Manuele Margni's Publications
2025
Rognan M S; Margni M; Majeau-Bettez G
SSELF: A Specific SEmiautomated Lifecycle Footprinting framework to go beyond generic data in LCA Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, pp. 1-17, 2025, ISSN: 1088-1980.
@article{Rognan2025,
title = {SSELF: A Specific SEmiautomated Lifecycle Footprinting framework to go beyond generic data in LCA},
author = {Marit Salome Rognan and Manuele Margni and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70056},
doi = {10.1111/jiec.70056},
issn = {1088-1980},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
pages = {1-17},
abstract = {<p>Advancements in life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmentally extended input–output analysis enable quick generic estimations of the environmental footprint of almost any product and service. However, going beyond a generic estimate to an assessment based on actual, specific supply chain data remains costly and impracticable and demands significant sharing of proprietary data between supply chain actors and the LCA practitioner. Achieving widespread specificity in LCA requires fundamentally changing the way inventory and emission data are collected, stored, and exchanged. This research develops the SSELF (Specific SEmiautomated Lifecycle Footprinting) framework to go beyond generic data in LCA in a way that can scale up, while safeguarding sensitive data. A key feature of the framework is decentralizing inventory collection and footprint calculations. Thus, production functions remain private and upstream impacts are calculated using an iterative approach with a database of unique product identifiers and the footprints reported by other users, capturing changes in the footprints of suppliers. Although this substantially reduces the effort of footprint assessments, implementing the framework in practice presents new challenges, which are identified and discussed in this paper along with recommendations on how they can be addressed and their implications. This work provides important insight into how to get to a point where every product and service has its unique footprint. Broad access to footprints with more specificity is necessary to help consumers reduce their consumption‐based impacts and make companies take accountability for, and reduce, their indirect impacts.</p>},
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<p>Advancements in life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmentally extended input–output analysis enable quick generic estimations of the environmental footprint of almost any product and service. However, going beyond a generic estimate to an assessment based on actual, specific supply chain data remains costly and impracticable and demands significant sharing of proprietary data between supply chain actors and the LCA practitioner. Achieving widespread specificity in LCA requires fundamentally changing the way inventory and emission data are collected, stored, and exchanged. This research develops the SSELF (Specific SEmiautomated Lifecycle Footprinting) framework to go beyond generic data in LCA in a way that can scale up, while safeguarding sensitive data. A key feature of the framework is decentralizing inventory collection and footprint calculations. Thus, production functions remain private and upstream impacts are calculated using an iterative approach with a database of unique product identifiers and the footprints reported by other users, capturing changes in the footprints of suppliers. Although this substantially reduces the effort of footprint assessments, implementing the framework in practice presents new challenges, which are identified and discussed in this paper along with recommendations on how they can be addressed and their implications. This work provides important insight into how to get to a point where every product and service has its unique footprint. Broad access to footprints with more specificity is necessary to help consumers reduce their consumption‐based impacts and make companies take accountability for, and reduce, their indirect impacts.</p>
Greffe T; Margni M; Bulle C
Evaluation of metals mining and processing energy consumption and potential metals supply–demand mismatch towards 2100 Journal Article
In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 223, pp. 108482, 2025, ISSN: 09213449.
@article{Greffe2025,
title = {Evaluation of metals mining and processing energy consumption and potential metals supply–demand mismatch towards 2100},
author = {Titouan Greffe and Manuele Margni and Cécile Bulle},
doi = {10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108482},
issn = {09213449},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Resources, Conservation and Recycling},
volume = {223},
pages = {108482},
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Ospital L; Margni M; Boulay A
Development of a parametrized and regionalized life cycle inventory model for tire and road wear particles Journal Article
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 495, 2025, ISSN: 18733336.
@article{Ospital2025,
title = {Development of a parametrized and regionalized life cycle inventory model for tire and road wear particles},
author = {Louisa Ospital and Manuele Margni and Anne-Marie Boulay},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138986},
issn = {18733336},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
urldate = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Hazardous Materials},
volume = {495},
publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},
abstract = {Tire and Road Wear Particles (TRWPs), composed of degraded tire rubber and road particles, are non-exhaust traffic emissions and a significant global source of microplastics. With concerns regarding environmental and health effects, accurate emission estimates are needed to better understand their occurrence and potential impacts. Existing methodologies for quantifying TRWP emissions and fail to account for key parameters related to vehicle operation, environmental, and driving conditions influencing emissions, while overlooking geographical variations. This research article introduces a novel, parametrized, and regionalized inventory model for quantifying TRWP emissions, providing context-specific estimates at vehicle and national scales. It aims to complement Life Cycle Inventory databases allowing a comprehensive Life Cycle Impact Assessment of TRWPs in future works. A vehicle-specific methodology, incorporating nine key parameters – road texture, carried load, driving behavior, speed, road wetness, paved or non-paved roads, temperature, humidity, and tire type (summer, friction, studded) – to estimate both large (10–500 µm) and fine (<10 µm) tire wear particle emissions. Results indicate that road texture, driving behavior and road wetness mainly influence large particle emissions while increasing temperature and carried load predominantly affect fine particle emissions. The driving environment significantly influences both emission types. Despite limited data accuracy and availability, the design of the model allows for continuous updates to refine its applicability across diverse contexts.},
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Tire and Road Wear Particles (TRWPs), composed of degraded tire rubber and road particles, are non-exhaust traffic emissions and a significant global source of microplastics. With concerns regarding environmental and health effects, accurate emission estimates are needed to better understand their occurrence and potential impacts. Existing methodologies for quantifying TRWP emissions and fail to account for key parameters related to vehicle operation, environmental, and driving conditions influencing emissions, while overlooking geographical variations. This research article introduces a novel, parametrized, and regionalized inventory model for quantifying TRWP emissions, providing context-specific estimates at vehicle and national scales. It aims to complement Life Cycle Inventory databases allowing a comprehensive Life Cycle Impact Assessment of TRWPs in future works. A vehicle-specific methodology, incorporating nine key parameters – road texture, carried load, driving behavior, speed, road wetness, paved or non-paved roads, temperature, humidity, and tire type (summer, friction, studded) – to estimate both large (10–500 µm) and fine (<10 µm) tire wear particle emissions. Results indicate that road texture, driving behavior and road wetness mainly influence large particle emissions while increasing temperature and carried load predominantly affect fine particle emissions. The driving environment significantly influences both emission types. Despite limited data accuracy and availability, the design of the model allows for continuous updates to refine its applicability across diverse contexts.
Corre S; Domingos M E G R; Florez-Orrego D; Magnaval G; Margni M; Maréchal F
In: Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 341, 2025, ISSN: 01968904.
