Life Cycle Assessment Research Articles

A comparative study of vehicle powertrain efficiency: Data-driven analyzing energy consumption and environmental impact

This study investigates the energy consumption of electric vehicles (EVs) in real-world driving conditions, using in-vehicle sensor data and location tracking. The energy consumption of EVs is compared to that of an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) under similar driving tests. Furthermore, an energy-centric life cycle assessment was conducted to assess the environmental impact of the transition to electrified transportation by reporting the carbon emissions of the EVs and ICEV. Since a large volume of driving data was acquired in the experiment, machine learning (ML) techniques are employed to interpret the obtained data and identify a key feature. ML algorithms can help develop predictive models that estimate energy consumption and explain the major factors that impact such consumption. The findings also offer valuable insights into energy consumption, emission, and the underlying factors that can inform policy discussion related to transport electrification and enhance energy efficiency. This research is significant in comprehending the potential of current EVs and their superiority over traditional vehicles. It is vital to facilitate the shift toward electric transportation, which can be driven by the results.

Integrated environmental and health economic assessments of novel xeno-keratografts addressing a growing public health crisis

Tissue scarcity poses global challenges for corneal transplantation and public health. Xeno-keratoplasty using animal-derived tissues offers a potential solution, but its environmental and economic implications remain unclear. This study evaluated two xeno-keratoplasty procedures at a single institution: (1) native corneas (Option 1) and (2) tissue-engineered corneal scaffolds derived from slaughterhouse waste (Option 2). Life cycle assessment (LCA) quantified environmental impacts across 18 midpoint indicators, while cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) incorporated cost and environmental impact using two approaches. Option 1 exhibited significantly lower environmental impact than Option 2 across most indicators, primarily due to the energy and equipment demands of cell culture in Option 2. Both CEA approaches (carbon offset pricing and utility decrement) demonstrated cost-effectiveness dominance for Option 1. Xeno-keratoplasty using native corneas (Option 1) appears more environmentally and economically favorable than tissue-engineered scaffolds (Option 2) in the current analysis. Future studies could explore diverse xeno-keratoplasty techniques for optimizing sustainability.

A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of the endoscopic sinus surgery considering materials, energy, and waste.

Operating rooms generate 1.8 million tons of waste annually, or 20%‒30% of the total healthcare waste in the United States. Our objective was to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) for endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESSs) in order to analyze its environmental impact. A comprehensive LCA of ESS was performed considering energy, climate, and water use impacts associated with the materials and processes used. It focuses on the ESS performed at a large tertiary academic hospital and then extends the impacts to consider annual US surgeries. The assessment considers end-of-life waste management at both landfills and incinerators. Single-use instrument production constitutes 89%‒96% of the total impacts throughout the life cycle of an ESS. Waste-to-energy incineration is shown to be a preferred end-of-life destination, as it recovers much of the input production energy of plastic items, ultimately reducing the input to 36%, although this is done at the expense of higher greenhouse gas emissions. For multi-use items, decontamination dominates environmental impact (>99% of totals), but consideration of reusable items reduces overall energy consumption and global warming potential (GWP) by 25%‒33%. Single-use items dominate the total environmental impact of ESS. While multi-use items require additional decontamination over their lifetimes, results show that their incorporation reduces energy consumption and GWP by 25%‒33%, demonstrating the clear environmental benefit.

North America’s Potential for an Environmentally Sustainable Nickel, Manganese, and Cobalt Battery Value Chain

The Detroit Big Three General Motors (GMs), Ford, and Stellantis predict that electric vehicle (EV) sales will comprise 40–50% of the annual vehicle sales by 2030. Among the key components of LIBs, the LiNixMnyCo1−x−yO2 cathode, which comprises nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) in various stoichiometric ratios, is widely used in EV batteries. This review reveals NMC cathodes from laboratory research. Furthermore, this study examines the environmental effect of NMC cathode production for EV batteries (including coating technologies), encompassing aspects such as energy consumption, water usage, and air emissions. Although gaps persist in NMC cathode environmental assessments (NMC111, NMC532, NMC622, and NMC811), limited life cycle assessments “(LCA)” have been conducted. Most available data originate from Asia (primarily China), accounting for 85% of the production of EV LIB cathode materials. The concept of battery passports for data collection on LIB components has been proposed to facilitate material traceability as a system for ensuring a sustainable supply chain for critical minerals. The automotive industry’s shift to electrification necessitates a sustainable supply chain from mine to vehicle end-of-life. As the critical mineral supply moves from Asia to North America, environmentally friendly industrial methods must be studied to provide this supply chain direction.

