Industrial Ecology

Recommended Prerequisites

A basic knowledge in Thermodynamics is required. Basic knowledge of Environmental Management and/or Circular Economy is recommended.

Teaching Methods

Classroom interaction:

- Presentation and solving (by students individually or in small groups, or by the teacher) of exercises and of cases that illustrate the practical relevance of the themes. When relevant, the related research activities of the teacher are mentioned.

- Development of an LCA project (groups of 3-4 students) with the support of appropriate software.

- A presentation and discussion of the proposed study and the main results.

Assessment without final exam, based in a LCA group project work (60%), an individual test in the class (32.5%), and a group presentation (7.5%). A minimum of 75% attendance to classes is required.

The LCA group project (60%) is mandatory to complete the course. In the appeal exam (“exame de recurso”), the students will only be assessed for the individual test (32.5%).

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes aim to enable students to understand Industrial Ecology and its main tools, namely the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, but also others (e.g. Material Flow Analysis). The students will learn how to: Prepare and present a proposal of an LCA project, including a critical review of similar studies.  Implement an LCA for a selected product system, using a life cycle software and databases. Develop and implement a life cycle model and inventory. Define the goal and scope and scenarios to be assessed. Understand the multifunctionality problem, data quality and different types of uncertainty. Perform allocation and system expansion. Assess LC impacts and present the LCA results obtained, including a critical interpretation.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

- Industrial Ecology and Sustainability. Introduction to Industrial Ecology tools.

- Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Methodology and Applications. Resolution of Exercises.

- Extensions to the classic format of LCA, including Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment.

- Preparation of an LCA proposal and implementation of an LCA project. Developing a life-cycle model and implementing the LCA project using software.

Head Lecturer(s)

Fausto Miguel Cereja Seixas Freire

Assessment Methods

Assessment
other: 7.5%
Mini Tests: 32.5%
Project: 60.0%

Bibliography

Borrion, A.; Black, MJ; Mwabonje, O. (eds) (2021), Life Cycle Assessment: A Metric for The Circular Economy, Royal Society of Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1039/9781788016209

Brunner, P and Rechberger, H (2003) Practical Handbook of Material Flow Analysis. Lewis Publishers.

Clift, R & Druckman, A. (eds) (2016). Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-20571-7

Ferrão, P. (2009) Ecologia Industrial. Princípios e ferramentas. Instituto Superior Técnico (ed)

Freire, F. (2024). Industrial Ecology: course guidelines. FCTUC. Universidade de Coimbra.

Graedel, T. & Eckelman, MJ. (2023), Industrial Ecology and Sustainability. WORLD SCIENTIFIC.    https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811277610_0007

Guinée, J. et al. (2001) Life cycle assessment: an operational guide to the ISO standards, Centre of Env. Science, Univ. of Leiden, Kluwer

Heijungs, R. and Suh, S. (2002) The computational structure of life cycle assessment. Kluwer Academic Pub.