Life Cycle Assessment Approach Research Articles

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from sheep production system in China: An integrated approach of data envelopment analysis and life cycle assessment

Over the past decades, the global population has significantly increased, resulting in high demand for food. China, the largest sheep-producing country, has experienced 20 rapid expansions in its sheep industry, which has caused environmental consequences. This study proposes an integrated approach that combines data envelopment analysis (DEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the ecological consequences of the sheep production system. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the energy consumption of the existing production system and identify optimization opportunities to reduce its environmental impacts. Our results demonstrate that sheep production can decrease total energy consumption by 9.82% using optimization. Food production was reported as a critical factor in environmental impact, responsible for 69%. However, the optimized approach led to a decrease of 4,677.64 MJ in energy consumption in sheep production compared to the initial state. The findings of this study showcase the possibility of decreasing energy usage and lessening greenhouse gas (GHG) discharges in sheep farming by implementing optimization strategies.

Performance evaluation of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete on engineering properties and life cycle assessment: A sustainable approach

Conventional concrete in its existing form possesses characteristics like better compressive strength, density, resistance against moisture and enhanced performance under various exposure conditions like elevated temperature and long-term durability etc. However, some of the shortcomings such as reduced ductility, brittleness can be improved by using additives like fibers to improve its properties. The present study highlights the performance evaluation of engineering properties and life cycle assessment (LCA) of hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HFRC) incorporating with glass and polypropylene fibers in equal proportions (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%). In addition to these, impact resistance at first crack phase and post cracking phase i.e., at failure have also been investigated to ascertain the effect of HFRC vs conventional concrete mixes. Sorptivity studies also performed to find its effect on HFRC, and control concrete mixes prepared with and without glass and polypropylene fibers. Reduction in workability of concrete was observed with increase in hybrid fiber content. Superior performance in terms of strength and durability properties was observed at 1% hybrid fiber content. Similarly, this study also focuses on studying the impact of HFRC and conventional concrete on environment using LCA approach. For LCA, SimaPro software and EcoInvent database is used to compare environmental impact assessment of HFRC and conventional concrete mixes. Impact on environment and cost comparison on HFRC mixes exhibits satisfactory results when compared to conventional mix. Finally, this research will address the need for HFRC mixes to achieve their adaptability in construction sector to make concrete economic and environmentally friendly.

Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Pretreatment and Nanoparticles in Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion Using Life Cycle Assessment

AbstractThe yield of green energy from solid-state anaerobic co-digestion (SSAD) has recently been enhanced by incorporating innovative pretreatment methods and nanoparticles. However, the environmental consequences of employing new processes have not been fully examined. In this study, the environmental impacts of three high-methane-yielding scenarios including SSAD of corn stover blended with dairy manure (DM) denoted as (SYM1), calcium hydroxide-pretreated corn stover (CpCS) blended with DM (SYM2), and the CpCS blended with DM and nanoparticles (SYM3) were assessed and compared the baselines of solid-state and semi-solid-state anaerobic digestion using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The approach investigated the best management practices that would result in high methane yield and low environmental impact. Results of the life cycle assessment indicate the inclusion of calcium hydroxide and nanoparticle has minimal negative environmental impact. There was an environmental gain in GWP when corn stover was co-digestion with DM (SYM1) relative to DM mono-digestions (baselines) and the carbon footprint of SYM1 was less by more than 85% compared to SYM2 and SYM3. However, the large volume of untreated corn stover harnessed for SYM1 scenario resulted in over 75% fossil fuel depletion compared to the other scenarios. The surplus methane from the SYM3 (at least twofold of other scenarios and baselines) in conjunction with being the least with the environmental implication makes the scenario the most attractive option for on-farm practice capable of harnessing the growing organic waste volume. These outcomes can guide trade-off between pretreatment and nanoparticle application to reduce solid-state anaerobic digestion’s negative environmental impact.

Integrated Approach of Life Cycle Assessment and Experimental Design in the Study of a Model Organic Reaction: New Perspectives in Renewable Vanillin-Derived Chemicals.