Stochastic error propagation with independent probability distributions in LCA does not preserve mass balances and leads to unusable product compositions—a first quantification

Abstract Purpose To mitigate the effects of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, a system-based approach to estimating environmental impacts—such as life cycle assessment (LCA)—is critical. International standards recommend using uncertainty analysis to improve the reliability of LCA, but there has been debate about how to do this for many years. In particular, in order to characterise uncertainty in the inputs and outputs of each unit process in an LCA, a prevalent approach is to represent each one by an independent probability distribution. Thus, any physical relationships between inputs and outputs are ignored, which causes two potential errors during Monte Carlo simulation (a popular method for propagating uncertainty through an LCA model). First, the sum of the inputs to a unit process may not equal the sum of the outputs (i.e. there may be a mass imbalance), and second, the proportions of each input and output may be unrealistic (e.g. too much cement in a concrete production unit process). However, while some literature has discussed the problem, it has not yet been quantified. Methods Therefore, this paper investigates the extent to which existing uncertainty characterisation approaches, where there is a lack of parameterisation or correlations in databases, lead to mass imbalances and unrealistic variations in unit process compositions when performing uncertainty analysis. The matrix-based structure of LCA and the standard uncertainty analysis procedure using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to propagate uncertainty are described. We apply the procedure to a concrete production process. Two uncertainty characterisation approaches are also explored to assess the effect of data quality scoring on mass imbalances and the mass contribution of each exchange (i.e. production compositions). Results and discussion For median data quality scores and using a typical (basic + additional uncertainty) uncertainty characterisation approach, the 1000-iteration MC simulation leads to mass imbalances ranging from − 49 to + 30% of the original mass and found that the mass imbalance exceeded existing prescribed plausibility limits on 62.7% of MC runs. On average across all exchanges, the exchange mass exceeded the 5% plausible variation limit on 77.7% of MC runs. This means that the final concrete product compositions are unlikely to be realistic or functionally equivalent to one another. We discuss the appropriateness of using universal variances for the underlying normal distribution for data quality scores (“additional uncertainty”) when input exchange quantities are of different scales. Additionally, we discuss potential solutions to the mass imbalance problem and their suitability for implementation at a database scale. Conclusions We have quantified, for the first time, the significant impact that uncertainty characterisation via independent probability distributions has on maintaining mass balances and plausible product compositions in unit processes. To overcome these challenges, databases would need to be parameterised and have the ability to sum quantities to perform mass balance checks during uncertainty analysis.

Comparative LCA of thermal power plant with CCS and solar PV system: sustainability assessment in Indian context.

The study's objective is to evaluate and compare the sustainability of power production techniques for India's transition to clean power generation. It specifically focuses on coal-based power generation with emission control technologies, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) with carbon capture and storage (CCS), and compares it with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the environmental impact of electricity generation in each scenario. Inventory data has been collected for each case through plant visits, emission modelling, and literature searches. The study evaluated midpoint and endpoint impact indicators utilizing the ReCiPe (H) assessment methodology. The economic viability of all the cases was determined by calculating the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The results showed that retrofitting an existing power plant with flue gas desulfurization (FGD) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) reduced efficiency by 30%, required 1.2 times more auxiliary power, and increased heat rates. The LCA results showed that the global warming potential (GwP) for FGD and CCS together was 0.614 kg CO2 eq. per kWh of power generation. On the other hand, the GwP for the solar PV system was much lower, at 0.043 kg CO2 eq. per kWh. There were trade-offs in both cases, but solar PV plants are more environmentally friendly than thermal power plants equipped with CCS systems in almost all categories. Furthermore, the LCOE results showed Rs 3.87 per kWh for an on-grid solar PV plant and Rs 5.33 for thermal power, with CCS and FGD showing solar as an economically more feasible option. Retrofitting thermal power facilities with emission control technology is necessary to achieve net zero emissions, but transition torenewable energy sources isinevitable.

