Life Cycle Assessment LCA and product development

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Life Cycle Assessment- LCA and product
development
Research Fellow Mikkel ThraneMaster in
Environmental ManagementAalborg University
www.i4.auc.dk/thrane
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Phases of an LCA
(ISO 14041, 1997)
Iterative process
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Goal and scope (obligatory)
(ISO 14041, 1997)

• Goal, purpose and target group
• Functional unit
• Alternatives
• Time, technological and geographical coverage
• System describtion and boundaries
• Cut-off criteria
• Impact categories
• Allocation procedures
• Weighting methods
• Strategy for data collection and critical review

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Inventory analysis (obligatory)
(ISO 14041, 1997)

• Collection of data
• Relate data to the functional unit
• Make continuous validation of data
• Use allocation where it becomes necessary
• Refine system boundaries

Work intensive
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Impact assessment
(ISO 14041, 1997)

• Classification (e.g. green house effect) -
  obligatory
• Characterisation (e.g. Co2 eq) - obligatory
• Normalisation (PE) - optional
• Weighting (e.g. wPE value choices) - optional
• Sensitivity analysis - optional

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Interpretation
(ISO 14041, 1997)

• Analyse results Identification of significant
  issues
• Evaluation Completeness, sensitivity and
  consistency checks (quality tjek)
• Reach conclusion and explain limitations.
• Provide recommendations (no demand)

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Strengths..

• Covers the whole life cycle
• Calculates potential environmental impacts
• Compare different I/O on the same scale (PE)
• Better basis for prioritisation between
  environmental impacts at the sight but also
  between stages in the product life cycle
• Basis for POEMS
• Basis for DfE
• Basis for CP (e.g. eco-labelling - type III)

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Weaknesses..

• Here and now assessment
• Time consuming
• Data are difficult to find
• Studies are often difficult to interpret
• Studies are often not transparent
• Does not pay back here and now

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• What is EcoDesign
• Video about implementation of EcoDesign
• Assessment and improvement tools
• Implementation
• Exercises - Phillips education tool

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EcoDesign

• Life Cycle Design (LCD)
• Design For the Environment (DfE)

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What is EcoDesign ?
(Phillips, 1998)

• A systematic approach for environmentally
  conscious product design that takes into account
  the limited time available in day to day
  decisions in a company

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EcoDesign versus LCA
(Ursula tixchner et al., 2000)
EcoDesign
LCA

• Not time consuming
• Qualitative approaches
• Considerations about organisation and market
• aspects

Quite time consuming Quantitative
approach Focus on technical aspects
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The Prevention ladder
(UNEP, 1996)
10. Development of new product concepts
EcoDesign
9. Development or redesign of products
8. Selection of material alternatives
7. Selection of production process alternatives
Cleaner production
6. Optimisation of existing production
Environmental management sys. POEMS
5. Internal reuse of production waste
4. External reuse of production waste
3. End-of-pipe emission measures
2. Controlled waste disposal
End-of-pipe
1. Treatment of waste
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Four types of ecodesign
(Han Brezet, Delft University, NL 1997)
Factor 20
type 4 system innovation
type 3 concept innovation
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type 2 redesign innovation
type 1 product improvement
Eco-efficiency improvement
5
2
Time (years)
From paper to e-mail or call a car
Information technology
Examples
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Company drivers for EcoDesign
(UNEP, 1996)

• Responsibility
• Product quality
• Image
• Costs reduction
• Innovative power
• Personal motivation

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External drivers (push/pull)
(UNEP, 1996)

• Regulation (IPP, WEEE, EEE etc.)
• Customers and end-users
• Benchmarking
• Branch organisations
• Society (NGOs etc.)

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Product Development (PCP)
(Behrendt et al., 1997)
Information about the product
Design alternatives
Possibility to influence the design
Product strategy
Conceptual Design
Detailed Design
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Product Development (no turning back)
(Behrendt et al., 1997)
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• What is EcoDesign
• Video about implementation of EcoDesign
• Assessment and improvement tools
• Implementation
• Exercises - Phillips education tool

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• What is EcoDesign
• Video about implementation of EcoDesign
• Assessment and improvement tools
• Implementation
• Exercises - Phillips education tool

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A question of balance
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The tool box
(Tischner, et.al How to do EcoDesign? Verlag
Praxis 2000)
Assessment
Improvement
Other criteria
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Adaptation of tools
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
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Just get startet...
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
OR
Either
Assess
Improve
Improve
Assess
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Fast five method Philips
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
Assess Improve

• Qualitative approach, questions with yes/no
  entries
• 1. Energy
• 2. Recyclability
• 3. Hazardous content
• 4. Durability and reparability
• 5. Alternative ways to provide service
• Suited for brainstorming - new product concepts
• (rember reference product)

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Assessment matrix from ATT
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
Assess Improve
Plot on wheel (0-4 points)
MECO matrix
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Eco Estimator Philips
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
Assess Improve

• Quantitative questionnaire on two-page form -
  developed by Philips - page 32 (copies)
• Four categories Product life, Energy and
  materials, Recyclability, Hazardous waste
• Values in questionnaire are added and multiplied
  by weighting factors - based on Eco indicator
  (SimaPro)
• The total score value of the reference product
  can be compared to the total score of the new

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ABC scheme LCD manual
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
Assess Improve

• Referring to environmental principles
  (improvement)
• Detailed, schemes based on experiences from
  companies throughout Europe, 3 entries.

