Organizational life cycle assessment: suitability for higher education institutions with environmental management systems

[EN] Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the suitability of organizational life cycle assessments (O-LCAs) for higher education institutions (HEIs) with special attention to the benefits and particularities of those adopting environmental management systems (EMSs) verified according to Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Methods A thorough analysis following ISO/TS 14072 and UNEP Guidance was carried out using the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) EMS verified by the EMAS for guiding principles to develop the methodological proposal. The self-sufficiency of UPV EMS for developing an O-LCA was tested at the university pilot unit. The four steps of the O-LCA were applied to the pilot. Results and discussion A reporting organization, the organization to be studied (boundaries and scope), was defined in consideration of the environmental units (EU) of the EMS. Operational control was selected as a consolidation method. Reporting flows and system boundaries are also discussed. A three-scope scheme of the GHG protocol is introduced and combined with the ISO 14072 boundary definition to support better alignment with the HEI structure. For the life cycle inventory analysis, a mechanism for identifying activities and processes as well as their material and energy flows is proposed in consideration of the particularities of HEIs. A procedure for the prioritization of data collection efforts and cutoffs was developed. The procedure integrates current EMAS actions based on the significance of environmental aspects combined with the influence of reporting organizations under their control. Impact categories focus on midpoint indicators along with an additional inventory level indicator as part of the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Unfortunately, due to a lack of quality data available, LCIA can only be assessed in part with little interest in outcomes. Partial results are presented. Conclusions An EMS verified by EMAS is proven to be useful in the assessment of O-LCA for HEIs. However, EMAS requirements do not ensure the availability of all data needed to develop an O-LCA. An accounting system should complement a lack of data if it is properly structured. Considerable efforts are required to obtain an accurate result. EMS and the accounting system may be able to provide information that supports an O-LCA approach based on a coherent prioritization of data collection efforts and cutoff procedures along with a set of justified impact category indicators. Overall, organization managers must be in favor of such an assessment to meet the requirements of successful implementation.Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Torregrosa López, JI.; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2017). Organizational life cycle assessment: suitability for higher education institutions with environmental management systems. 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Environ Sci Technol 29(9):420A–426ALife Cycle Initiative (2016) http://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/ Accessed 22 June 2016Lo-Iacono-Ferreira V, Torregrosa-López JI, Lora García J, Bastante-Ceca MJ, Capuz-Rizo SF (2011) Study of the inclusion of life cycle assessment impact categories in ecological footprint. XV International Congress of Project Engineering. ISBN: 978-84-615-4543-8Lo-Iacono-Ferreira VG, Torregrosa-López JI, Capuz-Rizo SF (2016a) Use of life cycle assessment methodology in the analysis of ecological footprint assessment results to evaluate the environmental performance of universities. J Clean Prod 133:43–53Lo-Iacono-Ferreira VG, Capuz-Rizo SF, Torregrosa-López JI (2016b) Ecological Footprint Assessment of Higher Education applying Life Cycle Assessment framework. Case study: Universitat Politència de València. 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Life-Cycle Initiative, United Nations Environment Programme and Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Paris, France. http://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp- content/uploads/2015/04/o-lca_24.4.15-web.pdf Accessed 1 June 2016Vivancos Bono JL (2005) Propuesta Metodológica para la Simplificación del ACV en su Aplicación a los Componentes Plásticos del Automóvil en el Marco del Ecodiseño. Ed. Universidad Politécnica de ValenciaWatkins P, Glover A (2016) Future generations: developing education for sustainability and global citizenship for university education students. In: Leal Filho W, Pace L (ed) Teaching education for sustainable development at university level. Springer International Publishing, pp 67–81. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-32928-4_5WRI and WBCSD (2011) Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard—Supplement to the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. 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Environmental Assessment of Solar Photo-Fenton Processes at Mild Condition in the Presence of Waste-Derived Bio-Based Substances

