Life Cycle Perspective Research Articles

Technological suitability and improvement for shaping environmental performance: A life cycle perspective on Fenton-based wastewater treatment processes

Water resource management and wastewater treatment are designed to ensure a safe and clean water resource in the pursuit of sustainable development goals. Chemical-based wastewater treatment processes typically involve significant consumption of resources, by means of chemical or material uses, which potentially lead to significant environmental impacts. This study intends to gain a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts associated with two Fenton-based wastewater treatment processes, namely, fluidized-bed reactor (FBR-Fenton) and conventional Fenton (C-Fenton) methods, for four industrial wastewater tests (organic wastewater from pulp mill, pharmaceutical, oil-containing, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) rinsing), from a technical suitability perspective. The present study adopts ISO 14040 guidelines for life cycle assessment (LCA) and uses the IPCC and ReCiPe methods for environmental impact assessment. The results show that the FBR process has relatively lower environmental impacts than the C-Fenton process according to the IPCC and ReCiPe impact results, partly due to differences in chemical usage and electricity consumption. The results obtained from the IPCC method show that the C-Fenton process had a relatively higher impact on global warming potential than the FBR process, with impacts in the range of 20.5–141.9 kg CO2eq/1 kg COD and 12.0–41.9 kg CO2eq/1 kg COD, respectively, mainly due to variations in the amount of sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid required to achieve the desired degree of water quality from different raw industrial wastewater sources. Furthermore, the reduction in the use of high-impact chemicals contributes to remarkable environmental benefits for the processes, while process adjustment may not guarantee environmental benefits. This result implies that the environmental performance of Fenton-based processes significantly varies depending on the treatment of raw wastewater characteristics; that is, the environmental advantage of a wastewater treatment technique strongly depends on the determination of a suitable process. This information can be used to support the determination and advancement of future wastewater treatment technologies aimed at improving environmental outcomes.

Challenges in benchmarking whole-life GHG emissions from renovation cases: Evidence from 23 real-life cases

While political initiatives focus on energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe), there is currently a lack of knowledge about GHGe from energy-efficiency measures versus other renovation measures. Recognizing the multitude of purposes and functions in play within real-life renovations is central to the ongoing development in benchmarking and regulating the life-cycle GHGe of building projects, to ultimately limit emissions from the growing number of renovation projects. This study therefore investigates lifecycle-based GHGe from the multitude of changed functions in 23 real-life cases of renovation and considers how the results contribute to discussions on benchmarking renovation projects. The results show that, from a lifecycle perspective, energy efficiency actions in renovation produced operational savings of around 50 % from 13.5 kg CO2-eq/m2/year to 7.0 kg CO2-eq/m2/year on average, indicating the significance of reducing the energy demand of buildings. The material-related, embodied GHGe contributed to an average of 2.8 kg CO2-eq/m2/year in the 23 renovation cases. A remarkable 54 % of these lifecycle-embodied impacts from the renovation cases are associated with other functions than energy efficiency, such as spatial adjustments, changes in interior layout, or the construction of balconies. The results contribute to discussions of three benchmarking approaches suggested in literature. First, single benchmarks for the whole building. This approach does not encompass the large variation in impacts and functions that are showcased in the renovation cases. Second, benchmarks on a smaller scale, such as building elements. This approach can be explored further, and the study provides pointers to the significance of different elements. Finally, benchmarks based on GHGe “savings” from energy reductions. The approach only considers one function and not the significance of the multitude of other functions added in renovation projects.

The importance of organization type: Construction sector perceptions of low-carbon policies and measures

To facilitate decarbonization in the EU’s building sector, the regulatory focus is shifting towards a life cycle perspective of emissions. The EU’s path in tackling embodied emissions is under development in the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which is utilizing Level(s) framework and EN 15879 as a methodological foundation. Member States are at different stages in their building life cycle regulation plan and Finland is preparing normative regulations to limit the carbon footprints of new buildings. We conducted a survey on how the different actors in the construction sector perceive new low-carbon policies under development in Finland. Our findings indicate that carbon footprint policies were generally seen as functional. However, perceptions differed significantly depending on the respondent’s organization type. The respondents involved in the construction design stage generally seemed more positive about the proposed regulations, whereas advocates (associations and interest groups) were more cautious than the organizations they represented. These findings help clarify the implementation and development needs of low-carbon policies.

