International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Feb 6, 2016
Purpose The purpose of this work is to identify and select safeguard subjects and state indicator... more Purpose The purpose of this work is to identify and select safeguard subjects and state indicators that are suitable for sustainability assessment in product and production development, using an interpretation of the Brundtland definition of sustainable development. The purpose is also to investigate how indicators selected in this way differ from other selections in the literature. Methods We use a top-down approach, which starts with reviewing the Brundtland definition of sustainability and identifying the corresponding human basic needs to be satisfied. For each basic need, we identify relevant satisfiers, and for each satisfier, a number of safeguard subjects. The safeguard subjects represent critical resources for making satisfiers available. For each safeguard subject, a number of state indicators (=endpoint category indicators) are selected that are relevant for describing impacts from product life cycles on the safeguard subject. Results and discussion Ecosystem services, access to water, and abiotic resources are identified as environmental safeguard subjects. Technology for transports, environment, textiles, housing, food, information, and energy, together with income, are identified as economical safeguard subjects. Human health, land availability, peace, social security, continuity, knowledge, jobs/occupation, and culture are identified as social safeguard subjects. In comparison with the other selections of safeguard subjects in literature, our safeguard subjects are structured differently and delimited in scope, but there are also many similarities. The best agreement is on environmental issues, but we classify human health as a social issue. For social issues, we identify fewer safeguard subjects and state indicators than recommendations from UNEP/SETAC. For economic issues, we diverse from current LCC and approach UNECE measures of sustainability. Conclusions Identification and selection of safeguard subjects and state indicators benefit from a clear definition of sustainability, needs to be satisfied, and satisfiers. The interpretation of the sustainability concept has a large influence on which safeguard subjects that are included and which indicators that are needed to describe their state. Capacity building is an important sustainability indicator, which should be developed further for use in life cycle sustainability assessment. The topdown approach offers a good arena for a further research and discussions on how to structure and focus LCSA. Our results shall be seen as one example of which safeguard subject that may be identified with the top-down approach presented here.
An attempt has been made to estimate the value of present ores to future generations. The direct ... more An attempt has been made to estimate the value of present ores to future generations. The direct costs for the producer and the external environmental costs for the society of a sustainable production of ore-like metal concentrates are investigated. In a technical scenario, granite, granodiorite and basalt rock are mined, crushed and ground to give fine powders. The powders are acid leached and the extracted metals precipitated using hydrogen sulphide and sodium hydroxide to form the ore-like concentrates. All chemicals are produced in a sustainable way. Leaching efficiencies and use of energy-ware (ISO standard term for oil, coal, electricity, etc.) and chemicals are important factors in the cost estimation, as well as the number of metals mined at the same time. It is assumed that 10 different metal concentrates are produced at the same time. The technical scenario uses state-of-the-art technology. No new technical achievements are assumed. The estimated costs exceed current prices by orders of magnitude. In cost estimation for individual metals, the main uncertainty lies in the allocation of costs amongst the metals produced at the same time.
This study deals with some methods of making human exposure estimates, aimed at describing the hu... more This study deals with some methods of making human exposure estimates, aimed at describing the human exposure for selected air pollutants in Sweden that are suspected carcinogens. Nitrogen oxides (NOX) have been chosen as an indicator substance for estimating the concentration of the urban plume. Earlier investigations have shown that the traffic in Swedish cities contributes around 85% to the measured NOx concentrations, and that most of the mutagenicity in urban air originates from traffic. The first section of this paper describes measurements in Stockholm of some unregulated light hydrocarbons, such as ethene, ethyne, propane, propene, butane, and isobutane. In addition, measurements of some volatile aro- matic hydrocarbons are presented. Simultaneous measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) were made. The ratios between CO and the individual specific compounds were determined by linear regression analysis. By analysis of relationships between CO and NO X, NO concentrations can be used as a tracer to describe the exposure for these specific compounds. NOX are considered to be a better tracer than CO, because NOX or NO2 values exist for many places over a long time, while CO is measured mostly in streets with high concentrations. At low concentrations, instruments that measure normal CO levels give no detectable signals. Through use of atmospheric dispersion models and models that describe how people live and work in urban areas it has been possible to describe the average exposure to NOx in cities of different sizes. The exposure to NOx for people liv- ing in the countryside has also been estimated. In this way, it has been possible to calculate the average exposure dose for NOX for the Swedish population. This figure is 23 pg/mi3. By use of the relationships between NOX and specific compounds the average dose has been calculated for the following compounds: polyaromatic compounds (PAH); ethene, propene, and butadiene; benzene, toluene, and xylene; formaldehyde and actaldehyde; nickel, chromium (VI), arsenic, and cadmium; asbestos; and silicon. -Environ Health Perspect 102(Suppl 4): 39-47 (1994).
Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Apr 1, 2005
PurposeFrom a methodological point of view, life cycle costing (LCC) is well developed with respe... more PurposeFrom a methodological point of view, life cycle costing (LCC) is well developed with respect to conventional costs. However, when it comes to costs related to environmental issues, neither the items nor their estimation have been well developed. This paper aims at investigating the possibilities of using life cycle assessment (LCA) results to identify and estimate environmental costs or benefits in an LCC.Design/methodology/approachThe paper begins by looking at the driving forces for introducing environmental costs in companies, continues by identifying external and internal environmental cost issues, and concludes with an attempt to estimate the internal costs.FindingsSome of the items of an LCC have to do with increased/decreased sales, others with good will. Both are difficult to estimate, but LCA or LCA‐like investigations may be helpful in identifying relevant issues. Future costs to the product system may also be estimated, for example, with a distance‐to‐target type of weighting. LCA may be helpful in roughly estimating risks, especially together with those LCA impact assessment methods that model damage. Such an item in LCC can be dealt with as an insurance fee or, if the risk is too high, as a way of including necessary preventive actions.Research limitations/implicationsThe literature on the subject is limited and not sufficient to aid in estimation of environmental costs and benefits for a company. It seems reasonable to begin an improvement of the methodology by looking at future costs and benefits.Practical implicationsThis paper may help in structuring the task of using LCA information for estimating environmental costs in LCC.Originality/valueThere has been increased interest recently in the integration of LCA and LCC, such as in the SETAC (Society for Ecotoxicology and Chemistry) working group on LCC. This paper contributes with new outlooks and structures for that work.
Certified environmental product declarations (EPD) are beginning to be used in several countries.... more Certified environmental product declarations (EPD) are beginning to be used in several countries. To date, user experience indicates that the EPD results are difficult for professional purchasers and salespeople to understand. In order to improve understanding, three interpretation keys have been developed. They recalculate the EPD results to other numbers, which are easier to value. One key calculates the degree of satisfaction of environmental goals, another calculates the damage cost and yet another compares with what is normal in economic activity. The three interpretation keys represent different ethical views of the environment. Intended users, people having some knowledge of environmental issues without being specialists, have tested the keys on several occasions after which the keys were redesigned. We concluded that the interpretation keys offer increased understanding.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Oct 14, 2005
Intention, Goal, Scope, Background. It has gained growing acceptance in recent years that there a... more Intention, Goal, Scope, Background. It has gained growing acceptance in recent years that there are values in LCA, and several authors have discussed how value orientations can influence LCA models and results. The aim of this article is to continue this discussion and to focus on value choices in LCA. Objectives. To find a way of describing value orientations in relation to choices in LCA. Methods. This objective has been pursued in this paper by investigating the relationship between values and traditional science, exploring the concept of values, investigating the relationship between values and choice, and suggesting a way to describe the value base for specific choices in LCA. Research on how to improve the environmental performance of products resembles peace research in that it aims to achieve a certain value-laden situation in society. The epistemological basis for peace research also seems to apply to LCA research. The term value has many meanings. There are several classification methods for values and I claim that one is more suitable for choices in LCA than the others. The correlation between values and choice is not straightforward, and values can only partially explain choices. Describing the value base for choices in LCA increases the consistency and transparency of the value choices and offers a means of justifying them. It is recommended that the value base is described in terms of 1) what is included in the concern for the environment 2) how tradeoffs are made and 3) how uncertainty is handled.