[EN] The assessment of environmental sustainability has assumed great importance during the study and implementation of a new process, including those aimed to waste valorization and reuse. In this research, the environmental performance of the photo-Fenton processes was evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. In particular, photo-Fenton conducted in mild conditions (almost neutral pH), using soluble bio-organic substances as auxiliary agents were compared with the "classic" photo-Fenton run at pH 2.8. The evaluation was carried out both, at the laboratory level and at pilot plant scale. LCA analysis shows that working in mild conditions reduces the environmental burden associated with the use of chemicals. On the other hand, the occurring drop in effectiveness significantly increases the overall impact, thus evidencing the need of considering the process as a whole.Costamagna, M.; Arqués Sanz, A.; Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Bianco Prevot, A. (2022). Environmental Assessment of Solar Photo-Fenton Processes at Mild Condition in the Presence of Waste-Derived Bio-Based Substances. Nanomaterials. 12(16):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12162781113121

Key Performance Indicators to optimize the environmental performance of Higher Education Institutions with environmental management system - A case study of Universitat Politècnica de València

[EN] Environmental performance is becoming increasingly important to organizational decision-making boards. As with other organizations, Higher Education Institutions concerned with environmental performance require tools to help develop appropriate policies and programs. Key Performance Indicators are typically a component of economic and financial decision-making. Defining Key Performance Indicators for relevant environmental aspects of an institution can be seen as a step toward integrating environmental issues into overall management. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to define environmental Key Performance Indicators for Higher Education Institutions with a robust Environmental Management System (International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified or Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) verified), and this methodology is coupled with a validation system based on meta-performance evaluation indicators. The proposal is based on the relative significance of various environmental aspects and the degree of operational control that an organization has over each aspect. The methodology is developed to be easy to applied, minimum time and resource consumption) and integrate in an existent Environmental Management System. It starts with a standard procedure to define the organization allowing its application to any type of Higher Education Institution. Additionally, a list of over 140 environmental indicators, described and classified, is offered. An environmental unit, Escuela Politecnica Superior de Alcoy (EPSA), of Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, EMAS verified, is used as a case study. From the study, seven Key Performance Indicators are defined, and three of these are fully assessed. Energy consumption, waste management treatment, and greenhouse gas emissions are the key elements of these three indicators. Institutions with robust Environmental Management Systems have significant advantages in identifying relevant environmental aspects and defining goals to begin defining Key Performance Indicators. However, Environmental Management Systems do not themselves ensure that data are available, nor that they are of the quality desired. In the case study, additional resources are required to generate Key Performance Indicators to assess significant environmental aspects. Securing those additional resources would benefit both the Environmental Management System and the organizational decision-makers. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Capuz-Rizo, SF.; Torregrosa López, JI. (2018). Key Performance Indicators to optimize the environmental performance of Higher Education Institutions with environmental management system - A case study of Universitat Politècnica de València. Journal of Cleaner Production. 178:846-865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.184S84686517

Metodología para la inclusión del uso de TICs en el aula en estudios relacionados con sostenibilidad.

[ES] Este trabajo presenta la metodología desarrollada para la inclusión del uso de las TICs como instrumento de apoyo para la adquisición de habilidades y competencias en el ámbito de los estudios de la sostenibilidad en el aula, en estudios universitarios. De esta manera, se pretende fomentar el interés y el entusiasmo de los estudiantes en el Desarrollo Sostenible, tanto en los aspectos más generales que afectan a la vida cotidiana como en el desempeño de la carrera profesional. Para ello, se propone el empleo de las TICs, como medio de comunicación entre el alumnado y el profesorado, a través de plataformas virtuales y herramientas on-line, como Google forms® y Kahoot®, así como otras propias de las propias universidades. La metodología presentada se compone de: una guía para su aplicación, una encuesta, un juego a desarrollar en el aula, y una herramienta propia para la recogida de datos.[EN] This paper presents the methodology developed to include the use of ICTs as a tool for the acquisition of skills and competences related to sustainability in university courses. The main objective is to attract the interest and enthusiasm of the students in Sustainable Development, both in personal related aspects and during the development of their professional career. For this purpose, the use of ICTs tools is proposed, which will serve as a mean of communication between the students and the professor through several platforms and online applications, such as Google forms®, Kahoot and those specific tools of each university. The methodology is composed of a guide for its implementation, an online survey, a game to carry out in class and an ad-hoc software for gathering additional specific information.Arroyo, R.; De Oliveira Jardim, E.; Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG. (2021). Metodología para la inclusión del uso de TICs en el aula en estudios relacionados con sostenibilidad. En IN-RED 2020: VI Congreso de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 801-809. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2020.2020.12028OCS80180

