Title: Lifecycle AssessmentProviders: EPFL, Quantis, NespressoSubject area: Sustainable Manufacturing

Learning Object: Learning planLevel: MediumType: Age group: Undergraduate

Requirements: Quantis Suite 2.0 Software (http://www.quantis-intl.com/software5.php) A short tutorial-presentation of the software: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_zLjOUdHf4&index=4&list=PL0C5A6F3B14B31930

Learning Plan 1

IntroductionDoes Lifecycle Assessment ring a bell for you? Mmmmm…. Let’s see. Watch the following video to get a first glance of LCA.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQTW7jjXVmE

Now think… How is LCA related to envoronmental performance?Any ideas? Watch the video below to get an answer…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGhoInz-VUs

Success criterion: Watch the 2/3 of the videoNo blocking condition

The role of LCA in the manufacturing world today.Many companies nowadays are involved in a LCA strategy. Towards this direction LCA experts help them move towards sustainable development through lifecycle approaches. For instance Quantis provides LCA consulting along with innovative tools to help industries reach their sustainability goals.Gregory Simonnin, Life Cycle analyst for Quantis can give you a tour of his companies LifeCycle SolutionsC:\Users\skevi\Desktop\ManuSkills Learning Plans DK\LCA\EPFL_LICP-LCA-training-IntroToLCA-2013-04-22a.pdf

Nespresso“In 2009 we commissioned a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by specialist environmental consultants, Quantis. You can read more about the LCA approach in the Carbon Footprint section. The study showed that when it comes to environmental impact, aluminium capsules that are recycled after use are the optimal way to make an espresso coffee in a Nespresso machine, among all options currently available. In 2011 Quantis conducted a new LCA study, which shows that among all options assessed to make an espresso coffee in a Nespresso machine, the Nespressoaluminium capsule that is recycled after use is the option with the lowest environmental impacts, among all those currently in the market.”

For more information on this project you can check: A short presentation of the case study and resultshttp://www.quantis-intl.com/doc/Quantis-Casestudy-Nestle-Nespresso-EN-03.2012.pdf The detailed report for the Nespresso LCA (

http://www.nespresso.com/ecolaboration/medias_dyn/articles/83/article/attachment-2.pdf)

Application of LCAWhich option is better for the environment: remanufacturing or

recycling?

Answer: It depends!(But remanufacturing is typically better)

4Source: G. Souza

Time for reflection

Example A. Two Automotive Parts (Low Level of Technological Obsolescence)

6205

3150

742

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Disposal Recycling Remanuf.

Energy consumption (KWh/ton) for steel part: (gear) alternatives for end-of-life

29450

4405 25970

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Disposal Recycling Remanuf.

Energy consumption (KWh/ton) for aluminum part (transmission): alternatives for end-of-life

Source: Bert Bras (2009)

•In “disposal” a new part has to be produced from virgin raw materials

•In recycling, a new part is produced from recycled materials

•In remanufacturing, the part is remanufactured and reused

5

Remanufacturing is clearly better!

Example B. Cell Phones: Impact on Global Warming (Primarily Energy Consumption)

6

Most carbon footprint (and also energy use) occurs in purchased pars (manufacturing and raw material extraction.) Remanufacturing is best!

Purchased parts88%

Assembly at NEC7%

Electricity cons. (use)4%

Distribution0.5%

Disposal0.5%

Cell Phones

Source: G. Souza

Example C. Desktop PCs: Impact on Global Warming (Primarily Energy Consumption)

7

Purchased parts59%

Assembly at NEC1%

Electricity cons. (use)39%

Distribution1.0%

Disposal0.2%

Desktop PCs

Most carbon footprint (and also energy use) occurs in purchased pars (manufacturing and raw material extraction.) Remanufacturing is best!

Source: G. Souza

Example D. Internet Switching Equipment: Impact on Global Warming (Primarily Energy Consumption)

8

Most carbon footprint (and also energy use) occurs during the use. Recycling is best, if newer equipment is more energy efficient!

Purchased parts2% Assembly at NEC

1%

Electricity cons. (use)98%

Switching Equipment

Source: G. Souza

Example E. Refrigerators: Impact on Cumulative Energy Consumption

Source: Quariguasi Frota Neto et al. 2008

Again, most energy consumption occurs in usage. Best to replace old appliances with energy efficient new appliances.

Recycling is best!

9

DistributionManufacturing

Use

Question: Could we make an interactive video? Show each slide separately and present the two different scenarios. Afterwards, ask which option is the best for each case and allow students to check the correct answer. Immediately feedback is given (like the MOOC videos).

Success Criteria

Block learners’ path?

Include discussion support?

Access to learning analytics?