@article{Corre2025,
title = {Life cycle assessment and techno-economic comparison of methane production routes from sewage sludge: Incineration vs. Hydrothermal Gasification and Anaerobic Digestion},
author = {Soline Corre and Meire Ellen Gorete Ribeiro Domingos and Daniel Florez-Orrego and Gabriel Magnaval and Manuele Margni and François Maréchal},
doi = {10.1016/j.enconman.2025.120015},
issn = {01968904},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Energy Conversion and Management},
volume = {341},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {The disposal of sewage sludge poses significant challenges due to storage difficulties and the presence of pollutants and pathogens. Conventional treatment methods, such as incineration and anaerobic digestion (AD), are compared to advanced technologies like hydrothermal gasification (HTG) with syngas upgrading for methane production. Various indicators — i.e. environmental impacts, exergy efficiency, capital expenditures, and operational expenses — are assessed to evaluate these pathways. The scope of the life cycle assessment (LCA) accounts for the waste recovery, the treatement infrastructure, and material and energy flows. It additionally account for the substitution of valorized products. For instance, the methane produced is assumed to replace fossil methane with a substitution rate ranging from 100% (entire replacement of fossil methane) to 0%, considering either no substitution or future decarbonized energy systems. As a result, HTG achieves an exergy efficiency as low as 10.2 %. Yet, carbon management strategies, such as co-electrolysis (co-SOEC), can improve the exergy efficiency up to a value of 62.2 %. The most favourable routes in terms of GHG emissions are those mineralizing CO2 from sludge gasification (−1,100 kg CO2-eq/FU) or maximizing sludge-to-methane conversion (e.g., HTG with co-SOEC, −790 kg CO2-eq/FU). However, this benefit reverses under a 0 % substitution scenario (+770 kg CO2-eq/FU). In contrast, AD-based routes with lower energy demand show impacts between − 328 and + 70 kg CO2-eq/FU, also being more competitive in terms of costs. Beyond GHG emissions, trade-offs emerge across other impact categories, notably water scarcity, ecosystem quality, and fossil and nuclear energy use, particularly for routes involving CO2 mineralization and co-SOEC due to their high energy demand.},
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The disposal of sewage sludge poses significant challenges due to storage difficulties and the presence of pollutants and pathogens. Conventional treatment methods, such as incineration and anaerobic digestion (AD), are compared to advanced technologies like hydrothermal gasification (HTG) with syngas upgrading for methane production. Various indicators — i.e. environmental impacts, exergy efficiency, capital expenditures, and operational expenses — are assessed to evaluate these pathways. The scope of the life cycle assessment (LCA) accounts for the waste recovery, the treatement infrastructure, and material and energy flows. It additionally account for the substitution of valorized products. For instance, the methane produced is assumed to replace fossil methane with a substitution rate ranging from 100% (entire replacement of fossil methane) to 0%, considering either no substitution or future decarbonized energy systems. As a result, HTG achieves an exergy efficiency as low as 10.2 %. Yet, carbon management strategies, such as co-electrolysis (co-SOEC), can improve the exergy efficiency up to a value of 62.2 %. The most favourable routes in terms of GHG emissions are those mineralizing CO2 from sludge gasification (−1,100 kg CO2-eq/FU) or maximizing sludge-to-methane conversion (e.g., HTG with co-SOEC, −790 kg CO2-eq/FU). However, this benefit reverses under a 0 % substitution scenario (+770 kg CO2-eq/FU). In contrast, AD-based routes with lower energy demand show impacts between − 328 and + 70 kg CO2-eq/FU, also being more competitive in terms of costs. Beyond GHG emissions, trade-offs emerge across other impact categories, notably water scarcity, ecosystem quality, and fossil and nuclear energy use, particularly for routes involving CO2 mineralization and co-SOEC due to their high energy demand.
Kaddoura M; Majeau-Bettez G; Amor B; Margni M
Global sensitivity analysis reduces data collection efforts in LCA: A comparison between two additive manufacturing technologies Journal Article
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 975, 2025, ISSN: 18791026.
@article{Kaddoura2025,
title = {Global sensitivity analysis reduces data collection efforts in LCA: A comparison between two additive manufacturing technologies},
author = {Mohamad Kaddoura and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Ben Amor and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179269},
issn = {18791026},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Science of The Total Environment},
volume = {975},
publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},
abstract = {Accounting for the environmental impacts in the design of technologies is becoming a necessity for manufacturers. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a well-established method to quantify the environmental impacts of products and services through a holistic perspective and is increasingly used to support the eco-design of products and technologies. However, LCA generally faces an inherent issue with data availability. Given the constraints on both time and cost for collecting inventory data to feed the LCA model, a trade-off between data cost robustness is required with an efficient data collection strategy. The objective of this study is to develop a framework to prioritize data collection efforts in LCA using uncertainty analysis. This starts with a screening life cycle inventory analysis systematically informing all input parameters with uncertainty ranges. Monte Carlo analysis is then used to propagate the uncertainty through the model. Stochastic results are then compared with an acceptable confidence level set by the decision maker. This is followed by a global sensitivity analysis using Sobol' indices to rank different input parameters based on their contribution to the variability of the results. This paves the way for an iterative process prioritizing further data collection focusing on the most sensitive parameters. A case study comparing cold spray and wire arc additive manufacturing illustrates how to operationalize the framework. Learnings from the case study highlight the importance of defining the uncertainty ranges and the convergence criterion, where more work is needed in that domain.},
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Accounting for the environmental impacts in the design of technologies is becoming a necessity for manufacturers. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a well-established method to quantify the environmental impacts of products and services through a holistic perspective and is increasingly used to support the eco-design of products and technologies. However, LCA generally faces an inherent issue with data availability. Given the constraints on both time and cost for collecting inventory data to feed the LCA model, a trade-off between data cost robustness is required with an efficient data collection strategy. The objective of this study is to develop a framework to prioritize data collection efforts in LCA using uncertainty analysis. This starts with a screening life cycle inventory analysis systematically informing all input parameters with uncertainty ranges. Monte Carlo analysis is then used to propagate the uncertainty through the model. Stochastic results are then compared with an acceptable confidence level set by the decision maker. This is followed by a global sensitivity analysis using Sobol' indices to rank different input parameters based on their contribution to the variability of the results. This paves the way for an iterative process prioritizing further data collection focusing on the most sensitive parameters. A case study comparing cold spray and wire arc additive manufacturing illustrates how to operationalize the framework. Learnings from the case study highlight the importance of defining the uncertainty ranges and the convergence criterion, where more work is needed in that domain.
2024
Duval L; Majeau-Bettez G; Saunier F; Maréchal F; Margni M
Optimization of the end‐of‐life tire repartition within the European treatment system to minimize its environmental impacts Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2024, ISSN: 1088-1980.
@article{Duval2024,
title = {Optimization of the end‐of‐life tire repartition within the European treatment system to minimize its environmental impacts},
author = {Lisa Duval and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and François Saunier and François Maréchal and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1111/jiec.13474},
issn = {1088-1980},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
abstract = {<p>This study contrasts two different approaches to inform European‐scale decision‐making to mitigate the environmental impacts of the end‐of‐life tires (ELT) management system. The first analysis is a traditional life cycle assessment (LCA) that compares the environmental performances of the 12 main available European end‐of‐life (EOL) technologies in ELT processing while restricting the boundaries to the EOL stage. The second analysis has a broader scope, addressing the optimization of the ELT distribution within the 12 considered pathways to minimize the environmental impacts of the total tire use in Europe under present capacity and constraints. The results of the traditional LCA show that, except for landfill, all the tested EOL routes present environmental benefits. Material recovery pathways bring the most environmental credits, whereas civil engineering pathways are the least promising. The LCA results that emerged from the optimization of ELT management technologies yield two optimal technological mixes that maximize the quantity of ELT recycled in molded objects production: such results represent a hypothetical case with no constraints. When considering constraints, that is, limitations on maximum quantities of ELT that can undergo retreading, pyrolysis, or recycling in synthetic turfs, in molded objects and in production, the number of optimal technology mixes increases to five. The type of technologies favored depends on the minimized impact categories (climate change, fossil and nuclear energy use, human health, and ecosystem quality). A comparison between constrained and unconstrained scenarios shows that achieving the best environmental performances is conditional to the accessibility of the EOL technologies as well as their individual environmental impacts.</p>},
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<p>This study contrasts two different approaches to inform European‐scale decision‐making to mitigate the environmental impacts of the end‐of‐life tires (ELT) management system. The first analysis is a traditional life cycle assessment (LCA) that compares the environmental performances of the 12 main available European end‐of‐life (EOL) technologies in ELT processing while restricting the boundaries to the EOL stage. The second analysis has a broader scope, addressing the optimization of the ELT distribution within the 12 considered pathways to minimize the environmental impacts of the total tire use in Europe under present capacity and constraints. The results of the traditional LCA show that, except for landfill, all the tested EOL routes present environmental benefits. Material recovery pathways bring the most environmental credits, whereas civil engineering pathways are the least promising. The LCA results that emerged from the optimization of ELT management technologies yield two optimal technological mixes that maximize the quantity of ELT recycled in molded objects production: such results represent a hypothetical case with no constraints. When considering constraints, that is, limitations on maximum quantities of ELT that can undergo retreading, pyrolysis, or recycling in synthetic turfs, in molded objects and in production, the number of optimal technology mixes increases to five. The type of technologies favored depends on the minimized impact categories (climate change, fossil and nuclear energy use, human health, and ecosystem quality). A comparison between constrained and unconstrained scenarios shows that achieving the best environmental performances is conditional to the accessibility of the EOL technologies as well as their individual environmental impacts.</p>
Kaddoura M; Majeau-Bettez G; Amor B; Poirier D; Margni M
Estimating and reducing dissipative losses in thermal spray: A parametrized material flow analysis approach Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 450, pp. 141978, 2024, ISSN: 09596526.
