Rich Knight

Dept. of Biodiversity & Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape P. Bag X17, Bellville 7535, RSA

Knight.rich@gmail.com

Developed March 2012

Wh

at

do

es

it

mean

to

be G

reen

?

Wh

at

is S

usta

ina

bilit

y?

Developed March 2012

Through technology we can estimate the

Earth’s Maximum supportable population is

13.4 billion.

Looking at the population statistics, where are

we headed?

Using Renewable Energy Source will

limit our growth!

What can the Earth Handle?

Developed March 2012

World Population Statistics

Population

(2007)

Annual

Growth

Rate

(00 – 07)

World 6.7 Billion 1.24%

LDC 5.4 Billion 1.44%

MDC 1.2 Billion 0.36%

US 301 Million 1.03% MDC More developed countries

LDC Less developed Countries

Developed March 2012

Qatar 15 kW/h/person (highest in the world)

USA 12 kW/h/person

Japan 8 kW/h/person

Germany 7 kW/h/person

UK 6 kW/h/person

Denmark 5.1 kW/h/person

South Africa 4.7 kW/h/person

China 2.5 kW/h/person

India .5 kW/h/person

Haiti 0.02 kW/h/person

En

erg

y C

on

su

mp

tio

n

Industrialized 7.5 kW/h/person

Global Average 3 kW/h/person

Developing 1 kW/h/person

Developed March 2012

Cradle to Gate

Cradle to Grave

Cradle to Cradle

Developed March 2012

Industry are seeking to green their products and manufacturing processes.

Individuals and Families are seeking to green their homes and lifestyles.

What is currently happening to achieve this goal?

How can you tell if something really is green?

Sc

ien

tis

ts p

erf

orm

a L

ife

Cycle

Asse

ss

men

t (L

CA

)

Developed March 2012

“Compilation and evaluation of the inputs,

outputs and the potential environmental

impacts of a product system throughout its life

cycle”

This establishes an environmental profile of

the system!

Definition of LCA

Developed March 2012

ISO = International Organization for Standardization ISO14040 Ensures that an LCA is completed in a certain way (methodology).

Standards for LCA

Developed March 2012

1. Product or project development and improvement

2. Strategic planning

3. Public policy making

4. Marketing and eco-declarations

What can LCA offer?

Developed March 2012

Product Life Cycle

R a w M a t e r i a l A c q u i s i t i o n

M a t e r i a l P r o c e s s i n g

M a n u f a c t u r e & A s s e m b l y

U s e & S e r v i c e

R e t i r e m e n t & R e c o v e r y

T r e a t m e n t D i s p o s a l

o p e n - l o o p r e c y c l e

r e u s e

r e m a n u f a c t u r e

c l o s e d - l o o p r e c y c l e

M, E

W W W W W

M, E M, E M, E M, E M, E

W

M, E = Material and Energy inputs to process and distribution W = Waste (gas, liquid, or solid) output from product, process, or distribution Material flow of product component

Developed March 2012

What makes up a LCA?

Goal & Scope Definition

Impact Assessment (LCIA)

Inventory Analysis (LCI)

Interpretation

Developed March 2012

Goal & Scope Definition

What is the purpose of the

LCA and who is the

audience?

Developed March 2012

Impact Assessment (LCIA)

What are the

environmental, social,

and economic affects?

Developed March 2012

Inventory Analysis (LCI)

• What is the function &

functional unit?

• Where are the boundaries?

• What data do you need?

• What assumptions are you

making?

• Are there any limitations?

Developed March 2012

Interpretation

• Ways to reduce

environmental impacts.

• What conclusions can you

draw from the study?

• What recommendations

can be made?

Developed March 2012

Items To Consider? Inputs

What is needed to

make the substance!

1. Energy

2. Materials

3. Labor

Outputs

What comes out of the

system!

1. Products (electricity,

materials, goods,

services)

2. Waste

3. Emissions

4. Co-products

Developed March 2012

Function and Functional units

Service provided by a

system

What it does!

