Integrated Life Cycle Assessment Research Articles

The Environmental Footprint of Available Food Waste in Young Households: A Diary Case Study of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)

As households contribute significantly to food waste, it can be assumed that they bear considerable responsibility for the environmental footprint of it. In Germany, household food waste comprises over half of all food loss and waste, with a notable share attributable to young people. To explore their environmental footprint, data from fifty young households in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, is analyzed using the Food Loss and Waste Value Calculator with an integrated life cycle assessment. We evaluate the environmental footprint of animal and plant food waste across five categories: climate change, water scarcity footprint, soil quality index, phosphorus and nitrogen eutrophication. Surprisingly, animal food waste, though representing only 18% of the total volume of all available food waste in our study, exhibits a more substantial impact in all categories except water scarcity. Specifically, animal food waste is found to be an important factor in soil degradation. Our results generally indicate an inverse relationship between the volume of animal-based and plant-based food waste in young households and its environmental footprint. However, the case study highlights a troubling connection between plant food waste and significant water scarcity issues in European agriculture.

Life cycle-based multi-objective model for optimal gaseous fuel generation and portfolio allocation in gas grids: A strategic decarbonization

Biomethane and hydrogen are acknowledged as transformative opportunities for decarbonizing the conventional gas grid. Essential to this transformation is the modeling of the gaseous fuel supply chain, particularly with hydrogen and biomethane, offering crucial insights for decision-makers. This study introduces a life cycle thinking-based multi-objective optimization model for the integrated design of biomethane and hydrogen gaseous fuel supply chain networks. The model determines optimal resource allocation for the production of the two fuels, integrating them into the conventional gas network. Moreover, it allocates conventional natural gas, biomethane, and hydrogen optimally across building, industry, and transport sectors, considering the life cycle environmental and economic performance of fuel integration paths. Objective functions include minimization of life cycle emissions and levelized cost of energy while maximizing revenue from fuel sales. Integrating life cycle assessment and cost analysis tools, the optimization model quantifies emissions and life cycle costs for biomethane and hydrogen paths. Results identify Pareto-optimal fuel production paths and portfolios, revealing that integrating the alternative fuels into the current gas grid can significantly reduce emissions (up to 250 tonCO2eq/year) and generate substantial carbon tax savings (up to $16,250/year). This model is useful for gaseous fuel industry stakeholders, offering a comprehensive view of supply chain costs and detailed insights into emission benefits when integrating alternative fuels into existing gas networks.

Circular battery production in the EU: Insights from integrating life cycle assessment into system dynamics modeling on recycled content and environmental impacts

AbstractThe European Union (EU) Battery Regulation aims to establish a circular battery production and sets minimum battery material recycled targets for new batteries from post‐production and post‐consumer waste batteries. However, it is uncertain whether these targets can be met due to dynamic market developments and if their compliance results in environmental benefits. Therefore, this study examines the circular battery production in the EU and its impact on material flows and the environment from a market perspective. We combined a system dynamic market model with process models for battery production and recycling, using prospective life cycle assessment. According to our analysis, the projected amount of post‐consumer waste alone may not meet the specified levels of recycled materials due to long battery lifetimes. Thereby, the targets for cobalt are particularly ambitious, with a gap of between 9.8 and 14.6 percentage points for most scenarios. In the case of reduced battery lifetimes, the achievable recycled content across all materials increases by more than 75% in 2032 and by more than 85% in 2037. The avoidance of post‐production waste leads to 9% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to recycling with 100% recycling efficiency. Thus, attributable amounts of post‐production waste and unfavorable prolonged use of batteries create misguided incentives to meet legal targets. Additionally, the delay between production and recycling limits the potential for circular production as this depends significantly on market conditions. Our study highlights, that besides recycling, the industry should especially advance production processes including upstream material extraction and refinement to reduce environmental impacts.