An isokinetic sampler for the determination of particle flux in flue gases, ventilators and ambie... more An isokinetic sampler for the determination of particle flux in flue gases, ventilators and ambient air was developed. Basically the sampler consists of a small cylinder which is open at both ends. During sampling its axis is oriented parallel to the flow lines. The fluid is allowed to pass &kinetically through a nozzle at the front end of the cylinder by means of its own inertia. The particles are charged and deposited on the cylinder wall. The cylinder acts as a collecting electrode in an electrostatic precipitator and its weight is determined before and after the sampling. The collection efficiency is above 90"/, for most particles. The sampler is battery-operated and its total weight is 2.3 kg.
Life cycle costing (LCC) is applied as an assessment tool to estimate the entire cost of typicall... more Life cycle costing (LCC) is applied as an assessment tool to estimate the entire cost of typically large-scale assets, for example, buildings and infrastructure objects with a considerably long serviceable life. LCC needs to consider and accumulate all types of cost, and since these occur at different times they are typically discounted to a common point in time. Environmental LCC is a specific type of LCC, which was designed to be aligned with the ISO 14040 standard for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and shares some key components with Environmental LCA to allow a consistent combination of both in one assessment. Societal LCC is another type of LCC, which includes externalities and attempts to provide a holistic assessment, thereby covering both economic and environmental aspects. For renewables, aspects such as feed-in tariffs and subsidies need to be considered in an LCC model. A case study for a combined heat and power plant is used to illustrate the application of Environmental LCC
Dry deposition of dolomite particles from a small plume onto various kinds of surfaces was studie... more Dry deposition of dolomite particles from a small plume onto various kinds of surfaces was studied. The concentratiotiwas measured in the air via isokinetic sampling on filters. The deposition and size distribution of the deposited particles were determined with a sedimentation scale. The results show significant variations in size distribution of deposited material and deposition velocity with wind velocity, particle size and type of surface. Clear indications of resuspension and 'bounce-otT were found.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Feb 6, 2016
Purpose The purpose of this work is to identify and select safeguard subjects and state indicator... more Purpose The purpose of this work is to identify and select safeguard subjects and state indicators that are suitable for sustainability assessment in product and production development, using an interpretation of the Brundtland definition of sustainable development. The purpose is also to investigate how indicators selected in this way differ from other selections in the literature. Methods We use a top-down approach, which starts with reviewing the Brundtland definition of sustainability and identifying the corresponding human basic needs to be satisfied. For each basic need, we identify relevant satisfiers, and for each satisfier, a number of safeguard subjects. The safeguard subjects represent critical resources for making satisfiers available. For each safeguard subject, a number of state indicators (=endpoint category indicators) are selected that are relevant for describing impacts from product life cycles on the safeguard subject. Results and discussion Ecosystem services, access to water, and abiotic resources are identified as environmental safeguard subjects. Technology for transports, environment, textiles, housing, food, information, and energy, together with income, are identified as economical safeguard subjects. Human health, land availability, peace, social security, continuity, knowledge, jobs/occupation, and culture are identified as social safeguard subjects. In comparison with the other selections of safeguard subjects in literature, our safeguard subjects are structured differently and delimited in scope, but there are also many similarities. The best agreement is on environmental issues, but we classify human health as a social issue. For social issues, we identify fewer safeguard subjects and state indicators than recommendations from UNEP/SETAC. For economic issues, we diverse from current LCC and approach UNECE measures of sustainability. Conclusions Identification and selection of safeguard subjects and state indicators benefit from a clear definition of sustainability, needs to be satisfied, and satisfiers. The interpretation of the sustainability concept has a large influence on which safeguard subjects that are included and which indicators that are needed to describe their state. Capacity building is an important sustainability indicator, which should be developed further for use in life cycle sustainability assessment. The topdown approach offers a good arena for a further research and discussions on how to structure and focus LCSA. Our results shall be seen as one example of which safeguard subject that may be identified with the top-down approach presented here.