Material recycling in a circular economy—A systems view

AbstractA circular economy is expected to reduce the use of primary resources through the reuse of products, components, and materials. Material recycling, though advantageous in many cases for saving primary resources by diverting them away from the landfill, may have perverse effects when analyzed from a systems perspective considering the entire material life cycle as well as economy‐wide effects of recycling. Using the case of metals, glass, and plastics recycling, the advantages of a systems view including the entire material life cycle in analyzing material recycling are illustrated. The advantages of recycling as compared to virgin production may vary significantly depending of the energy and resource requirements during the recycling process, logistics, and alloying of materials. Expanding the systems view further to analyze the economy‐wide effects of material recycling reveal the possibility of rebound effects which may reduce or even negate its advantages. Sustainable consumption is absolutely essential along with any technological advances to counter the rebound effects that may lead to overshoot. The article demonstrates the importance of considering a systems view incorporating a life cycle perspective and economy‐wide effects in analyzing and trying to maintain the advantages of material recycling.This article is categorized under: Climate and Environment > Circular Economy Emerging Technologies > Materials Climate and Environment > Pollution Prevention

Assessing the Sustainable Potential of Corrugated Board-Based Bundle Packaging of PET Bottles: A Life Cycle Perspective—A Case Study

Large amounts of PET bottles are used worldwide as primary packaging for numerous liquids, including water and soft drinks. In many cases, between two and eight of such bottles are bundled for transport and sales using plastic collation shrink film. This study evaluates paper-based alternatives for plastic bundling material using a life cycle assessment (LCA) of four different types of bundle packaging: LDPE shrink film, recycled Low-Density Polyethylene (rLDPE) shrink film, Ecogrip (existing paper-based bundle packaging) and Ecobundle (new paper-based bundle packaging). The study focuses on the case of bundling six bottles of 1.5 L of sparkling water. The most environmentally friendly option is identified, taking into consideration the material usage, effects on human health and effects on the biosphere. It is concluded that the new corrugated board-based bundling method (Ecobundle) is very promising. Further optimization of the design, minimization of material, improved choice of materials and improved design of the production machinery may result in a corrugated board performing even better than rLDPE shrink film in terms of the global warming potential.

Concept and Practices of Preventive Social Policy in Germany and Some Lessons for China

Since the 1990s, discussion on changes in the welfare state models and social policies shifts has intensified globally, primarily driven by the new technological revolution and aging populations. In parallel, Germany has placed increasing importance on preventive social policies, aligning with the evolving concept of social investment theory in Europe. This article examines preventive social policy in Germany through the analysis of policy documents, expert reports, and academic papers. We elucidate its conceptual framework, guiding principles, and action strategies. Furthermore, we showcase representative preventive social policies at both the federal and state levels, highlighting their accomplishments and challenges. Lastly, we endeavor to bridge the theoretical and practical aspects of German preventive social policy with China’s social policy reform goals. We suggest that China can draw lessons from Germany’s innovative concept of preventive social policy, emphasizing a life-cycle perspective in institutional design, policy implementation, and outcome evaluation, as well as fostering diverse networking approaches at the governance level to address the challenges inherent in social policy development.

Comparative evaluation of seismic performance and environmental impact of traditional and dissipation-based retrofitting solutions for precast structures

Seismic rehabilitation is crucial to extend the nominal service life and help reduce the seismic losses of reinforced concrete precast industrial buildings. Along with traditional retrofitting techniques, the latest decades are witnessing a growing use of innovative solutions, the latter including devices that can dissipate the ingoing seismic energy and are characterised by the replaceability after a seismic event. The goal of this work is to compare two retrofitting solutions, respectively of traditional and innovative type, in terms of structural performance enhancement and their own life cycle environmental impact. A case study single-storey precast industrial building was retrofitted firstly adopting a traditional solution with concrete jacketing of columns, and then using two innovative energy dissipation devices, namely a friction rotation damper for beam-to-column connections and a bracing system with dissipative sacrificial elements. A comparative analysis of the seismic response of the structure in its as-built and post-retrofit configurations was undertaken, subjecting three 3D numerical models created in OpenSees to nonlinear static and dynamic analyses in both the main directions. Subsequently, two environmental impact metrics were adopted to compare the life cycle environmental impact of both the traditional and innovative retrofitting solutions, confirming that the one encompassing the dissipation-based devices is expected to be more environment-friendly, under a life cycle perspective, than the traditional concrete jacketing.