Integrated life cycle assessment with the ReSOLVE framework for environmental impacts mitigation in mushroom growing: The case in Lam Dong province, Vietnam

In recent decades, cleaner production has received increasing attention since it can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, sustainable consumption and production, and climate change mitigation. This study aims to use the Life Cycle Assessment-ReSOLVE method to find and quantify the main environmental impacts that happen along the production chain. It will also look at how each production stage contributes to these effects and then discuss ways to fix these problems using the circular economy approach and the ReSOLVE framework in the case study. Although this study used a mushroom-growing facility in the Central Highlands of Vietnam as a case study, the approach can be applied to other industries and countries worldwide. The LCA helped identify environmental hotspots, which were areas with significant environmental impact. The data on these hotspots were used to evaluate the ReSOLVE framework to determine appropriate circular practices for improving mushroom cultivation's environmental impacts. The results showed that electricity consumption and plastic baskets are the primary hotspots for environmental impacts, especially greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions while growing shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) were 2.38 kg CO2e/kg mushroom, of which energy use contributes to 72.87% of the emissions. The evaluation findings obtained from the ReSOLVE framework indicate that the facility is now implementing 17 out of 42 circular practices. The facility significantly prioritizes process optimization, implementing eight practices, and places a strong emphasis on regeneration, implementing five practices. According to the study's findings, practitioners should adopt this approach to support businesses in achieving sustainable development. Practitioners should tailor the circular practices in the ReSOLVE framework to the industry in which they evaluate and implement the suggested circular economy solutions to assess the effectiveness of using both the ReSOLVE framework and CE solutions. Moreover, this study only focused on a mushroom facility as a case study. Consequently, we want to enhance the methodology and extend this approach to other sectors in future research.

Linking the UN sustainable development goals to life cycle impact applied to a university campus

Purpose The study aims to explore the relationship between the SDGs and the environmental and social impacts of university classes. It evaluates the potential contributions of different teaching models to the SDGs, providing insights into sustainable teaching systems. Findings In-person classes exhibited hotspots in transportation and energy consumption. Scenarios I and II, involving virtual and hybrid classes, increased eutrophication potential and water scarcity due to higher food consumption, negatively impacting SDGs. However, all scenarios showed positive contributions to SDGs 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Design/methodology/approach This research integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to assess the environmental and social impacts of classes at the Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba campus in Brazil. Three scenarios were analyzed: (I) virtual classes, (II) hybrid classes and (III) in-person classes with improved energy efficiency. Research limitations/implications The study primarily focuses on environmental and social impacts, excluding other factors like class quality. Integrating Life Cycle Costing and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment could provide a more holistic evaluation in the future. Practical implications The methodology adopted offers valuable insights for managing the impacts of university performance and aligning teaching systems with the SDGs. It enables institutions to make informed decisions for sustainability in education. Social implications The research emphasizes the importance of considering social impacts alongside environmental ones when assessing sustainability in educational institutions. It encourages universities to engage stakeholders in sustainability efforts. Originality/value This research innovatively combines LCA and the SDGs in the context of university education providing a replicable methodology for evaluating and enhancing sustainability in teaching systems and from a more quantitative perspective.

Machine learning-based life cycle assessment for environmental sustainability optimization of a food supply chain.

Effective resource allocation in the agri-food sector is essential in mitigating environmental impacts and moving toward circular food supply chains. The potential of integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with machine learning has been highlighted in recent studies. This hybrid framework is valuable not only for assessing food supply chains but also for improving them toward a more sustainable system. Yet, an essential step in the optimization process is defining the optimization boundaries, or minimum and maximum quantities for the variables. Usually, the boundaries for optimization variables in these studies are obtained from the minimum and maximum values found through interviews and surveys. A deviation in these ranges can impact the final optimization results. To address this issue, this study applies the Delphi method for identifying variable optimization boundaries. A hybrid environmental assessment framework linking LCA, multilayer perceptron artificial neural network, the Delphi method, and genetic algorithm was used for optimizing the pomegranate production system. The results indicated that the suggested framework holds promise for achieving substantial mitigation in environmental impacts (potential reduction of global warming by 46%) within the explored case study. Inclusion of the Delphi method for variable boundary determination brings novelty to the resource allocation optimization process in the agri-food sector. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 SETAC.

Modelling environmental life cycle performance of alternative marine power configurations with an integrated experimental assessment approach: A case study of an inland passenger barge