Measuring urban sustainability performance through composite indicators for Spanish cities

[EN] The role that cities play in the transition to more sustainable growth is gaining increasing recognition. Measuring progress towards sustainable urban development requires quantifying this multi-dimensional phenomenon with the help of composite indicators. The purpose of this study is to propose an integrated approach to build a sustainable cities' interval of composite indicators that rely on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. In addition, we propose to overcome the problem of calculating a single number by constructing a strong-weak sustainability performance interval depending on the choice of the compensability level in the aggregation stage of individual indicators. One of the advantages of this interval is that it provides information on both the average performance and the worst value of the set of indicators considered for each SDG. Moreover, it also extends the analysis for the people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership dimensions defined by the 2030 Agenda. As an example of application, we constructed these intervals for 50 Spanish cities, which are provincial capitals. This application lets us get a more accurate vision that can serve as a valuable tool for better urban planning design.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Politècnica de València.Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Garcia-Bernabeu, A.; Hilario Caballero, A.; Torregrosa López, JI. (2022). Measuring urban sustainability performance through composite indicators for Spanish cities. Journal of Cleaner Production. 359:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.13198211135

The strengths of EMAS as an environmental management system for European university campuses

Universities are unique organisations that have a full range of existing environmental issues. Implementing an environmental management system (EMS) has been proposed as a way for educational organisations to track and improve the management of these environmental issues. Although only a handful of universities have been verified in the European Union Eco-Management Environmental Audit Scheme (EMAS), a large number of institutions and companies all over Europe that have become registered. The complexity of universities has resulted in EMAS implementation barriers that other sector companies do not necessarily face. This study analyses the specific barriers, benefits, and challenges of the implementation process of the EMAS at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). As a result, some specific strategies for implementing EMAS are identified. EMAS appears to be a good MES for university campuses due to its adaptability to the complexity of university organisations and their governance structures.Torregrosa López, JI.; Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Martí Barranco, C.; Bellver Navarro, CG. (2016). The strengths of EMAS as an environmental management system for European university campuses. International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development. 15(1):89-106. doi:10.1504/IJESD.2016.073339S8910615

Prediction of Methanol Production in a Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation Plant Using Neural Networks

[EN] The objective of this research was to design a neural network (ANN) to predict the methanol flux at the outlet of a carbon dioxide dehydrogenation plant. For the development of the ANN, a database was generated, in the open-source simulation software "DWSIM", from the validation of a process described in the literature. The sample consists of 133 data pairs with four inputs: reactor pressure and temperature, mass flow of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and one output: flow of methanol. The ANN was designed using 12 neurons in the hidden layer and it was trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. In the training, validation and testing phase, a global mean square (RMSE) value of 0.0085 and a global regression coefficient R of 0.9442 were obtained. The network was validated through an analysis of variance (ANOVA), where the p-value for all cases was greater than 0.05, which indicates that there are no significant differences between the observations and those predicted by the ANN. Therefore, the designed ANN can be used to predict the methanol flow at the exit of a dehydrogenation plant and later for the optimization of the system.Chuquin-Vasco, D.; Parra, F.; Chuquin-Vasco, N.; Chuquin-Vasco, J.; Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG. (2021). Prediction of Methanol Production in a Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation Plant Using Neural Networks. Energies. 14(13):1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133965S118141

Carbon Footprint Comparative Analysis of Cardboard and Plastic Containers Used for the International Transport of Spanish Tomatoes

[EN] Agricultural packaging has a direct impact on the environmental performance of food. The carbon footprint (CF) of two of the most used packaging systems for international transport by road of fruit and vegetables is assessed and compared. Corrugated cardboard boxes (CCB) and polypropylene foldable boxes (PPB) in two different sizes are the object of this study. For the reusable boxes, three different scenarios are considered regarding the number of uses of each box (20, 50, and 100 uses). Product CF ISO 14067:2018 standard is applied, and requirements of ISO 14026:2017 and ISO 14044:2006 are met for a cradle-to-grave CF analysis. Product distribution and return of the empty box are the stages with the most significant impact for PPB over the manufacturing stage. CCB that does not have any returning stage or requirements of sanitation has its main impact in manufacturing. The comparison between both packaging systems of the same size, considering the functional unit and defined scope, points out CCB has a lower CF than PPBThis research was funded by the Instituto de Produccion Sostenible (IPS, Institute for Sustainable Production) located in Madrid (Spain)Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Viñoles-Cebolla, R.; Maria-José Bastante-Ceca; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2021). Carbon Footprint Comparative Analysis of Cardboard and Plastic Containers Used for the International Transport of Spanish Tomatoes. Sustainability. 13(5):2552-1-2552-28. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052552S2552-12552-2813