This work is focused on performing a quantitative assessment of the environmental impacts associated with an organic synthesis reaction, optimized using an experimental design approach. A nucleophilic substitution reaction was selected, employing vanillin as the substrate, a phenolic compound widely used in the food industry and of pharmaceutical interest, considering its antioxidant and antitumoral potential. To carry out the reaction, three different solvents have been chosen, namely acetonitrile (ACN), acetone (Ace), and dimethylformamide (DMF). The syntheses were planned with the aid of a multivariate experimental design to estimate the best reaction conditions, which simultaneously allow a high product yield and a reduced environmental impact as computed by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The experimental results highlighted that the reactions carried out in DMF resulted in higher yields with respect to ACN and Ace; these reactions were also the ones with lower environmental impacts. The multilinear regression models allowed us to identify the optimal experimental conditions able to guarantee the highest reaction yields and lowest environmental impacts for the studied reaction. The identified optimal experimental conditions were also validated by experimentally conducting the reaction in those conditions, which indeed led to the highest yield (i.e., 93%) and the lowest environmental impacts among the performed experiments. This work proposes, for the first time, an integrated approach of DoE and LCA applied to an organic reaction with the aim of considering both conventional metrics, such as reaction yield, and unconventional ones, such as environmental impacts, during its lab-scale optimization.

Environmental impacts as the key objectives for perovskite solar cells optimization

With perovskite solar cell (PSC) performance already touching the limits of single junction PV devices, the major challenges have now shifted to upscaling and stability. A plethora of materials and processes have been used for making perovskite solar cells/modules in order to tackle these challenges. However, it is important to see the impact of these decision variables not only on the cost and efficiency of the final cells but also on their environmental footprint. In this work, the analysis of these different options of technologies and materials on the final environmental footprint using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is carried out and uncertainty with respect to these options is discussed in detail in order to gain insights into more optimal designs of perovskite solar cells. A comparison of the possible range of environmental impact indicators for perovskite solar modules with existing mature PV technologies is also presented to highlight the future prospects of perovskite solar technology in providing more eco-friendly and sustainable energy solutions. The results indicate that on average PSCs are not considerably better than existing PV technologies and show the possibility of optimizing PSCs with respect to different LCA indicators.

Environmental life cycle assessment of reusable launch vehicle fleets: Large climate impact driven by rocket exhaust emissions

After the success of the reusable Falcon 9 rocket, space actors are pursuing competitive space access by developing Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs). While this initiative may enhance recycling rates, it may also trigger the Jevons’ paradox as it amplifies the overall environmental footprint due to increased launch frequencies. It is therefore essential to quantify RLVs’ impacts and identify key design drivers to enable efficient design choices while mitigating undesirable environmental effects.Consequently, this article uses a space specific Life Cycle assessment (LCA) approach to evaluate the environmental footprint, in terms of climate impact, water depletion and land use, of different RLV fleets designed to serve a forecasted European space market. The results show that the LH2 fleet options have 2-8 times lower carbon footprint when compared to the LCH4 fleet as a result of lower propellant consumption and lack of black carbon emissions, suggesting that the environmental burdens are mostly driven by propellant choice. Moreover, the analysis reveals a potential underestimation of climate impacts in previous LCA’s by 2–3 orders of magnitude due to the absence of high altitude characterisation of rocket exhaust emissions and demised aluminium oxides. This increased forcing could lead to fleet choices surpassing the Earth’s carrying capacity given by its planetary boundaries.The methodology and results within this study can support further integration of launch and reentry emissions within LCA by refining modelling techniques, improving impact characterisation and quantifying uncertainties. These advancements can ultimately enable robust eco-design strategies for launch vehicles.

Analiza literature o utjecajima na okoliš i međunarodnom zakonodavstvu relevantnom za brodogradilišta

Shipyards are the place where the life cycle of a ship begins and ends. The life cycle of a ship, which starts with painting, blasting, and welding processes during the construction, is completed with the recycling of the steel parts and other equipment after the ship is scrapped. In this study, the harmful waste generated during the construction and recycling of ships in the shipyard and the environmental damage caused by this waste were investigated through a literature analysis. The content, implementation procedures and development processes of the relevant regulations are also examined. To fully evaluate the cumulative and holistic environmental impacts of shipyard processes, it is recommended to make greater use of the life cycle assessment approach. In this way, it will be possible to determine which process is more environmentally harmful during the shipbuilding, operation, and recycling phases, and to accurately determine the overall impact.

Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of interior floor material alternatives in Egypt

AbstractThe building materials sector has a major environmental impact and is one of the main causes of environmental degradation in the construction industry. An Environmental Impact Assessment of several interior floor material options, such as ceramic, marble, and parquet tiles, is conducted in this study using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Due to the shortage of LCA applications in Egypt and the unavailability of the inventory database for the materials industries, the study uses a case study of a new city in Egypt to assess the environmental effects of various floor materials. The LCA approach uses SimaPro software V9.50 and its integrated Ecoinvent database V3.0 to define the objective and scope, conduct an inventory analysis, evaluate the impact, and interpret the results. According to the LCA findings, ceramic tiles, followed by marble tiles and parquet tiles, have the lowest negative environmental impacts. Regarding the singles score, results (midpoint method) have revealed that the marble tiles have hit the highest adverse environmental impacts by 2.24 pt, followed by parquet by 1.21 pt, and finally, the ceramic tiles by 0.594 pt. The global warming potential of ceramic tiles is 0.539 kg CO2, which is less than 74% of the global warming potential of marble tiles (2.01 kg CO2). The non-renewable energy impact of the marble tiles is (38.70 Mj primary), which is higher by 78% of the non-renewable energy of ceramic (8.46 Mj primary). Finally, the human health impact has recorded the highest numbers in the marble industry by 1.12E−5 DALY, which means the marble industry needs a high amount of energy. Ultimately, the findings of this study can potentially improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of construction projects by assisting decision-makers in selecting and applying environmentally friendly building materials.

Mitigating environmental impacts of food consumption in the European Union: Is the power truly on our plates?

In the context of the sustainable use of our planet's resources, there is a pressing need for environmentally friendly diets. Moreover, health issues linked to inadequate nutrition are rising, further emphasising the need for more balanced diets. The aim of the planetary health diet developed by the EAT-Lancet commission is to sustainably feed 10 billion people in 2050 while not exceeding planetary limits. According to these guidelines, the EU should reduce red meat intake by 80 % and multiply legume intake by 15. This significant shift from animal to plant-based proteins could modify trade partnerships and EU dependency on plant-based proteins for animal feed, currently discussed within the EU protein strategy. This study evaluates land use changes and environmental consequences of this change in dietary patterns by applying a consequential life cycle assessment approach combined with an agri-economic model, additionally assessing if this diet shift could help to achieve EU Green Deal targets. For this simulation, the partial equilibrium model CAPRI was used, which is a global agricultural market model focusing on Europe, including bilateral trade worldwide. We found that the diet shift results in gaps between domestic demand and supply which are compensated by increased imports of legumes and additional exports of red meat from the EU due to an increased demand for red meat in non-EU countries, as a consequence of decreased red meat prices. Land use changes within NUTS-2 regions indicate broad disparities depending on regional specialisation and profitability. The results from our life cycle assessment show limited benefits for most environmental impact categories within the EU given the considerable change in diets. GHG emissions from the agricultural sector would be reduced by 9 %, representing 4 % of the change needed to achieve overall EU GHG emission targets i.e., a reduction of 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Yet, the mitigation potential allocated to EU production of shifting diets could be greater if international trade were not offsetting expected local environmental benefits. Indeed, if EU red meat and animal feed production were reduced proportionally to the demand shift, domestic legume production could hypothetically be extended in the available agricultural areas coming along with improvements in all environmental impact categories. Scientific contribution and media regularly point out the significant influence of individual consumer behaviour as an impulse for change: “the power is on our plates”, while the results of our simulations show that this holds only to a limited extent. To minimise environmental pollution, strong supply-side policies are needed to complement the power on the consumers' plates.