Promoting Sustainability: Collaborative Governance Pathways for Virtual Water Interactions and Environmental Emissions

This study explores the water consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Yarkand River Basin, focusing on their dynamic interactions across industrial sectors. Utilizing environmental input–output analysis (IOA), the CROPWAT model, and life cycle assessment (LCA), we quantified the historical evolution of physical and virtual water cycles in relation to the water–carbon nexus. Our findings reveal that the planting industry, particularly the production of export-oriented, water-intensive crops like cotton, significantly contributes to both blue and green water consumption, exacerbating regional water scarcity. The persistent external market demand drives this over-extraction, further strained by the basin’s limited water retention capabilities. Although advancements have been made in reducing the per-unit water footprint of crops, total water consumption continues to rise due to agricultural expansion, intensifying pressure on blue water resources. Additionally, agricultural GHG emissions have surged, driven by increased electricity consumption, heavy fertilizer use, and escalating soil N2O emissions. In light of these challenges, our research underscores the critical need for integrated resource management strategies that align with sustainable development goals. By promoting efficient water allocation within the agricultural sector and diversifying crop structures downstream, we can enhance ecosystem resilience and reduce environmental degradation. Furthermore, the advancement of value-added agricultural processing and the implementation of innovative water conservation technologies are essential for fostering economic sustainability. These strategies not only mitigate the environmental impacts associated with agricultural practices but also strengthen the region’s adaptive capacity in the face of climate change and fluctuating market demands. Our findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable agricultural practices, emphasizing the interconnectedness of water management, climate resilience, and economic viability in arid regions.

Life cycle sustainability assessments of critical civil infrastructure systems: additional guidance for future research and practical application

ABSTRACT Sustainable development of critical civil infrastructure systems should include economic, environmental, and social considerations, as well as considerations that are of high value to stakeholders and decision-makers. Life cycle economic and environmental impacts of critical civil infrastructure systems are commonly quantified by well-established methodologies such as life cycle assessment and life cycle costing. However, social and other related impacts of critical civil infrastructure systems can be difficult to quantify and are therefore less commonly and thoroughly addressed. A mini-literature review was conducted to explore how sustainability is currently evaluated for critical civil infrastructure systems. The review found that, while there are life cycle assessment frameworks available, there is vague guidance available for addressing factors that are not directly related to environmental, economic, or social (i.e., difficult to quantify) impacts. In response, the authors build upon currently available methodologies by discussing a supplemental approach for collecting additional data for critical civil infrastructure systems, which includes the use of stakeholder discussions and semistructured interviews. Including a range of factors early on in life cycle sustainability assessments of critical civil infrastructure can improve study robustness and allow for further integration of decision-making factors in life cycle sustainability assessments.

Do’s and Don’ts in Climate Impact Assessment of University Campuses: Towards Responsible, Transparent and Comprehensive Reporting

With the commitment of more and more universities to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, standardizing the modeling is now becoming urgent. To date, published climate-relevant emissions can be based on completely different and incomparable accounting methods, as shown with results between 6 and 2696 t CO2e for the use phase of the same campus. This article aims to identify, compare, and evaluate the different modeling approaches behind this. For this purpose, this article proposes basic attributes of emissions modeling and reporting. Of the three established approaches to emissions accounting, sector logic (territorial carbon accounting) produces the lowest figures. Reporting in accordance with the greenhouse gas protocol, which has become established worldwide, can also shift the responsibility outside the institutional consumer. Life-cycle assessment, instead, essentially includes provision costs triggered by the consumer. The different modeling approaches also overlap with different coverage of emission sources, for which a standard set is being proposed. Such emissions modeling should finally lead to the determination of university-specific climate performances, i.e., the CO2e emissions per capita and per m2 of gross floor area. Infrastructure and procurement expenses must be recorded in addition and converted to an annual average.

Social life cycle sustainability assessment of dried tomato products based on material and process selection through multi-criteria decision making.

