Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T23:53:36.916Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A DYNAMIC APPROACH FOR LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT. THE CASE OF DOMESTIC REFRIGERATORS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2023

Federica Cappelletti ,
Marta Rossi  and
Michele Germani
Federica Cappelletti*
Affiliation:
Università Politecnica delle Marche
Marta Rossi
Affiliation:
Università Politecnica delle Marche
Michele Germani
Affiliation:
Università Politecnica delle Marche
*
Cappelletti, Federica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy, [email protected]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Life Cycle Assessment is a well-stated methodology whose application has recently spread over a multitude of sectors. Thus the need for very accurate and reliable analysis. The present work investigates how to achieve reliable and faithful results while still maintaining a micro-systemic approach and how to handle the evolution of the real cases through commercial solutions available. The works present an innovative dynamic approach that aims at filling the discrepancy between the attributional Life Cycle Assessment which is focused on the product at the point to appear short-sighted and isolated from the surrounding evolving system and the consequential, which is willing to include the consequences of the evolution of the surrounding system, with increased complexity. The approach is applied to the case of a domestic refrigerator; the application reveals a discrepancy of 16% between the results of the dynamic and attributional analysis and registered doubled environmental impacts than the consequential, carried out with the support of commercial datasets. The approach respects the 5 main criteria for methods in environmental systems analysis, namely feasibility, accuracy, easiness in communication, inspiration, robustness.

Keywords

Research methodologies and methodsSustainabilityProduct modelling / modelsEcodesign
Type
Article
Information
Proceedings of the Design Society , Volume 3: ICED23 , July 2023 , pp. 131 - 140
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