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Eco indicator Philips
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
Assess Improve

• Quantitative PC-tool
• Based on EcoScan database
• Demoversion from www. pre.nl

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Rules of thumb 6xR
(Inspired by Novotex - Green Cotton)
Assess Improve

• Re-think Re think the product and its functions
• Re-duce Reduce the energy consumption and
  ressource consumption in the whole life cycle
• Re-place Replace harzadous substances with more
  environmentally sound alternatives
• Re-cycle Use those materials which can be reused
  or recycled
• Re-use Design in such a way that the product or
  parts of it can be reused
• Re-pair Design a product that is easy to repair

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Env. principles LCD
(Inspired by Behrendt et al., 1997 Phillips,
1998)
Assess Improve

• P 1) Achieving environmental efficiency / optimal
  function
• P 2) Saving resources
• P 3) Use of renewable and sufficiently available
  resources
• P 4) Increasing product durability
• P 5) Design for product reuse
• P 6) Design for material recycling
• P 7) Design for disassembly
• P 8) Minimising harmful substances
• P 9) Environmental friendly production
• P 10) Minimising environmental impact of product
  in use
• P 11) Using environmentally friendly packaging
• P 12) Environmentally friendly disposal of non
  recyclable materials
• P 13) Implementing environmentally friendly
  logistics

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Eco wheel UN-manual
(UNEP, 1996)
Assess Improve
_at_ New concept Dematerialization Integration of
functions, Functional optimisation
7. Opt. of end-of-life system
Reuse of product,
remanufacturing, recycling of materials, safer
incineration 6. Opt. of initial lifetime
Reliability and durability,
easier maintenance and repair, modular structure,
classic design, strong user relation
1. Low impact materials Cleaner, renewable, low
energy, recycled or recyclable materials 2.
Reduction of material usage Reduction in weight,
volume and number of materials
_at_
1
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New
2
6
Old
3. Cleaner technology Alternative techniques,
fewer steps, lower/cleaner energy consumption,
less waste etc.
5. Reduced impact from use Lower energy
consumption, cleaner energy source, fewer/cleaner
consumables, no waste of energy/consumables
5
3
4
4. Optimisation of distribution system
Less/cleaner/reusable packaging, energy efficient
transport and logistics
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Can you make it greener ?- Use the improvement
tools
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Trade-offs
(UNEP, 1996)

• The selection of one environmental issue can
  create or add to another environmental problem -
  or contradict with other product system
  requirements

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Trade-offs
(UNEP, 1996)

• Reduction of weight may contradict reliability
• Optimisation of lifetime may contradict more
  sales
• Lower energy consumption may contradict ease of
  use etc.
• Choices should be based on environmental
  benefits, technical and economical feasibility
  and market opportunities

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• Video about implementation of EcoDesign
• What is EcoDesign
• Assessment and improvement tools
• Implementation
• Exercises - Phillips education tool

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Plan, do, check, adapt
(Phillips, 1998)
Market analysis, SWOT, business objectives,
environmental politic and overall product
strategies
PLAN
Adapt
Education, product strategy and type, reference
product
Evaluation, adjustment
Review
EMS
Policy
Checking
Environmental requirements
Check and documentation
Planning
Implementation
Conceptual design and Detailed design
DO
Tjek
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A continuos process
Environmental Performance
LCA
DfE
EMS / POEMS OR LCM
Time
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Development in PCP process
Few product demands
Many product demands
Normative approach
Analytic and action oriented approach
Rational and sequential PCP
Interactive process
Expert oriented
Actor oriented
Increased product responsibility
From push to pull
Shift in quality conception
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From push to pull system
IPP
Media
WTO
Political consumers
Shift in quality conception
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Integrated product development
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Internal cooperation in LCD
Product Manager
Environment safety
Marketing
Designer Constructor
Design team
Product chain
External stakeholders
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Internal cooperation (focus)

• Production
• Product development
• Marketing/sale
• Environmental specialist
• Purchasing
• Logistics
• R D
• Strategic management etc.

Integrated Product development
DfE
LCM/ POEMS
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External cooperation

• Business Network (exchange of goods)
• Suppliers, customers, end users,
  stakeholders...
• Knowledge Network (exchange of knowledge)
• Universities, consultants, standard
  organisations...
• Regulation Network (exchange of rules / norms)
• Environmental authorities - local and
  central...

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Strengths and weaknesses

• Easy to use
• Time saving
• Easy to integrate in day to day PCP
• Motivating - broad appeal
• Low precision
• Improvements in one area may cause problems in
  another - trade offs
• Not suitable for external use / documentation

46

• What is EcoDesign
• Video about implementation of EcoDesign
• Assessment and improvement tools
• Implementation
• Exercises - Phillips education tool