Tomatoes are a significant product of the Mediterranean region and a crucial component of the Mediterranean diet. The formulation of dried tomato products enriched with proteins and bioactive compounds could be a strategic approach to promote adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Six different novel tomato products were analyzed using different protein enrichment sources (pea proteins and leaf proteins) and drying technologies (hot-air dryer, microwave vacuum dryer, and conventional dryer). The novelty of this approach lies in combining product-specific criteria with global societal factors across their life cycles. Using 21 criteria and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) survey of experts, the social sustainability score for each product was determined through a multi-criteria assessment. The tomato product's life cycles have minimal regional impacts on unemployment, access to drinking water, sanitation, or excessive working hours. However, they affect discrimination, migrant labor, children's education, and access to hospital beds significantly. The study identified nutritional quality as the top criterion, with the most sustainable design being a tomato bar enriched with pea protein and processed using microwave vacuum drying. The study revealed that integrating sensory and nutrient compounds into social sustainability assessments improves food sustainability and provides a practical roadmap for social life cycle assessments of food products. It emphasized the importance of considering global social issues when reformulating Mediterranean products to ensure long-term adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Incorporating social factors into sustainability scores can also enhance the effectiveness of product information for conscious customers. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Recycling Fly Ash into Lightweight Aggregate: Life Cycle Assessment and Economic Evaluation of Waste Disposal

This study analyzed environmental impacts and economic feasibility to evaluate whether recycling fly ash, which has rarely been addressed in previous studies, as a raw material for lightweight aggregates can be a sustainable waste management alternative. This study presents a comparative analysis of three disposal scenarios: landfill disposal, recycling as cement raw material, and recycling as lightweight aggregate raw material. Nine environmental impacts were assessed through life cycle assessment (LCA): acidification, global warming, eutrophication, photochemical oxidation, stratospheric ozone depletion, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, and terrestrial ecotoxicity. The results showed that the landfill disposal scenario posed the greatest threat to global warming, eutrophication, and marine aquatic ecotoxicity, while the cement scenario had the greatest impact on stratospheric ozone depletion, human toxicity, and other ecotoxicity items while recycling as lightweight aggregate showed the lowest environmental impacts in most items except acidification and photochemical oxidation. Life cycle costing (LCC) analysis was also performed to compare the economic aspects of each scenario. The lightweight aggregate scenario is more energy-intensive and costly, but it has significant economic benefits due to the significant revenues from the products produced. Therefore, even though the cost is high, this scenario is considered economically advantageous. This study highlights that recycling fly ash into lightweight aggregate reduces environmental impacts, provides economic benefits, and is a better alternative to landfilling and recycling cement raw materials. It will also contribute to promoting sustainable practices of fly ash recycling.

Hydrothermal pretreatment with microwaves: A new strategy for ensuring the sustainability of biorefineries

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) includes agricultural residues, crop wastes, and food wastes that are ubiquitously present and can be used as renewable resources to generate bioenergy or biofuels. Still, direct utilization of LCB to produce biofuel is not an easy task due to the recalcitrance property of LCB. The pretreatment strategy is an important step in a biorefinery to reduce biomass recalcitrance and to use it for bioenergy including value-added product generation. Microwave irradiation is procuring interest regarding LCB and waste material pretreatment over time before moving to biological transformation to biofuels. The coupling of microwave heating with water has made it the most effective treatment for biomass valorization to generate biofuel and other value-added products, turning it into the most cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. Despite its numerous advantages, scaling up microwave pretreatment from laboratory experiments to industrial applications faces several challenges. These limitations become significant hurdles in scaling up. As a result, it is necessary to focus research on cost evaluations and life cycle assessment (LCA) studies for commercialization that will benefit the bioeconomy and the environment. This review discusses microwave-assisted pretreatment significance in valorizing LCB for biofuel generation including the cost evaluation and LCA studies that have the most important role in commercializing the microwave-assisted pretreatment from lab scale to industrial scale.

Towards value-added chemicals: Technical and environmental life cycle assessment evaluation of different glycerol valorisation pathways

Biodiesel is acknowledged as the most appropriate biofuel to decarbonise the transport sector and combat climate change. The ever-increasing biodiesel production via transesterification results in large amount of glycerol (e.g., 10 kg of glycerol for every 100 kg of biodiesel). Converting glycerol into value-added goods is perceived to be a viable way to lower the high cost of producing biodiesel and expand its market share. The current study examines the technical and environmental aspects of bio-hydrogen, bio-syngas, acrolein, propylene glycol, epichlorohydrin, bio-methanol and bio-ethanol synthesis. CHEMCAD process simulation software was used to perform the modelling and simulation aspects considering a glycerol flowrate of 100 kg/h. The environmental study is based on primary and secondary data and is carried out using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology and the LCA for Experts software, using ReCiPe as the impact assessment method. The technical evaluation points towards glycerol conversion to propylene glycol and bio-methanol production as the best approaches given the relatively low energy requirements, increased purity (>97 wt%) and steadily growing product market. Bio-methanol exhibits the best environmental performance among all examined scenarios, providing the lowest impact in eight out of eleven categories studied while placing second in terms of FETP impact. Glycerol conversion towards propylene glycol seems as the second-best conversion route as it generates the lowest score in regards to GWP impact (0.31 kg CO2 eq./ kgproduct). Ultimately, the most effective methods for valorizing glycerol and improving the production of biodiesel by lowering the expenses related to its manufacturing are glycerol reforming toward bio-methanol and propylene glycol.

Uncovering the Evidence for Sustainability in Urology: A Scoping Review.

This article focuses on the environmental impact of urology devices and procedures in hospitals and identifies practices that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with urology services. A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar to find studies on the carbon footprint of urologic procedures and sustainable practices. We identified 14 studies, 6 of which used life cycle assessments to compare the environmental impact of single-use and reusable urology devices. Three studies favored single-use devices, 2 favored reusable ones, and 1 found no significant difference, with the sterilization of reusable devices being a major carbon contributor. To enhance sustainability in urology, 8 articles suggested measures including day-case procedures, minimizing low-value care, drapeless cystoscopy, fluid management systems, using quick response (QR) codes in documentation, telehealth initiatives, and low-emission anesthetics. Promoting sustainability in healthcare requires more than just using reusable equipment; it necessitates a comprehensive approach from manufacturing to disposal, including the carbon footprint of sterilization. Encouraging low-emission anesthetics, QR codes, and telemedicine can significantly reduce emissions in urology.

Assessing the environmental benefits of passenger cars electrification in metropolises: A case study of Singapore

Land-based transportation is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with internal combustion engine vehicles being the predominant mode of transport in this sector. As the world population grows and urbanization accelerates, transport demand in metropolitan areas is projected to double by 2050, underscoring the critical need for sustainable transportation strategies, forecasting, and planning within an urban context. One challenge in this endeavor is the insufficient attention given to the distribution of vehicle grades within the overall car population during GHG impact assessment, despite the recognized importance of car grade by researchers and policymakers. In this study, we incorporate both engine type and vehicle grade distribution, derived from data on over 30,000 passenger cars registered with the Land Transport Authority of Singapore between 2018 and 2022, into our life cycle assessment analysis. This approach ensures that our scenario-based studies on prediction and planning are more comprehensive than those that consider only the most popular models. Furthermore, while Singapore benefits from a relatively clean electricity supply, the current limitations in charging infrastructure negatively affect the GHG impact of electric vehicles. The insights from this research will inform the development of transportation policies for metropolises like Singapore, contributing to the advancement of a more sustainable transportation system.

Environmental sustainability in cardiovascular practice: current challenges and future directions.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a substantial amount of health-care resources targeted towards its diagnosis and management. Environmental sustainability in cardiovascular care can have an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution and could be beneficial for improving health metrics and societal well-being and minimizing the cost of health care. In this Review, we discuss the motivations and frameworks for sustainable cardiovascular care with an emphasis on the reduction of the climate-related and environmental effects of cardiovascular care. We also provide an overview of greenhouse gas emissions related to the provision of health care, including their measurement and quantification, carbon accounting, carbon disclosures and climate effects. The principles of life-cycle assessment, waste prevention and circular economics in health care are discussed, and the emissions associated with various sectors of cardiovascular care as well as the rationale for prevention as a powerful approach to reduce these emissions are presented. Finally, we highlight the challenges in environmental sustainability and future directions as applicable to cardiovascular practice.

Integrating Process Simulation and Life Cycle Assessment for Enhanced Process Efficiency and Reduced Environmental Impact in Ferromanganese Production

Process simulation was integrated with life cycle assessment to evaluate process efficiency and environmental impact of the production of manganese ferroalloys for various production modes and different ore mineralogies. Utilizing HSC Sim, the model was designed to evaluate the production process with or without a pretreatment step, where results for simulated cases using a four-zone ferromanganese furnace model were exported to openLCA for a complete life cycle assessment. Two main production scenarios were simulated: a closed ferromanganese furnace running on the duplex method and an open furnace running on the discard slag approach. The closed furnace scenario achieved a 17.5% reduction in energy consumption and a 16.2% decrease in direct CO2 emissions with CO-rich off-gas pretreatment. The open furnace scenario showed an 11.2% reduction in energy consumption with thermal solar energy pretreatment but no change in CO2 emissions.

