Raymond R. Tan, Ph.D. Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Professor of Chemical Engineering and University Fellow De La Salle University, Manila

Outline

§  Climate change and major sustainability issues §  Sustainability analysis of industrial systems §  What is LCA? §  Concluding remarks

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Exceeding the Limits (Rockstrom et al., 2009)

q  Atmospheric CO2 levels now exceed 400 ppm

q  Global GHG emissions continue to grow, fuelled by economic and demographic trends

q  Climate change has complex links with other issues – e.g., biodiversity loss, water stress, land use

Analyzing Industrial Systems

Major flows of goods, resources and pollutants can be visualized from a systems engineering perspective

Inputs Output

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An Industrial Network (Tan et al., 2016. IJPE 181: 410-418)

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What is LCA?

“Life-cycle assessment is an objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment and to evaluate and implement opportunities to effect environmental improvements.”

- SETAC (1993)

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Related Concepts and Terms

§  Life cycle thinking §  Life cycle management §  Life cycle optimization §  “Cradle-to-grave” analysis §  Carbon footprint, ecological footprint, etc. §  Industrial ecology §  Industrial symbiosis

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Key LCA Concepts

§  Extended system boundaries – “cradle to grave” §  Fair comparison – define the functional unit §  Multiple pathways by which environment is damaged

constitute decision criteria §  Inherently quantitative approach involves:

ü Models (mathematical representation) ü Streamlining (simplification) ü Cut-off and identification of system boundary (scope

definition)

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A Typical Life Cycle System (Culaba and Purvis, 1999. JCLP 7: 435-445)

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A Brief History of LCA

§  Early predecessors of modern LCA in the 1960s – 70s (e.g., REPA, net energy analysis, energy return on investment)

§  SETAC initiative establishes modern LCA in the early 1990s

§  Standardization of LCA in the late 1990s (ISO 14040) §  21st Century trends (e.g., carbon footprint, streamlined

LCA, LCO, life cycle costing, social LCA, etc.)

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Components of LCA (ISO 14040, 1997)

§  Goal and scope definition §  Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) §  Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)

ü Classification ü Characterization ü Valuation

§  Interpretation

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LCA is Like a Nutrition Label (Source: US Food and Drug Administration) §  The functional unit is the “serving

size” §  Inventory and impact results are

the nutritional contents per serving §  The information listed is for a

specific range of identified nutrients

§  The data are used to aid in decision-making

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Why Do an LCA? LCA provides a rigorous framework that may:

§  Reveal indirect environmental impacts that are not immediately obvious

§  Provide a balanced consideration of different forms of environmental impact (e.g., global warming vs. acid rain)

§  Identify system “hotspots” at which improvement efforts are best focused

§  Provide a means for comparing alternative technologies or decisions

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Contribution of Each Stage: Gasoline Vehicles

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%To

tal e

nerg

y

Foss

il fu

els

Petro

leum

VOC

CO

NO

x

PM10

SOx

CH

4

N2O

CO

2

GH

Gs

Feedstock Fuel Vehicle Operation

Sample LCA Contribution Analysis (Source: GREET 1.5a model)

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Sample LCA Comparative Analysis (Source: GREET 1.5a model)

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Overall LCA Flowchart (Tan et al., 2009)

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Conclusion •  Circular Economy concept can allow for sustainable

growth under resource and emissions constraints. •  Life Cycle Thinking provides a conceptual framework

for its implementation.

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Questions and Comments are Welcome

Or you may contact me:

Raymond R. Tan, Ph.D. Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Professor of Chemical Engineering and University Fellow De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 0922 Manila, Philippines

E-mail: Raymond.Tan@dlsu.edu.ph