There is pressure on the global shipping industry to move towards greener propulsion and fuel technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen and electricity are both recognised as pathways to achieve a net-zero. However, in the evaluation of the environmental performance of these alternative marine power configurations, conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) methods have limitations reflecting the varied nature of ship design and operational modes. The integration of LCA with experimental assessment could remedy the shortcoming of conventional approaches to data generation. The system energy demand data in this study was generated based on specific ship design and directly fed into life cycle assessment. To demonstrate the effectiveness and potential the approach was applied to a case study of inland waterway vessel. Suitable hybrid PV/electricity/diesel and hydrogen powered fuel cell systems for the case vessel were modelled; and hydrodynamic testing and dynamic system simulation was undertaken to provide ship performance data under various operational/environmental profiles. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) indicated hydrogen and electrical propulsion technologies have the potential for 85.7 % and 56.2 % emissions reduction against an MGO base case, respectively. The results highlight that implementation of both technologies is highly dependent on energy production pathways. Hydrogen systems reliant on fossil feedstocks risk an increase in emissions of up to 6.3 % against the MGO base case. Sensitivity analysis indicated an electrical system with electricity production from 79.5 % renewables could achieve savings of 82.2 % in GHG emissions compared to the MGO base case. Crucially, the results demonstrate a further development of the LCA approach which can enable a more accurate environmental performance evaluation of alternative marine power configurations considering specific ship design and operational characteristics. Ultimately this addition makes the results more meaningful for commercial operations and decision making in the selection of alternative marine power systems to support the transition to net-zero.

Carbon Management Accounting Considerations for Corporate Carbon Reduction: The Limitations and Future of Integrating Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Cost Accounting

Carbon Management Accounting Considerations for Corporate Carbon Reduction: The Limitations and Future of Integrating Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Cost Accounting

Developing a systematic framework for integrating life cycle carbon emission assessment in urban building energy modeling

Extensive research has been conducted in recent years on the environmental evaluation of building lifecycles, spanning construction, usage, and end-of-life phases. This holistic approach shows promise in assisting cities to achieve decarbonization goals, given the significant carbon emissions attributed to buildings in urban areas. Prior efforts have successfully utilized Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) tools to assess city-scale building energy consumption and explore energy efficiency scenarios. However, the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with UBEM, a robust environmental assessment approach, remains underexplored. The combination of LCA and UBEM can provide a comprehensive understanding of a building's environmental impact, considering energy performance as well as broader considerations such as materials, construction processes, and waste management. Despite the evident benefits, there exists a research gap in fully harnessing the potential of integrating LCA and UBEM methodologies. Further investigation is thus warranted to unlock the synergies between these approaches, establishing an integrated framework that enhances sustainability assessments and informs decision-making in the built environment. A systematic approach is essential to address the challenges associated with the development of a city-scale environmental tool. This entails defining the challenges, identifying key components, establishing a structured framework, and testing and refining it through iterations. The defined framework should be implemented in modeling tools that offer a compatible environment.To address this need, this study proposes a systematic approach to the development of a framework for the integration of LCA into UBEM tools. Firstly, a structured procedure is defined to facilitate the systematic creation of the integrated framework. This procedure serves as a guide for developers to adopt a comprehensive and organized approach in addressing the challenges of combining LCA and UBEM methodologies. Subsequently, a workflow is designed to accommodate the implementation of any improvement practices within the defined systematic process of integrating LCA into UBEM tools.Applying the developed workflow in a real case study in Montreal, Canada, reveals that embodied carbon emissions can actually be higher than operational emissions, when the energy supply is renewable (hydropower). The outcomes of this research are expected to provide guidance for future studies on Urban Building Environmental Assessment (UBEA), facilitating a structured approach to advance and improve the field.

Integrated Biorefinery for a Next-Generation Methanization Process Focusing on Volatile Fatty Acid Valorization: A Critical Review.

This review addresses the critical issue of a rapidly increasing worldwide waste stream and the need for sustainable management. The paper proposes an integrated transformation toward a next-generation methanization process, which leads not only to treating waste but also to converting it into higher value compounds and greener energy. Although the current and commonly used anaerobic digestion process is useful for biogas production, it presents limitations of resource exploitation and some negative environmental impacts. Focusing on the acidogenic stage in waste stream processing, the paper discusses the recent strategies to enhance the recovery of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). These acids serve as precursors for synthesizing a variety of biochemicals and biofuels, offering higher value products than solely energy recovery and soil fertilizers. Additionally, the importance of recycling the fermentation residues back into the biorefinery process is highlighted. This recycling not only generates additional VFAs but also contributes to generating clean energy, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability and efficiency of the waste management system. Moreover, the review discusses the necessity to integrate life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to evaluate the environmental impacts, sustainability, and processing costs of the proposed biorefinery.

