1. Methodological aspects of applying life cycle assessment to industrial symbioses
- Author
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Laura Sokka, Ari Nissinen, Tuomas Mattila, Suvi Lehtoranta, and Matti Melanen
- Subjects
ILCD ,Circular economy ,environmental impact ,decision making ,industrial ecology ,Market analysis ,Industrial symbiosis ,consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) ,Economics ,industrial symbiosis ,SDG 13 - Climate Action ,Operations management ,Environmental impact assessment ,SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy ,Life-cycle assessment ,General Environmental Science ,General Social Sciences ,SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth ,Systems analysis ,Risk analysis (engineering) ,Industrial ecology ,SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production - Abstract
Summary In view of recent studies of the historical development and current status of industrial symbiosis (IS), life cycle assessment (LCA) is proposed as a general framework for quantifying the environmental performance of by-product exchange. Recent guidelines for LCA (International Reference Life Cycle Data System [ILCD] guidelines) are applied to answer the main research questions in the IS literature reviewed. A typology of five main research questions is proposed: (1) analysis, (2) improvement, and (3) expansion of existing systems; (4) design of new eco-industrial parks, and (5) restructuring of circular economies. The LCA guidelines were found useful in framing the question and choosing an appropriate reference case for comparison. The selection of a correct reference case reduces the risk of overestimating the benefits of by-product exchange. In the analysis of existing systems, environmentally extended input-output analysis (EEIOA) can be used to streamline the analysis and provide an industry average baseline for comparison. However, when large-scale changes are applied to the system, more sophisticated tools are necessary for assessment of the consequences, from market analysis to general equilibrium modeling and future scenario work. Such a rigorous application of systems analysis was not found in the current IS literature, but would benefit the field substantially, especially when the environmental impact of large-scale economic changes is analyzed.
- Published
- 2012