significant impact on the results, especially the selection of the time interval. Additionally, there is a noticeable difference between the projections of the two models. The relevance and goals of alternative techniques for each step are discussed to guide users in forming their own heuristic method.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tanveer Hassan Mehedi, Eskinder Gemechu, Matthew Davis, Amit Kumar
Summary: Policy decisions to transition towards low-carbon and renewable electricity have long-term environmental consequences. Wind energy generation shows significant penetration in various scenarios, with the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions. In Alberta, wind power generation appears to be the most competitive technology, alongside combined cycle, in the transition to a cleaner grid.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Isadora Correa Hackenhaar, Javier Babi Almenar, Thomas Elliot, Benedetto Rugani
Summary: This paper investigates how a spatially explicit system dynamics (SD) modelling approach can contribute to the advancement of consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) in systems under continuous evolution. A novel CLCA conceptual framework combining consequential life cycle inventories, SD principles and the use of spatially explicit data is proposed. The innovative value of this framework is demonstrated through a proof-of-concept SD-CLCA model that evaluates the environmental impacts of changes in electricity supply-demand in the market due to the adoption of solar photovoltaic panels (SPV) in residential buildings. The results show that the SD-CLCA model can provide a closer representation of the real effects of predicted changes in the electricity market and capture the complexity of cause-effect dynamics determining environmental impacts.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Antonio Suarez, Ericka Ford, Richard Venditti, Stephen Kelley, Daniel Saloni, Ronalds Gonzalez
Summary: The need to decarbonize and reduce human activities is driving the growth of the bioplastics industry, particularly bio-polyethylene made from sugarcane. The environmental impact of this bio-based plastic is still under debate, and our study aims to evaluate it comprehensively through a life cycle analysis. Land-use change is found to be the main factor affecting the environmental sustainability of bio-polyethylene. Policies restricting deforestation are necessary to ensure the positive environmental profile of this material. We expect this work to contribute to a better understanding of the environmental impact of bio-polyethylene and promote the development of more sustainable products.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sara Bello, Dimitris Ladakis, Sara Gonzalez-Garcia, Gumersindo Feijoo, Apostolis Koutinas, Maria Teresa Moreira
Summary: The research focuses on environmentally analyzing the production of succinic acid (SA) from residual sugar-based streams, utilizing both Attributional Life Cycle Assessment (A-LCA) and Consequential Life Cycle Assessment (C-LCA) to study the effects of mass versus economic allocation, as well as the potential net reductions of carbon emissions in the chemical industry. The study also explores the use of CO2 as an input in fermentation, and the potential impact of various geographical locations on the environmental effects of producing SA.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Melanie Douziech, Romain Besseau, Raphael Jolivet, Bianka Shoai-Tehrani, Jean-Yves Bourmaud, Guillaume Busato, Mathilde Gresset-Bourgeois, Paula Perez-Lopez
Summary: Life cycle assessment is a holistic approach to estimate the environmental impacts of a system over its entire lifecycle. This study proposes a method that combines parameterized life cycle inventories to assess the effects of background changes on the environmental impacts of the foreground system.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xueyu Tian, Fengqi You
Summary: The study finds that transitioning from silicon PV to perovskite-perovskite tandems can significantly reduce cumulative energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Silicon is identified as a hotspot in the fabrication process in attributional LCA.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dieuwertje L. Schrijvers, Philippe Loubet, Guido Sonnemann
Summary: This paper proposes using an axiomatic method to identify a suitable allocation procedure for a defined LCA goal and transparently communicate the rationale behind it.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Enock Chambile, Nelson Ijumba, Burnet Mkandawire, Jean de Dieu Hakizimana
Summary: Limited information is available on environmental emissions in African grid electricity generation and transmission systems, with carbon emissions being the main focus. Rwanda may contribute more emissions per unit power compared to Tanzania and Kenya. The consideration of environmental governance factors during the design and operation of these systems is limited, but some systems may achieve significant decarbonization goals in the future.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kaifang Luo, Yueming (Lucy) Qiu, Bo Xing