@article{Kaddoura2024,
title = {Estimating and reducing dissipative losses in thermal spray: A parametrized material flow analysis approach},
author = {Mohamad Kaddoura and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Ben Amor and Dominique Poirier and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141978},
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Schnidrig J; Souttre M; Chuat A; Maréchal F; Margni M
In: Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 370, iss. 7, pp. 122537, 2024, ISSN: 03014797.
@article{Schnidrig2024,
title = {Between green hills and green bills: Unveiling the green shades of sustainability and burden shifting through multi-objective optimization in Swiss energy system planning},
author = {Jonas Schnidrig and Matthieu Souttre and Arthur Chuat and François Maréchal and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122537},
issn = {03014797},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},
volume = {370},
issue = {7},
pages = {122537},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {The global transition to decentralized energy systems signifies a fundamental transformation toward sustainable energy paradigms. This study specifically focuses on the Swiss energy system, analyzing how dynamic pricing influences the strategic decisions of different actors. The main contributions include 1) a detailed examination of pricing models tailored to the Swiss context, 2) an exploration of strategic financial burden shifts among end-users, TSOs, and DSOs, and 3) a comparison of decentralized versus centralized energy models, highlighting their respective efficiencies and resilience. This research differentiates from existing literature by providing an in-depth actor-based analysis within a Swiss context, offering valuable insights into decentralized energy system optimization. This study tackles the problem of how pricing influences strategic decisions across different actors in Switzerland&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s evolving decentralized energy landscape. Here we show that a carefully tailored pricing model, designed for the Swiss context, enables optimized strategies that balance local efficiencies with systemic equity and resilience. The analysis reveals that decentralized approaches, in contrast to centralized models, not only accommodate diverse stakeholder preferences but also enhance system robustness against market and operational disruptions. Moreover, the study illustrates the strategic financial burden shifting where end-users compensate for cost shifts, with observed additional costs up to 5200 CHF/year cap when service providers are prioritized as objective actors. Notably, the most frequently selected system configuration in the primal problem, which optimizes the total system costs, aligns with the preferences of TSO and DSO for a 47.1 GW PV deployment. However, end-users demonstrate a preference for increased PV installations, constrained by urban grid capacities. Additionally, the study highlights significant regional disparities across Switzerland, necessitating tailored pricing approaches that reflect varied urban forms. The emergence of prosumers catalyzes new business models, redistributing investments across TSOs (256&amp;amp;amp;#x2013;261 CHF/cap/year), DSOs (244&amp;amp;amp;#x2013;413 CHF/cap/year), and prosumers (556&amp;amp;amp;#x2013;764 CHF/cap/year), showcasing the evolving dynamics of energy system economics.},
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The global transition to decentralized energy systems signifies a fundamental transformation toward sustainable energy paradigms. This study specifically focuses on the Swiss energy system, analyzing how dynamic pricing influences the strategic decisions of different actors. The main contributions include 1) a detailed examination of pricing models tailored to the Swiss context, 2) an exploration of strategic financial burden shifts among end-users, TSOs, and DSOs, and 3) a comparison of decentralized versus centralized energy models, highlighting their respective efficiencies and resilience. This research differentiates from existing literature by providing an in-depth actor-based analysis within a Swiss context, offering valuable insights into decentralized energy system optimization. This study tackles the problem of how pricing influences strategic decisions across different actors in Switzerland&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s evolving decentralized energy landscape. Here we show that a carefully tailored pricing model, designed for the Swiss context, enables optimized strategies that balance local efficiencies with systemic equity and resilience. The analysis reveals that decentralized approaches, in contrast to centralized models, not only accommodate diverse stakeholder preferences but also enhance system robustness against market and operational disruptions. Moreover, the study illustrates the strategic financial burden shifting where end-users compensate for cost shifts, with observed additional costs up to 5200 CHF/year cap when service providers are prioritized as objective actors. Notably, the most frequently selected system configuration in the primal problem, which optimizes the total system costs, aligns with the preferences of TSO and DSO for a 47.1 GW PV deployment. However, end-users demonstrate a preference for increased PV installations, constrained by urban grid capacities. Additionally, the study highlights significant regional disparities across Switzerland, necessitating tailored pricing approaches that reflect varied urban forms. The emergence of prosumers catalyzes new business models, redistributing investments across TSOs (256&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2013;261 CHF/cap/year), DSOs (244&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2013;413 CHF/cap/year), and prosumers (556&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2013;764 CHF/cap/year), showcasing the evolving dynamics of energy system economics.
Schnidrig J; Souttre M; Chuat A; Maréchal F; Margni M
In: Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 370, pp. 122537, 2024, ISSN: 03014797.
@article{Schnidrig2024b,
title = {Between green hills and green bills: Unveiling the green shades of sustainability and burden shifting through multi-objective optimization in Swiss energy system planning},
author = { Jonas Schnidrig and Matthieu Souttre and Arthur Chuat and François Maréchal and Manuele Margni},
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Bolay A; Bjørn A; Patouillard L; Weber O; Margni M
What drives companies’ progress on their emission reduction targets? Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 468, pp. 143124, 2024, ISSN: 09596526.
@article{Bolay2024,
title = {What drives companies’ progress on their emission reduction targets?},
author = {Anne-France Bolay and Anders Bjørn and Laure Patouillard and Olaf Weber and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143124},
issn = {09596526},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
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Debarre L; Motoshita M; Pfister S; Boulay A; Margni M
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2024, ISSN: 0948-3349.
@article{Debarre2024,
title = {Assessing the potential human health impacts of freshwater consumption: considering inequalities in water availability to assess the consequences of domestic water deprivation},
author = {Laura Debarre and Masaharu Motoshita and Stephan Pfister and Anne-Marie Boulay and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-024-02395-7},
issn = {0948-3349},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment},
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Greffe T; Frenzel M; Werner T T; Mudd G; Wang P; Margni M; Bulle C
Byproduct-to-Host Ratios for Assessing the Accessibility of Mineral Resources Journal Article
In: Environmental Science & Technology, 2024, ISSN: 0013-936X.