An attempt has been made to estimate the value of present ores to future generations. The direct ... more An attempt has been made to estimate the value of present ores to future generations. The direct costs for the producer and the external environmental costs for the society of a sustainable production of ore-like metal concentrates are investigated. In a technical scenario, granite, granodiorite and basalt rock are mined, crushed and ground to give fine powders. The powders are acid leached and the extracted metals precipitated using hydrogen sulphide and sodium hydroxide to form the ore-like concentrates. All chemicals are produced in a sustainable way. Leaching efficiencies and use of energy-ware (ISO standard term for oil, coal, electricity, etc.) and chemicals are important factors in the cost estimation, as well as the number of metals mined at the same time. It is assumed that 10 different metal concentrates are produced at the same time. The technical scenario uses state-of-the-art technology. No new technical achievements are assumed. The estimated costs exceed current prices by orders of magnitude. In cost estimation for individual metals, the main uncertainty lies in the allocation of costs amongst the metals produced at the same time.
This study deals with some methods of making human exposure estimates, aimed at describing the hu... more This study deals with some methods of making human exposure estimates, aimed at describing the human exposure for selected air pollutants in Sweden that are suspected carcinogens. Nitrogen oxides (NOX) have been chosen as an indicator substance for estimating the concentration of the urban plume. Earlier investigations have shown that the traffic in Swedish cities contributes around 85% to the measured NOx concentrations, and that most of the mutagenicity in urban air originates from traffic. The first section of this paper describes measurements in Stockholm of some unregulated light hydrocarbons, such as ethene, ethyne, propane, propene, butane, and isobutane. In addition, measurements of some volatile aro- matic hydrocarbons are presented. Simultaneous measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) were made. The ratios between CO and the individual specific compounds were determined by linear regression analysis. By analysis of relationships between CO and NO X, NO concentrations can be used as a tracer to describe the exposure for these specific compounds. NOX are considered to be a better tracer than CO, because NOX or NO2 values exist for many places over a long time, while CO is measured mostly in streets with high concentrations. At low concentrations, instruments that measure normal CO levels give no detectable signals. Through use of atmospheric dispersion models and models that describe how people live and work in urban areas it has been possible to describe the average exposure to NOx in cities of different sizes. The exposure to NOx for people liv- ing in the countryside has also been estimated. In this way, it has been possible to calculate the average exposure dose for NOX for the Swedish population. This figure is 23 pg/mi3. By use of the relationships between NOX and specific compounds the average dose has been calculated for the following compounds: polyaromatic compounds (PAH); ethene, propene, and butadiene; benzene, toluene, and xylene; formaldehyde and actaldehyde; nickel, chromium (VI), arsenic, and cadmium; asbestos; and silicon. -Environ Health Perspect 102(Suppl 4): 39-47 (1994).
Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Apr 1, 2005
PurposeFrom a methodological point of view, life cycle costing (LCC) is well developed with respe... more PurposeFrom a methodological point of view, life cycle costing (LCC) is well developed with respect to conventional costs. However, when it comes to costs related to environmental issues, neither the items nor their estimation have been well developed. This paper aims at investigating the possibilities of using life cycle assessment (LCA) results to identify and estimate environmental costs or benefits in an LCC.Design/methodology/approachThe paper begins by looking at the driving forces for introducing environmental costs in companies, continues by identifying external and internal environmental cost issues, and concludes with an attempt to estimate the internal costs.FindingsSome of the items of an LCC have to do with increased/decreased sales, others with good will. Both are difficult to estimate, but LCA or LCA‐like investigations may be helpful in identifying relevant issues. Future costs to the product system may also be estimated, for example, with a distance‐to‐target type of weighting. LCA may be helpful in roughly estimating risks, especially together with those LCA impact assessment methods that model damage. Such an item in LCC can be dealt with as an insurance fee or, if the risk is too high, as a way of including necessary preventive actions.Research limitations/implicationsThe literature on the subject is limited and not sufficient to aid in estimation of environmental costs and benefits for a company. It seems reasonable to begin an improvement of the methodology by looking at future costs and benefits.Practical implicationsThis paper may help in structuring the task of using LCA information for estimating environmental costs in LCC.Originality/valueThere has been increased interest recently in the integration of LCA and LCC, such as in the SETAC (Society for Ecotoxicology and Chemistry) working group on LCC. This paper contributes with new outlooks and structures for that work.