Summary: This study examines the electricity consumption behavior of commercial consumers and finds that they respond to both marginal and average prices, with higher-usage consumers more responsive to average prices and lower-usage consumers more sensitive to marginal prices. The study also highlights the importance of tailoring energy conservation policies based on the characteristics of commercial electricity consumers and industry sectors.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tim Langhorst, Benedikt Winter, Dennis Roskosch, Andre Bardow
Summary: Current chemical process development aims to improve sustainability. Decision-making thus needs to assess potential environmental benefits. Reliable life cycle inventory data is often unavailable at early design stages. Stoichiometry-based estimation methods that employ proxies are compared and benchmarked to a new database of industrially validated processes. Most estimation methods underestimate global warming impact. Combining yield range assumption and average process energy demand as a proxy improves predictions of inventory data and overall global warming impact.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Rolf Frischknecht, Philippe Stolz, Laura Tschumperlin
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2016)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rolf Frischknecht, Enrico Benetto, Thomas Dandres, Reinout Heijungs, Charlotte Roux, Dieuwertje Schrijvers, Gregor Wernet, Yi Yang, Annika Messmer, Laura Tschuemperlin
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2017)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Paula Perez-Lopez, Benoit Gschwind, Philippe Blanc, Rolf Frischknecht, Philippe Stolz, Yvonnick Durand, Garvin Heath, Lionel Menard, Isabelle Blanc
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2017)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rene Itten, Matthias Stucki
Article
Economics
Marco Raugei, Sgouris Sgouridis, David Murphy, Vasilis Fthenakis, Rolf Frischknecht, Christian Breyer, Ugo Bardi, Charles Barnhart, Alastair Buckley, Michael Carbajales-Dale, Denes Csala, Mariska de Wild-Scholten, Garvin Heath, Arnulf Jaeger-Waldau, Christopher Jones, Arthur Keller, Enrica Leccisi, Pierluigi Mancarella, Nicola Pearsall, Adam Siegel, Wim Sinke, Philippe Stolz
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Claudio Beretta, Matthias Stucki, Stefanie Hellweg
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2017)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Rolf Frischknecht, Christian Bauer, Andreas Froemelt, Stefanie Hellweg, Kirsten Biemann, Thomas Buetler, Brian Cox, Peter de Haan, Sebastian Hoerl, Rene Itten, Niels Jungbluth, Yorick Ligen, Nicole A. Mathys, Samuel Schiess, Salome Schori, Patricia van Loon, Jing Wang, Sarah Wettstein
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2018)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francesca Verones, Jane Bare, Cecile Bulle, Rolf Frischknecht, Michael. Hauschild, Stefanie Hellweg, Andrew Henderson, Olivier Jolliet, Alexis Laurent, Xun Liao, Jan Paul Lindner, Danielle Maia de Souza, Ottar Michelsen, Laure Patouillard, Stephan Pfister, Leo Posthuma, Valentina Prado, Brad Ridoutt, Ralph K. Rosenbaum, Serenella Sala, Cassia Ugaya, Marisa Vieira, Peter Fantke
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2017)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sarah Wettstein, Karen Muir, Deborah Scharfy, Matthias Stucki
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Deborah Scharfy, Norman Boccali, Matthias Stucki
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Isabel Jaisli, Petra Battig-Frey, Lea Eymann, Ennio Mariani, Matthias Stucki
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sebastian Bradford, Reto Rupf, Matthias Stucki
Summary: This study investigates the environmental impacts of climbing ropes through an online survey and LCA, highlighting the significant role of base material production in the total global warming potential. Despite the lack of practical alternatives, climbers show a high willingness to participate in recycling efforts, with the potential to save 1170 t CO2-eq. if all old ropes in Switzerland were recycled.
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Matthias Stucki, Marleen Jattke, Marcus Berr, Harald Desing, Ashley Green, Stefanie Hellweg, Rafael Laurenti, Ronny Meglin, Karen Muir, Dario Pedolin, Rhythima Shinde, Tobias Welz, Regula Lisa Keller
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hanna Krohnert, Matthias Stucki
Summary: The environmental impact of a plant-based shampoo produced in Zurich was analyzed using the life cycle assessment method, with a focus on different refill options. The study found that the use phase is the dominant life stage, and switching to renewable energy can reduce environmental impact during production.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hanna Kroehnert, Rene Itten, Matthias Stucki
Summary: Due to the severe sustainability problems caused by the built environment, there is an increasing demand for adopting circular economy principles in building design. This study compares the environmental benefits of a flexible, reversible building design using load-bearing steel structure and wooden ceiling elements to a conventional, monolithic design based on reinforced concrete. The study demonstrates that flexible building design allows for easier refurbishment and increased potential for materials to be recirculated, resulting in higher environmental value retention.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)