Transport of Spanish fruit and vegetables in cardboard boxes: A carbon footprint analysis

[EN] The increase in international trade due to globalization is evident in southeast Spain, which has become the top exporter of fruit and vegetables. Countries within the European Union, such as Germany and France, emphasize the sustainability and environmental impacts of these products. Hence, a greater understanding of the environmental implications of transporting fruit and vegetables between their origin and their destination might improve the sustainability of this commercial activity. The concept of a carbon footprint is a recognized environmental indicator that can be used for life cycle analysis. Here, a rigorous carbon footprint assessment was developed to examine the impact of using cardboard box containers to store and transport 1,000 t of fruit and vegetable products by road from their origin in Almería, Spain, to a destination market. The assessment included the fabrication of the cardboard boxes, the service they provide while transporting the products to the distribution center of the destination, and the end-of-life of the boxes for the six main products grown in Almería. The results showed that storing and transporting 1,000 t of product by road emits between 58 t and 130 t of CO2e depending on the fruit or vegetable type and the destination market. The implications of the end-of-life scenarios with respect to the destination are also discussed. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted for the transport distance. Lastly, biogenic CO2 production was also assessed according to standard carbon footprint assessment method.Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Viñoles-Cebolla, R.; Bastante-Ceca, M.; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2020). Transport of Spanish fruit and vegetables in cardboard boxes: A carbon footprint analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production. 244:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118784S112244Albrecht, S., Brandstetter, P., Beck, T., Fullana-i-Palmer, P., Grönman, K., Baitz, M., … Fischer, M. (2013). An extended life cycle analysis of packaging systems for fruit and vegetable transport in Europe. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 18(8), 1549-1567. doi:10.1007/s11367-013-0590-4Atallah, S. S., Gómez, M. I., & Björkman, T. (2014). Localization effects for a fresh vegetable product supply chain: Broccoli in the eastern United States. Food Policy, 49, 151-159. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2014.07.005Borsato, E., Tarolli, P., & Marinello, F. (2018). Sustainable patterns of main agricultural products combining different footprint parameters. Journal of Cleaner Production, 179, 357-367. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.044Bortolini, M., Faccio, M., Ferrari, E., Gamberi, M., & Pilati, F. (2016). Fresh food sustainable distribution: cost, delivery time and carbon footprint three-objective optimization. Journal of Food Engineering, 174, 56-67. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2015.11.014Chonhenchob, V., & Singh, S. P. (2003). A comparison of corrugated boxes and reusable plastic containers for mango distribution. Packaging Technology and Science, 16(6), 231-237. doi:10.1002/pts.630Chonhenchob, V., & Singh, S. P. (2005). Packaging performance comparison for distribution and export of papaya fruit. Packaging Technology and Science, 18(3), 125-131. doi:10.1002/pts.681Del Borghi, A., Gallo, M., Strazza, C., & Del Borghi, M. (2014). An evaluation of environmental sustainability in the food industry through Life Cycle Assessment: the case study of tomato products supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 78, 121-130. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.04.083Finkbeiner, M. (2009). Carbon footprinting—opportunities and threats. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 14(2), 91-94. doi:10.1007/s11367-009-0064-xKaab, A., Sharifi, M., Mobli, H., Nabavi-Pelesaraei, A., & Chau, K. (2019). Combined life cycle assessment and artificial intelligence for prediction of output energy and environmental impacts of sugarcane production. Science of The Total Environment, 664, 1005-1019. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.004Levi, M., Cortesi, S., Vezzoli, C., & Salvia, G. (2011). A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Packaging for the Distribution of Italian Fruit and Vegetables. Packaging Technology and Science, 24(7), 387-400. doi:10.1002/pts.946Manfredi, M., & Vignali, G. (2014). Life cycle assessment of a packaged tomato puree: a comparison of environmental impacts produced by different life cycle phases. Journal of Cleaner Production, 73, 275-284. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.010Nabavi-Pelesaraei, A., Bayat, R., Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, H., Afrasyabi, H., & Berrada, A. (2017). Prognostication of energy use and environmental impacts for recycle system of municipal solid waste management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 154, 602-613. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.033Nabavi-Pelesaraei, A., Bayat, R., Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, H., Afrasyabi, H., & Chau, K. (2017). Modeling of energy consumption and environmental life cycle assessment for incineration and landfill systems of municipal solid waste management - A case study in Tehran Metropolis of Iran. Journal of Cleaner Production, 148, 427-440. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.01.172Neugebauer, S., Martinez-Blanco, J., Scheumann, R., & Finkbeiner, M. (2015). Enhancing the practical implementation of life cycle sustainability assessment – proposal of a Tiered approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 102, 165-176. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.053Parajuli, R., Thoma, G., & Matlock, M. D. (2019). Environmental sustainability of fruit and vegetable production supply chains in the face of climate change: A review. Science of The Total Environment, 650, 2863-2879. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.019Pattara, C., Salomone, R., & Cichelli, A. (2016). Carbon footprint of extra virgin olive oil: a comparative and driver analysis of different production processes in Centre Italy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 127, 533-547. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.152Payen, S., Basset-Mens, C., & Perret, S. (2015). LCA of local and imported tomato: an energy and water trade-off. Journal of Cleaner Production, 87, 139-148. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.10.007Pérez Neira, D., Soler Montiel, M., Delgado Cabeza, M., & Reigada, A. (2018). Energy use and carbon footprint of the tomato production in heated multi-tunnel greenhouses in Almeria within an exporting agri-food system context. Science of The Total Environment, 628-629, 1627-1636. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.127Pérez-Neira, D., & Grollmus-Venegas, A. (2018). Life-cycle energy assessment and carbon footprint of peri-urban horticulture. A comparative case study of local food systems in Spain. Landscape and Urban Planning, 172, 60-68. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.01.001Rivera-Méndez, Y. D., Rodríguez, D. T., & Romero, H. M. (2017). Carbon footprint of the production of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fresh fruit bunches in Colombia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 149, 743-750. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.149Röös, E., & Karlsson, H. (2013). Effect of eating seasonal on the carbon footprint of Swedish vegetable consumption. Journal of Cleaner Production, 59, 63-72. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.06.035Sanyé-Mengual, E., Cerón-Palma, I., Oliver-Solà, J., Montero, J. I., & Rieradevall, J. (2012). Environmental analysis of the logistics of agricultural products from roof top greenhouses in Mediterranean urban areas. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 93(1), 100-109. doi:10.1002/jsfa.5736Shabanzadeh-Khoshrody, M., Azadi, H., Khajooeipour, A., & Nabavi-Pelesaraei, A. (2016). 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Statistical analysis of the long-term influence of covid-19 on waste generation - a case study of Castellón in Spain