@article{Greffe2024,
title = {Byproduct-to-Host Ratios for Assessing the Accessibility of Mineral Resources},
author = {Titouan Greffe and Max Frenzel and Tim T. Werner and Gavin Mudd and Peng Wang and Manuele Margni and Cécile Bulle},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c05293},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.4c05293},
issn = {0013-936X},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Environmental Science & Technology},
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Schnidrig J; Chuat A; Granacher J; Terrier C; Maréchal F; Margni M
Power shift: quantifying the role of actors in the multi-actor Swiss energy system decentralization Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Energy Research, vol. 12, 2024, ISSN: 2296598X.
@article{Schnidrig2024c,
title = {Power shift: quantifying the role of actors in the multi-actor Swiss energy system decentralization},
author = { Jonas Schnidrig and Arthur Chuat and Julia Granacher and Cédric Terrier and François Maréchal and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.3389/fenrg.2024.1433921},
issn = {2296598X},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Energy Research},
volume = {12},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {The global transition to decentralized energy systems signifies a fundamental transformation toward sustainable energy paradigms. This study specifically focuses on the Swiss energy system, analyzing how dynamic pricing influences the strategic decisions of different actors. The main contributions include 1) a detailed examination of pricing models tailored to the Swiss context, 2) an exploration of strategic financial burden shifts among end-users, TSOs, and DSOs, and 3) a comparison of decentralized versus centralized energy models, highlighting their respective efficiencies and resilience. This research differentiates from existing literature by providing an in-depth actor-based analysis within a Swiss context, offering valuable insights into decentralized energy system optimization. This study tackles the problem of how pricing influences strategic decisions across different actors in Switzerland&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s evolving decentralized energy landscape. Here we show that a carefully tailored pricing model, designed for the Swiss context, enables optimized strategies that balance local efficiencies with systemic equity and resilience. The analysis reveals that decentralized approaches, in contrast to centralized models, not only accommodate diverse stakeholder preferences but also enhance system robustness against market and operational disruptions. Moreover, the study illustrates the strategic financial burden shifting where end-users compensate for cost shifts, with observed additional costs up to 5200 CHF/year cap when service providers are prioritized as objective actors. Notably, the most frequently selected system configuration in the primal problem, which optimizes the total system costs, aligns with the preferences of TSO and DSO for a 47.1 GW PV deployment. However, end-users demonstrate a preference for increased PV installations, constrained by urban grid capacities. Additionally, the study highlights significant regional disparities across Switzerland, necessitating tailored pricing approaches that reflect varied urban forms. The emergence of prosumers catalyzes new business models, redistributing investments across TSOs (256&amp;amp;amp;#x2013;261 CHF/cap/year), DSOs (244&amp;amp;amp;#x2013;413 CHF/cap/year), and prosumers (556&amp;amp;amp;#x2013;764 CHF/cap/year), showcasing the evolving dynamics of energy system economics.},
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tppubtype = {article}
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The global transition to decentralized energy systems signifies a fundamental transformation toward sustainable energy paradigms. This study specifically focuses on the Swiss energy system, analyzing how dynamic pricing influences the strategic decisions of different actors. The main contributions include 1) a detailed examination of pricing models tailored to the Swiss context, 2) an exploration of strategic financial burden shifts among end-users, TSOs, and DSOs, and 3) a comparison of decentralized versus centralized energy models, highlighting their respective efficiencies and resilience. This research differentiates from existing literature by providing an in-depth actor-based analysis within a Swiss context, offering valuable insights into decentralized energy system optimization. This study tackles the problem of how pricing influences strategic decisions across different actors in Switzerland&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s evolving decentralized energy landscape. Here we show that a carefully tailored pricing model, designed for the Swiss context, enables optimized strategies that balance local efficiencies with systemic equity and resilience. The analysis reveals that decentralized approaches, in contrast to centralized models, not only accommodate diverse stakeholder preferences but also enhance system robustness against market and operational disruptions. Moreover, the study illustrates the strategic financial burden shifting where end-users compensate for cost shifts, with observed additional costs up to 5200 CHF/year cap when service providers are prioritized as objective actors. Notably, the most frequently selected system configuration in the primal problem, which optimizes the total system costs, aligns with the preferences of TSO and DSO for a 47.1 GW PV deployment. However, end-users demonstrate a preference for increased PV installations, constrained by urban grid capacities. Additionally, the study highlights significant regional disparities across Switzerland, necessitating tailored pricing approaches that reflect varied urban forms. The emergence of prosumers catalyzes new business models, redistributing investments across TSOs (256&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2013;261 CHF/cap/year), DSOs (244&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2013;413 CHF/cap/year), and prosumers (556&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x2013;764 CHF/cap/year), showcasing the evolving dynamics of energy system economics.
2023
de Bortoli A; Bjørn A; Saunier F; Margni M
Planning sustainable carbon neutrality pathways: accounting challenges experienced by organizations and solutions from industrial ecology Journal Article
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 415, pp. 137629, 2023, ISSN: 0948-3349.
@article{deBortoli2023,
title = {Planning sustainable carbon neutrality pathways: accounting challenges experienced by organizations and solutions from industrial ecology},
author = {Anne de Bortoli and Anders Bjørn and François Saunier and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-023-02147-z},
issn = {0948-3349},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment},
volume = {415},
pages = {137629},
abstract = {Industries struggle to build robust environmental transition plans as they lack the tools to quantify their ecological responsibility over their value chain. Companies mostly turn to sole greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting or time-intensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), while Environmentally-Extended Input-Output (EEIO) analysis is more efficient on a wider scale. We illustrate EEIO analysis' usefulness to sketch transition plans on the example of Canada's road industry: estimation of national environmental contributions, most important environmental issues, main potential transition levers of the sector, and metrics prioritization for green purchase plans. To do so, openIO-Canada, a new Canadian EEIO database, coupled with IMPACT World+ v1.30–1.48 characterization method, provides a multicriteria environmental diagnosis of Canada's economy. The construction sector carries the second-highest environmental impacts of Canada (8–31% depending on the indicator) after the manufacturing industry (20–54%). The road industry generates a limited impact (0.5–1.8%), and emits 1.0% of Canadians' GHGs, mainly due to asphalt mix materials (28%), bridges and engineering structures materials (24%), and direct emissions (17%). The industry must reduce the environmental burden from material purchases - mainly concrete and asphalt products - through green purchase plans and eco-design and invest in new machinery powered with cleaner energies such as low-carbon electricity or bioenergies. EEIO analysis also captures impacts often neglected in process-based pavement LCAs - amortization of capital goods, staff consumptions, and services – and shows some substantial impacts advocating for enlarging system boundaries in standard LCA. Yet, pavement construction and maintenance only explain 5% of the life cycle carbon footprint of Canada's road network, against 95% for the roads' usage (72% from vehicle tailpipes releases, 23% for manufacturing vehicles). Thereby, a carbon-neutral pathway for the road industry must first focus on reducing vehicle consumption and wear through better design and maintenance of roads. Finally, EEIO databases and analysis must be developed further as a powerful tool to fight planet degradation, and openIO-Canada must be specifically expanded and refined to allow for more robust and larger multicriteria assessments.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Industries struggle to build robust environmental transition plans as they lack the tools to quantify their ecological responsibility over their value chain. Companies mostly turn to sole greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting or time-intensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), while Environmentally-Extended Input-Output (EEIO) analysis is more efficient on a wider scale. We illustrate EEIO analysis' usefulness to sketch transition plans on the example of Canada's road industry: estimation of national environmental contributions, most important environmental issues, main potential transition levers of the sector, and metrics prioritization for green purchase plans. To do so, openIO-Canada, a new Canadian EEIO database, coupled with IMPACT World+ v1.30–1.48 characterization method, provides a multicriteria environmental diagnosis of Canada's economy. The construction sector carries the second-highest environmental impacts of Canada (8–31% depending on the indicator) after the manufacturing industry (20–54%). The road industry generates a limited impact (0.5–1.8%), and emits 1.0% of Canadians' GHGs, mainly due to asphalt mix materials (28%), bridges and engineering structures materials (24%), and direct emissions (17%). The industry must reduce the environmental burden from material purchases - mainly concrete and asphalt products - through green purchase plans and eco-design and invest in new machinery powered with cleaner energies such as low-carbon electricity or bioenergies. EEIO analysis also captures impacts often neglected in process-based pavement LCAs - amortization of capital goods, staff consumptions, and services – and shows some substantial impacts advocating for enlarging system boundaries in standard LCA. Yet, pavement construction and maintenance only explain 5% of the life cycle carbon footprint of Canada's road network, against 95% for the roads' usage (72% from vehicle tailpipes releases, 23% for manufacturing vehicles). Thereby, a carbon-neutral pathway for the road industry must first focus on reducing vehicle consumption and wear through better design and maintenance of roads. Finally, EEIO databases and analysis must be developed further as a powerful tool to fight planet degradation, and openIO-Canada must be specifically expanded and refined to allow for more robust and larger multicriteria assessments.