Environmental and Economic Sustainability Impacts of Metal Additive Manufacturing: A Study in the Industrial Machinery and Aeronautical Sectors

Metal additive manufacturing has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional manufacturing in various industries, offering advantages like complex geometries and reduced material waste. However, there is a research gap in the form of comparative and industry-specific investigations and case studies to comprehensively assess the environmental and economic impact of metal additive manufacturing.This study focuses on two significant sectors, industrial machinery and aeronautics, to understand how metal additive manufacturing influences environmental and economic sustainability compared to conventional manufacturing. Therefore, taking a life cycle approach, the environmental and economic impacts of this technology are evaluated and compared to conventional manufacturing through representative case studies in the two sectors using life cycle assessment and life cycle cost methodologies.The economic evaluation reveals that metal additive manufacturing reduces the total cost for aeronautical components by 33.2 %, even considering several post-processing operations. While for industrial machinery parts, this cost increases by 79.3 % due to high machine and material cost. However, this technology reduces the potential environmental impact by more than 60 % for both sectors, mainly due to reduced material consumption. The use phase for aeronautical components further contributes to environmental and economic benefits, with significant fuel and CO2 emissions savings. The results emphasize the sector-dependent nature of metal additive manufacturing's environmental and economic impact and underscore the importance of a life cycle perspective for informed decision-making.Some critical points for sustainable adoption of metal additive manufacturing in each sector are equipment investment, the post-processing applied, the material selected or, for the aeronautical industry, the impact of the use phase. Nevertheless, future developments are needed to address powder reuse, optimization, certification, and the social impact of metal additive manufacturing.

Service Provider Portfolio Selection across the Project Life Cycle Considering Synergy Effect

During the project life cycle, selecting the appropriate service provider portfolio (SPP) is essential to guaranteeing the successful implementation of manufacturing tasks. However, the existence of the synergy effect among service providers poses a challenge for decision makers in selecting the most suitable SPP. To effectively address this challenge, this study constructs a novel service provider portfolio selection (SPPS) model across the project life cycle, considering the synergy effect. The model is based on the integration of a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and the entropy method (EM). First, the evaluation criteria for service provider selection are defined, followed by the identification of alternative service providers and feasible SPPs based on project life cycle division. Subsequently, a quantitative analysis of the synergy effect among service providers within the same stage, as well as between different stages, throughout the project life cycle, is carried out. This analysis helps to determine the input variables and expected output variables that will be utilized in the model. Additionally, the feasibility and applicability of the proposed model are illustrated through an example. Finally, a comparison between the proposed hybrid model and the BPNN is conducted to validate the model’s accuracy and efficiency. This study contributes to making sound decisions in the SPPS process from a project life cycle perspective.

Rebound effects undermine carbon footprint reduction potential of autonomous electric vehicles

Autonomous vehicles offer greater passenger convenience and improved fuel efficiency. However, they are likely to increase road transport activity and life cycle greenhouse emissions, due to several rebound effects. In this study, we investigate tradeoffs between improved fuel economy and rebound effects from a life-cycle perspective. Our results show that autonomy introduces an average 21.2% decrease in operation phase emissions due to improved fuel economy while manufacturing phase emissions can surge up to 40%. Recycling efforts can offset this increase, cutting emissions by 6.65 tons of Carbon dioxide equivalent per vehicle. However, when examining the entire life cycle, autonomous electric vehicles might emit 8% more greenhouse gas emissions on average compared to nonautonomous electric vehicles. To address this, we suggest; (1) cleaner and more efficient manufacturing technologies, (2) ongoing fuel efficiency improvements in autonomous driving; (3) renewable energy adoption for charging, and (4) circular economy initiatives targeting the complete life cycle.

The impact of lignocellulosic ethanol production on the environment from a life cycle perspective

In the production process of cellulosic ethanol, all sections are closely related. It is difficult to study its producing law and key factors that affect the process only by experimental means. Computer simulation has a powerful data mining ability, which can analyze, design, and evaluate the production process of cellulosic ethanol. Specifically, it can use data calculated by Aspen Plus before, and analyze the impact of cellulose ethanol production on the environment by life cycle assessment (LCA). Results show that the total environmental impact value of the whole process is 0.20∼0.37 person·a/t. And in the whole process, the growth stage and the production stage have the biggest impact.

A survey on dataset quality in machine learning

With the rise of big data, the quality of datasets has become a crucial factor affecting the performance of machine learning models. High-quality datasets are essential for the realization of data value. This survey article summarizes the research direction of dataset quality in machine learning, including the definition of related concepts, analysis of quality issues and risks, and a review of dataset quality dimensions and metrics throughout the dataset lifecycle and a review of dataset quality metrics analyzed from a dataset lifecycle perspective and summarized in literatures. Furthermore, this article introduces a comprehensive quality evaluation process, which includes a framework for dataset quality evaluation with dimensions and metrics, computation methods for quality metrics, and assessment models. These studies provide valuable guidance for evaluating dataset quality in the field of machine learning, which can help improve the accuracy, efficiency, and generalization ability of machine learning models, and promote the development and application of artificial intelligence technology.

