ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 51 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 9 Interactive Classroom: 12 Total: 75
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary subject Master’s Degree RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Center Higher Technical Engineering School
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: Sin Docencia (En Extinción)
Enrolment: No Matriculable (Sólo Planes en Extinción)
0.- Description of the subject
The subject of LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT of PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES is part of Module 4 on RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. The subject addresses the environmental analysis from the point of view of the life cycle of products and processes, deepening both in terms of research and in the transfer of knowledge to industry through the application of ecodesign and ecolabelling.
Professors:
Gumersindo Feijoo Costa
Dept. Chemical Engineering
e-mail: gumersindo.feijoo [at] usc.gal (gumersindo[dot]feijoo[at]usc[dot]gal)
María Teresa Moreira Vilar
Dept. Chemical Engineering
correo-e: maite.moreira [at] usc.gal (maite[dot]moreira[at]usc[dot]gal)
1.- Objectives of the subject
The primary objective is to gain a general understanding of the main concepts of sustainable design of processes and products through the application of different methodologies for environmental, economic and social assessment.
The contents presented are those referred to in the descriptor: "Integrated life cycle management (LCM) associated with the axes of sustainability: environmental profile with the life cycle analysis (LCA), the economic profile associated with the life cycle (LCC), social profile with the analysis of social life cycle (SLCA). Eco eco-innovation as a driver in business: strategic environmental assessment, ecobriefing and prototypes. Application to real cases in the productive sectors. Eco-labels and environmental improvement tools focused on marketing: European Ecolabel and carbon footprint. "
The syllabus of the subject is divided in two main sections with five basic units, detailed next:
Section I. Life Cycle Management
Unit 1. Life Cycle Philosophy. Origen. Life Cycle Initiative of UNEP. Fundamentals of life cycle management (LCM). Applications. Circular Economy. Sustainable Development Objectives. Agenda 2030
Unit 2. Life cycle analysis. Methodology and development phases. Application to the analysis of processes and products. Management of specific software. Case studies
Unit 3. Economic and social analysis of the life cycle. Fundamentals of life cycle cost (LCC). Social LCA methodology (S-LCA). Diagram of sustainability: ISO 14045. Case studies.
Section II. Transfer to the productive sector
Unit 4. Ecodesign. Eco-innovation and eco-design. Key elements to promote ecodesign. ISO 14006. Ecodesign tools. Strategic environmental evaluation. Ecobriefing. Prototypes. Case studies.
Unit 5. Ecolabelling. Definition and types of ecolabels. European Ecolabel. 10 reasons why incorporating carbon footprint in the enterprise policy. 14064 and ISO 14067, PAS 2050 and the GHG Protocol. Case studies in the food sector.
Specific objectives
The following describes the detailed contents per section, and the objectives to be achieved in each of them.
Section I. Life Cycle Management
This section examines the three methods that make up the methodology of Life Cycle Management: LCA, LCC and S-LCA, where each addresses the main pillars of sustainability. The first unit presents the general aspects of the life cycle management, origins and fundamentals, defining a comprehensive approach to production processes that lead to effective minimization of impacts.
The life cycle analysis is a methodology used to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity, taking into account its full cycle, "from cradle to grave". Therefore, for a given activity the problem is not only confined to "my" industrial facility, it is also necessary to define what is the share of pollution of all pre- and post activities related to "my" product. All this is possible through the identification and quantification of raw materials, energy and wastes associated. This life cycle perspective also applies to economic and social analysis (LCC and S-LCA), which allows us to obtain a quantitative measure of sustainability.
In this section, students will conduct the following activities:
• Conducting an evaluation of the life cycle inventory using spreadsheet.
• Development of a life cycle analysis using specific software (SimaPro) (team activity).
Section II. Transfer to the productive sector
The student will address in detail two of the most important applications of life cycle thinking from the point of view of the transfer of knowledge to industry: Eco-design and eco-labeling. These strategies of environmental, economic and social improvement allow to reach different certifications. The topic of Ecodesign will be addressed through the study of a case study using the methodology of Gamestorming. To this purpose, the class will work as a single team with the objective of designing a new product, an activity that will be carried out during regular classes.
Finally, the students should perform an ACV assignment in groups of 2-4 people (during the hours of personal work). Each team will choose the consumer product (or comparison of products) that they want to evaluate based on their interests in the pursuit of sustainability. The teams have to obtain all the necessary information to be able to quantify the impacts, which in turn allow them to define the strategy for the definition and simulation of innovative scenarios
Basic bibliography
- Feijoo, G., Moreira, M.T. Análisis de ciclo de vida y huella de carbono. Casos prácticos. Research Gate, 2020. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11030.50240/1. Open access.
