Introduction to Life Cycle Analysis and Environmental Decision Making

1. Introduction toLife Cycle Analysis and Environmental Decision Making Ivan J. Baiges, PhD Department of Engineering Sciences and Materials University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez

2. Outline • Environmental Decision Making • What is Life Cycle Analysis ? • Main Components • Process Flow Diagrams • Uses of LCA • Examples of LCA • Streamlining and Functional Units

3. environmental decision making and energy production • Which energy source is better and why?

4. environmental decision making and energy production • Decision making requires that we have the complete information or at least a good set of data/information • We need to make the comparison of different energy sources on the same basis

5. Environmental Disputes business environmentalists Traditional Conflict - economic progress vs environmental protection

6. Paper vs Plastic

7. Paper vs Plastic

8. Paper vs Plastic – 1000 bags 140 pounds inches 15.6 pounds

9. Environmental Decision-Making Framework

10. What is Life Cycle Analysis ? • The Life Cycle Assessment is an objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by: • identifying energy, materials and benefits • assess the impact of the energy and materials • evaluate and implement improvement plans Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

11. Life Cycle Assessment • “The evaluation of the relevant environmental, economic and technological implications of a product, process or system from cradle to grave “. • LCA Stages • material extraction and processing • manufacturing • transportation and distribution • use • end of life management

12. Product Life Cycle Stages extraction manufacture processing landfill disposal use

13. LCA Framework • Developed by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in 1990. • Several workshops in the Netherlands and the United States gave birth to LCA as we know it today. • Comprises three fundamental stages: inventory, impact and improvement.

14. LCA: An Environmental Decision-Making Tool • Good environmental decision-making tool. • Possesses two unique attributes: • Considers whole life-cycle of a product or service; avoids problem shifting. • Allocates all environmental burdens to the functional unit, making easier value/impact assessments.

15. Why is LCA Important? • Allows to identify when a selection of one alternative over another or when the modifications made to any part of the system has the desired end result of reducing environmental impacts from all life-cycle stages.

16. LCA Conceptual Model Impact assessment Improvement assessment Goals & scoping Inventory assessment

17. What is Life Cycle Analysis ? Raw materials Natural resources energy Processes of the System’s Life Cycle BENEFITS Waste and emissions By products

18. Life Cycle Assessment methodology Inventory Impact Environmentalh Improvement

19. Life Cycle Assessment Raw Material Acquisition Atmospheric Emissions Raw Materials Manufacturing Waterborne Emissions Solid Wastes Use/Reuse/Maintenance Energy Coproducts Recycle/Waste Management Other Releases

20. Goals and Scoping

21. Goals and Scoping • We must ask ourselves why we want to conduct an Life Cycle Assessment: • Implement a new product or process • Compare existing product or process to possible competitors • Determine the environmental friendliness of a product • Determine where to spend money on Environmental Improvement

22. LCA - Components • LCA Inventory - quantifying the energy and materials used, and wastes generated • LCA Impact - assess the effects of the inventory. • LCA Improvement - Systematic evaluation of the needs and opportunities to reduce of the environmental burden.

23. Steps of a LCA define scope Inventory Analysis Impact Analysis Improvement Analysis environmental efficiency Implement

24. LCA Stages and Boundaries Cradle Inputs Outputs Raw Materials Acquisition Raw Materials Waste Manufacturing Energy Emission Use/ Reuse/Maintenance Natural Resources Coproducts Benefits Waste Management Grave system boundaries

25. LCA Scoping Example - Environmental Impact of using fossil fuels for energy production Inputs Outputs Cradle Raw Materials Acquisition Waste Emission Raw Materials ENERGY PRODUCTION Coproducts Benefits Energy Use/ Reuse/Maintenance Natural Resources Waste Management Grave

26. LCA Process Flow Diagrams • Process Flow Diagram - It indicates the processes and the hierarchy of the system to be evaluated by a LCA Study • The flow diagram indicates the processes for which materials and energy will be evaluated

27. LCA Process Flow Diagrams energy energy energy energy energy Raw materials process manufacture use dispose wastes wastes wastes reuse recycle

28. From materials to products energy energy energy energy materials materials materials materials Polyethylenepolymerization Bag manufacturing Ethylene production Petroleum extraction waste waste waste waste By products By products By products By products

29. LCA Scoping, Flow Diagram Raw Materials Extraction and Processing raw materials concentrated materials extraction refining Physical, Chemical Preparation processed materials refined materials

30. LCA Scoping, Flow Diagram Raw Materials Extraction and Processing – fossil fuels raw materials concentrated materials extraction transportation refining Physical, Chemical Preparation processed materials refined materials

31. LCA Scoping Example - Environmental Impact of making coffee cups Cradle Inputs Outputs Raw Materials Acquisition Raw Materials Waste Manufacturing Energy Emission Use/ Reuse/Maintenance Natural Resources Coproducts Benefits Waste Management Grave system boundaries

32. LCA Flow Diagrams Manufacturing finished materials finished components fabrication assembly bulk products finished products packaging

33. LCA Flow Diagrams Energy production with fossil fuels / biofuels Heat production vapor Fossil fuel Energy conversion Electrical energy Delivered energy distribution

34. LCA Flow Diagrams Energy production with solar radiation Electrical energy Photovoltaic conversion sunlight battery Energy conversion Delivered energy Electrical energy distribution

35. LCA Flow Diagrams Energy production with wind Electrical energy Electromechanical conversion wind battery Energy conversion Delivered energy Electrical energy distribution

36. LCA Scoping Example – Environmental Impact of Operating a Car Cradle Inputs Outputs Raw Materials Acquisition Raw Materials Waste Manufacturing Energy Emission Use/ Reuse/Maintenance Natural Resources Coproducts Benefits Waste Management Grave system boundaries

37. LCA Flow Diagrams Use / Reuse / Maintenance finished products distribution USE maintenance REUSE Disposal

38. Inventory Assessment and Applications of LCA

39. Application of LCA Studies • Identify major contributors to environmental impact • Compare options based on environmental impact • System Environmental Strategic Planning • Evaluate resource effects of existing and new systems

40. Energy use in IC vehicle

41. Examples of LCA Studies

42. Material Processing virgin materials refined materials concentrated materials Refining extraction Physical, Chemical Preparation processed materials waste materials collected materials Separation & cleaning segregated materials collection

43. Aluminum Can Production • Energy Savings Recycling • Energy D = 66.7 kw hr/kg • Energy % = 90.4% Aluminum Ore extraction 7.3 kw hr/kg 0.07 kw hr/kg 16.6 kw hr/kg Aluminum production Sheet production Sheet transport Can production 70.4 kw hr/kg 0.07 kw hr/kg Ingot production material transport Recycling 3.9 kw hr/kg

44. Examples of LCA Studies Energy used to wash and dry a Polyester Blouse

45. Examples of LCA Studies Transportation Energy for Mail Order Business

46. Examples of LCA Studies Liquid Detergent Packaging – energy & waste reduction

47. Examples of LCA Studies Disposable vs Cloth Diapers

48. The REAL environmental impact of driving

49. The REAL environmental impact of driving

50. Impact Assessment