Henderson A D; Asselin-Balençon A; Heller M C; Burek J; Kim D; Lessard L; Margni M; Saad R; Matlock M D; Thoma G; Wang Y; Jolliet O
Spatialized Life Cycle Assessment of Fluid Milk Production and Consumption in the United States Journal Article
In: Sustainability, vol. 15, iss. 3, pp. 1890, 2023, ISSN: 2071-1050.
@article{Henderson2023,
title = {Spatialized Life Cycle Assessment of Fluid Milk Production and Consumption in the United States},
author = {Andrew D. Henderson and Anne Asselin-Balençon and Martin C. Heller and Jasmina Burek and Daesoo Kim and Lindsay Lessard and Manuele Margni and Rosie Saad and Marty D. Matlock and Greg Thoma and Ying Wang and Olivier Jolliet},
doi = {10.3390/su15031890},
issn = {2071-1050},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Sustainability},
volume = {15},
issue = {3},
pages = {1890},
abstract = {Purpose: Understanding the main factors affecting the environmental impacts of milk production and consumption along the value chain is key towards reducing these impacts. This paper aims to present detailed spatialized distributions of impacts associated with milk production and consumption across the United States (U.S.), accounting for locations of both feed and on-farm activities, as well as variations in impact intensity. Using a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approach, focus is given to impacts related to (a) water consumption, (b) eutrophication of marine and freshwater, (c) land use, (d) human toxicity and ecotoxicity, and (e) greenhouse gases. Methods: Drawing on data representing regional agricultural practices, feed production is modelled for 50 states and 18 main watersheds and linked to regions of milk production in a spatialized matrix-based approach to yield milk produced at farm gate. Milk processing, distribution, retail, and consumption are then modelled at a national level, accounting for retail and consumer losses. Custom characterization factors are developed for freshwater and marine eutrophication in the U.S. context. Results and discussion: In the overall life cycle, up to 30% of the impact per kg milk consumed is due to milk losses that occur during the retail and consumption phases (i.e., after production), emphasizing the importance of differentiating between farm gate and consumer estimates. Water scarcity is the impact category with the highest spatial variability. Watersheds in the western part of the U.S. are the dominant contributors to the total water consumed, with 80% of water scarcity impacts driven by only 40% of the total milk production. Freshwater eutrophication also has strong spatial variation, with high persistence of emitted phosphorus in Midwest and Great Lakes area, but high freshwater eutrophication impacts associated with extant phosphorus concentration above 100 µg/L in the California, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi water basins. Overall, normalized impacts of fluid milk consumption represent 0.25% to 0.8% of the annual average impact of a person living in the U.S. As milk at farm gate is used for fluid milk and other dairy products, the production of milk at farm gate represents 0.5% to 3% of this annual impact. Dominant contributions to human health impacts are from fine particulate matter and from climate change, whereas ecosystem impacts of milk are mostly due to land use and water consumption. Conclusion: This study provides a systematic, national perspective on the environmental impacts of milk production and consumption in the United States, showing high spatial variation in inputs, farm practices, and impacts.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose: Understanding the main factors affecting the environmental impacts of milk production and consumption along the value chain is key towards reducing these impacts. This paper aims to present detailed spatialized distributions of impacts associated with milk production and consumption across the United States (U.S.), accounting for locations of both feed and on-farm activities, as well as variations in impact intensity. Using a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approach, focus is given to impacts related to (a) water consumption, (b) eutrophication of marine and freshwater, (c) land use, (d) human toxicity and ecotoxicity, and (e) greenhouse gases. Methods: Drawing on data representing regional agricultural practices, feed production is modelled for 50 states and 18 main watersheds and linked to regions of milk production in a spatialized matrix-based approach to yield milk produced at farm gate. Milk processing, distribution, retail, and consumption are then modelled at a national level, accounting for retail and consumer losses. Custom characterization factors are developed for freshwater and marine eutrophication in the U.S. context. Results and discussion: In the overall life cycle, up to 30% of the impact per kg milk consumed is due to milk losses that occur during the retail and consumption phases (i.e., after production), emphasizing the importance of differentiating between farm gate and consumer estimates. Water scarcity is the impact category with the highest spatial variability. Watersheds in the western part of the U.S. are the dominant contributors to the total water consumed, with 80% of water scarcity impacts driven by only 40% of the total milk production. Freshwater eutrophication also has strong spatial variation, with high persistence of emitted phosphorus in Midwest and Great Lakes area, but high freshwater eutrophication impacts associated with extant phosphorus concentration above 100 µg/L in the California, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi water basins. Overall, normalized impacts of fluid milk consumption represent 0.25% to 0.8% of the annual average impact of a person living in the U.S. As milk at farm gate is used for fluid milk and other dairy products, the production of milk at farm gate represents 0.5% to 3% of this annual impact. Dominant contributions to human health impacts are from fine particulate matter and from climate change, whereas ecosystem impacts of milk are mostly due to land use and water consumption. Conclusion: This study provides a systematic, national perspective on the environmental impacts of milk production and consumption in the United States, showing high spatial variation in inputs, farm practices, and impacts.
Greffe T; Margni M; Bulle C
An instrumental value-based framework for assessing the damages of abiotic resources use in life cycle assessment Journal Article
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 28, iss. 1, pp. 53-69, 2023, ISSN: 0948-3349.
@article{Greffe2023,
title = {An instrumental value-based framework for assessing the damages of abiotic resources use in life cycle assessment},
author = {Titouan Greffe and Manuele Margni and Cécile Bulle},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-022-02107-z},
issn = {0948-3349},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment},
volume = {28},
issue = {1},
pages = {53-69},
abstract = {Introduction and literature review
Abiotic resources are extensively used in industrialized societies to deliver multiple services that contribute to human well-being. Their increased extraction and use can potentially reduce their accessibility, increase competition among users, and ultimately lead to a deficit of those services. Life cycle assessment is a relevant tool to assess the potential damages of dissipating natural resources. Building on the general consensus recommending evaluating the damages on the instrumental value of resources to humans in order to assess the consequences of resources dissipation, this research work proposes a novel conceptual framework to assess the potential loss of services provided by abiotic resources, which when facing unmet demand can lead to a deficit to human users and have consequences on human well-being.
