Environmental Analysis of Packaging for Soft Drinks Using the Life Cycle Assessment Methodology

The knowledge of a product＇s life cycle is the first step on the search of sustainable development. The life cycle assessment （LCA） is an important method because it allows an environment accounting, where the extraction of natural resources and energy of the nature are considered and the ＂returns＂ to the same one and allows in evaluating relative potential the environment impacts generated. The present work had as objective to make an analysis of material and energy flows of the life cycle of three types of packaging for soft drinks： glass bottles of 390 mL, aluminum cans of 350 mL, and bottles of PET of 2,000 mL. The study considered processes since the extraction of raw materials for production of the packaging until the stages of recycling, after the consumption of the soft drink. For the research, an inventory analysis followed the LCA methodology. The main critical points of generation of negative environmental impact during the life cycle of each packaging had been the identified and quantified data in this study. The consumption of natural resources like water and other raw materials and energy, the generation of atmospheric emissions, solid wastes and wastewaters had been the analyzed categories. The results showed that, in accordance with the scenes and defined variables, the most important conclusion was that the bottle of glass presented a less favorable scene to the environment in comparison with other packaging.

Overall Life Cycle Comprehensive Assessment of Pneumatic and Electric Actuator

Pneumatic actuators and electric actuators have almost been applied to all manufacturing industries. The two kinds of actuators can replace each other in most fields, such as the point to point transmission occasion and some rotating occasions. However, there are very few research results about the advantages and disadvantages of two kinds of actuators under the same working conditions so far. In this paper, a novel comprehensive assessment method, named as overall life cycle comprehensive assessment （OLCCA）, is proposed for comparison and assessment of pneumatic and electric actuators. OLCCA contains mechanical properties evaluation （MPE）, life cycle cost analysis based on users （LCCABOU） and life cycle environmental impact analysis （LCEIA） algorithm in order to solve three difficult problems： mechanical properties assessment, cost analysis and environmental impact assessment about actuators. The mechanical properties evaluation of actuators is a multi-objective optimization problem. The fuzzy data quantification and information entropy methods are combined to establish MPE algorithm of actuators. Two kinds of pneumatic actuators and electric actuators with similar bearing capacity and similar work stroke were taken for example to verify the correctness of MPE algorithm. The case study of MPE algorithm for actuators verified its correctness. LCCABOU for actuators is also set up. Considering cost complex structure of pneumatic actuators, public device cost even method （PDCEM） is firstly presented to solve cost division of public devices such as compressors, aftercooler, receivers, etc. LCCABOU method is also effective and verified by the three groups of pneumatic actuators and electric actuators. Finally, LCEIA model of actuators is established for the environmental impact assessment of actuators. LCEIA data collection method and model establishment procedure for actuators are also put forward. With Simapro 7, LCEIA comparison results of six actuators can be obtained： Fossil fuels are the major environmental factor of pneumatic and electric actuators; Environmental impact of electric actuator is large than one of pneumatic actuator under the similar mechanical properties and working conditions of pneumatic and electric actuators. The results are correct and correspond with the actual mechanical properties of actuators. This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation method of the actuators, which can solve the critical problem that similar electromechanical products are very difficult to be compared with each other from the angle of performance, cost and environment impact.

Life cycle assessment in the environmental impact evaluation of urbandevelopment--a case study of land readjustment project,Hyogo District, Japan

In this paper, the Life Cycle of Urban Development was firstly analyzed, and the phases of Life Cycle Assessment applied to Urban Development (ULCA) were described. As a case study, ULCA was applied in the environmental impact assessment of the land readjustment project of Hyogo District of Saga, Japan. In addition, mitigation proposals for reducing CO2 were also presented and the relevant environmental ef-fects were simulated.