References

Almeida, D.T.L., Charbuillet, C., Heslouin, C., Lebert, A., Perry, N. (2020), “Economic models used in consequential life cycle assessment: a literature review”, Procedia CIRP, Vol. 90, pp. 187–191, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2020.01.057.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broman, G.I., Robèrt, K.-H. (2017), “A Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 140, pp. 17–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CAN Europe/EEB technical summary of key elements, Building a Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) energy scenario, 2020. https://www.pac-scenarios.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/PAC_scenario_technical_summary_29jun20.pdfGoogle Scholar
Cappelletti, F., Manes, F., Rossi, M., Germani, M. (2022), “Evaluating the environmental sustainability of durable products through life cycle assessment. The case of domestic refrigerators”, Sustainable Production and Consumption, Vol. 34, pp. 177–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.09.008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capros, P., De Vita, A., Tasios, N., Siskos, P., Kannavaou, M., Petropoulos, A., Evangelopoulou, A., Zampara, M., Papadopoulos, D., Ch, Nakos (2016), “EU Energy, Transport And Ghg Emissions - Trends to 2050, European Commission Directorate-General for Energy, Directorate-General for Climate Action and Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport”Google Scholar
Cor, E., Zwolinski, P. (2014), “A Procedure to Define the Best Design Intervention Strategy on a Product for a Sustainable Behavior of the User”, Procedia CIRP, Vol. 15, pp. 425–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2014.06.075.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dreborg, K.H. (1996), “Essence of backcasting”, Futures, Vol. 28 No. 9, pp. 813–828.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borozan, D. (2022), “Detecting a structure in the European energy transition policy instrument mix: What mix successfully drives the energy transition?”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviewsev, Vol. 165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112621.Google Scholar
Ekvall, T. (2019), “Attributional and Consequential Life Cycle Assessment”, in Bastante-Ceca, M. J. et al. (eds.), Sustainability Assessment at the 21st century, IntechOpen, London. 10.5772/intechopen.89202.Google Scholar
Finnveden, G., Potting, J. (2014), “Life Cycle Assessment”, in Wexler, P., “Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Third Edition)”, Academic Press, pp. 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00627-8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fregonara, E., Giordano, R., Ferrando, D.G., Pattono, S. (2017), “Economic-Environmental Indicators to Support Investment Decisions: A Focus on the Buildings’ End-of-Life Stage”, Buildings Vol. 7, no. 3: 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7030065CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guinée, J.B., Cucurachi, S., Henriksson, P.J., Heijungs, R. (2018), “Digesting the alphabet soup of LCA”, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 23, pp. 1507–1511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-1478-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hackenhaar, I.C., Almenar, J.B., Elliot, T., Rugani, B. (2022), “A spatiotemporally differentiated product system modelling framework for consequential life cycle assessment”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.130127.Google Scholar
Herbert, A.S., Azzaro-Pantel, C., Le Boulch, D. (2016), “A typology for world electricity mix: Application for inventories in Consequential LCA (CLCA)”, Sustainable Production and Consumption, Vol. 8, pp. 93–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2016.09.002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hischier, R., Reale, F., Castellani, V., Sala, S. (2020), “Environmental impacts of household appliances in Europe and scenarios for their impact reduction”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121952.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hossieny, N., Shrestha, S.S., Owusu, O.A., Natal, M., Benson, R., Desjarlais, A. (2019), “Improving the energy efficiency of a refrigerator-freezer through the use of a novel cabinet/door liner based on polylactide biopolymer”, Applied Energy, Vol. 235, pp. 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.10.093.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huysman, S., Debaveye, S., Schaubroeck, T., De Meester, S., Ardente, F., Mathieux, F., Dewulf, J. (2015), “The recyclability benefit rate of closed-loop and open-loop systems: A case study on plastic recycling in Flanders”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 101, pp. 53–60, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.05.014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, R.W. (2000), “The effect of blowing agent on refrigerator/-freezer”, TEWI. Polyurethanes Conference, Boston, MA.Google Scholar
Kim, H.C., Keoleian, G.A., Horie, Y.A. (2006), “Optimal household refrigerator replacement policy for life cycle energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost”, Energy Policy, Vol. 34, pp. 2310–2323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2005.04.004.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, A., Baumhögger, E., Elsner, A., Reineke, M., Hueppe, C., Stamminger, R., Hoelscher, H., Wagner, H., Gries, U., Becker, W., Vrabec, J. (2022), “Impact of aging on the energy efficiency of household refrigerating appliances”, Applied Thermal Engineer, Vol. 205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117992Google Scholar
Reale, F., Cinelli, M., Sala, S. (2017), “Towards a research agenda for the use of LCA in the impact assessment of policies”, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 22, pp. 1477–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1320-0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rossi, M., Cappelletti, F., Germani, M. (2023), “A Step Forward Life Cycle Assessment to Optimize Products and Increase Company Eco-design Competencies”. In: Gerbino, S., Lanzotti, A., Martorelli, M., Mirálbes Buil, R., Rizzi, C., Roucoules, L. (eds) Advances on Mechanics, Design Engineering and Manufacturing IV. JCM 2022. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Cham, 62-74. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15928-2_6Google Scholar
Sala, S., Amadei, A.M., Beylot, A., Ardente, F. (2021), “The evolution of life cycle assessment in European policies over three decades”, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Vol. 26, pp. 2295–2314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-021-01893-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Säynäjoki, A., Heinonen, J., Junnila, S., Horvath, A. (2017), “Can lifecycle assessment produce reliable policy guidelines in the building sector?”, Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 12 (1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa54eeCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaubroeck, T., Schaubroeck, S., Heijungs, R., Zamagni, A., Brandão, M., Benetto, E. (2021), “Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: Definitions, Conceptual Characteristics and Modelling Restrictions”, Sustainability, Vol. 13 (13). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137386CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scrucca, F., Baldassarri, C., Baldinelli, G., Bonamente, E., Rinaldi, S., Rotili, A., Barbanera, M. (2020), “Uncertainty in LCA: An estimation of practitioner-related effects”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 268, 122–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sonnemann, G., Gemechu, E.D, Sala, A., Schau, E.M., Allacker, K., Pant, R., Adibi, N., Valdivia, S. (2018), “Life Cycle Thinking and the Use of LCA in Policies Around the World” in: Hauschild, M., Rosenbaum, R., Olsen, S. (eds) Life Cycle Assessment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3_18CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Srinivas, K., Amaresh, C. (2007), ”Evaluation of Environmental Impacts During Design” in DS 42: Proceedings of ICED 2007, the 16th International Conference on Engineering Design, pp. 217–218Google Scholar
Subramanian, V., Peijnenburg, W.J.G.M., Vijver, M.G., Blanco, C.F., Cucurachi, S., Guinée, J.B. (2023), “Approaches to implement safe by design in early product design through combining risk assessment and Life Cycle Assessment”, Chemosphere, Vol. 311, Part 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137080.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tchertchian, N., Haining, L., Millet, D. (2009), ”Influence of the Multiple Life Cycles on the Environmental Impact of a Product” in DS 58-7: Proceedings of ICED 09, the 17th International Conference on Engineering Design, Vol. 7, Palo Alto, CA, USA, pp. 185–196Google Scholar
UNEP (2011), “Global guidance principles for life cycle assessment Databases - A Basis for Greener Processes and Products”, Shonan.Google Scholar
Verma, S., Singh, H. (2020), “Vacuum insulation panels for refrigerators”, International Journal of Refrigeration, Vol. 112, pp. 215–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2019.12.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xiao, R., Zhang, Y., Yuan, Z. (2016), “Environmental impacts of reclamation and recycling processes of refrigerators using life cycle assessment (LCA) methods”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 131, pp. 52–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.085.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weber, C., Husung, S., Cascini, G., Cantamessa, M., Marjanovic, D., Bordegoni, B., (2015), “Aiding designers to make practitioner-like interpretations of life cycle assessment results” in DS 80-9 Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 15), Vol. 9, pp. 79–188Google Scholar