indu eco and life cycle assess by dr santosh sharma
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SustainabilityTRANSCRIPT
Industrial ecology&
Life Cycle Assessment
Dr. Santosh Kumar Sharma M.Sc. (Botany), M.Phil. (Envi. Mgmt.), Ph.D. (Botany)
Mobile No. 09406660463; Email: [email protected]
Introduction
Deals with the relationship between
“Industry” + “Ecology”.
The word ecology is derived from the
Greek oikos, (household) and logy (the
study of).
Eugene Odum: The study of households
including the plants, animals, microbes,
and people that live together as
interdependent beings on Spaceship
Earth.
Ecology can be broadly defined as the
study of the interactions between the
abiotic and the biotic components of a
system.
Defining Industrial Ecology
“Industrial ecology is the study of the interactions between
industrial and ecological systems; consequently, it addresses
the environmental effects on both the abiotic and biotic
components of the ecosphere”.
“an effort to reduce the industrial systems’ environmental
impacts on ecological systems.”
“an emphasis on harmoniously integrating industrial activity
into ecological systems.”
“the idea of making industrial systems more efficient and
sustainable by emulating natural systems”
closely related concepts – industrial ecosystems, industrial
metabolism, industrial symbiosis etc.
Why Industrial Ecology…?
Population is growing
Our current interaction with nature.
Pollution is constantly increasing and
(Pesticides, heavy metals etc.)
Nature's productive ability is declining
(Farmland, oceans, forests etc.)
Environmental legislation
Role of media - as environmental
proponents reporting environmental
damage.
The solution will be an approach that allows the two
systems to coexist without threatening each other’s
viability
Historical Development
• The publication of the Club of
Rome’s report The Limits to
Growth received considerable
public attention.
• In 1989, Robert Ayres
developed the concept of
industrial metabolism.
Robert A.
Frosch
Nicholas E.
Gallopoulus
• The official beginnings of Industrial Ecology as a field of study can be
traced to a article – Strategies for Manufacturing – Scientific American 261;
September 1989, 144–152 by Frosch and Gallopoulos .
• The first textbook (Industrial Ecology;
Graedel and Allenby, 1995).
• The first university degree program (created
by the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology [NTNU] in 1996).
• T. E. Graedel’s appointment as the first
professor of industrial ecology in 1997.
• The birth of the Journal of Industrial Ecology
in 1997, and the foundation of the
International Society for Industrial Ecology
(ISIE) in 2001.
Historical Development
Goals of Industrial Ecology
• To promote sustainable development
at the global, regional, and local levels.
• The sustainable use of resources.
• Preserving ecological and human
health.
• Promotion of environmental equity
(Intersocietal)
• Minimal use of nonrenewable
resources.
• High degree of interconnectedness
and integration that exists in nature
(i) Systems Analysis
(ii) Multidisciplinary Approach
(iii) Material-Flow Analysis
(iv) Analogies to Natural Systems
• The natural environment is a resilient, self-regulating, productive
system.
• There is ‘waste’ in nature.
• Materials and energy are continually circulated and transformed.
• Concentrated toxins are not stored or transported in bulk.
• Cooperation and competition are interlinked, held in balance.
Key Concepts of Industrial Ecology
(i) Linear (Open) Versus
Cyclical (Closed) Loop
Systems
Evolution from a Type I toa Type III system
The shifting of industrialprocess from linear (openloop) systems, in whichresource and capitalinvestments move throughthe system to becomewaste,
To
a closed loop system wherewastes become inputs fornew processes.
Unlimited
Resources
and Energy
Industrial
Activity
Unlimited
Space for
Waste
Energy &
Limited
Resources
Industrial
Activity
with some
Recycling
Limited
Waste
Energy
Industrial Activity with
Total Resource
Conservation
Type I Industrial Ecology
Type II Industrial Ecology
Type III Industrial Ecology
The current state of Industrial Ecology
Currently focuses on the development of two interrelated areas, analysis
and design
IE analysis: deals with mapping resource consumption at various system
boundaries. There are a number of theoretical elements:
• Physical accounting: resource stocks and flows across system boundaries;
• Natural capital: ecosystem as a means for production;
• Ecological economics: relates economic theory to natural behaviors;
• Systems complexity: making generalities about the natural ecosystem
In addition, IE analysts utilize a varied set of unique tools and methods:
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
• IPAT equation: used to identify necessity for technological improvement;
P= product of population, A= affluence of the population or resource
intensity per capita, and T= impact per resource (technology).
• Resource metrics: energy, emergy, and exergy are properties of pieces in
a system that can be measured and optimized; and
• Environmental footprint: The placement of anthropogenic environmental
impact into standardized, limited units to quantify the theoretical
environmental qualities.
IE Design: Some guiding principles for IE engineering:
• Dematerialization: the quest to achieve the same
service for less resources;
• Green chemistry: a reduction in the use and production
of pollution and toxins in industry;
• Distributed energy: development of methods for small-
scale, site-appropriate, resilient power generation
facilities; and
• Closing loops: finding uses for waste flows from
industrial processes or re-engineering material
processes to generate usable waste and recyclable
products.
Industrial Ecology as a Potential Umbrella for Sustainable
Development Strategies:
Pollution prevention – “the use of materials, processes, or practices
that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants at the source”
(U.S. EPA)
Waste minimization – “the reduction, to the extent feasible, of
hazardous waste that is generated or subsequently treated, sorted,
or disposed of” (U.S. EPA)
Source reduction – any practice that reduces the amount of any
hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant entering any waste
stream or otherwise released into the environmental prior to
recycling, treatment or disposal.
Total quality environmental management (TQEM) – used to monitor,
control, and improve a firm’s environmental performance within
individual firms.