Certified environmental product declarations (EPD) are beginning to be used in several countries.... more Certified environmental product declarations (EPD) are beginning to be used in several countries. To date, user experience indicates that the EPD results are difficult for professional purchasers and salespeople to understand. In order to improve understanding, three interpretation keys have been developed. They recalculate the EPD results to other numbers, which are easier to value. One key calculates the degree of satisfaction of environmental goals, another calculates the damage cost and yet another compares with what is normal in economic activity. The three interpretation keys represent different ethical views of the environment. Intended users, people having some knowledge of environmental issues without being specialists, have tested the keys on several occasions after which the keys were redesigned. We concluded that the interpretation keys offer increased understanding.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Oct 14, 2005
Intention, Goal, Scope, Background. It has gained growing acceptance in recent years that there a... more Intention, Goal, Scope, Background. It has gained growing acceptance in recent years that there are values in LCA, and several authors have discussed how value orientations can influence LCA models and results. The aim of this article is to continue this discussion and to focus on value choices in LCA. Objectives. To find a way of describing value orientations in relation to choices in LCA. Methods. This objective has been pursued in this paper by investigating the relationship between values and traditional science, exploring the concept of values, investigating the relationship between values and choice, and suggesting a way to describe the value base for specific choices in LCA. Research on how to improve the environmental performance of products resembles peace research in that it aims to achieve a certain value-laden situation in society. The epistemological basis for peace research also seems to apply to LCA research. The term value has many meanings. There are several classification methods for values and I claim that one is more suitable for choices in LCA than the others. The correlation between values and choice is not straightforward, and values can only partially explain choices. Describing the value base for choices in LCA increases the consistency and transparency of the value choices and offers a means of justifying them. It is recommended that the value base is described in terms of 1) what is included in the concern for the environment 2) how tradeoffs are made and 3) how uncertainty is handled.
An isokinetic sampler for the determination of particle flux in flue gases, ventilators and ambie... more An isokinetic sampler for the determination of particle flux in flue gases, ventilators and ambient air was developed. Basically the sampler consists of a small cylinder which is open at both ends. During sampling its axis is oriented parallel to the flow lines. The fluid is allowed to pass &kinetically through a nozzle at the front end of the cylinder by means of its own inertia. The particles are charged and deposited on the cylinder wall. The cylinder acts as a collecting electrode in an electrostatic precipitator and its weight is determined before and after the sampling. The collection efficiency is above 90"/, for most particles. The sampler is battery-operated and its total weight is 2.3 kg.
Life cycle costing (LCC) is applied as an assessment tool to estimate the entire cost of typicall... more Life cycle costing (LCC) is applied as an assessment tool to estimate the entire cost of typically large-scale assets, for example, buildings and infrastructure objects with a considerably long serviceable life. LCC needs to consider and accumulate all types of cost, and since these occur at different times they are typically discounted to a common point in time. Environmental LCC is a specific type of LCC, which was designed to be aligned with the ISO 14040 standard for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and shares some key components with Environmental LCA to allow a consistent combination of both in one assessment. Societal LCC is another type of LCC, which includes externalities and attempts to provide a holistic assessment, thereby covering both economic and environmental aspects. For renewables, aspects such as feed-in tariffs and subsidies need to be considered in an LCC model. A case study for a combined heat and power plant is used to illustrate the application of Environmental LCC
Dry deposition of dolomite particles from a small plume onto various kinds of surfaces was studie... more Dry deposition of dolomite particles from a small plume onto various kinds of surfaces was studied. The concentratiotiwas measured in the air via isokinetic sampling on filters. The deposition and size distribution of the deposited particles were determined with a sedimentation scale. The results show significant variations in size distribution of deposited material and deposition velocity with wind velocity, particle size and type of surface. Clear indications of resuspension and 'bounce-otT were found.
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Papers by Bengt Steen