Environmental and Socioeconomic Life Cycle Assessment of ...
The use of life cycle assessment in environmental management
1
Selected Abstracts International Conference on EcoBalance Results and Conclusions. The total methane emissions associated with daily milk yield are the highest for crossbred cow milk (452 gins) followed by buffalo milk (365 gms) and indigenous cow milk (176 gms), respectively. Enteric fermentation accounts for 86 to 90 per cent of the total methane emissions. The methane emissions are the lowest per kg of crossbred cow milk (78 gms) due to their higher milk yields. The buffalo milk and indigenous cow milk are produced with about 28 (100 gms) and 34 (104 gins) per cent higher methane emissions, respectively. The average amount of methane emissions per kg of bovine milk has been calculated as 98 gins, that is lower than most of the earlier estimates. Interestingly, the buffaloes turn out to be the most efficient in terms of producing milk worth one rupee with the least methane emis- sions among the three milch species. This is because the buffalo milk on an average fetches 50 per cent higher price as compared to cow milk. The crossbred cows produce one rupee worth of milk by causing about 17 per cent higher methane emissions as compared to buffaloes. The indigenous cows do the same by producing about 57 per cent higher methane emissions as compared to buffaloes. Recommendations and Outlook. Various recommendations have been made in different studies to reduce methane emissions. These recom- mendations include urea treatment of dry fodder, use of urea-molasses blocks, use of manufactured cattle feeds with bypass protein, improved productivity of animals, reduction in the number of animals, improved management of dung, and use of dung as domestic fuel through biogas. A strategy that improves productivity as well as reduces methane emis- sions has been referred to as a win-win strategy. However, economics of these strategies and extension efforts at the ground level are equally important. There has been only a lukewarm response of people in India towards the suggested strategies. Buffaloes are emerging as more efficient milk producing animals than cows in India, both economi- cally and environmentally. They should be given their right place in the strategies to promote milk production and income of people in India. Crossbred cows should not sideline them. Keywords: Livestock; milk production; India; environment; green- house gases; global warming; LCA The Use of Life Cycle Assessment in Environmental Management Stuart Ross I and David Evans 2 1School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia 2 Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia Corresponding author: Stuart Ross ([email protected]) Goal and Scope. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be used by decision makers to develop strategic policies that can lead to a minimization of the environmental burden resulting from the provision of services or the manufacture, use and disposal of products within the human economy. We accomplish this aim by presenting a case study that looks at the greenhouse impact of each stage in the life cycle of cardboard packaging and then examining the impact of various policy options available to decision makers. Methods. We chose this case study because of the many policy choices that can affect the quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions gener- ated. For example: the source of the process energy used in the produc- tion of cardboard; the transport requirements across the life cycle; the recycled content of the cardboard; whether replanting should occur after harvesting; and how to manage decomposition of cardboard in landfills. Results and Conclusions. Our analysis showed that in general the most useful strategy was to recycle the used packaging. However, our analysis also indicated that when measures are taken to eliminate sources of methane emissions then recycling is no longer beneficial from a green- house perspective. This is because the process energy required in the form of gas and electricity is substantially greater for cardboard manu- factured from recycled material than it is for virgin fibre. Recommendations and Outlook. Although this was only a single case study, we could expect that the advantages of LCA demonstrated here would also apply to other products and processes, at least with respect to the assessment of GHG policy options. Keywords: Life cycle assessment; environmental policy; greenhouse; pulp and paper industry; recycling; continuous-improvement T: +49-89-1784226; F: +49-89-171928 The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment e-mail: [email protected] Vol. 7, No. 3, 2002 . . . . . . ISSN 0948-3349 On September 25, 2001, ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) accepted Int J LCA for coverage beginning with Volume 6 (1) 2001. Int J LCA has been included in ISI Web of Science, Science Citation Index Expanded, ISI Alerting Services, and Current Contents/Agriculture, Biology, and Environ- mental Sciences. Editor in Chief: Prof. Walter KI0pffer, PhD C.A.U. GmbH WG Assessment of Chemicals, Products and Systems D-63303 Dreieich, Germany .... T: +49-6103-983-28; F: -983-11 e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Publishing House: ecomed publishers AG & Co. KG Managing director: Harald Heim Justuswon-Liebig-Str. 1 D-86899 Landsberg, Germany Ft. Worth/TX, USA 9 Tokyo, Japan 9 Mumbai, India 9 Seoul, Korea Publisher Editor: . . . . Almut Beate Heinrich +49-8191-125-469; F: -492 e-mail: [email protected] httD://www.scientifieiournals.com nographic recording, nor may it be stored n a retrieval system, transmitted: e"k=.-..~..;.., e--..i..=. ~A~n.,;i~ i ~,,,r,...,... or otherwise copied for public or private use without writte~ perm ~siOn ~:+~4=9"_'~'~'1"_'~ 2~5~_5' "1~'.~::;".'~ 0 ~ of the pubhsher. (,'-~t~("~~d II e-mail: m.laurenoe@'wmi-verlaosse~ice.de Cover Design: [email protected] Edwin Grondinger, abc Fotosatz GmbH, D-86807 Buchloe Typesetting and Graphics: moira@indr&de dl satzbetrieb, D-86899 Landsberg Print Production: VeBu Druck GmbH, D,88427 Bad Schussenried :; Copyright: 9 2002, ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg All rights reserved. No part of the issue may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a PbO- 190 Int J LCA 7 (3) 190 (2002) 9 ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg, Germany and Ft. Worth/TX, USA 9 Tokyo, Japan ~ Mumbai, India 9Seoul, Korea
-
Upload
stuart-ross -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
3
Transcript of The use of life cycle assessment in environmental management
Selected Abstracts International Conference on EcoBalance
Results and Conclusions. The total methane emissions associated with daily milk yield are the highest for crossbred cow milk (452 gins) followed by buffalo milk (365 gms) and indigenous cow milk (176 gms), respectively. Enteric fermentation accounts for 86 to 90 per cent of the total methane emissions. The methane emissions are the lowest per kg of crossbred cow milk (78 gms) due to their higher milk yields. The buffalo milk and indigenous cow milk are produced with about 28 (100 gms) and 34 (104 gins) per cent higher methane emissions, respectively. The average amount of methane emissions per kg of bovine milk has been calculated as 98 gins, that is lower than most of the earlier estimates. Interestingly, the buffaloes turn out to be the most efficient in terms of producing milk worth one rupee with the least methane emis- sions among the three milch species. This is because the buffalo milk on an average fetches 50 per cent higher price as compared to cow milk. The crossbred cows produce one rupee worth of milk by causing about 17 per cent higher methane emissions as compared to buffaloes. The indigenous cows do the same by producing about 57 per cent higher methane emissions as compared to buffaloes.