Results
A framework is proposed to describe the mechanisms that link human intervention on the resources in the accessible stock to competition among users. Users facing the deficit of resource services are assumed to have to pay to recover the services, using backup technologies. The mechanisms that are proposed to be characterized are dissipation and degradation. Data needed to later operationalize the framework for abiotic resources are identified. It also proposes a framework at the life cycle inventory level to harmonize life cycle inventories with the current impact assessment framework to fully characterize impacts on resource services. It regards ensuring mass balances of elements between inputs and outputs of life cycle inventory datasets as well as including the functionality of resource flows.
Discussion and conclusions
The framework provides recommendations for the development of operational life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods for resource services deficit assessment. It establishes the impact pathway to damage on the area of protection “Resource Services”, data needed to feed the model and recommendations to improve the current state of life cycle inventories to be harmonized with the LCIA framework.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction and literature review
Abiotic resources are extensively used in industrialized societies to deliver multiple services that contribute to human well-being. Their increased extraction and use can potentially reduce their accessibility, increase competition among users, and ultimately lead to a deficit of those services. Life cycle assessment is a relevant tool to assess the potential damages of dissipating natural resources. Building on the general consensus recommending evaluating the damages on the instrumental value of resources to humans in order to assess the consequences of resources dissipation, this research work proposes a novel conceptual framework to assess the potential loss of services provided by abiotic resources, which when facing unmet demand can lead to a deficit to human users and have consequences on human well-being.
Results
A framework is proposed to describe the mechanisms that link human intervention on the resources in the accessible stock to competition among users. Users facing the deficit of resource services are assumed to have to pay to recover the services, using backup technologies. The mechanisms that are proposed to be characterized are dissipation and degradation. Data needed to later operationalize the framework for abiotic resources are identified. It also proposes a framework at the life cycle inventory level to harmonize life cycle inventories with the current impact assessment framework to fully characterize impacts on resource services. It regards ensuring mass balances of elements between inputs and outputs of life cycle inventory datasets as well as including the functionality of resource flows.
Discussion and conclusions
The framework provides recommendations for the development of operational life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods for resource services deficit assessment. It establishes the impact pathway to damage on the area of protection “Resource Services”, data needed to feed the model and recommendations to improve the current state of life cycle inventories to be harmonized with the LCIA framework.
Abiotic resources are extensively used in industrialized societies to deliver multiple services that contribute to human well-being. Their increased extraction and use can potentially reduce their accessibility, increase competition among users, and ultimately lead to a deficit of those services. Life cycle assessment is a relevant tool to assess the potential damages of dissipating natural resources. Building on the general consensus recommending evaluating the damages on the instrumental value of resources to humans in order to assess the consequences of resources dissipation, this research work proposes a novel conceptual framework to assess the potential loss of services provided by abiotic resources, which when facing unmet demand can lead to a deficit to human users and have consequences on human well-being.
Results
A framework is proposed to describe the mechanisms that link human intervention on the resources in the accessible stock to competition among users. Users facing the deficit of resource services are assumed to have to pay to recover the services, using backup technologies. The mechanisms that are proposed to be characterized are dissipation and degradation. Data needed to later operationalize the framework for abiotic resources are identified. It also proposes a framework at the life cycle inventory level to harmonize life cycle inventories with the current impact assessment framework to fully characterize impacts on resource services. It regards ensuring mass balances of elements between inputs and outputs of life cycle inventory datasets as well as including the functionality of resource flows.
Discussion and conclusions
The framework provides recommendations for the development of operational life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods for resource services deficit assessment. It establishes the impact pathway to damage on the area of protection “Resource Services”, data needed to feed the model and recommendations to improve the current state of life cycle inventories to be harmonized with the LCIA framework.
Pedneault J; Majeau-Bettez G; Margni M
How much sorting is required for a circular low carbon aluminum economy? Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2023, ISSN: 1088-1980.
@article{Pedneault2023,
title = {How much sorting is required for a circular low carbon aluminum economy?},
author = {Julien Pedneault and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1111/jiec.13388},
issn = {1088-1980},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Schnidrig J; Cherkaoui R; Calisesi Y; Margni M; Maréchal F
On the role of energy infrastructure in the energy transition. Case study of an energy independent and CO2 neutral energy system for Switzerland Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Energy Research, vol. 11, 2023, ISSN: 2296-598X.
@article{Schnidrig2023,
title = {On the role of energy infrastructure in the energy transition. Case study of an energy independent and CO2 neutral energy system for Switzerland},
author = {Jonas Schnidrig and Rachid Cherkaoui and Yasmine Calisesi and Manuele Margni and François Maréchal},
doi = {10.3389/fenrg.2023.1164813},
issn = {2296-598X},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Energy Research},
volume = {11},
abstract = {<p>The transition towards renewable energy is leading to an important strain on the energy grids. The question of designing and deploying renewable energy technologies in symbiosis with existing grids and infrastructure is arising. While current energy system models mainly focus on the energy transformation system or only investigate the effect on one energy vector grid, we present a methodology to characterize different energy vector grids and storage, integrated into the multi-energy and multi-sector modeling framework EnergyScope. The characterization of energy grids is achieved through a traditional energy technology and grid modeling approach, integrating economic and technical parameters. The methodology has been applied to the case study of a country with a high existing transmission infrastructure density, e.g., Switzerland, switching from a fossil fuel-based system to a high share of renewable energy deployment. The results show that the economic optimum with high shares of renewable energy requires the electric distribution grid reinforcement with 2.439 GW (+61%) Low Voltage (LV) and 4.626 GW (+82%) Medium Voltage (MV), with no reinforcement required at transmission level [High Voltage (HV) and Extra High Voltage (EHV)]. The reinforcement is due to high shares of LV-Photovoltaic (PV) (15.4 GW) and MV-wind (20 GW) deployment. Without reinforcement, additional biomass is required for methane production, which is stored in 4.8–5.95 TWh methane storage tanks to compensate for seasonal intermittency using the existing gas infrastructure. In contrast, hydro storage capacity is used at a maximum of 8.9 TWh. Furthermore, the choice of less efficient technologies to avoid reinforcement results in a 8.5%–9.3% cost penalty compared to the cost of the reinforced system. This study considers a geographically averaged and aggregated model, assuming all production and consumption are made in one single spot, not considering the role of future decentralization of the energy system, leading to a possible overestimation of grid reinforcement needs.</p>},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<p>The transition towards renewable energy is leading to an important strain on the energy grids. The question of designing and deploying renewable energy technologies in symbiosis with existing grids and infrastructure is arising. While current energy system models mainly focus on the energy transformation system or only investigate the effect on one energy vector grid, we present a methodology to characterize different energy vector grids and storage, integrated into the multi-energy and multi-sector modeling framework EnergyScope. The characterization of energy grids is achieved through a traditional energy technology and grid modeling approach, integrating economic and technical parameters. The methodology has been applied to the case study of a country with a high existing transmission infrastructure density, e.g., Switzerland, switching from a fossil fuel-based system to a high share of renewable energy deployment. The results show that the economic optimum with high shares of renewable energy requires the electric distribution grid reinforcement with 2.439 GW (+61%) Low Voltage (LV) and 4.626 GW (+82%) Medium Voltage (MV), with no reinforcement required at transmission level [High Voltage (HV) and Extra High Voltage (EHV)]. The reinforcement is due to high shares of LV-Photovoltaic (PV) (15.4 GW) and MV-wind (20 GW) deployment. Without reinforcement, additional biomass is required for methane production, which is stored in 4.8–5.95 TWh methane storage tanks to compensate for seasonal intermittency using the existing gas infrastructure. In contrast, hydro storage capacity is used at a maximum of 8.9 TWh. Furthermore, the choice of less efficient technologies to avoid reinforcement results in a 8.5%–9.3% cost penalty compared to the cost of the reinforced system. This study considers a geographically averaged and aggregated model, assuming all production and consumption are made in one single spot, not considering the role of future decentralization of the energy system, leading to a possible overestimation of grid reinforcement needs.</p>
Bjørn A; Lloyd S M; Schenker U; Margni M; Levasseur A; Agez M; Matthews H D
Differentiation of greenhouse gases in corporate science-based targets improves alignment with Paris temperature goal Journal Article
In: Environmental Research Letters, 2023, ISSN: 1748-9326.