Techno-Eco-Efficiency Assessment of Using Recycled Steel Fibre in Concrete

The steel industry is one the three biggest producers of carbon dioxide and it is experiencing technical challenges due to the gradual decrease in the quality of iron ore. Steel is extensively used in the construction industry for structural applications like steel components, while steel fibres are intensively used as additives to concrete in order to improve its performance. It is thus important to consider the use of recycled steel as a replacement for virgin steel in order to address the aforementioned environmental consequences. This paper applies the eco-efficiency framework to determine the economic and environmental implications of the use of recycled fibre in concrete as a replacement for virgin steel. A number of concrete mixes were considered that used virgin, recycled, and treated recycled rebar in concrete. The eco-efficiency framework, which uses a life-cycle assessment approach to calculate the environmental and economic values of concrete mixes in order to determine the portfolio positions of these concrete mixes, was used for comparison purposes and to establish the eco-efficient option(s). Whilst the recovery and recycling process is energy-intensive, the use of recycled steel fibre in reinforced concrete has been found to be eco-efficient and deliver the same level of mechanical performance compared to that obtained using virgin steel fibre. Treating steel fibre could improve its technical performance, but it was found to increase both costs and environmental impacts and was therefore identified as not being eco-efficient.

A comprehensive assessment of the environmental footprint of pomegranate juice production system by life cycle assessment approach

This groundbreaking research conducts the first comprehensive life cycle assessment of pomegranate juice production system, identifying key environmental hotspots, and offering valuable insights for improving environmental performance. This study employs the ReCiPe method within SimaPro software to assess the environmental impacts per pack of 160 g of juice. The findings indicated that a pack of pomegranate juice leads to 0.15 kg CO2 eq. Among all factors affecting global warming, natural gas used for juicing stood out as the most significant, responsible for over one-third of the impacts. In addition, the amount of human carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic toxicity impact categories was equal to 0.004 and 0.063 kg 1,4-DCB, respectively, mainly due to the pomegranate production in the orchard phase. Fruit production is also an environmental hotspot in other impact categories. The emissions from chemical fertilizers and manure application, fruit transportation toward the factory, and diesel fuel consumption by machinery were recognized to be the main hotspots in the orchard. Based on the weighted damage categories, the production of one pack of juice led to 3.64 mPt damage to the environment. The damage to human health contributed to 88% of the weighted environmental damage. The outcome of the sensitivity analysis indicated that natural gas in the juicing process is the most important parameter in damage to human health, ecosystems, and resource. In line with that, efforts for optimized consumption of natural gas and its replacement with eco-friendly alternatives can be a promising approach in pomegranate juice production from the environmental point of view.

Environmental impacts of COVID–19 responses on passenger vehicle transport scenarios: A life cycle approach

COVID–19 has disrupted human life considerably since the beginning of 2020. The transport sector is one of the most affected sector due to restrictions imposed to curb COVID–19 pandemic. This paper evaluates the environmental impacts of COVID–19 response scenarios using life cycle assessment approach. Six regions selected for the study are Australia, China, European Union (EU), India, United Kingdom (UK), and United States of America (USA). Data for vehicle population, vehicle kilometers travelled, fleet type, and fuel efficiency were used for 2015–2020. The environmental impacts were calculated for five scenarios; Baseline–2019, Business As Usual (BAU) and COVID–19 Response Scenario (CRS) for 2020 and 2030 namely, 2020–BAU, 2020–CRS, 2030–BAU, and 2030–CRS. The results indicate that COVID–19 occurrence and related response measures did not contribute to significant environment benefits in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and other pollutants in short term and long term. This implies that although immediate reductions in emissions were observed in many studies, the long term effects were minimal due to irregular policies and unmanaged demand. Further, to achieve environment benefits sustained measures should be implemented in long term with proper planning and supporting infrastructure. Although electric vehicle strategies will provide benefits; emphasis on vehicle production and fuel production technologies is also needed to achieve the emission reduction targets. The findings are relevant for policy makers while devising policies to achieve the targets.

