Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The contents will be taught in 5 modules of theoretical classes (T) where the syllabus topics will be presented and developed, using audiovisual media, in which the concepts and tools will be applied/discussed with the teachers.

Carrying out a group work will allow students to research and analyze a circular economy approach, as well as present and defend their knowledge. Whenever possible, the analysis of practical cases with the participation of external experts will be promoted.

Learning Outcomes

Overall objectives:

To acquire and apply theoretical and practical knowledge of life-cycle-analysis towards a sustainable, carbon-neutral economy, free of toxic elements and fully circular in the plastic industries.

Specific Objectives:

- Identify and apply circular economy practices and tools;

- Investigate case-of-studies of well sucedeed circular economy business models in the plastic industries;

- Understand the relevance and purpose of conducting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies;

- Formulate and solve problems regarding the circularity and carbon management.

- Develop the domain of theoretical knowledge, capacity for analysis and synthesis and ability to integrate knowledge to solve practical problems with critical thinking.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Module 1 - Circular Economy

1.1. Principles, Approaches and Models of Circular Economy

1.2. Application of Circular Economy models in the Plastics Industry (processes, products and businesses).

1.3. Longer lasting plastics

1.4. Waste as raw material for obtaining plastics

1.5. Biomimicry and the development of new plastics

 

Module 2 - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - Introduction

2.1. Life Cycle Thinking

2.2. Introduction to the concept

2.3. Terminology and application of LCA

 

Module 3 - LCA- Methodology

3.1. LCA methodology and structure

3.2. Normative references

3.3. Main tools, software and databases

 

Module 4 - Applications - Environmental indicators and labels

4.1. Carbon footprint, water footprint and ecological footprint

4.2. Environmental Product Declaration

 

Module 5 - Case Studies

5.1. Implementation of circular strategies and demonstration and exploration of practical cases aimed at the plastics industry – group activity

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 40.0%
Project: 60.0%

Bibliography

1. Sillanpaa, M.; Ncibi, C., The circular economy: Case studies about the transition from the linear economy. Academic Press, London, 2019.

2. Lacy, P.; Long, J.; Spindler, W., The circular economy handbook: realizing the circular advantage. The Palgrave Macmillan, UK, 2020.

3. Mavropoulos A.; Waage Nilsen, A., Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy: Towards a wasteless future or a wasteful planet? John Wiley & Sons Ltd, West Sussex (UK), 2020.

4. Ghosh, S.K.; Waste Management as Economic Industry Towards Circular Economy, Springer Nature Singapore Pt Ltd., 2020.

5. Ren, J.; Wang, Y.; He, C., Towards Sustainable Chemical Processes: Application of sustainability assessment and analysis, design and optimization, and hybridization and modularization, Elsevier, Amesterdam (Netherlands), 2020.

6. Macaskie, L.E.; Sapsford, D.J.; Mayes, W.M., Resource recovery from wastes: towards a circular economy. RSC Green Chemistry Series, 2019.