Types of Industrial Ecosystems
Local, Regional, National, Global
Industrial Symbiosis
The Eco-Industrial Park
Example of Industrial Ecology
At Kalundborg, the pattern of cooperation is described as „industrialsymbiosis‟ or a pioneering „industrial ecosystem‟.
Industrial environmental cooperation at the town of Kalundborg, 80miles west of Copenhagen in Denmark.
Industries exchange wastes
Companies made agreements 70s – 90s
The cooperation involves among
Asnaes – Coal-fired power plant
Statoil – Oil Refinery
Gyproc – plasterboard company
Novo Nordisk – biotechnology company
a sulfuric acid producer, cement producers, local agriculture and horticulture, district heating in Kalundborg.
Industrial Ecology in Kalundborg
Saves resources: 30% better utilization of fuel using combined
heat + power than producing separate
Reduced oil consumption
3500 less oil-burning heaters in homes
Does not deplete fresh water supplies
New source of raw materials Gypsum, sulfuric acid, fertilizer, fish farm
An Eco-Industrial Park in Devens, Massachusetts
“We should leave to the next generation a stock of „quality of life‟ assets no less than those we have inherited.”
-Devens Enterprise Commission
Economic Benefits of IE Hidden Resource Productivity Gains
Within Firm: eliminating waste
• Making plant more efficient
Within Value Chain: reducing costs
• Synergies between production and distribution
Beyond Production Chain: closed loop
• Eco-Industrial Parks and inter-firm relationsBenefits of IE to Corporation
Revenue Generation
Cost Savings
Reduced Liabilities
Competitive Edge of Regulatory Flexibility
Enhanced Public Image
Market Leader
The Future of IE
Cradle to Grave Analysis
“Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential
environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle”
“LCA is a tool to evaluate the environmental consequences of a product or activity
holistically, across its entire life” – U.S. EPA
• A way of looking at the effect on the environment of products (or
processes) including packaging
• Considers the whole life cycle, from raw material production to
ultimate fate
Product Life Cycle
Steps of LCA:
1. Goal definition (ISO 14040): The basis and scope of the evaluation are defined.
2. Inventory Analysis (ISO 14041): identification and quantification of energy and
resource use and environmental releases to air, water, and land.
3. Impact Assessment (ISO 14042): Emissions and consumptions are translated into
environmental effects.
4. Improvement Assessment/Interpretation (ISO 14043): Evaluation and implementation of opportunities to
reduce environmental burden
STEPS in an LCA
1. Goal and Scope: Select product or activity Define purposeof study (comparison? improvement?) Fix boundariesaccordingly
2. Inventory Analysis: Identify all relevant inputs andoutputs Quantify and add (At this stage, data are in terms ofenergy consumed, emission amounts, etc.)
3. Impact Analysis: Determine the resulting environmentalimpacts (At this next stage, the previous data are translatedin additional cancer rates, fish kill, habitat depletion, etc.)
4. Interpretation: Use value judgment to assess and/or inrelation to the objectives of the study.
It is important to establish beforehand
What purpose the model is to serve,
what one wishes to study,
what depth and degree of accuracy are required, and
what will ultimately become the decision criteria.
In addition, the system boundaries - for both time and
place - should be determined.
LCA Step 1 - Goal
Definition and Scope
LCA Step 2 –
Inventory Analysis
The inputs and outputs of all life-cycle processes in terms of material and
energy.
Start with making a process tree or a flow-chart classifying the events in a
product’s life-cycle which are to be considered in the LCA, plus their
interrelations.
Next, start collecting the relevant data for each event: the emissions from each
process and the resources (back to raw materials) used.
Establish (correct) material and energy balance(s) for each process stage and
event.
LCA Step 3 - Impact Assessment
Examples of Common Impact Categories Greenhouse gas emissions Air emissionsCarcinogens
• Non-carcinogens• Respiratory inorganics
Aquatic• Acidification• Eutrophication
Land use Ecotoxicity
• Aquatic• Terrestrial
Ozone layer depletion Ionizing radiation Non-renewable energy Mineral extraction Health impacts
LCA Step 3 - Impact Assessment…
Three well-documened and used methods are:
The Eco-Points methodThe Environmental Priority SystemThe Eco-Indicator
The final step in Life-Cycle Analysis is to identify areasfor improvement.
Consult the original goal definition for the purpose of theanalysis and the target group.
Life-cycle areas/processes/events with large impacts(i.e., high numerical values) are clearly the most obviouscandidates
However, what are the resources required and riskinvolved?
Good areas of improvement are those where largeimprovements can be made with minimal (corporate)resource expenditure and low risk.
LCA Step 4 - Improvement Assessment/Interpretation
LCAs are used:
in the design process to determine which of several
designs may leave a smaller “footprint on the
environment”, or
after the fact to identify environmentally preferred
products in government procurement or eco-labeling
programs.
Also, the study of reference or benchmark LCAs
provides insight into the main causes of the
environmental impact of a certain kind of product and
design priorities and product design guidelines can be
established based on the LCA data.
Goal Definition and ScopingCosts and time to conduct an LCA may be prohibitive to small firms.Temporal & spatial dimensions are difficult to address.Definition of functional units can be problematic.Complex products (automobiles) require tremendous resources toanalyze.You have to do one LCA for every product in your companyData CollectionData availability and access can be limiting.Data quality concerns such as bias, accuracy, precision, andcompleteness are often not well-addressed.Data EvaluationSophisticated models and model parameters may not be available,Information TransferDesign decision-makers often lack knowledge about environmentaleffects.Aggregation and simplification techniques may distort results.Impact categorization is difficult (global warming, eutrophication, etc.)
Some Problems with LCA
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