Functional Unit

Gives the function a

number value

Allows comparison

between products

Reference point

Wooden Pencil vs.

Mechanical Pencil

Function = “Writing”

Functional Unit = “1

meter of writing”

Function Function

Developed March 2012

Function and Functional units

Service provided by a

system

What it does!

Functional Unit

Gives the function a

number value

Allows comparison

between products

Reference point

Wooden Pencil vs.

Mechanical Pencil

Function = “Writing”

Functional Unit = “1

meter of writing”

Function Function

Developed March 2012

Function and Functional units

Service provided by a

system

What it does!

Functional Unit

Gives the function a

number value

Allows comparison

between products

Reference point

Wooden Pencil vs.

Mechanical Pencil

Function = “Writing”

Functional Unit = “1

meter of writing”

Function Function

Developed March 2012

Scope: Wooden Pencil (T = Transportation) Process Flow Diagram

Lumber Forest

Lumber Mill

Manufacture Retailer Use End

of Life

Sharpening

(Electricity)

(Landfill) Rubber

Graphite

Packaging

Brass

T

T

T

T

T

T

T T T

Goal = Compare 2 writing utensils for classroom use.

Goal and Scope: Wooden Pencil vs. Mechanical Pencil

Developed March 2012

Scope: Mechanical Pencil (T = Transportation)

Goal = Compare 2 writing utensils for classroom use.

Goal and Scope: Wooden Pencil vs. Mechanical Pencil

Oil PE / PP

Manufacture Retailer Use End of

Life

(Landfill) Rubber

Graphite

Packaging

Spring

T

T

T

T

T

T

T T T

PE = Polyethylene PP = Polypropylene Both materials are plastic polymers (large molecules) used to make many products.

Developed March 2012

1. Time-sensitive = past 5 years

2. Geographical = does it match the location from the goal

3. Technology = best available technology for process

4. Representativeness = reflects population of interest

5. Consistency = matches the procedure

6. Reproducibility = another person could find it

Never Forget . . . . . . .

Precision:

The consistent reproducibility

of a measurement

Completeness:

Covers all the areas outlined

in the scope

Data Collection Life Cycle Inventory Analysis

Developed March 2012

LCA in Action: Think about it! Paper Plate vs. China (Plate You Wash & Reuse)

What is the function?

What is the functional

unit?

What materials &

resources are used?

What does it take to

produce both?

What are the impacts

to the environment?

Is there waste?

Does washing the

China produces

waste?

What types of data do

you need?

How do you know

which is better?

Developed March 2012

Data Analysis Environmental Impact Categories

Global Warming Potential

Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation

Trap heat from the sun

Water vapor, CO2 , CH4 , ozone, NO2

Abiotic Depletion

Consumption of non-living resources

Human Toxicity Potential

Value that shows harms to humans from chemicals

Land Use

How much land is needed

Developed March 2012

Data Analysis Environmental Impact Categories

Global Warming Potential

Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation

Trap heat from the sun

Water vapor, CO2 , CH4 , ozone, NO2

Abiotic Depletion

Consumption of non-living resources

Human Toxicity Potential

Value that shows harms to humans from chemicals

Land Use

How much land is needed

Developed March 2012

Environmental Impact Categories Continued . . . . .

Eutrophication

Increase in chemical nutrients containing nitrogen or phosphorus

land or water

overgrowth of plants

killing organisms at bottom of water

Water Use

Mercury

Acidification

caused by pollution from fuels & acid rain

low pH

Smog (Winter or Summer)

Energy Use

Solid Waste

Oil

. . . . . . . AND MANY MORE!!

Developed March 2012

Where Do We Go From Here? What is the purpose

of all this data??

Scientists can make

recommendations of

choices that are less

impactful

Scientists can

analyze a particular

impact and focus on

a solution

Industry &

Individuals can take

a closer look at how

they can make a

difference

Class Project

Evaluate A products

using the LCA

methods.