Product ecology

M240007

Synopsis

The main goal of this subject Product Ecology is to explain Life Cycle Assessment method and other methods of environmental impact assessment of various product types. Broad variety of practical examples of use of LCA is demonstrated. All environmental impact categories used in LCA are explained in detail .

Taught by

Syllabus

1. Product ecology. Relationship between human activities and environment. Life cycle thinking. Problem of environmental impact assessment of processes and human activities.
2.Environmental impact categories - local, regional, global. Overview of impact categories: Resource consumption. Waste production. Origin and causation. Assessment and Evaluation methods. Future trends.
3.Overview of impact categories: Eutrophication. Acidification. Origin and causation. Assessment and Evaluation methods. Future trends.
4.Overview of impact categories: Global warming. Stratospheric ozone depletion. Photochemical ozone formation. Origin and causation. Assessment and Evaluation methods. Future trends.
5.Overview of impact categories: Ecotoxicology. Origin and causation. Assessment and Evaluation methods. Future trends.
6.Overview of impact categories: Human health. Human toxicity. Origin and causation. Assessment and Evaluation methods. Future trends.
7.Life Cycle Assessment concept. Goal and scope definition. Standards. Functional unit. Reference flow. System boundary.
8.Inventory analysis. Process. Unit process. Reference flow.
9.Elementary flow. Energy. Allocation. Data quality.
10.Impact assessment. Classification. Characterization. Normalization. Valuation
11.Calculation of impact potentials. Impact category indicator.
12.LC Interpretation. Improvement assessment. Presentation. Critical review. Sensitivity analysis. PC software.
13.Other system tools of environmental protection: cleaning production, IPPC, environmental management EMS, Ecodesign. Ecoaudit. Ecolabeling. ERA. The role of ERA in environmental management. Relationship between EIA, ERA and LCA.
14.Examples of negative impacts of fable waste management. Case studies. Ethical and social aspects of environmental protection. Ecological education. Environmental ethics.

(Preceding information dates from 2024)

Literature

Obligatory:


  • R: J. Guinée (Ed.):. Handbook onLife Cycle Assessment. New York INC.: Springer-Verlag, 2002, s. ISBN .

  • Baumann, H. and A.M. Tillman,. The Hitch Hiker´s Guide to LCA. Lund: Studentlitteratur., 2004, s. ISBN .

(Preceding information dates from 2024)

Learning supports

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment: http://www.springer.com/environment/journal/11367

(Preceding information dates from 2024)

Schedule