Life Cycle Assessment: Future Challenges

Description

This book offers an itemized analysis of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), for use in any processes, products, services, industries, organizations and so forth. Various challenges faced during applications of LCA, and its extension are discussed including their benefits. Further, the book provides practical examples of LCA in different core sectors, such as cement and construction. Each chapter functions as a stand-alone unit within the book and defines its individual role within the overall concept of LCA. Features: Covers Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and future challenges including its practical applications as climate change tool. Connects life cycle management and LCA/environmental management. Explains benefits of LCA studies for both internal and external purpose in terms of various impact parameters. Identifies different raw materials or alternate energy mediums for changing inputs to reduce environmental impacts. Discusses extension of LCA concept like LCC, LCSA, SCLA, and OLCA. This book is aimed at professionals in all engineering areas and environmental studies. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgment Author Biography List of Abbreviations Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Life Cycle Thinking 1.2 Corporate Sustainability 1.3 Life Cycle Analysis Chapter 2 Environmental Management System 2.1 Background 2.2 Global Movement 2.3 Necessity of Environmental Management System 2.4 International Standards 2.5 Implementation 2.6 Extension 2.7 Rebooting 2.8 Reduction of Carbon and Water Footprints 2.9 Reorientation 2.10 Factors to Consider 2.11 Sustainable Future 2.12 Continual Improvement Chapter 3 Life Cycle Assessment 3.1 Backdrop 3.2 Framework 3.3 Goal and Scope 3.4 Inventory Analysis 3.5 Data Source 3.6 Data Variability and Consistency 3.7 Validation 3.8 Process Flow 3.9 Functional Unit 3.10 System Boundaries 3.11 Allocation Procedure 3.12 Impact Assessment 3.13 Limitations and Uncertainties 3.14 Greenhouse Gas 3.15 Acidification Potential 3.16 Resource Depletion 3.17 Land Use 3.18 Normalization 3.19 Uncertainty Analysis 3.20 Interpretation 3.21 Classification Chapter 4 Life Cycle Tools 4.1 Life Cycle Assessment: Environment 4.2 Life Cycle Costing 4.3 Social Life Cycle Assessment 4.4 Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment 4.5 Organizational Life Cycle Assessment Chapter 5 Guidance for Life Cycle Inventory 5.1 Life Cycle Inventories 5.2 Data Collection 5.3 Documentation and Review 5.4 Input and Output Data 5.5 Capacity Building 5.6 Future Outlook 5.7 Integration Chapter 6 Application of Life Cycle Assessment 6.1 Life Cycle Thinking: Policy Makers 6.2 Attributional Life Cycle Assessment 6.3 Consequential Life Cycle Assessment 6.4 Integration and Harmonization 6.5 Industrial Unit 6.6 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 6.7 Corporate Level 6.8 Consumer Perspective Chapter 7 Climate Change and Life Cycle Assessment 7.1 On the Horizon 7.2 Environmental Mechanism 7.3 Reduction Measure of GHG 7.4 Carbon Sequestration 7.5 Carbon Capture through Algae 7.6 Ozone Formation 7.7 Eutrophication 7.8 Ecotoxicity 7.9 Human Toxicity 7.10 Abiotic Resources 7.11 Afforestation 7.12 Land Use 7.13 Water Use Chapter 8 Life Cycle Interpretation 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Identification of Issues 8.3 Evaluation 8.4 Sensitivity Check 8.5 Consistency Check 8.6 Interpretation 8.7 Critical Review Chapter 9 Case Studies of Different Countries 9.1 USA 9.2 UK 9.3 Spain 9.4 Brazil 9.5 Switzerland 9.6 Indonesia 9.7 Czech Republic 9.8 China 9.9 Germany 9.10 India 9.10.1 Building Construction 9.10.2 Building Operation 9.10.3 Building Maintenance 9.10.4 Building Demolition Chapter 10 Future Challenges for Life Cycle Assessment 10.1 Awareness of Life Cycle Thinking 10.2 Mitigation of Climate Change 10.3 Globalization 10.4 Integration 10.5 Exergy Assimilation 10.6 Circular Economy 10.7 Carbon Capture and Utilization 10.8 Carbon Neutrality 10.9 Sustainable Consumption and Production 10.10 LCA in Higher Education 10.11 Data Inventory and LCA Software 10.12 Conclusion Bibliography Index