Applications of Life Cycle Assessment Techniques to Sustainable Products and Circular Business Models
Project Description
Life cycle Assessment is a popular Environmental Impact assessment method that gains attraction for companies to prove environmental superiority of products and attract investment, guide policy making and shed more light on what innovations are truly more sustainable.
This UROP project involves students in ongoing Life Cycle Assessment Projects. The focus is on life cycles of textile, food and packaging materials and their impacts when marketed and used in different ways, particularly circular pathways. Other systems or materials may be considered based on opportunities and student interest.
Only students with a longer term interest in the project (at least 2 semesters) are considered.
This UROP project involves students in ongoing Life Cycle Assessment Projects. The focus is on life cycles of textile, food and packaging materials and their impacts when marketed and used in different ways, particularly circular pathways. Other systems or materials may be considered based on opportunities and student interest.
Only students with a longer term interest in the project (at least 2 semesters) are considered.
Supervisor
SAUERWEIN, Meike
Quota
2
Course type
UROP1100
UROP2100
UROP3100
UROP3200
UROP4100
Applicant's Roles
The project allows students to directly work with faculty and gain hands on research experience. Students should have a strong interest in LCA (preferably taken classes that teaches the assessment methodology/ software use).
Based on knowledge and skills level of the student the research tasks will involve one or several of the following:
1. Literature review to assess methodological choices in earlier publications
2. Data collection through
- search & assessment of publicly available statistics
- drafting data collection templates and conduct consultations with external data providers
- measurements on site or data collection through surveys
3. Compilation of Life Cycle Inventories
4. Life Cycle impact assessment using different types of software (mainly GaBi and openLCA)
5. Results analysis and interpretation incl Data Visualization, Sensitivity and Uncertainty analysis
Based on knowledge and skills level of the student the research tasks will involve one or several of the following:
1. Literature review to assess methodological choices in earlier publications
2. Data collection through
- search & assessment of publicly available statistics
- drafting data collection templates and conduct consultations with external data providers
- measurements on site or data collection through surveys
3. Compilation of Life Cycle Inventories
4. Life Cycle impact assessment using different types of software (mainly GaBi and openLCA)
5. Results analysis and interpretation incl Data Visualization, Sensitivity and Uncertainty analysis
Applicant's Learning Objectives
The student is expected to have develop or improve the following skill sets:
1. understand the process of setting up a research study from planning to implementation
2. effectively conduct literature reviews and manage references
3. design surveys and other data collection methods and organize results
4. manage large data sets, visualize key trends and utilize findings for (research) publications
5. handling LCA specific software
4. utilize environmental assessment techniques for product sustainability assessment
It will further provide students with knowledge related to product sustainability, circular economy and enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills.
1. understand the process of setting up a research study from planning to implementation
2. effectively conduct literature reviews and manage references
3. design surveys and other data collection methods and organize results
4. manage large data sets, visualize key trends and utilize findings for (research) publications
5. handling LCA specific software
4. utilize environmental assessment techniques for product sustainability assessment
It will further provide students with knowledge related to product sustainability, circular economy and enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills.
Complexity of the project
Challenging