Allocation in LCA of wood-based products experiences of cost action E9: Part II. Examples

Goal and Background: The treatment of allocation in the descriptive LCA of wood-based products has been discussed for a long time and different solutions have been presented. In general, it is accepted that the influence of different allocation procedures on the results of LCA of wood-based products can be very significant. This paper is a result of the Cost Action E9 ‘Life cycle assessment of forestry and forest products' and represents the experience of involved Cost E9 delegates. Objective: Wood is a renewable material that can be used for wood products and energy production. Consistent methodological procedures are needed in order to correctly address the twofold nature of wood as a material and fuel, the multi-functional wood processing generating large quantities of co-products, and reuse or recycling of paper and wood. Ten different processes in LCAs of wood-based products are identified, where allocation questions can occur: forestry, sawmill, wood industry, pulp and paper industry, particle board industry, recycling of paper, recycling of wood-based boards, recycling of waste wood, combined heat and power production, landfill. Methodology: Following ISO 14 041 a step-wise procedure for system boundary setting and allocation are outlined. As a first priority allocation should be avoided by system expansion, thus adding additional functions to the functional unit. Alternatively, the avoided-burden approach can be followed by subtracting substituted functions of wood that are additionally provided. If allocation cannot be avoided, some allocations methods from case studies are described. Conclusions: The following conclusions for allocation in LCA of wood-based products are given. 1) Avoid allocation by expansion of system boundaries by combining material and energy aspects of wood, meaning a combination of LCA of wood products and of energy from wood with a functional unit for products and energy. 2) Substitute energy from wood with conventional energy in the LCA of wood products to get the functional unit of the wood product only, but identify the criteria for the substituted energy. 3) Substitution of wooden products with non-wooden products in LCA of bioenergy is not advisable, because the substitution criteria can be too complex. 4) If avoiding allocation is not possible, the reasons should be documented. 5) Different allocation procedures must be analysed and documented. In many cases, it seems necessary to make a sensitivity analysis of different allocation options for different environmental effects. It can also be useful to get the acceptance of the chosen allocation procedure by external experts. 6) Different allocation factors, e.g. mass or economic value, are allowed within the same LCA. 7) For allocation of forestry processes it is necessary to describe the main function of the forest where the raw material is taken out. In some cases different types or functions of forests must be considered and described. 8) Regarding the experiences from the examples, the following most practical allocation for some specific processes are identified: forestry: mass or volume; sawmill: mass or volume and proceeds; wood industry: mass and proceed

Allocation in lca of wood-based products experiences of cost action E9 part i. methodology

Goal and Background: The treatment of allocation in the descriptive LCA of wood-based products has been discussed for a long time and different solutions have been presented. In general, it is accepted that the influence of different allocation procedures on the results of LCA of wood-based products can be very significant. This paper is a result of the Cost Action E9 'Life cycle assessment of forestry and forest products' and represents the experience of involved Cost E9 delegates. Objective: Wood is a renewable material that can be used for wood products and energy production. Consistent methodological procedures are needed in order to correctly address the twofold nature of wood as a material and fuel, the multi-functional wood processing generating large quantities of co-products, and reuse or recycling of paper and wood. Ten different processes in LCAs of wood-based products are identified, where allocation questions can occur: forestry, sawmill, wood industry, pulp and paper industry, particle board industry, recycling of paper, recycling of wood-based boards, recycling of waste wood, combined heat and power production, landfill. Methodology: Following ISO 14 041 a step-wise procedure for system boundary setting and allocation are outlined. As a first priority allocation should be avoided by system expansion, thus adding additional functions to the functional unit. Alternatively, the avoided-burden approach can be followed by subtracting substituted functions of wood that are additionally provided. If allocation cannot be avoided, some allocations methods from case studies are described. Conclusions: The following conclusions for allocation in LCA of wood-based products are given. 1) Avoid allocation by expansion of system boundaries by combining material and energy aspects of wood, meaning a combination of LCA of wood products and of energy from wood with a functional unit for products and energy. 2) Substitute energy from wood with conventional energy in the LCA of wood products to get the func-tional unit of the wood product only, but identify the criteria for the substituted energy. 3) Substitution of wooden products with non-wooden products in LCA of bioenergy is not advis able, because the substitution criteria can be too complex. 4) If avoiding allocation is not possible, the reasons should be documented. 5) Different allocation procedures must be analysed and documented. In many cases, it seems necessary to make a sensitivity analysis of different allocation options for different environmental effects. It can also be useful to get the acceptance of the chosen allocation procedure by external experts. 6) Different allocation factors, e.g. mass or economic value, are allowed within the same LCA. 7) For allocation of forestry processes it is necessary to describe the main function of the forest where the raw material is taken out. In some cases different types or functions of forests must be considered and described. 8) Regarding the experiences from the examples, the following most practical allocation for some specific processes are identified: forestry: mass or volume; sawmill: mass or volume and proceeds; wood industry: mass and proceed