Eco-innovation minimizes the carbon footprint of wine production

Wine industry faces significant sustainability challenges in the wake of climate change. Life cycle assessments for carbon footprint in wineries suggest that the conventional farming exhibits higher values of 0.06–3.0 kg CO2-eq bottle–1 of 750 mL wine as compared to mixed and organic farming. Life cycle assessment findings highlight that most studies often overlooked the resources in farming practices, biogenic emissions, and wastewaters in the overall reduction of winery carbon footprint. We demonstrate that the adoption of eco-innovations such as constructed wetlands and Phycosol utilize the overlooked resource loop and significantly reduce the winery carbon footprint. Empirical data analysis suggests that the use of these eco-innovative models results in 25‒30% reduction of CO2 emissions bottle–1 of 750 mL wine besides embracing Sustainable Development Goal 9, and effectively synergizing with Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 12, thus emphasizing their critical role in ensuring the sustainability of wine production.

Understanding and estimating the role of large-scale seaweed cultivation for carbon sequestration on a global scale over the past two decades

Seaweeds, as marine photosynthetic organisms, are harvested by humans from the wild or through cultivation for various production purposes and to provide a range of marine ecosystem services, including nutrient removal, oxygen production, and carbon sequestration. The potential use of cultivated seaweed in mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) has been extensively proposed in conjunction with commercial seaweed production worldwide. This study aims to assess the annual potential and benefits of cultivated seaweed in reducing and fixing anthropogenic CO2. Over the past two decades (2000–2019), global seaweed production has seen significant growth. The total output of cultivated seaweed reached 407.4 × 107 tons (t), with coastal mariculture removing 4.26 × 107 t of carbon annually and wild capture removing 2.24 × 106 t. The recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon (RDOC, 549.88–621.60 × 104 t) plays a significant role in the carbon sinks of seaweed cultivation. The substantial benefits of carbon sink resulting from the formation of RDOC from seaweed make up a considerable proportion in the calculation of carbon sequestration and sink enhancement benefits in large-scale seaweed cultivation. The sizable carbon sink base of seaweed cultivation (8631.90–9567.37 × 104 t) results in significant carbon fixation benefits. The total economic value of carbon sequestration and oxygen production was estimated at $70.36 ± 1.52 billion, with an annual average benefit of $3.52 ± 1.70 billion. Increasing the area and yield available for cultivated seaweed has the potential to enhance biomass production, carbon accumulation, and CO2 drawdown. It is crucial to emphasize the need for improved communication regarding the essential criteria for the feasibility of CO2 removal (CDR), with a focus on conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) when utilizing marine processes in the present and future work. The sustainable development of the seaweed cultivation industry not only ensures that Asian-Pacific countries remain leaders in this field but also provides an effective yet overlooked solution to excessive CO2 emissions worldwide.

Comparative Study of Life-Cycle Environmental and Cost Performance of Aluminium Alloy–Concrete Composite Columns

As is widely known, the construction industry is one of the sectors with a large contribution to global carbon emissions. Despite numerous efforts in the construction industry to develop low-carbon materials, there is a limited number of studies quantifying and presenting the overall environmental impact when these materials are applied in a construction project as structural members. To address this gap, this study focuses on assessing the life-cycle performance of novel structural aluminium alloy–concrete composite columns. In this paper, the environmental impacts and economic aspects of a concrete-filled aluminium alloy tubular (CFAT) column and a concrete-filled double-skin aluminium alloy tubular (CFDSAT) column were assessed using life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) approaches, respectively. The cradle-to-grave system boundary is considered for these analyses to cover the entire life-cycle. A concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column is also assessed for reference. All columns are designed to have the same load-carrying capacity and, thus, are compared on a level-playing basis. A comparison is also made of the self-weight of these columns. In particular, the self-weight of the CFST column is reduced by around 17% when the steel tube is replaced by an aluminium alloy tube, and decreased by 47% when the double-skin technique is adopted in CFDSAT columns. The LCA results indicate that the CO2 emission of CFST and CFAT is almost the same, which is 21% less than the CFDSAT columns due to the use of high aluminium in the latter. The LCCA results show that the total life-cycle cost of CFAT and CFDSAT columns is around 29% and 14% lower, respectively, than that of the CFST column. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of data and assumptions on the life-cycle performance of the examined columns.