Recommendations and Outlook. Various recommendations have been made in different studies to reduce methane emissions. These recom- mendations include urea treatment of dry fodder, use of urea-molasses blocks, use of manufactured cattle feeds with bypass protein, improved productivity of animals, reduction in the number of animals, improved management of dung, and use of dung as domestic fuel through biogas. A strategy that improves productivity as well as reduces methane emis- sions has been referred to as a win-win strategy. However, economics of these strategies and extension efforts at the ground level are equally important. There has been only a lukewarm response of people in India towards the suggested strategies. Buffaloes are emerging as more efficient milk producing animals than cows in India, both economi- cally and environmentally. They should be given their right place in the strategies to promote milk production and income of people in India. Crossbred cows should not sideline them.
Keywords: Livestock; milk production; India; environment; green- house gases; global warming; LCA
The Use of Life Cycle Assessment in Environmental Management Stuart Ross I and David Evans 2
1 School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
2 Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
Corresponding author: Stuart Ross ([email protected])
Goal and Scope. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be used by decision makers to develop strategic policies that can lead to a minimization of the environmental burden resulting from the provision of services or the manufacture, use and disposal of products within the human economy. We accomplish this aim by presenting a case study that looks at the greenhouse impact of each stage in the life cycle of cardboard packaging and then examining the impact of various policy options available to decision makers. Methods. We chose this case study because of the many policy choices that can affect the quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions gener- ated. For example: the source of the process energy used in the produc- tion of cardboard; the transport requirements across the life cycle; the recycled content of the cardboard; whether replanting should occur after harvesting; and how to manage decomposition of cardboard in landfills. Results and Conclusions. Our analysis showed that in general the most useful strategy was to recycle the used packaging. However, our analysis also indicated that when measures are taken to eliminate sources of methane emissions then recycling is no longer beneficial from a green- house perspective. This is because the process energy required in the form of gas and electricity is substantially greater for cardboard manu- factured from recycled material than it is for virgin fibre. Recommendations and Outlook. Although this was only a single case study, we could expect that the advantages of LCA demonstrated here would also apply to other products and processes, at least with respect to the assessment of GHG policy options.
Keywords: Life cycle assessment; environmental policy; greenhouse; pulp and paper industry; recycling; continuous-improvement
T: +49-89-1784226; F: +49-89-171928 The International Journal of Life Cycle A s s e s s m e n t e-mail: [email protected] Vol. 7, No. 3, 2002 . . . . . .
ISSN 0948-3349
On September 25, 2001, ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) accepted Int J LCA for coverage beginning with Volume 6 (1) 2001. Int J LCA has been included in ISI Web of Science, Science Citation Index Expanded, ISI Alerting Services, and Current Contents/Agriculture, Biology, and Environ- mental Sciences.
Editor in Chief: Prof. Walter KI0pffer, PhD C.A.U. GmbH WG Assessment of Chemicals, Products and Systems D-63303 Dreieich, Germany . . . . T: +49-6103-983-28; F: -983-11 e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Publishing House: ecomed publishers AG & Co. KG Managing director: Harald Heim Justuswon-Liebig-Str. 1 D-86899 Landsberg, Germany Ft. Worth/TX, USA �9 Tokyo, Japan �9 Mumbai, India �9 Seoul, Korea
Publisher Editor: . . . . Almut Beate Heinrich
+49-8191-125-469; F: -492 e-mail: [email protected] httD://www.scientifieiournals.com nographic recording, nor may it be stored n a retrieval system, transmitted: e"k=.-..~..;.., e--..i..=. ~A~n.,;i~ i ~,,,r,...,... or otherwise copied for public or private use without writte~ perm ~siOn ~:+~4=9"_'~'~'1"_'~ 2~5~_5' "1~'.~::;".'~ 0 ~ of the pubhsher. ( , ' - ~ t ~ ( " ~ ~ d
II e-mail: m.laurenoe@'wmi-verlaosse~ice.de
Cover Design: [email protected] Edwin Grondinger, abc Fotosatz GmbH, D-86807 Buchloe
Typesetting and Graphics: moira@indr&de dl satzbetrieb, D-86899 Landsbe rg
Print Production: VeBu Druck GmbH, D,88427 Bad Schussenried :;
Copyright: �9 2002, ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg
All rights reserved. No part of the issue may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a PbO-
190 Int J LCA 7 (3) 190 (2002) �9 ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg, Germany and Ft. Worth/TX, USA �9 Tokyo, Japan ~ Mumbai, India �9 Seoul, Korea