Life Cycle Assessment of Creosote-Treated Wooden Railroad Crossties in the US with Comparisons to Concrete and Plastic Composite Railroad Crossties

Creosote-treated wooden railroad crossties have been used for more than a century to support steel rails and to transfer load from the rails to the underlying ballast while keeping the rails at the correct gauge. As transportation engineers look for improved service life and environmental performance in railway systems, alternatives to the creosote-treated wooden crosstie are being considered. This paper compares the cradle-to-grave environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) results of creosote-treated wooden railroad crossties with the primary alternative products: concrete and plastic composite (P/C) crossties. This LCA includes a life cycle inventory (LCI) to catalogue the input and output data from crosstie manufacture, service life, and disposition, and a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fossil fuel and water use, and emissions with the potential to cause acidification, smog, ecotoxicity, and eutrophication. Comparisons of the products are made at a functional unit of 1.61 kilometers (1.0 mile) of rail-road track per year. This LCA finds that the manufacture, use, and disposition of creosote-treated wooden railroad crossties offers lower fossil fuel and water use and lesser environmental impacts than competing products manufactured of concrete and P/C.

Life cycle assessment of mobile phone housing

The life cycle assessment of the mobile phone housing in Motorola(China) Electronics Ltd. was carried out, in which materials flows and environmental emissions based on a basic production scheme were analyzed and assessed. In the manufacturing stage, such primary processes as polycarbonate molding and surface painting are included, whereas different surface finishing technologies like normal painting, electroplate, IMD and VDM etc. were assessed. The results showed that housing decoration plays a significant role within the housing life cycle. The most significant environmental impact from housing production is the photochemical ozone formation potential. Environmental impacts of different decoration techniques varied widely, for example, the electroplating technique is more environmentally friendly than VDM. VDM consumes much more energy and raw material. In addition, the results of two alternative scenarios of dematerialization showed that material flow analysis and assessment is very important and valuable in selecting an environmentally friendly process.

Life cycle assessment of opencast lignite mining

The life cycle phase of fossil fuel extraction is mainly considered in the life cycle assessment(LCA)when evaluating the energy production processes.It is then only one of many unit processes,which contribute to the blurring of mining-relevant results.There are few items in the literature focusing exclusively on the lignite mining phase and analysing the specific mining conditions and associated environmental impacts.The article focuses on the LCA of lignite mining processes on the basis of data coming from a Polish mine.The technology for opencast lignite mining is noted for its high production efficiency,high level of recovery and lower risk as regards the safety of workers when compared with underground mining systems.However,the need to remove large amounts of overburden to uncover the deposit contributes to a much greater degradation of the landscape.Analysing the results obtained,several key(hot spot)elements of the lignite mining operations were distinguished for modelling the environmental impact,i.e.:calorific value,the amount of electricity consumption,the manner in which waste and overburden are managed.As a result there is a high sensitivity of the final indicator to changes in these impacts.

Life Cycle Assessment of CCA-Treated Wood Highway Guard Rail Posts in the US with Comparisons to Galvanized Steel Guard Rail Posts

A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment is done to identify the environmental impacts of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated timber used for highway guard rail posts, to understand the processes that contribute to the total impacts, and to determine how the impacts compare to the primary alternative product, galvanized steel posts. Guard rail posts are the supporting structures for highway guard rails. Transportation engineers, as well as public and regulatory interests, have increasing need to understand the environmental implications of guard rail post selection, in addition to factors such as costs and service performance. This study uses a life cycle inventory (LCI) to catalogue the input and output data from guard rail post manufacture, service life, and disposition, and a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) to assess anthropogenic and net greenhouse gas (GHG), acidification, smog, ecotoxicity, and eutrophication potentially resulting from life cycle air emissions. Other indicators of interest also are tracked, such as fossil fuel and water use. Comparisons of guard rail post products are made at a functional unit of one post per year of service. This life cycle assessment (LCA) finds that the manufacture, use, and disposition of CCA-treated wood guard rails offers lower fossil fuel use and lower anthropogenic and net GHG emissions, acidification, smog potential, and ecotoxicity environmental impacts than impact indicator values for galvanized steel posts. Water use and eutrophication impact indicator values for CCA-treated guard rail posts are greater than impact indicator values for galvanized steel guard rail posts.

Study on life cycle assessment of stainless steel

In recent years, life cycle assessment （LCA） method is widely used in green manufacturing, energy saving, and emission reduction of iron and steel production. Based on the carbon steel LCA research and relevant standards at home and abroad,the application of LCA in stainless steel in Baosteel was studied. Through the study of stainless steel＇ s goal and scope, life cycle inventory, LCA and interpretation, knowledge and experience of LCA＇s application in stainless steel was obtained.