Suomalaisyrityksistä maailman vesivastuullisimmat : Tiekartta 2019–2030

Tässä tiekartassa määritämme Suomen vesivastuullisuuden kansallisen tavoitetilan 2030, luomme katsauksen vesivastuullisuuden taustaan ja nykytilaan, ja tunnistamme tiekartan toimeenpanolle neljä keskeistä kulmakiveä sekä etenemispolut. Tavoitteena on, että suomalaisyritykset ovat maailman vesivastuullisimpia vuonna 2030. Yritysten tueksi suomalaiset tutkimuslaitokset, ministeriöt ja WWF Suomi ovat perustaneet vesivastuusitoumuksen, jota yritykset voivat hyödyntää omassa vastuullisuustyössään. Vesivastuusitoumus on kannustava viitekehys yrityksille kestävän veden käytön arviointiin ja kehittämiseen tuotannossa ja arvoketjussa. Vesivastuullinen tuotanto ja kulutus sekä vesivastuusitoumukset tukevat vuonna 2018 julkaistun Suomen vesialan kansainvälisen strategian tavoitteita ja toimeenpanoa. Ilmastonmuutos vaikuttaa alueelliseen vedensaatavuuteen monin eri tavoin, minkä vuoksi vastuullinen veden käyttö on keskeistä kestävän kehityksen edistämisessä. Yritykset ovat suuria vedenkäyttäjiä ja veteen liittyvät kansainväliset haasteet vaikuttavat myös suomalaisten yritysten ja niiden kumppanien toimintaan. Yrityksillä on keskeinen rooli veden kestävyyshaasteiden ratkaisemisessa ja kestävien käytäntöjen kehittämisessä. Vastuullinen veden käyttö on kilpailuvaltti kansainvälisillä markkinoilla. Suomella on useista vesivastuullisuuteen liittyviä vahvuuksia verrattuna muihin maihin, mutta kehitettävää on kaikilla vedenkäytön sektoreilla sekä niiden arvoketjuissa. Tiekartassa tunnistetaan yritysten lisäksi muiden tärkeiden toimijoiden, kuten tutkimus- ja oppilaitosten, ministeriöiden ja kansalaisjärjestöjen rooli vesivastuullisuuden edistämisessä. Toimijaverkoston tehtävä on tukea yritysten vesivastuullisten toimenpiteiden käyttöönottoa. Tiekarttaa täydentää vuosittainen toimeenpanosuunnitelma

Leadership Based on the Internal Quality Assurance System in the Christian University of Indonesia

This study aims to determine the readiness of faculty and postgraduate program and to find a leadership model to implement the internal quality assurance (IQA) system consistently and sustainably. The method of the research was qualitative and quantitative approach. The data were obtained through interview result, internal quality audit result and questionnaire, and the sample was 168 permanent lecturers. The data analysis is done by organizing, synthesizing the data, and making conclusions. The findings of this research are as follows: Faculty and postgraduate program (1) have set 31 standard of quality, (2) have implemented 31 quality standard but still less understood, (3) have already done the audit and respond positively to internal quality audit activities, (4) audit results have been submitted to the rector of the university, (5) some leaders accept but some are resistant to the development of standards to 62 quality standards in faculty level. Furthermore, from the data found that the leadership style which supports the implementation of IQA system is the implementation of the task, so it can be concluded that the leadership style of the implementation tasks is recommended in the implementation of IQA system in universities

Management of Adult Dengue Shock Syndrome Patients Not Improving with DEAG Guidelines Based Therapy

Background: Dengue Expert Advisory Group (DEAG) guidelines are used for management of dengue patients in our scenario. It was observed in last consecutive dengue epidemics at Rawalpindi that some of the dengue shock syndrome (DSS) patients don’t improve unless modifications in DEAG guidelines are made. This study was conducted to evaluate modified DEAG management guidelines in DSS patients with decompensated shock who were not improving with treatment based on standard DEAG guidelines.Methods: This quasi experimental study was conducted at Dengue Units of Hospitals attached with Rawalpindi Medical College during Rawalpindi dengue epidemic 2015. Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) patients who were not improving with DEAG guidelines based treatment, were managed as per modified treatment plan i.e., continuing with colloid or blood depending on HCT in tapering way for initial few hours after hemodynamic stabilization is achieved. Outcome was recorded in terms of improvement/recovery and mortality. Poor outcome (mortality was correlated with mean age, gender, primary or secondary dengue infection, presence of additional illnesses and mean duration of hospital stay by Chi2 and t test wherever relevant.Results: Seventeen patients were included in the study. 64.7% were female. Mean patient age was 31.29±9.56 years. Thirteen patients (76.47%) recovered and were discharged. Four patients (23.52%) expired. Poor outcome had statistically significant association with presence of additional illnesses and shorter duration of hospital stay (p value <0.05).Conclusion: Modification in DEAG treatment plan lead to better outcome in majority of DSS patients who did not improve with DEAG standard management