A machine learning based method for parametric environmental impact model for electric vehicles

Environmental managers attempt to increasingly incorporate precautionary principles into decision making. The literature lacks Machine Learning -based approaches for forewarning lifecycle environmental impacts. This paper proposes a method to support electric vehicle design. The main innovation of the work lays in merging Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Machine Learning foundations to provide support and awareness to designers. The present approach overcomes the present literature because it provides a method for the design phase, is based on a well-established methodology (LCA) and provides quantitative results from little inputs. The approach exploits machine Learning Methods to develop models with the design features of a generic electric vehicle (such as vehicle mass and distance traveled) in six phases (Problem definition; Data collection; Data Preparation; Modeling; Model evaluation; Model interpretation). Differently from existing environmental analyses, all stages of the product life cycle have been considered in building the database; moreover, the model provides quantitative results. Regression models and supervised algorithms were used. The obtained model can be used by product engineers, as well as those not experts on LCA. Moreover, the model guarantees the database and hypothesis's uniqueness, ensuring the results coherence and comparability. The level of accuracy obtained in the case study (error or 17%) is comparable with studies handling full environmental analysis (that should be more accurate), and outstanding, as the present case is for the design phase. Future works will focus on additional significative indicators, similar electric vehicle design and integration with prospective LCA approaches.

Environmental performance analysis of textile envelope integrated flexible photovoltaic using life cycle assessment approach

The textile envelope integrated flexible photovoltaic (TE-FPV) system is an emerging technology to promote building sustainability due to its lightweight structure, textile recovery easily, and renewable energy production. We develop six novel TE-FPV prototypes to determine their advantages of environmental performance. Especially, the systems with the solar cells directly printed on the textile are designed to show the promising sustainability prospect. Their environmental performances are conducted by a cradle-to-cradle life cycle assessment, and the results are compared to traditional building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies. The life cycle inventories of some textiles and solar cells are the first time to be developed. Based on the inventories, life cycle impact assessment is implemented to figure out environmental impacts in various categories. Furthermore, uncertainty analyses and sensitivity analyses are performed to unmask the effects of parameters on the fluctuation of environmental indicators. The results present that most of TE-FPV systems perform more sustainable and more recyclable over the traditional BIPV systems. The organic solar cell is unfavorable for the TE-FPV systems due to its low power conversion efficiency and short lifespan. ETFE facade integrated perovskite solar cell systems can refund the investment of greenhouse gas emission even on the north orientation, showing vast prospective potential in environmental performances. This work contributes significantly required environmental quantifications to promote the advancement of TE-FPV systems.

Climate and environmental effects of nutritional mitigation options to reduce enteric methane in dairy cattle: A life cycle assessment

Nutritional mitigation strategies represent an option to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, but these strategies must not have undesirable side effects.Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the environmental effects of supplementation of typical dairy cow feeding rations in Denmark (S0) with 20 g extra fatty acids per kg dry-matter (S1), 10 g nitrate per kg dry-matter (S2), and 60 mg 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) per kg dry-matter (S3). A cradle-to-farm gate life cycle assessment approach was used, where fifteen environmental impacts were assessed to capture the environmental effects. Pairwise Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to identify statistically significant results.It was found that the climate impact per kg of milk decreased for all the strategies (−7 % in S1 and S2 and −13 % in S3) compared to S0. Furthermore, lower land use and land use change emissions were determined by the partial replacement of soybean meal with cracked rapeseed (in S1) or nitrate (in S2). The reduction in the level of enteric methane also contributed to decreases in the toxicity-related impacts of organic chemicals in S1. The use of nitrate in S2 also involved a decrease in the use of soybean meal, which contributed to decreases in the land use impacts. In strategies S2 and S3 increases in other environmental impacts were observed compared to S0 because of the manufacturing of nitrate or 3-NOP, or higher N excretion and emission at supplementation with nitrate.It was concluded that S3 was more effective in reducing the climate (and human-toxicity impacts of organic substances) impacts, while S1 caused small decreases in a wider range of environmental impacts. The present study has an important contribution to quantifying a wide range of environmental effects for intensive dairy and regarding the implementation of nutritional strategies in dairy cattle to reduce enteric methane.