Development of a Disaggregated Hybrid Model for Life Cycle Assessment and De-manufacturing

The de-manufacturing stage is an overlooked component of most current LCA （life cycle assessment） methodologies. Most of the current LCA techniques do not fully account for the usage of the product and end of life aspects. This paper introduces a comprehensive methodology that takes strong consideration of the inventory costs of use and end of life of the functional unit by combining manufacturing and de-manufacturing into the centerpiece of the hybrid analysis. In order to obtain this goal, a new disaggregated model was developed by enhancing current LCA hybrid methods related to life cycle inventory compilations. The new methodology is also compared to existing methodologies.

Life Cycle Assessment of Household Water Tanks—A Study of LLDPE, Mild Steel and RCC Tanks

A case of household water tanks, 1000 L capacity, made of RCC, LLDPE and mild steel (stainless steel) was evaluated for life cycle analysis. The scope of the research comprised of the raw materials, energy inputs and corresponding emissions during all phases of product making such as extraction of raw material, it’s processing, followed by manufacturing and transport, as well as use and reuse of the product. Simapro 8 (System for Integrated environMental Assessment of PROducts), a modelling software, from Dutch PRé Consultants was used to conduct the life cycle analysis. Simapro 8 enables systematic and transparent modelling and analysis of complex life cycles based on the recommendations of the ISO 14040 series of standards. In the present study the most common method which is acceptable worldwide “Recipe Endpoint method” (ReCiPe) was employed. ReCiPe computes the impact categories and classifies them into two classes based on relevant arrays of characterization factors. Simapro addresses impact categories viz. ozone depletion, human toxicity, ionizing radiation, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification, climate change, terrestrial ecotoxicity, agricultural land occupation, urban land occupation, natural land transformation, marine ecotoxicity, marine eutrophication, fresh water eutrophication, fresh water ecotoxicity, fossil fuel depletion, minerals depletion, fresh water depletion at the midpoint level. While at the Endpoint level, the impact categories are multiplied by corresponding damage factors and integrated to be represented as three Endpoint level categories, viz. human health, ecosystems and resource depletion. The three endpoint categories are normalized, weighted, and aggregated into a single score. LCA studies indicate that household water tanks of LLDPE have least environmental implications considering impacts on human health, ecosystems and resource depletion as compared to its counterparts viz. Household water tanks made up of mild steel and RCC. The sequence of the material with decreasing impacts is concrete tanks > mild steel tank > LLDPE tanks. The overall assessment is centred on the elements such as material inputs, energy inputs and environmental emissions.

Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost of Waste Management—Plastic Cable Waste

The main driver for recycling cable wastes is the high value of the conducting metal, while the plastic with its lower value is often neglected. New improved cable plastic recycling routes can provide both economic and environmental incentive to cable producers for moving up the “cable plastic waste ladder”. Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment, LCA, of the waste management of the cable scrap is suggested and explained as a method to analyze the pros and cons of different cable scrap recycling options at hand. Economic and environmental data about different recycling processes and other relevant processes and materials are given. Cable producers can use this data and method to assess the way they deal with the cable plastic waste today and compare it with available alternatives and thus illuminate the improvement potential of recycling cable plastic waste both in an environmental and in an economic sense. The methodology applied consists of: cradle-to-gate LCA for waste material to a recycled material (recyclate);quantifying the climate impact for each step on the waste ladder for the specific waste material;the use of economic and climate impact data in parallel;climate impact presented as a span to portray the insecurities related to which material the waste will replace;and possibilities for do-it-yourself calculations. Potentially, the methodology can be useful also for other waste materials in the future.

Assessment of Cultivation Method for Energy Beet Based on LCA Method

In order to establish a supply system for energy resource coupled with the environment,the production technology of sugar beets was explored as a biological energy source. The low-humic andosol as the experimental soil,the panting method was direct planting,and cultivation technique was minimum tillage direct planting method. The control was conventional tillage transplant and no tillage direct planting. The results demonstrated that data revealed that the energy cost of no tillage and a direct planting method was 105 GJ/hm2on average for two years,while that of the conventional tillage method was 112 GJ/hm2per year. The ratio of output to input showed that the direct planting with no tillage was more efficient( 3. 61) than the conventional tillage( 3. 01). Moreover,the emission of CO2into the atmosphere with no tillage and the direct planting was 71% of the conventional tillage planting technique. Therefore,direct planting without tillage reduces the impact on the environment.