@article{Bjrn2023,
title = {Differentiation of greenhouse gases in corporate science-based targets improves alignment with Paris temperature goal},
author = {Anders Bjørn and Shannon M. Lloyd and Urs Schenker and Manuele Margni and Annie Levasseur and Maxime Agez and H. Damon Matthews},
doi = {10.1088/1748-9326/ace0cf},
issn = {1748-9326},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Environmental Research Letters},
abstract = {<p>Companies are increasingly setting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. Currently, companies set these science-based targets (SBTs) for aggregate GHGs expressed in CO2-equivalent emissions. This approach does not specify which gases will be reduced and risk misalignment with ambitious mitigation scenarios in which individual gas emissions are mitigated at different rates. We propose that companies instead set reduction targets for separate baskets of GHGs, defined according to the atmospheric lifetimes and global mitigation potentials of GHGs. We use a sector-level analysis to approximate the average impact of this proposal on company SBTs. We apply a multiregional environmentally extended input output model and a range of 1.5°C emissions scenarios to compare 1-, 2- and 3-basket approaches for calculating sector-level SBTs for direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2 and upstream scope 3) emissions for all major global sectors. The multi-basket approaches lead to higher reduction requirements for scope 1 and 2 emissions than the current single-basket approach for most sectors, because these emission sources are usually dominated by CO2, which is typically mitigated faster than other gases in 1.5°C scenarios. Exceptions are scope 1 emissions for fossil and biological raw material production and waste management, which are dominated by other GHGs (mainly CH4 and N2O). On the other hand, upstream scope 3 reduction targets at the sector level often become less ambitious with a multi-basket approach, owing mainly to substantial shares of CH4 and, in some cases, non-CO2 long-lived emissions. Our results indicate that a shift to a multi-basket approach would improve the alignment of SBTs with the Paris temperature goal and would require most of the current set of companies with approved SBTs to increase the ambition of their scope 1 and scope 2 targets.</p>},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
<p>Companies are increasingly setting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. Currently, companies set these science-based targets (SBTs) for aggregate GHGs expressed in CO2-equivalent emissions. This approach does not specify which gases will be reduced and risk misalignment with ambitious mitigation scenarios in which individual gas emissions are mitigated at different rates. We propose that companies instead set reduction targets for separate baskets of GHGs, defined according to the atmospheric lifetimes and global mitigation potentials of GHGs. We use a sector-level analysis to approximate the average impact of this proposal on company SBTs. We apply a multiregional environmentally extended input output model and a range of 1.5°C emissions scenarios to compare 1-, 2- and 3-basket approaches for calculating sector-level SBTs for direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2 and upstream scope 3) emissions for all major global sectors. The multi-basket approaches lead to higher reduction requirements for scope 1 and 2 emissions than the current single-basket approach for most sectors, because these emission sources are usually dominated by CO2, which is typically mitigated faster than other gases in 1.5°C scenarios. Exceptions are scope 1 emissions for fossil and biological raw material production and waste management, which are dominated by other GHGs (mainly CH4 and N2O). On the other hand, upstream scope 3 reduction targets at the sector level often become less ambitious with a multi-basket approach, owing mainly to substantial shares of CH4 and, in some cases, non-CO2 long-lived emissions. Our results indicate that a shift to a multi-basket approach would improve the alignment of SBTs with the Paris temperature goal and would require most of the current set of companies with approved SBTs to increase the ambition of their scope 1 and scope 2 targets.</p>
Zhang Y; Liu X; Patouillard L; Margni M; Bulle C; Hua H; Yuan Z
Remarkable Spatial Disparity of Life Cycle Inventory for Coal Production in China Journal Article
In: Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 57, iss. 41, pp. 15443-15453, 2023, ISSN: 0013-936X.
@article{Zhang2023,
title = {Remarkable Spatial Disparity of Life Cycle Inventory for Coal Production in China},
author = {You Zhang and Xuewei Liu and Laure Patouillard and Manuele Margni and Cécile Bulle and Hui Hua and Zengwei Yuan},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c01860},
issn = {0013-936X},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Environmental Science & Technology},
volume = {57},
issue = {41},
pages = {15443-15453},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2022
Carrières V; Lemieux A; Margni M; Pellerin R; Cariou S
Measuring the Value of Blockchain Traceability in Supporting LCA for Textile Products Journal Article
In: Sustainability, vol. 14, iss. 4, pp. 2109, 2022, ISSN: 2071-1050.
@article{Carrires2022,
title = {Measuring the Value of Blockchain Traceability in Supporting LCA for Textile Products},
author = {Vincent Carrières and Andrée-Anne Lemieux and Manuele Margni and Robert Pellerin and Sylvain Cariou},
doi = {10.3390/su14042109},
issn = {2071-1050},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Sustainability},
volume = {14},
issue = {4},
pages = {2109},
abstract = {The efficiency of sustainability assessments of textile products is generally prevented because of a lack of available and reliable data across complex and globalized supply chains. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how blockchain traceability data can improve the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of textile products and to measure the actual value of exploiting this specific traceability data. To do so, a case study consisting of two LCAs modeling the production of wool top lots in China was conducted. A first LCA was conducted with generic data and the second with the added value of specific blockchain traceability data. Based on the second LCA, different wool top lot composition scenarios were then modeled to account for the environmental impact of different farming practices. Two main results were obtained: the environmental impact of wool top lots can vary up to +118% between two batches depending on their composition, and the specific data changes drastically from the impact calculated with generic data, with +36% calculated impact for the same wool composition of batches. Therefore, it was concluded that blockchain traceability data could be a strong asset for conducting LCA at the batch level by providing differentiated data on batch composition and origin and providing readily available specific data for a more representative assessment.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The efficiency of sustainability assessments of textile products is generally prevented because of a lack of available and reliable data across complex and globalized supply chains. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how blockchain traceability data can improve the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of textile products and to measure the actual value of exploiting this specific traceability data. To do so, a case study consisting of two LCAs modeling the production of wool top lots in China was conducted. A first LCA was conducted with generic data and the second with the added value of specific blockchain traceability data. Based on the second LCA, different wool top lot composition scenarios were then modeled to account for the environmental impact of different farming practices. Two main results were obtained: the environmental impact of wool top lots can vary up to +118% between two batches depending on their composition, and the specific data changes drastically from the impact calculated with generic data, with +36% calculated impact for the same wool composition of batches. Therefore, it was concluded that blockchain traceability data could be a strong asset for conducting LCA at the batch level by providing differentiated data on batch composition and origin and providing readily available specific data for a more representative assessment.
Trottier G; Turgeon K; Boisclair D; Bulle C; Margni M
The impacts of hydropower on freshwater macroinvertebrate richness: A global meta-analysis Journal Article
In: PLOS ONE, vol. 17, iss. 8, pp. e0273089, 2022, ISSN: 1932-6203.