Identifying the spatiotemporal carbon footprint of the petroleum refining industry and its mitigation potential in China

As the energy-intensive industry, the rapid growth of petroleum refining caused massive carbon emission. This study is designed to unveil carbon footprint and its temporal-spatial distribution at the refinery level and the industry level in China from the life cycle perspective, and investigate the main factors of carbon emission changes through the logarithmic mean deviation index (LMDI). The results showed that the provincial/regional distribution of the carbon footprint decreased from the eastern coastal and northwest to the southwest. Simultaneously, carbon emissions from PRI increased by 216 Mt from 2000 to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 6.93%. Among them, the electricity and thermal phase was the main source of carbon emissions (average 48.45%). In addition, carbon emission intensity was first suppressed and then increased, which the extension of the industrial chain and the inadequate integration of refining were drivers of the increase in carbon emission intensity. The LMDI analysis indicated that investment efficiency and energy intensity were key factors on carbon emission reduction. Further scenario analysis showed that government policies and technological breakthroughs in the short term can slow down the growth in carbon emissions 19.12% and 28.32% lower than the baseline scenario, respectively.

Patent signal and financing constraints: a life cycle perspective and evidence from new energy industry

Based on the data of China’s new energy listed companies, this paper empirically studies the impact of the patent signal on the financing constraints of new energy enterprises and its mechanism. The results show that: (i) Both the invention patent application and the non-invention patent application can play a signaling role to alleviate the financing constraints of new energy enterprises; (ii) Analyst attention plays an intermediary role between the patent signal and the financing constraints of new energy enterprises. Compared with non-invention patents, analyst attention plays a more vital intermediary role on invention patents; (iii) Patent signal can alleviate the financing constraints of new energy enterprises in the growth and maturity stages by increasing analyst attention but has no apparent effect on the recession period; (iv) Compared with non-main board listed and small-scale new energy enterprises, patent signal has a more substantial effect on alleviating the financing constraints of main board listed and large-scale new energy enterprises.

Environmental impacts of the transition to automated vehicles: A life cycle perspective

The environmental benefits and burdens of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are still a subject of debate in the existing literature. This research aims to address this gap by conducting a life cycle assessment of CAVs, focusing on different transition phases in terms of the associated traffic operations and environmental impacts. A micro-simulation was carried out on a specific roadway section, considering varying CAVs market penetration rates (MPR) and traffic volumes, assuming all vehicles were powered by internal combustion engines. The findings revealed that the most optimal traffic and environmental performance occurred when the MPR ranged between 70 and 80%. Notably, the use phase contributed to 90% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption. In comparison to the baseline conditions, the production phase experienced a 5% increase in CAV emissions, while the end-of-life phase saw a 1.5% increase. Conversely, emissions during the use phase decreased by 5%. Sensitivity analysis indicated statistically significant outcomes at higher traffic congestion levels, indicating that CAVs improved traffic operations and mitigated environmental impacts during periods of heavy traffic.

Opportunities to apply systems engineering to healthcare interprofessional education.

In medical settings, interprofessional education (IPE) plays an important role by bringing students from multiple disciplines together to learn how to collaborate effectively and coordinate safe patient care. Yet developing effective IPE is complex, considering that stakeholders from different schools and programs are involved, each with varying curriculum requirements and interests. Given its critical importance and inherent complexity, innovative approaches to address these challenges are needed to effectively develop and sustain effective IPE programs. Systems engineering (SE) combines a lifecycle perspective with established interdisciplinary processes to develop and sustain large complex systems. The need for SE approaches to manage healthcare complexity has been recognized, but the application of SE to IPE programs has been limited. We believe that there is a significant opportunity for IPE programs to benefit from the application of SE. The common themes running through SE and IPE led us to ask if SE can be used to address IPE complexity and achieve desired IPE outcomes. We believe that SE could facilitate further development and sustainability of a recently developed healthcare curriculum. We also propose to use SE to accelerate and manage future IPE curriculum development, while better understanding the states of vital IPE-related components. We discuss a framework that considers transitions of key IPE elements. We believe that use of interdisciplinary SE processes and holistic perspectives and methods such as system thinking will improve the management of system challenges while addressing IPE's inherent complexity and leading to better patient outcomes and more effective interprofessional collaboration.