Complementary bilbiography: Books
- Baumann, H., Tillman, A.M. The Hitch Hiker´s Guide to LCA. An orientation in life cycle assessment methodology and application. Lund: Editorial Studentlitteratur, 2004. ISBN: 91-44-02364-2. Label BETSE: A244 15
- Hunkeler, D., Lichtenvort, K., Rebitzer, G. Environmental life cycle costing. Boca Raton: Ed. Taylor & Francis, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4200-5470-5. Label BUSC: EMC 325
- Leonard, A. La historia de las cosas. Buenos Aires: Ed. Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2010. ISBN: 978-84-375-0650-0. Label BUSC: M-EMA 476
- McDonough, W., Braungart, M. Cradle to cradle : (de la cuna a la cuna): rediseñando la forma en que hacemos las cosas. Madrid: McGraw-Hill, 2005. ISBN: 84-481-4295-0. Label BETSE: A234 14
- Muthu, S.S. Assessment of Carbon Footprint in Different Industrial Sectors. Volume 1 & 2. Berlin: Springer, 2014. ISBN: 978-981-4560-40-5 (Vol. 1) & 978-981-4585-74-3 (Vol. 2). Label BETSE: 244 10
- Reis, D. Product design in the sustainable Era. Madrid: Ed. Taschen, 2010. ISBN: 978-383-6520-94-2. Label BETSE: A132 12
- Rosling, H., Rosling, O, Rosling, A. Factfulness: Diez razones por las que estamos equivocados sobre el mundo. Y por qué las cosas están mejor de los que piensas. Barcelona: Deusto, 2018. ISBN: 978-84-234-2996-7. Label BUSC: S3 396
- UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. Guidelines for social life cycle asessment of products. Paris: United Nations Environment Programme, 2009. ISBN: 978-92-807-3021-0. Note: Free book: http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx1164xPA-guidelines_sLCA…
Sientific papers
The student will have access various articles published in scientific SCI journals. The case studies will be part of the available information reported in these papers.
In this course the student will acquire a range of generic skills, desirable in any university degree, and specific ones related to a master in engineering. Within the framework of competencies that is designed for the master, students will be instructed in the following:
General and basic:
• CB6.- Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
• CG6.- Have the ability to solve problems that are unfamiliar, incompletely defined, and have competing specifications, considering the possible methods of solution, including the most innovative, selecting the most appropriate for correct implementation, evaluating different design solutions.
• CG8.- Conduct appropriate research, undertake design and lead the development of engineering solutions in new or unfamiliar environments, linking creativity, originality, innovation and technology transfer.
• CG10.- Ability to analyze and synthesize to the continued progress of products, processes, systems and services using criteria of safety, affordability, quality and environmental management.
• CG15.- To adapt to the structural changes in society motivated by economic, energy or natural factors to solve the problems and to provide technological solutions with high commitment to sustainability.
Specific
• CE2.- Have developed sufficient autonomy to participate in research projects and scientific or technological collaborations within the thematic field of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering in interdisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a high component of knowledge transfer.
• CE6.- Designing products, processes, systems and services for the chemical industry as well as the optimization of other already developed technology based on various areas of chemical engineering, understanding of processes and transport phenomena, separation operations and reaction engineering
Transversal:
• CT1.- Develop skills related to teamwork, cooperation, leadership, listening. Leading and define multidisciplinary teams capable of solving technical and management needs changes in national and international contexts.
• CT2.- Adapting to change, being able to apply new and advanced technologies and other relevant developments, with initiative and entrepreneurship.
• CT6.- Ethical commitment in the context of sustainable development.
The methodology of the equivalent course in the new curriculum, which offers face-to-face teaching, will be followed:
P4142203 - Management of the life cycle of products and processes
The assessment system of the equivalent course in the new curriculum, which offers face-to-face teaching, will be followed:
P4142203 - Management of the life cycle of products and processes
-
Gumersindo Feijoo Costa
- Department
- Chemistry Engineering
- Area
- Chemical Engineering
- Phone
- 881816776
- gumersindo.feijoo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Maria Teresa Moreira Vilar
- Department
- Chemistry Engineering
- Area
- Chemical Engineering
- Phone
- 881816792
- maite.moreira [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor