Browsing by Keyword "Environmental impacts"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    End-of-life management of single-use baby diapers: Analysis of technical, health and environment aspects: Analysis of technical, health and environment aspects
    (2022-08-25) Płotka-Wasylka, Justyna; Makoś-Chełstowska, Patrycja; Kurowska-Susdorf, Aleksandra; Treviño, María José Santoyo; Guzmán, Sergio Zarazúa; Mostafa, Heba; Cordella, Mauro; Tecnalia Research & Innovation
    Single-use baby diapers belongs to an important group of products used in the parenting journey because of their high performance and convenience. Single-use baby diapers are normally thrown away after one-time use, resulting in a waste management problem. The goal of this paper was to better understand main environmental concerns of different types of diapers and address how to reduce them, with a special consideration of waste management strategies and user behaviour practices. Furthermore, health and environmental hazards potentially associated with materials included in diapers, or substances formed from diapers during the waste treatment stage, are also analysed (e.g., phthalates, pesticides, dioxins, pesticides). Three main types of baby diapers have been analysed: single-use baby diapers, reusable baby diapers, and biodegradable single-use diapers. Each type of diaper comes with technical characteristics and environmental concerns and challenges, which are discussed in this paper to support the development of measures for the safe(r) and sustainable design, use and end of life management of baby diapers.
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    Life cycle and economic assessment of tidal energy farms in early design phases: Application to a second-generation tidal device
    (2024-06-30) Bianchi, M.; Arnal, A. J.; Astorkiza-Andres, M.; Clavell-Diaz, J.; Marques, A.; Isasa-Sarralde, M.; ECONOMÍA CIRCULAR
    Ocean currents are emerging as key contributors to renewable energy generation. However, technologies for harvesting tidal current energy are still in the early stages of development. In this context, environmental and economic studies on tidal energy converters (TECs) are crucial to further advance tidal technology and facilitate its entry into the market. This article presents a life cycle and economic assessment of a 34.5 MW tidal farm project comprising 23 second-generation tidal devices, each with a rated power of 1.5 MW. The tidal system was simulated using primary data from the full-scale floating platform Atir. The Atir is a pre-commercial tidal device designed with a steel trimaran and a submerged section for TEC installation. An assessment of 18 environmental impact categories was conducted using the ReCiPe 2016 MidPoint method, with process flow systems modelled using SimaPro v9.2.0.1 software. The environmental assessment indicates emissions of 42.11 g CO2eq per kWh, primarily stemming from manufacturing processes that demand substantial amounts of steel. The economic analysis reveals a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of 0.125 EUR/kWh, consistent with European Commission projections. Although the platform structure represents a high initial investment, the lower maintenance costs of the Atir device provide long-term savings and, overall, result in a competitive LCOE. The study also introduces a methodological framework for harmonised environmental and economic assessments in tidal energy projects, proving crucial in supporting decision-making processes.
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    Life Cycle Assessment of applying CO2 post-combustion capture to the Spanish cement production
    (2015-10-01) García-Gusano, Diego; Garraín, Daniel; Herrera, Israel; Cabal, Helena; Lechón, Yolanda; PLANIFICACIÓN ENERGÉTICA
    Although cement production is a very energy-intensive industry which releases huge amounts of pollutants to the environment, there is a lack of environmental studies focused on applying CO2 capture technologies to mitigate global warming in this industry. Furthermore, other environmental and human health impacts are omitted or underestimated. This paper carries out a detailed Life Cycle Assessment of the Spanish cement production in order to analyse the effect of applying post-combustion CO2 capture technology using monoethanolamine as absorbent. Moreover, the work discusses the pros and cons of CO2 capture within the cement manufacture from an environmental point of view. On the basis of the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) 2011 midpoint method, results show improvements in global warming, ozone depletion and abiotic depletion potentials but acidification, photochemical ozone formation, eutrophication, human toxicities, ionising radiation, particulate matter, ecotoxicity, and land use potentials are increased by several times. Besides, the paper shows the decisive contribution of the cogeneration plant required to produce heat. It is necessary to carry out more research concerning how to face the energy penalty. Authors strongly recommend exploring natural gas or biomass CHP plants implementation as well as synergies between cement facilities and power plants.
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    Life-cycle assessment of buildings
    (Elsevier, 2018-01-01) Hernandez, Patxi; Oregi, Xabat; Longo, Sonia; Cellura, Maurizio; PLANIFICACIÓN ENERGÉTICA; Tecnalia Research & Innovation
    As building energy efficiency improves and energy use in operation of buildings is reduced, it is increasingly important to take into account other phases of the building life cycle. A consistent methodology needs to be applied for evaluating impacts of products used through the building whole life cycle, including their manufacturing, transport, installation, use, maintenance and substitution, and end of life. This life-cycle perspective serves to evaluate if the environmental benefits of reducing building energy use are not outweighed by environmental impacts from other building life-cycle phases. The methodology can also integrate cost and even social indicators to provide a wider life-cycle sustainability performance evaluation.
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    Measuring investments progress in ecological transition: The Green Investment Financial Tool (GIFT) approach
    (2022-07-10) Becchetti, Leonardo; Cordella, Mauro; Morone, Piergiuseppe; Tecnalia Research & Innovation
    Driving and monitoring the transition toward a sustainable economy requires sound environmental and social indicators. In this paper we outline the ‘Green Investment Financial Tool’ (GIFT), an approach developed within a pilot project of the Italian government to assess the environmental performance of investments through quantitative indicators defined based on system thinking and life cycle assessment, while pursuing the fulfilment of the “Do Not Significant Harm” principle (i.e., no step back in the six environmental objectives set in the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities) as well as social safeguard requirements. We explain how the GIFT can be applied to small and medium business investments without creating competitive barriers associated with high cost of implementation. We also discuss how the approach could be potentially used in support of policy applications (e.g., enhancing green private investments, issuing green government bonds), when defining improvement objectives aligned with the EU taxonomy, and its implications for knowledge creation (monitoring and accounting). Finally, research orientations for potential future developments of the approach are addressed.