Sustainability and Industrial Ecology

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The contents will be taught in theoretical-practical classes (TP).

In class, the syllabus is presented and developed using audiovisual media. Topics / case studies and problems will be discussed / debated. The consolidation of the concepts of LCA will use a computer program.

The assessment includes a compulsory final exam rated at 80-90% of the final grade, and a continuous assessment component that includes the completion of small tasks to be done within TP or outside the classroom, contributing 10-20 % of the grade.

Learning Outcomes

The main objectives are:

- comprehend the concept of sustainability (environmental, economic and social).

- apply sustainability assessment metrics;

- understand the main instruments of environmental policy that promote sustainability;

- apply the concept of eco-efficiency to industrial processes;

- understand the circular economy;

- understand the importance of climate change and its relationship to CO2 emission trading;

- apply the principles of green chemistry in reducing, recycling and / or eliminating the use of toxic compounds in production processes;

- comprehend and apply the principles of industrial ecology;

- understand the concepts of life cycle assessment (LCA) using LCA software.

The skills to be developed are:

Concern with sustainable development; Competence in analysis and synthesis; Decision making ability; Competence in critical thinking; Commitment to ethical values.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Sustainability. Concept. Sustainability indicators and metrics. National Sustainable Development Strategy. Sustainability instruments: ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), Eco-labeling, Industrial Licensing and Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Eco-efficiency.

Circular economy.

Environmental impact categories.

Climate change and its relationship to greenhouse gases (GHG). Kyoto Protocol. European Carbon Dioxide Emission Trading (CELE).

Green chemistry. Methodologies and principles. Case studies.

Industrial ecology. Motivation. Analogies between biological and industrial systems. State of natural resources.

Life cycle assessment (LCA). Concepts, methodology, and application. Tutorial examples of LCA application using an LCA computer program.

Head Lecturer(s)

Margarida Maria João de Quina

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 20.0%
Exam: 80.0%

Bibliography

Sonnemann, G. ; Tsang, M. ; Schuhmacher, M. Integrated life-cycle and risk assessment for industrial processes and products. 2^nd Edition, Lewis Pub., Boca Raton, FL, 2019.

Neumayer, E., Weak Versus Strong Sustainability: Exploring the Limits of Two Opposing Paradigms, 4th Ed., Edward Elgar, Northampton, 2013

Chang, N.-B., Pires, A., Sustainable Solid Waste Management, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey, 2015.

Rodrigues, V.J. Desenvolvimento Sustentável: Uma introdução crítica. Princípia Ed., Parede, Portugal, 2009.

Allen, D.T.; Shonnard, D. Green Engineering: Environmentally Conscious Design of Chemical processes. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 2001.

Sikdar, S.K.; El-Halwagi, M.M. Process Design Tools for the Environment. Taylor and Francis, London, 2001.

Ferrão, P.C. Ecologia Industrial: Princípios e ferramentas. Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisboa, 2009.

Graedel, T.E.; Allenby, B.R. Industrial ecology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003.