Integrated life cycle assessment in off-grid energy system design—Uncovering low hanging fruit for climate mitigation

We perform an ex-ante life cycle assessment, integrating cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas emissions into an off-grid energy system model. By applying a multi-objective optimization, minimizing both costs and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, we find the Pareto boundary between these two goals. As a case study, we chose the power supply to an astronomical observatory in Chile, using mostly solar power and energy storage in batteries and hydrogen. We compare the ex-ante study to a prior ex-post life cycle assessment, and furthermore dive into sensitivities of our model regarding component lifetimes and costs. We find (i) low-hanging fruit in lowering emissions with small cost increases, (ii) ex-ante life cycle assessments’ possibility to find less CO2e intensive power systems compared to ex-post conducted studies, (iii) a pronounced sensitivity of the optimization model on assumed lifetimes of energy storage components. This study shows the importance of including life cycle CO2e emissions into the optimization objective of energy system models. This method uncovers the environmental and economic trade-offs associated with high shares of renewable energies in off-grid energy systems.

Sustainability risk assessment in manufacturing: A Life Cycle Assessment-based Failure Mode and Effects Analysis approach

This study introduces a methodology integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to identify and assess environmental sustainability risks in manufacturing processes in alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). In contrast to existing top-down approaches at sector and company level, this methodology specifically addresses the challenge of transitory sustainability risks in manufacturing, driven by rapid changes in regulatory frameworks and market expectations, by providing a robust and adaptable framework for comprehensive, bottom-up risk assessment directly on the manufacturing shop floor. Through a detailed literature review, the paper identifies gaps in current risk assessment methods and proposes a novel approach that enhances traditional FMEA by incorporating LCA results, thereby facilitating a comprehensive, quantitative analysis of sustainability risks. The practical application of this methodology is demonstrated through a case study, underscoring its effectiveness in real-world settings and potential for broader applications in sustainable manufacturing. The results presented in the paper also include quantitative sustainability performance benchmarks for the EU28 industrial sector, offering a strategic tool for manufacturers to improve sustainability practices, align operations with environmental standards, and mitigate transitory sustainability risks. This research contributes to the sustainable evolution of manufacturing, providing a methodological foundation for understanding and managing sustainability risks.

Life cycle assessment of an innovative alcohol-to-jet process: The case for retrofitting a bioethanol plant for sustainable aviation fuel production

This paper aims to carry out an integrated Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the environmental performance of retrofitting an existing first-generation ethanol plant for sustainable aviation fuel production. Two scenarios are defined, considering: (i) the incorporation of an alcohol-to-jet conversion pathway into a current bioethanol plant in Spain to produce synthetic paraffinic kerosene with aromatics biofuel, and (ii) the operation of two different plants, namely, an existing bioethanol production facility and a new-build ATJ plant. Results indicate that the global warming impact associated with the retrofitting of the bioethanol facility is 44.15 gCO2eq per MJ of final fuels produced. The main GHG impact is associated with the operation of both the cogeneration system (∼42 %) and the natural gas boilers (∼25 %) to cover the heat and power requirements of the bioethanol facility. Findings concerning the climate change impact of the new-build ATJ plant exhibit analogous behavior; the GHG impact is estimated at 44.53 gCO2eq/MJfuels. Future electricity supply mixes with high shares of renewables could lead to substantially lower GHG emissions (up to 61 %) in aviation fuel production, as compared to conventional jet fuels. The replacement of natural gas with sustainable alternatives could further decrease the global warming impact up to 97 %.

An integrated life cycle assessment and energy simulation framework for residential building walling systems

Designing building wall systems is a multi-criteria problem characterised by a complex interplay of variables that drive long-term energy and environmental performance. Achieving holistic sustainability outcomes will require the application of life cycle thinking to the design and evaluation of building walling systems. However, the aspiration for minimising operational and embodied energy and mitigating the environmental impacts requires conflicting strategies. Therefore, this study proposes a comprehensive, integrated life cycle and energy simulation (ILES) methodology for analysing different walling systems of residential buildings in India and Australia. This method involves performing a process-based life cycle assessment to compute the environmental impacts of various walling materials, followed by energy modelling to evaluate the performance of these materials in the operational phase of buildings in combination with embodied energy analysis, which accounts for energy consumption during the material manufacturing phases. The results reveal that insulated cavity-clay masonry or concrete walls with extruded polystyrene are favourable Australian walling options, while metal cladding-based walling systems have significant environmental and energy burdens. For India, autoclave aerated block, fly ash bricks, and concrete block-based walling systems are recommended, while reinforced concrete and clay brick walls exhibit significant environmental and energy burdens. This study also advocates the consideration of supply chains in mitigating Scope 3 emissions from building walling systems in residential buildings.