Prospective life cycle assessment of CO_(2)conversion by photocatalytic reaction

CO_(2)conversion is gradually seen as a better way for society to effectively use carbon sources and avoid climate crisis associated with fossil CO_(2)emissions.And the decision to deploy CO_(2)technology scale should be relied on its environmental impact.In this work,life cycle assessment model evaluates the environmental performance of CO_(2)conversion by photocatalytic reaction process with two different catalysts(NiAl-LDH and Co-ZIF-9).Six impact categories considered in this analysis,including climate change,acidification potential,depletion of abiotic resources,eutrophication potential,ozone layer depletion potential,and photochemical oxidation potential.Results indicated that CO_(2)conversion with Co-ZIF-9 photocatalyst has a better environmental impact than the NiAl-LDH photocatalyst route.Moreover,the Co-ZIF-9 catalyst scenario also has a lower total environmental burden than the conventional CO production route.Sensitivity analysis shows that recycle performance of the catalyst is highly sensitive to the production process in two scenarios.This study could provide a framework for robust decisions in CO_(2)conversion by photocatalytic reaction,which is useful for policymakers to decide the feasibility of industrialization.

基于LCA的山岭隧道碳排放核算研究现状与展望

首先,梳理山岭隧道碳排放核算研究的进展并进行探讨,基于生命周期评价理论(life cycle assessment,LCA)与排放因子法,结合山岭隧道特点对其全生命周期内各阶段的碳排放来源进行分析,着重探讨施工与运营阶段的计算边界;其次,强调碳排放核算过程中清单分析涉及到的碳排放因子与活动数据的获取方式与应用条件;然后,对核算结果的应用、不确定分析与碳排放预测的相关研究成果进行整理;最后,指出当前山岭隧道碳排放研究中存在的问题,并展望其未来发展方向。

基于LCA方法的教育家具可持续设计策略研究

目的对家具领域的可持续设计方法进行梳理,并通过具体案例研究教育家具的可持续设计,提出设计策略,探讨该方法的可行性。方法采用ReCiPe 2016方法对一宿舍家具套装设计案例进行产品生命周期评价(LCA)评估,得出产品的环境热点问题,提出对应的设计策略,并通过环境、质量、经济、可实现性四个维度的专家评审对得出的设计策略进行可行性分析。结果评估结果表明钢材和实木多层板的制造及消耗是宿舍家具套装的环境热点。据此提出减少、优化钢材、木材用量;延长使用寿命;采取模块化或可替换部件的设计;建立回收与再制造系统;选用更环保板材;选用更环保的运输方式这六点设计策略,并对策略进行可行性评估。结论使用产品生命周期评价(LCA)这一量化方法,能够帮助设计者利用全生命周期视角,发现产品的环境热点问题、提出改进策略、对比各改进方案的优劣。本文通过具体案例对教育家具可持续设计进行研究,具有一定的实际意义,同时也可为教育家具行业提供可持续设计参考。

考虑广义储能和LCA碳排放的综合能源系统低碳优化运行策略

综合能源系统(IES)是当前能源转型低碳发展背景下实现“双碳”目标的关键,为了提高IES碳减排能力,需要充分利用需求侧负荷资源和传统储能设备等广义储能资源参与IES优化.首先,建立一种综合考虑可再生能源、能源转换设备、广义储能设备、能源市场交易的IES优化运行模型.然后,使用生命周期评估法(LCA)对IES中能源循环、设备循环的全过程进行碳排放量计算,并将碳排放成本纳入系统总成本.最后,利用仿真实验验证所提模型不仅有利于降低IES总调度成本,还能降低系统的碳排放量,有效促进IES的低碳发展.

LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND LIFE-CYCLE COST AS COLLABORATIVE TOOLS IN RESIDENTIAL HEATING SYSTEM SELECTION

Typically the selection of a residential heating system focuses on first costs rather than the economic or environmental life cycle consequences.The use of life cycle assessment and life cycle cost methodologies in the design phase provide additional criteria for consideration when selecting a residential heating system.A comparative case study of a gas forced air and radiant solar heating system was conducted for a 3,000 square foot house located in Fort Collins,Colo­rado,U.S.A.The initial results of an analysis of the life cycle assessment and the life cycle cost data indicated the gas forced air system was superior,both environmentally and economically.Further data analysis pinpointed solar radi­ant system components for replacement in an effort to reduce both life cycle environmental emissions and costs.This analysis resulted in a hybrid radiant system using a high-efficiency gas-fired boiler,a choice that lowered both the solar radiant system’s costs and emissions.This new system had slightly lower environmental impacts than both the gas forced air system and solar radiant system.Unfortunately the hybrid system had less impact on the life cycle cost with the hybrid system substantially more expensive then the gas-forced air alternative.

零碳目标下临时木结构建筑降碳策略与LCA碳排放研究——以2024世园会企业展园为例

以2024年世园会成都设计咨询集团企业展馆为例,探讨了基于零碳目标下小型临时木结构建筑如何采取源头减碳、过程降碳、末端消碳等三方面的低碳优化策略,并基于LCA全生命周期评估方法对其进行碳排放核算研究,得出针对小型临时建筑,建材生产与加工环节对建筑全生命周期碳排放影响最大,占比约为50.30%~69.49%,其次是运行阶段,占比约为19.33%~30.91%。通过对比分析目标建筑与同体量的轻钢结构建筑,目标建筑在采取不同的措施下可实现减碳率约36.00%~68.41%,建筑全生命周期(5年)单位面积的碳排放量可降低至382 kgCO_(2)eq/m^(2)。研究得出临时建筑各阶段融入降碳策略的重要性和运用LCA方法评估建筑碳排放的必要性,除运行阶段外,临时建筑需更加关注低碳材料的替代与拆除阶段材料的回收利用,为未来实现零碳建筑目标提供了新的思路和实践参考。

基于LCA的道路工程物化阶段碳排放计算

在“双碳”的大背景下,道路作为我国碳排放的重要来源之一,确定其工程物化阶段的碳排放主要贡献来源具有重大意义。因此,通过对道路物化阶段碳排放的研究现状进行综述,创新性地将全寿命周期理论与道路碳排放相结合对浙江省宁波市奉化区岳林街道长汀路整治工程进行了分析,并采用碳排放因子法,结合工程实际材料用量和工程图纸,计算出整个工程物化阶段的碳排放总量为36418651.37 kgCO_(2)e;材料生产的碳排放总量为33146776.91 kgCO_(2)e,占整个工程物化阶段碳排放总量的91%。材料生产与运输阶段主要碳排放来源是路基材料、混凝土、水泥、钢材等。其中:路基材料碳排放量最高,为24094956.02 kgCO_(2)e,占材料生产与运输阶段碳排放总量的69.81%。轴流通风机在建设阶段碳排放量最高,占建设阶段总碳排放量的24.94%。因此,认为路基材料与轴流通风机极具减排潜能。

An Environmental Learning Support System Incorporating the Life Cycle Concept

The need for environmental education, which incorporates the life cycle concept into the learning program, will become increasingly greater all over the world. In the present study, an e-learning system, which is made up of 3 parts including text-based learning materials, quizzes to review the content of the learning materials and CO2 emission simulation, was designed and developed with the purpose of supporting environmental learning. Targeting a wide range of people, the operation period of this system was 1 month. Based on the results of questionnaire survey for users, it was evident that the quiz function and the simulation function of CO2 emission contributed to the efficiency in environmental learning, and the format of the e-learning system was effective and helpful for environmental learning. Additionally, with the users’ awareness related to environmental conservation before and after using the system, significant changes in awareness were seen in areas such as behavioral intention, sense of urgency and sense of connection. Furthermore, as it was revealed that 62% of the total access numbers were from mobile devices, it was effective to prepare an interface optimized for mobile devices enabling users to use the system from their smartphones and tablet PCs.