Environmental impact and optimization suggestions of pig manure and wastewater treatment systems from a life cycle perspective

With the rapid development of the pig farming industry in China, a large amount of pig manure is inevitably generated. The management and utilization of pig manure in a sustainable approach require a systematic analysis of the environmental impacts generated from the existing pig manure treatment and disposal routes. In this study, three typical pig manure treatment and disposal routes: pig manure solid-liquid separation, i) wastewater biological treatment, direct land application of manure/sludge; ii) black-film anaerobic digestion of wastewater, mono-composting of manure/sludge and land use; iii) wastewater biological treatment, co-composting of manure/sludge and land use, were comparatively assessed in terms of their environmental impacts using the life cycle assessment. The results show that the added chemicals in wastewater treatment and the consumed electricity in composting the manure/sludge are the two main contributors to all environmental impacts. Thus, using green chemicals, controlling the dosage of added chemicals accurately, and selecting composting types with low energy consumption will significantly reduce the environmental burden of pig manure treatment and disposal routes. For the global warming potential of the evaluated three pig manure treatment and disposal routes, direct emissions of greenhouse gases during the composting process contribute the most, accounting for 77 %, 95 %, and 79 %, respectively. Furthermore, the struvite recovery with anaerobic digestion from pig manure will bring excellent environmental benefits, which will markedly offset the toxicity impacts and carbon emissions derived from pig manure treatment and disposal process. Overall, this work quantitatively evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the existing pig manure treatment and disposal routes, providing insights on optimization for future technical improvement and development.

Dynamic material flow analysis of antimony resources in China

Antimony is recognized as a crucial material due to its extensive application in modern industrial fields. China is the largest antimony supplier and consumer in the world. However, few studies focus on antimony flows and stocks in China from a whole life cycle perspective. This study investigates the features of antimony flows and stocks in China from 2011 to 2020 by conducting dynamic material flow analysis. The results show that China’s antimony production had drastically decreased during 2011-2020, indicating a high supply risk to the antimony industry chain. Also, the corresponding environmental pollution from the antimony life cycle is serious and should be mitigated. In addition, the majority of secondary antimony production came from end-of-life lead-acid batteries and bearing gears. To ensure sustainable antimony supply and maintain clean antimony production, it is necessary to prepare appropriate antimony management policies so that different stakeholders can work together to improve the sustainable management of antimony resource in China.

Toward a systematic understanding of megaproject improvisation

Improvisation is an extemporaneous and creative process for dealing with uncertainty. Confronted with complex and dynamic uncertainties, megaprojects are fertile soil for diverse improvisation involving multi-level stakeholders. To unveil the complex taxonomy of megaproject improvisation (MI), we first develop a three-dimension theoretical framework of MI drawing on classical improvisation theory, taking into account improvisational degree, organizational level, and project phase. Based on the framework, an abductive approach is adopted utilizing 20 expert interviews and 863 MI event collections to explore MI taxonomy and its evolutionary features over megaproject lifecycles. Specifically, 13 MI types are identified by integrating improvisational degree and organizational level dimensions, and the evolution of MI taxonomy is unveiled from the project lifecycle perspective, indicating that distinct megaproject phases appeal to corresponding MI types to respond to unique uncertain circumstances. This study provides a systematic understanding of MI for better dealing with uncertainties in megaprojects.

Nuclear waste Educator's workshop: What and how do we teach about nuclear waste?

A workshop was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on July 25th and 26th, 2022. The objective was to develop a blueprint for educating next-generation engineers and scientists about nuclear waste management and disposal, which requires knowledge from diverse disciplines, including nuclear, chemical, civil, environmental, and geological science and engineering. The 49 participants included university professors, researchers, industry experts, and government officials from different areas. First, we have developed a list of key fundamental knowledge on waste management and disposal across the nuclear fuel cycle. In addition, we discussed strategies on how to teach students with diverse backgrounds through innovative teaching strategies as well as how to attract students into this area. Through the workshop, we identified the critical needs to (1) develop community resources for nuclear waste education; (2) synthesize historical perspectives, including past contamination and the management of general hazardous waste; (3) emphasize a complete life-cycle perspective, including proper waste management as the key component for energy sustainability; (4) teach students how to communicate about the key facts and risks to technical and non-technical audiences; and (5) accelerate the use of the state-of-art-technologies to attract and retain a young workforce. Furthermore, we aim to build a diverse, inclusive community that supports students in developing their own narratives about nuclear waste, particularly in recognizing that antagonistic views have been important to improving safety and protecting public health and the environment.