Assessing the environmental sustainability of consumer-centric poultry chain in the UK through life cycle approaches and the household simulation model

Chicken fillets, predominantly encased in disposable plastic packaging, represent a common perishable commodity frequently found in the shopping baskets of British consumers, with an annual slaughter exceeding 1.1 billion chickens. The associated environmental implications are of considerable significance. However, a noticeable gap exists concerning the household-level ramifications of chicken meat consumption, which remains a prominent driver (165 kg CO2eyr−1 per capita) of environmental impacts in the United Kingdom (UK). This study's primary objective is to integrate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology with insights derived from a spectrum of interventions simulated within the Household Simulation Model (HHSM). The interventions that are simulated are influenced by various consumer behaviours related to the purchase, consumption, storage and disposal of chicken fillets. The overarching aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental consequences associated with each intervention.The research encompasses eight distinct household archetypes and the UK average, with a focus on discerning differences in their environmental influence. The introduction of shelf-life extension measures leads to a reduction in the overall environmental impacts (in μPt), with reductions ranging from 1 % to 18 %. Concurrently, waste treatment's environmental burdens can be curtailed by 9 % to 69 % for the UK average. Of the 12 interventions tested, the intervention that combines a one-day extension in the shelf life of open packs and a three-day extension for unopened packs leads to the greatest reduction in environmental impacts, at 18 % for the entire process and 69 % for the waste treatment. This intervention is estimated to yield annual reductions of 130,722 t of CO2 emissions across the entire process and 34,720 t of CO2 emissions from waste treatment, as compared to the default scenario. These findings demonstrate the importance of integrating consumer behaviour, food waste, and packaging considerations within the domain of food LCA research.

Environmental optimization and operational efficiency: Analysing the integration of life cycle assessment (LCA) into ERP systems in Moroccan companies

During the 2000s, the synergy between Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems represented a major step forward in the integration of environmental sustainability into basic business processes. This study set out to investigate how Moroccan enterprises incorporate LCA into their ERP systems, aiming to understand the impact on environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. Through a methodical empirical study, involving a survey distributed to 220 companies across Morocco, the study garnered 95 qualified responses. These responses, from companies that own and operate ERP, were analysed using SPSS V25.0 for statistical and correlation analysis. The findings highlighted that the fusion of LCA into ERP systems fosters a more sustainable and efficient framework for business operations among Moroccan companies. Such integration not only secures a competitive advantage for businesses but also contributes to global sustainability goals. The analysis verified that Moroccan companies, by weaving LCA into their ERP systems, can refine their decision-making by weighing environmental alongside economic and operational considerations. This integrated approach underpins a holistic sustainability framework, helping companies align their activities with environmental targets more effectively. Moreover, the survey illuminated a pronounced correlation between the company size and the propensity for integrating LCA into ERP systems, with larger firms showing a more marked inclination towards this synergy compared to their smaller counterparts. Consequently, integrating LCA with ERP systems is revealed as a pivotal strategy for Moroccan businesses, equipping them with a mechanism to embed sustainability into their operational and strategic planning.

A synergistic integration of life cycle assessment and response surface methodology to optimize grape stalk waste-based biosorption for effective Cd(II) removal

In order to remove Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions, this research suggests an in-depth study on a laboratory scale for the efficient and sustainable removal of Cd(II) in aqueous solution using wine industry grape stalk waste. The maximum biosorption capacity that was achieved was 84.74 mg/g for the Langmuir isotherm model. The kinetic studies revealed that the biosorption data were better explained by a pseudo-second order model. By using the response surface method with desirability functions, the optimal variables were determined for three optimization scenarios. The first optimization scenario yielded the highest percentage of cadmium removal, reaching 87.75%. The goal of that scenario was intended to obtain the maximum percentage of cadmium removal while minimizing the cost of the process. In this scenario, the greatest environmental impact was on the marine aquatic ecotoxicity (2.685 kg 1.4 DB eq.) with a power consumption of 27.05 W. Furthermore, the values for the input variables were an initial cadmium concentration of 0.6 mg/l, pH of 7.5, stirring time of 10 min, stirring speed of 100 rpm, a process temperature of 15 °C, and a dose of grape stalk of 0.50 g. The experimental and predicted findings agree. This suggests that grape stalk waste has potential applications as a biosorbent for the removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Life cycle sustainability assessment of the platinum supply chain in the European Union

