Minimising environmental impact by sequencing cultured dairy products: two case studies

The increased production of cultured milk products has environmental consequences. To counteract the environmental impact from the dairy industry, it is important to process the products in a sequence designed to minimise waste. In a previous study a model was constructed to minimise the waste caused by a sequence for a given set of products and to calculate the environmental impact of a waste minimised sequence. This study applies successfully the model in case studies at two dairies. The number of products to be sequenced varied: Dairy A had 34 products and Dairy B had 16. The sequenced products were yoghurt, sour cream, cold sauce and crème fraiche, all with multiple flavours. The difference in number of products to be sequenced offered the opportunity to use both of the two model sequencing solutions: the heuristic and the optimised. The role of frequency of each product to be sequenced was investigated. Scenarios with differing frequencies were used in the case studies. The result showed clearly that the waste caused by a sequence decreased when product frequency was reduced. From a life cycle perspective, the environmental impact of processing cultured milk products can be greatly reduced by adopting sequences with fewer changes of product.     

Integration of environmental aspects in product development: a stepwise procedure based on quantitative life cycle assessment

Significant environmental improvements can often be achieved by integrating environmental properties as an optimisation parameter in product development together with more traditional values such as production costs, functionality, aesthetics etc. This paper presents a professional method intended for managers based on quantitative life cycle assessment to identify environmental ‘hot spots’ in a reference product's life cycle and to select new environmentally optimised solutions for a new product. The paper takes its starting point in traditional procedures for product development (idea, analysis, goal definition, concept development and detail development) and shows step by step how the environmental properties of the new product can be optimised and thus contribute to the overall competitiveness of the new product.     

Environmental impact of future milk supply chains in Sweden: a scenario study

The objective of this study was to analyse the environmental impact of future supply chains for dairy products. A scenario technique was chosen because scenarios can yield information about the environmental consequences of certain lines of action or developments in a system. To quantify the effects of future systems, a mathematical model of the milk supply chain was constructed and used to simulate possible scenarios. The model was based mainly on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The results show that any consideration of the environmental effects of the milk supply chain must consider the entire chain. The amount of packaging materials used is an important factor, as is the transportation of the dairy products to households.     

瓦楞纸箱全生命周期环境影响评价研究

分析了瓦楞纸箱从原材料生产、产品加工到使用后的废物处置整个全生命周期的物耗、能耗及向环境中的排放;根据ISO14040系列标准制定的技术框架,建立了全生命周期评价(Life Cycle Assessment,LCA)模型,采用Eco-indicator 99方法,对瓦楞纸箱进行了整体和基于流程的全生命周期环境影响分析,得出其全生命周期和原料生产、产品加工、废物管理3个流程的主要环境影响类型和对应指标值,以及造成各流程主要环境影响类型的原因.为改善瓦楞纸箱的环境性能,针对其设计、生产加工、使用、废物处理等方面提出了改进建议;并对全生命周期环境影响评价研究中存在的不足进行了总结.      

Manufacturing actor’s LCA

Modern industrial environmental management encompasses life-cycle thinking. This entails considering not only the emissions and resource use of the company’s production processes, but also the environmental consequences of all processes related to a product’s life cycle. However, no single actor can influence the whole life cycle of a product. To be effective, analysis methods intended to support improvement actions should therefore also consider the decision makers’ power to influence.Regarding the life cycle of a product, there are at least as many perspectives on life-cycle thinking as there are actors. This paper presents an approach with which manufacturing decision makers can sharpen the focus in life-cycle assessment (LCA) from a conventional ‘products or services’ emphasis to a company’s manufacturing processes. The method has been developed by combining knowledge gained from earlier LCA studies with new empirical findings from an LCA study of an SKF manufacturing line.We demonstrate how system boundaries and functional units in an LCA can be defined when adding the perspective of a manufacturing decision maker to the product life-cycle perspective. Such analysis helps manufacturing decision makers identify improvement potentials in their spheres of influence, by focusing on the environmental consequences of energy and material losses in manufacturing rather than merely accounting for the contributions of individual stages of the life cycle to the overall environmental impact. The method identifies and directly relates the environmental consequences of emissions or raw material inputs in the product life cycle to manufacturing processes. In doing so, the holistic systems perspective in LCA is somewhat diminished in favor of the relevance of results to manufacturing decision makers.     