[EN] Existing research recognizes the COVID-19 impact on waste generation. However, the preliminary studies were made at an early pandemic stage, focused on the household waste fraction, and employed descriptive statistics that lacked statistical support. This study tries to fill this gap by providing a reliable statistical analysis setting inferential confidence in the waste generation differences found in Castellón. Repeated measures ANOVA were carried out for all the waste fractions collected and recorded in the city landfill database from 2017 to 2020. Additionally, Bonferroni¿s multiple comparison test (p < 0.05) was used to assure confidence level correction and identify which pairs of years¿ differences appeared. The longitudinal study identified trends for each waste fraction before the pandemic and showed how they changed with the advent of the crisis. Compared to 2019, waste collection in 2020 significantly grew for glass and packaging; remained unchanged for beaches, paper and cardboard, and dropped substantially for households, streets, markets, bulky waste, hospitals, and recycling centres. Total waste showed no differences between 2017 and 2019 but dropped significantly in 2020. These findings may help us better understand the long-term implications of COVID-19 and improve municipal solid waste management in a similar crisis.Artacho Ramírez, MÁ.; Moreno-Solaz, H.; Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Cloquell Ballester, VA. (2022). Statistical analysis of the long-term influence of covid-19 on waste generation - a case study of Castellón in Spain. International Journal of Environmental research and Public Health (Online). 19(10):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106071117191