This study investigates the sustainability of platinum, designated a “critical raw material” by the European Commission. Platinum has an essential role in automotive catalysts and hydrogen fuel cells, pivotal for the energy transition. This research examines the sustainability of platinum, extending the scope to incorporate social and economic factors, contrary to the predominant tendency of focusing solely on environmental aspects. First, a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) maps the platinum supply chain, identifying critical nodes within it. Second, a sustainability assessment is performed, including an environmental, social, and economic assessment of the supply chain, in order to evaluate the total impact and therefore the sustainability of the use of platinum. The integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with input-output matrices (Environmentally-Extended Multi-Regional Input-Output or EEMRIO method), allows for a regional analysis to locate the main sources of impact. Finally, an equilibrium range for sustainability assessment (ERSA) is proposed to guide European policies, striving for a balance among environmental, social, and economic impacts, particularly comparing primary with secondary production, and primary production outside and inside the EU. The results show that secondary production of platinum causes a substantial drop in CO2-eq emissions (100.9 %) and labour hours (78.9 %), but the costs increase significantly compared to primary production. A balanced approach between primary and secondary production (50–55 % recycling) is recommended to enhance environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The production of platinum in the European Union (EU) results in a 32 % reduction in CO2-eq emissions and 94 % fewer labour hours, but costs increase by 55.2 % compared to production in non-EU countries. The equilibrium range for sustainability assessment (ERSA) would be such that 27–53 % of the total consumption of platinum in EU is produced within EU countries. Knowledge about the platinum supply chain and the environmental, social, and economic impacts produced (in different stages or countries) is fundamental to establishing short- and long-term economic and environmental strategies.

Establishing criteria for advancing circular economy practices in the beer industry: A case study in South Vietnam

AbstractThis study involves an extensive examination of the brewing industry, specifically focusing on Company A in South Vietnam alongside five other Vietnamese beer companies (B, C, D, E, and F). By employing a multifaceted approach that integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), evaluations of emission loads, and the establishment of criteria for a circular economy model, the study aims to investigate environmental impact, waste generation, energy consumption and potential circular solutions within these breweries. The findings from the survey indicate similarities in the fundamental production processes among the surveyed factories. However, differences were noted in technological advancement and the utilization of raw materials. Challenges in acquiring data, driven by industry competitiveness, highlighted discrepancies in technology investments and the implementation of circular solutions across the breweries. Assessment of emission loads, wastewater and exhaust gas data demonstrated Company A's compliance with environmental standards. Nonetheless, comparative analysis revealed that the water and energy consumption of Company A were 1.5–2.5 times greater, with carbon emissions of 2000–6000 kgCO2eq/m3 product, compared to other breweries. The comprehensive LCA uncovered higher water and energy footprints in Company A, emphasizing potential areas for significant improvements in water usage efficiency and energy conservation. Through the creation of a preliminary set of criteria, subsequent screening, and expert consultation utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a set of 21 criteria was established. This system supports the assessment of current brewery statuses and identifies potential pathways for improvement towards a circular economy model. Recommendations include the adoption of industry‐agriculture models, waste recycling, energy efficiency initiatives and the integration of renewable energy for sustainable development in beer production.

Development of a new acoustic prediction tool by integration of life cycle assessment

Recently, environmental awareness has been the key driver for using renewable materials that have low environmental impact and fulfill constructional requirements, such as timber. Despite the advantages of wood as a building material, it has a lower subjective quality of sound insulation. To fulfill the sound insulation requirements, it is, therefore, unavoidable to complement based-wooden assemblies with additional element(s). However, identifying the acoustic performance is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, developing an accurate prediction tool is vital. Since wood-based structures have been developed to consider the environmental aspects, the environmental performance of buildings should be integrated into the acoustic design. This paper aims to develop an acoustic design methodology for wooden structures using artificial neural network approach by integration of life cycle assessment (LCA). Various Lab-based measurements are used to develop the acoustic prediction tool. Then, a LCA study is conducted on the test assemblies. This paper initially found that wooded assemblies generally increase the environmental impacts to achieve better acoustic insulation. Moreover, different assemblies can meet the sound insulation requirements. Therefore, designers should cognize of environmental and acoustic trade-off by selecting assemblies that consider both aspects.