生态产品生命周期设计概念框架

生态产品是从原材料采掘到产品制造、运销、使用和最终报废处理整个生命周期总环境影响最小的产品，而生命周期设计是实现产品环境影响最小化和污染预防的最好方式之一。生态产品的开发，应从设计开始，生态产品生命周期设计的概念是一种基于产品系统的设计方法；其设计步骤有确定系统边界、环境现状评价、设计要求分析、各要求优先排序与协调，设计对策、设计方案评价等几个方面，随着ＩＳＯ１４０００体系的全面建立，产品生命周期     

全工业固废原料制备水泥工艺的生命周期评价研究

运用生命周期评价(LCA)方法,对以电石渣等工业固废为全部原料的水泥制造工艺产生的环境影响进行评价.通过对生产工艺进行分解及建模,基于实际数据建立生命周期清单,利用ReCiPe2016方法,在全球变暖、化石资源消耗、土地占用等17个小类及人体健康影响、生态系统影响及资源消耗3个大类中对工艺产生的环境影响进行评价.评价过程包括特征化、标准化和敏感性分析.结果表明,在以1 t成品水泥为功能单位的生产过程中,造成的环境影响总值为-0.0045 pt,其中,在人体健康影响和生态系统影响分类下最为显著,分别为-0.0027 pt和-0.0020 pt.与传统水泥生产相比,本工艺具有更低的资源能源消耗与碳排放量.固废作为原料来源带来的正面环境效益最为显著,而熟料煅烧与水泥粉磨则显示出最大的环境损害,也说明由于消纳了大量工业固废,本工艺对环境总体上是有益的.     

An environmental assessment method for cleaner production technologies

An environmental assessment method for cleaner production technologies enabling quantitative analysis of environmental impact is presented.The proposed method is based on material and energy flows and uses a set of profile indices, including raw material, energy, waste, product and packaging profiles that describe all material and energy flows related to the technology under investigation. The indices are used as a basis for determining an integrated index for overall environmental assessment of cleaner production technologies.The presented method can be employed to evaluate environmental nuisance of implemented, modernised and modified technological processes and products as well to perform comparative analyses of alternative technologies.     

基于生命周期视角的种养一体化奶牛场环境经济效益评估

准确评估种养一体化奶牛场的经济性能与环境绩效,是相关支持政策制定的基础,也是促进奶业低碳生产的关键.本文基于生命周期视角,对非种养一体化奶牛场（non-IPBS）和种养一体化奶牛场（IPBS）养殖过程中的温室气体排放、能源消耗、水消耗、土地占用等环境成本和经济效益进行评估.结果表明,non-IPBS生产1t标准牛奶（FPCM）的净收益为1427元,而IPBS的实际净收益提高7%,如果青贮玉米自给率从当前的32%提升到100%,则实际净收益将提高19%,同时,该净收益的提高率取决于耕地流转费用,临界点为14695元/hm²;相比non-IPBS,IPBS生产1tFPCM的温室气体排放、能源消耗、水消耗、土地占用分别减少6%、6%、5%、7%,如果青贮玉米自给率提升到100%,则相应减少16%、16%、11%、14%.IPBS在降低青贮玉米种植的化肥施用、解决养殖场粪便污染等方面优势明显,在提升养殖经济效益、降低温室气体排放等方面具有巨大潜力,值得推广.     

塑料牛奶包装及处置方式生命周期环境影响研究

采用生命周期评价(LCA)法研究了塑料牛奶包装的全生命周期环境影响,并在处置阶段对不同处置方式的环境影响进行比较.通过现场和资料调研的方式,获得所有生命周期阶段能量物质的输入/输出和环境外排数据.结果表明:塑料牛奶包装生命周期阶段中环境影响比重最大的是原料获取阶段,占90%以上.其全生命周期环境影响主要集中在化石燃料、无机物对人体损害和气候变化3个方面,在致癌、酸化富营养化和生态毒性方面影响稍小.3种处置方式对环境影响由大到小依次为填埋>焚烧>再生,其中填埋和焚烧处置分别比塑料包装处置阶段前的环境影响增加16.1%和5.3%,再生可降低75.9%.     