Navigating Reservoir Deposition Challenges: Evaluation of Reservoir Desilting Strategy Through a 4-Stage Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Navigating Reservoir Deposition Challenges: Evaluation of Reservoir Desilting Strategy Through a 4-Stage Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Towards Sustainable Material: Optimizing Geopolymer Mortar Formulations for 3D Printing: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Geopolymer-based concretes have been elaborated among others for their potential to lower the environmental impact of the construction sector. The rheology and workability of fresh geopolymers make them suitable for new applications such as 3D printing. In this paper, we aim to develop a potassium silicate- and metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar with sand and local earth additions suited for 3D printing and an environmental assessment framework for this material. The methodology aims at the optimization of both the granular skeleton and the geopolymer matrix for the development of a low-environmental-impact material suited for 3D printing. Using this approach, various metakaolin/earth geopolymer mortars are explored from a mechanical and environmental point of view. The environmental assessment of the lab-scale process shows an improvement for the climate change category but a degradation of other indicators, compared to Portland-cement-based concrete. Several promising options exist to further optimize the process and decrease its environmental impacts. This constitutes the main research perspective of this work.

Impacts of Behavioral, Organizational, and Spatial Factors on the Carbon Footprint of Traditional Retail and E-commerce in the Paris Region.

Carbon footprint assessment of retail is necessary to optimize procurement strategies and adopt sustainable shopping habits. However, estimating carbon footprints is a complex task, given the diversity of existing distribution channels. Average values for carbon emissions of "conventional" retail (i.e., purchasing and receiving the product directly at the physical point of sale) found in most studies mask a heterogeneous reality: different retail strategies entail diverse shopping behavior for consumers, as well as varied procurement processes for outlets. In this paper, we propose a methodology to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of different distribution systems related to the consumption of goods in the Paris Region by coupling traditional transport modeling with a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. We model and compare six distribution systems, including five traditional retail formats (hypermarkets, supermarkets, small generalist retail, small food retail, and small nonfood retail) and E-commerce home deliveries. Our model includes warehouse activity, shop and home delivery, shop energy consumption, consumer mobility, and goods packaging. Overall, we conclude that E-commerce emits fewer GHG emissions than retail outlets per kilogram of product purchased. This result is in line with the existing literature on the topic. However, the carbon footprint varies greatly within the case study depending on the characteristics of the logistics procurement processes of outlets, the behavior of shoppers, and spatial characteristics.

Analysing carbon impacts of green roof at Hilton Watford: life-cycle assessment approach

This paper investigates the environmental aspects and energy impacts of implementing a green roof system at the Hilton Watford hotel, utilising building information modelling software (Revit) for three-dimensional modelling and Insight for energy simulation. Following EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, the study employs life-cycle assessment methodology, focusing on embodied and operational carbon. Environmental Product Declarations, Inventory of Carbon and Energy database and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors guideline inform embodied carbon calculations. The results show the green roof system releases 263 839.56 kgCO2e as embodied carbon, while its sedum layer sequesters 211 468.12 kgCO2e over a 50 year lifespan. Energy efficiency analysis indicates a 3.3 kWh/(m2/year) reduction in energy consumption, leading to a 112 130.31 kgCO2e reduction in operational carbon dioxide emissions, highlighting the environmental benefits of green roof adoption. The findings suggest a 0.35% mitigation of whole life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions, with greater impact in situations of lower insulation effectiveness, showcasing the potential of green roofs in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the green roof incurs a minimal financial burden, constituting only 0.51% of the overall project cost.

Appraising the Feasibility of 3D Printing Construction in New Zealand Housing

The construction industry in New Zealand is significantly impacted by the importance of housing, particularly as urbanisation continues to grow in major cities. Modern construction methods, such as offsite construction and building automation, evolving into digital manufacturing and construction in the industry, have become prominent. Despite the global recognition of 3D printing technology, its adoption in the construction industry in New Zealand is still relatively limited. This study aims to examine the feasibility of 3D printing construction in response to current market challenges, innovation, and the 2050 net-zero carbon goal. Utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches, this study investigated the environmental impacts of three housing types: 3D printing (3DP), light steel framed (LSF), and timber. This study used cradle-to-cradle as the system boundary. The results indicate that the 3DP house emits 20% fewer carbon emissions than the traditional timber house and 25% less than the LSF house. Additionally, the 3DP house exhibits a 19% lower annual electric energy consumption than the timber house. Therefore, in response to the growing housing demand in New Zealand, the construction industry must innovate and embrace digital and advanced construction methods, including the adoption of 3D printing.