1,721,146 research outputs found
Life cycle of buildings, demolition and recycling potential: a case study in Turin-Italy
No full textOne of the most challenging issues presently facing policymakers and public administrators in Italy concerns what to do with waste materials from building dismantling activities and to understand whether, and to what extent, the ever-increasing quantity of demolition waste can replace virgin materials. The paper presents the results from a research programme that was focused on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of a residential building, located in Turin, which was demolished in 2004 by controlled blasting. A detailed LCA model was set-up, based on field measured data from an urban area under demolition and re-design, paying attention to the end-of-life phase and supplying actual data on demolition and rubble recycling. The results have demonstrated that, while building waste recycling is economically feasible and profitable, it is also sustainable from the energetic and environmental point of view. Compared to the environmental burdens associated with the materials embodied in the building shell, the recycling potential is 29% and 18% in terms of life cycle energy and greenhouse emissions, respectively. The recycling potential of the main building materials was made available in order to address future demolition projects and supply basic knowledge in the design for dismantling fiel
Applying LCA to organic waste management in Piedmont-Italy
No full textPurpose - The aim of the paper is to understand the environmental performances of the current management activities of organic waste from separate collection. Design/methodology/approach - A computer based from gate-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by setting up appropriate expanded system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline. Findings - The environmental performances of existing aerobic and anaerobic plants, based on field measured data, were made available, paying attention to the role and contribution of waste management subsystems. Research limitations/implications - The need for actual and reliable data on materials and energy input, as well as gross and net gains from materials and energy recovery is probably the major drawback that must be faced when dealing with LCA in the waste management sector. Practical implications - This paper may help public administrators in better understanding the suitability of using LCA when developing solid waste management strategies. Originality/value - The study integrated the findings of different investigations from the literature with field measured data in order to obtain a more comprehensive framework representative of the area under stud
Using LCA to evaluate impacts and resources conservation potential of composting: a case study of the Asti District in Italy
No full textSeparate collection of municipal solid waste has overcome the 50% threshold in the Asti District in northern Italy, nearly one-third being composed of household and green organic waste. In order to address present and future solutions, it becomes therefore fundamental to assess the environmental performances of the current management of organic waste from separate collection. A from-gate-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by expanding system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline. The environmental performances of an existing aerobic plant were made available, based on field measured data, by paying attention to the role and contribution of waste management subsystems. The need for actual and reliable data on materials and energy input, as well as gross and net gains from materials recovery, including benefits arising from use of compost in farming activities, was probably the major drawback that had to be faced. The study integrated the findings of different investigations from the literature with field measured data in order to obtain a more comprehensive framework representative of the area under study. The results may help public administrators to better understand the suitability of using LCA tools when dealing with solid waste management strategie
Development of a new high energy efficiency building product through life cycle management of the waste glass recycling chain
No full textLife Cycle datasets of the Italian stone production chain
Full text linkThe ornamental stone production chain deeply changed in the ‘70s and in the following decades, when the mechanization of processes increased the production and the safety of workers. Nevertheless, the new techniques are also responsible of not negligible environmental impacts. This paper is focused on the currently most diffused techniques of extraction, cutting and polishing of the Italian stone sector (gneiss and marble). The study follows a Life Cycle Thinking approach and aims to make available detailed Life Cycle datasets on specific techniques of stone production. To this aim, primary data were collected in Italian quarries and transformation plants. The realization of the dataset related to the bridge cutting technique is presented. Some results on environmental impacts associated to this particular stone cutting technology show the most relevant flows in relation to different impact categories
Life Cycle Assessment of lubricating grease (from-cradle-to-gate)
No full textIn the framework of the EU-FP7 research project AddNANO, the environmental impacts and the resource consumption associated to the production of 1 kg of a lubricating grease were assessed through a from-cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The collaboration with industrial partners facilitated the collection of primary data and helped avoid scale-up assumptions. Where necessary, patents were used for filling data gaps, as confidentiality of information affect the availability of inventory data among the international literature. The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results highlight the relevance of thickeners and additives despite their low quantity. Moreover, this paper points out the necessity of a stricter collaboration between the research and the industry sectors in order assure the representativeness of data. Finally, this LCA could represent a starting point for more in-depth analyses, which can address also other life-cycle phases of lubricating grease
Life Cycle Assessment and System Dynamics: an integrated approach for the dimension stone sector
Full text linkThe Italian traditional sector of dimension stones (mostly marbles and granites) has begun to recognize the importance of improving its sustainability. Nevertheless, a lot of different variables, sometimes in conflict, influence the production system from the economical, environmental and social point of view. As a consequence, a global and holistic approach is required. The on-going study aims to provide some tools facilitating the analysis of this complex system through the integration of the Life Cycle Thinking and the System Dynamic (SD) Approach. On-site data were collected in order to perform a more accurate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with boundaries from-cradle-to-gate. An SD model was then developed to interlink the obtained values of environmental potential impacts with economical aspects and to dynamically simulate the behaviour of the syste
- …