Eco-efficiency gains from remanufacturing: A case study of photocopier remanufacturing at Fuji Xerox Australia

Achieving eco-efficient production and consumption systems requires ‘closing the loop’ to create cyclic systems. Product systems based on remanufacturing, where used products or components are restored to ‘as new’ condition for reuse, offer the potential to create such cyclic systems. For some existing manufacturers, the economic efficiency of remanufacturing is clear and it has become a widely held assumption that such systems would also be more eco-efficient. However, this assumption has not been systematically tested. This research attempted to quantify the life cycle environmental benefits achieved by incorporating remanufacturing into a product system, based on a study of Xerox photocopiers in Australia. The study found that remanufacturing can reduce resource consumption and waste generation over the life cycle of a photocopier by up to a factor of 3, with greatest reductions if a product is designed for disassembly and remanufacturing. This research represents a first-level assessment, limited by certain estimates and assumptions. It is intended that this research will form the basis of a larger, more detailed study of Xerox remanufacturing, worldwide.     

Life cycle assessment of spray dried soluble coffee and comparison with alternatives (drip filter and capsule espresso)

This paper aims to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with spray dried soluble coffee over its entire life cycle and compare it with drip filter coffee and capsule espresso coffee. It particularly aims to identify critical environmental issues and responsibilities along the whole life cycle chain of spray dried coffee. This life cycle assessment (LCA) specifically uses foreground data obtained directly from coffee manufacturers and suppliers. Aside from energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, water footprint is also studied in detail, including regionalization of water impacts based on the ecological scarcity method 2006. Other impact categories are screened using the IMPACT 2002+ impact assessment method.The overall LCA results for a 1 dl cup of spray dried soluble coffee amounts approximately to 1 MJ of primary non-renewable energy consumption, to emissions of 0.07 kg of CO_2-eq, and between 3 and 10 l of non-turbined water use, depending on whether or not the coffee cultivation is irrigated and wet treated. When considering turbined water, use can be up to 400 l of water per cup. Pouch – and to a lesser extent metal can packaging alternatives – show lower environmental burdens than glass or sticks.On average, about one half of the environmental footprint occurs at a life cycle stage under the control of the coffee producer or its suppliers (i.e., during cultivation, treatment, processing, packaging up to distribution, along with advertising) and the other half at a stage controlled by the user (shopping, appliances manufacturing, use and waste disposal). Key environmental parameters of spray dried soluble coffee are the amount of extra water boiled and the efficiency of cup cleaning during use phase, whether the coffee is irrigated or not, as well as the type and amount of fertilizer used in the coffee field. The packaging contributes to 10% of the overall life cycle impacts.Compared to other coffee alternatives, spray dried soluble coffee uses less energy and has a lower environmental footprint than capsule espresso coffee or drip filter coffee, the latter having the highest environmental impacts on a per cup basis. This study shows that a broad LCA approach is needed to help industry to minimize the environmental burdens directly related to their products. Including all processes of the entire system is necessary i) to get a comprehensive environmental footprint of the product system with respect to sustainable production and consumption, ii) to share stakeholders responsibility along the entire product life cycle, and iii) to avoid problem shifting between different life cycle stages.     

基于LCA的北京市透水水泥混凝土路面的环境影响分析

透水铺装因其雨水入渗和净化等功能成为未来城市道路铺装的重点发展方向,其生命周期资源环境影响的影响机制与因素需开展系统全面分析。基于北京市的降雨特征和路面工程实际,采用生命周期评价(life cycle assessment, LCA)方法,综合分析透水水泥混凝土路面全生命周期产生的环境影响,并结合雨水管理模型(storm water management model, SWMM)模拟透水铺装在使用阶段的环境效益,对比了不同维护方式给透水水泥混凝土路面环境影响带来的变化。结果表明:透水水泥混凝土路面在生产阶段的水泥投入,是造成其生命周期环境影响的主要因素,但其在使用阶段因透水和净水作用产生的环境效益可以抵消部分其他阶段产生的环境影响。从环境角度而言,日常清扫+高压冲洗是透水水泥混凝土路面最佳的维护方式。但是由于使用年限可影响不同维护方式的环境表现,建议综合考虑使用年限选择适合的维护方式,以降低透水水泥混凝土路面的资源环境影响。因此,LCA与SWMM的耦合应用可以更准确地量化透水铺装全生命周期环境效益及其关键影响因素。该方法有望应用于其他低影响开发(low impact development, LID)设施甚至整个海绵城市资源环境影响的系统评价。     

The energy consumption and environmental impacts of a color TV set in China

The present study analyses the different processes followed during color TV set production along with the energy consumption and the environment emissions in each stage. The purpose is to identify “hot-spots”, i.e. parts of the life cycle important to the total environmental impact. The analysis is performed using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, which is a method used to identify and quantify in the environmental performance of a process or a product from “cradle to grave”. LCA methodology provides a quantitative basis for assessing potential improvements in the environmental performance of a system throughout the life cycle. The system investigated includes the production of manufacturing materials, transport of manufacturing materials, color TV set manufacturing, transport of color TV sets, use of color TV sets, discarding color TV sets and partial plastic waste energy utilization. The environmental burdens that arise from color TV sets are mainly due to air emissions derived from fossil fuel utilization.     

An assessment of the recycling potential of materials basedon environmental and economic factors; case study in South Korea

As the generation of waste home appliances increases continuously with economic growth, the importance of recycling becomes more apparent. Many home appliances we use today are recyclable, and recyclable materials from the waste home appliances can be used to create new or refurbishing products. To do that, first of all, we have to know and consider the recyclable materials' recycling potential with environmental and economic information. In this study, an evaluation method to assess recycling potential considering both the environmental and economic factors was suggested for the materials recovered from waste home appliances. Life cycle assessment (LCA) method was applied to obtain the environmental score (S_Env) and an actual value and a static economic model was used to obtain the economic score (S_Eco). The recycling potential for recyclable materials was calculated by using the S_Env and S_Eco along with weighting factors derived from an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. With the calculated data and evaluation method for the recycling materials, this study could provide useful information for decision makers and product designers in the design for environment (DfE).     

炭黑工业尾气净化及余热利用

研究表明，炭黑工业生产过程尾气中的可燃气态污染物ＣＯ、Ｈ２、及ＣＨ４等，采用直接燃烧法，是目前我国炭黑尾气净化和回收利用的最佳控制方法。直接燃烧法，不仅可将尾气中可燃气态污染物转变为ＣＯ２和Ｈ２Ｏ，且可回收利用其热量，余热利用率可提高４０％以上。经济技术评价表明，采用直接燃烧法和炭黑尾气发电，其经济效益和环境效益十分可观。     

从LCA视角评估钢铁产品改进的环境效益

钢铁产品性能的提高往往会增加其制造环节的环境负荷,但是在很多领域的使用过程中,高性能钢材相对于普通钢材,更有利于环境。因此评估钢铁产品改进的环境效益需要一个系统化的科学方法———生命周期评价(LCA)。从钢铁产品全生命周期视角,讨论了钢铁产品性能提升与环境影响的关系,阐述了如何利用LCA方法评估钢铁产品全生命周期环境绩效,并列举了宝钢利用LCA方法评估钢铁产品性能改进环境效益的两个案例:某变压器采用性能更高的B30P110取向硅钢片取代原B30G130取向硅钢片,其生命周期碳减排15.1%;宝钢钢制二片罐用镀锡钢板从0.28mm经过6次减薄到0.225mm,使钢罐生命周期碳排放降低14.5%。     

An inventory analysis of oil shale energy produced on a small thermal power plant

Energy produced in Estonia from oil shale is studied using the inventory analysis of the product life cycle assessment (LCA) method. The life cycle is taken as an oil shale mine and thermal power plant with consumer supply systems, which are close to each other and are technologically interconnected.The effectiveness of energy production over the whole life cycle is calculated and the energy and the material balances are presented. Local environmental effects of the oil shale extraction and the energy production are briefly described.The first step in defining the oil shale energy as an important input parameter for the LCA studies of all other products of Estonia is made. The collected data can serve as a basis for the environmental improvement programs.     

The relationship between environmental analyses and the dialogue process in product development

Eco-design tools ought to be made more useful, so that they become effectively used in companies to support improvements of product systems. This article discusses the interconnections between environmental analysis and integrative cooperation in the product development processes. The study focuses on two different assessment tools, life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental effect analysis (EEA), in three different combined uses. The discussion of the Eco-design methods focuses on integration in product development processes considering the relation to a product competitiveness perspective. The interviews indicate that the interconnection of methods is important as a key to real transformation of design practices.     

生命周期矩阵在评价环境标志产品中的应用

环境标志说明产品在其整个生命周期中的环境表现满足一定的要求。生命周期评价技术被许多国家作为认证环境标志产品的工具。文章介绍了生命周期评价的定义和框架，以及简式生命周期矩阵在评价环境标志产品中的应用。在分析简式生命周期矩阵不足的基础上，提出了用于评价环境标志产品的改进生命周期矩阵。最后，探讨了生命周期矩阵在其它领域的应用。