@article{Trottier2022,
title = {The impacts of hydropower on freshwater macroinvertebrate richness: A global meta-analysis},
author = {Gabrielle Trottier and Katrine Turgeon and Daniel Boisclair and Cécile Bulle and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0273089},
issn = {1932-6203},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {PLOS ONE},
volume = {17},
issue = {8},
pages = {e0273089},
abstract = {Hydroelectric dams and their reservoirs have been suggested to affect freshwater biodiversity. Nevertheless, studies investigating the consequences of hydroelectric dams and reservoirs on macroinvertebrate richness have reached opposite conclusions. We performed a meta-analysis devised to elucidate the effects of hydropower, dams and reservoirs on macroinvertebrate richness while accounting for the potential role played by moderators such as biomes, impact types, study designs, sampling seasons and gears. We used a random/mixed-effects model, combined with robust variance estimation, to conduct the meta-analysis on 107 pairs of observations ( <italic>i</italic> . <italic>e</italic> ., impacted versus reference) extracted from 24 studies (more than one observation per study). Hydropower, dams and reservoirs did significantly impact (P = 0.04) macroinvertebrate richness in a clear, directional and statistically significant way, where macroinvertebrate richness in hydropower, dams and reservoirs impacted environments were significantly lower than in unimpacted environments. We also observed a large range of effect sizes, from very negative to very positive impacts of hydropower. We tried to account for the large variability in effect sizes using moderators, but none of the moderators included in the meta-analysis had statistically significant effects. This suggests that some other moderators (unavailable for the 24 studies) might be important ( <italic>e</italic> . <italic>g</italic> ., temperature, granulometry, wave disturbance and macrophytes) and that macroinvertebrate richness may be driven by local, smaller scale processes. As new studies become available, it would be interesting to keep enriching this meta-analysis, as well as collecting local habitat variables, to see if we could statistically strengthen and deepen the conclusions of this meta-analysis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hydroelectric dams and their reservoirs have been suggested to affect freshwater biodiversity. Nevertheless, studies investigating the consequences of hydroelectric dams and reservoirs on macroinvertebrate richness have reached opposite conclusions. We performed a meta-analysis devised to elucidate the effects of hydropower, dams and reservoirs on macroinvertebrate richness while accounting for the potential role played by moderators such as biomes, impact types, study designs, sampling seasons and gears. We used a random/mixed-effects model, combined with robust variance estimation, to conduct the meta-analysis on 107 pairs of observations ( <italic>i</italic> . <italic>e</italic> ., impacted versus reference) extracted from 24 studies (more than one observation per study). Hydropower, dams and reservoirs did significantly impact (P = 0.04) macroinvertebrate richness in a clear, directional and statistically significant way, where macroinvertebrate richness in hydropower, dams and reservoirs impacted environments were significantly lower than in unimpacted environments. We also observed a large range of effect sizes, from very negative to very positive impacts of hydropower. We tried to account for the large variability in effect sizes using moderators, but none of the moderators included in the meta-analysis had statistically significant effects. This suggests that some other moderators (unavailable for the 24 studies) might be important ( <italic>e</italic> . <italic>g</italic> ., temperature, granulometry, wave disturbance and macrophytes) and that macroinvertebrate richness may be driven by local, smaller scale processes. As new studies become available, it would be interesting to keep enriching this meta-analysis, as well as collecting local habitat variables, to see if we could statistically strengthen and deepen the conclusions of this meta-analysis.
Greffe T; Margni M; Bulle C
A framework for assessing the damages of resource services loss in life cycle assessment Proceedings Article
In: SETAC Copenhagen, 2022.
@inproceedings{Greffe2022,
title = {A framework for assessing the damages of resource services loss in life cycle assessment},
author = {Titouan Greffe and Manuele Margni and Cécile Bulle},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {SETAC Copenhagen},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Debarre L; Boulay A; Margni M
Freshwater consumption and domestic water deprivation in LCIA: revisiting the characterization of human health impacts Journal Article
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 27, iss. 5, pp. 740-754, 2022, ISSN: 0948-3349.
@article{Debarre2022,
title = {Freshwater consumption and domestic water deprivation in LCIA: revisiting the characterization of human health impacts},
author = {Laura Debarre and Anne-Marie Boulay and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-022-02054-9},
issn = {0948-3349},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {SETAC Copenhagen},
journal = {The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment},
volume = {27},
issue = {5},
pages = {740-754},
abstract = {Purpose
An insufficient amount of available domestic water can lead to an increase in the occurrence of water-related diseases. No LCIA consensus has been reached on how to model the potential impacts on human health resulting from water use implying domestic water deprivation. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), this research work provides an updated and revisited characterization model and factors assessing the potential impact on human health induced along this impact pathway.
Method
This work consolidates the cause-effect chain linking water use to domestic impacts on human health. The revised fate factor aligns current water use assessment methods and includes information not only on the physical water scarcity but also on the level of population access to water in a region. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), the global effect factor is revised. The data source is updated, and a novel approach is developed estimating the domestic water deficit. Country-scale exposure factors are updated, building on Boulay et al. (2011)’s proposal to rely on the gross national income per capita as a proxy for a country’s capacity to adapt to water shortages.
Results and discussion
Compared to Boulay et al. (2011), the revised fate and exposure factors show lower values as a result of different methodological choices and of the overall increase of GNI per capita, respectively. The revised value of the effect factor is equal to 3.13E-3DALY/m3 which compares to the value of 3.11E-3 in Boulay et al. (2011). Revised characterization factors (CF) range from 0 DALY/m3 (the potential impact on human health due to water use is null with respect to domestic water deprivation) to 3.13E-3 DALY/m3. The distribution of the new CFs shows an order of magnitude decrease compared to the previous model. These CFs assess the consequences on human health induced by water use leading to short-term water deprivation.
Conclusion and recommendations
This research work helps to better account for the impacts of water use at the endpoint level. However, it underlines significant limitations in the current calculation of the effect factor, in particular regarding current quantification of domestic water deprivation. These shortcomings prevent the model from considering a difference in vulnerability to health damages from the deprivation of 1 m3 of domestic water. This research work argues for additional research efforts aimed at developing an alternative calculation method for this factor.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose
An insufficient amount of available domestic water can lead to an increase in the occurrence of water-related diseases. No LCIA consensus has been reached on how to model the potential impacts on human health resulting from water use implying domestic water deprivation. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), this research work provides an updated and revisited characterization model and factors assessing the potential impact on human health induced along this impact pathway.
Method
This work consolidates the cause-effect chain linking water use to domestic impacts on human health. The revised fate factor aligns current water use assessment methods and includes information not only on the physical water scarcity but also on the level of population access to water in a region. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), the global effect factor is revised. The data source is updated, and a novel approach is developed estimating the domestic water deficit. Country-scale exposure factors are updated, building on Boulay et al. (2011)’s proposal to rely on the gross national income per capita as a proxy for a country’s capacity to adapt to water shortages.
Results and discussion
Compared to Boulay et al. (2011), the revised fate and exposure factors show lower values as a result of different methodological choices and of the overall increase of GNI per capita, respectively. The revised value of the effect factor is equal to 3.13E-3DALY/m3 which compares to the value of 3.11E-3 in Boulay et al. (2011). Revised characterization factors (CF) range from 0 DALY/m3 (the potential impact on human health due to water use is null with respect to domestic water deprivation) to 3.13E-3 DALY/m3. The distribution of the new CFs shows an order of magnitude decrease compared to the previous model. These CFs assess the consequences on human health induced by water use leading to short-term water deprivation.
Conclusion and recommendations
This research work helps to better account for the impacts of water use at the endpoint level. However, it underlines significant limitations in the current calculation of the effect factor, in particular regarding current quantification of domestic water deprivation. These shortcomings prevent the model from considering a difference in vulnerability to health damages from the deprivation of 1 m3 of domestic water. This research work argues for additional research efforts aimed at developing an alternative calculation method for this factor.
An insufficient amount of available domestic water can lead to an increase in the occurrence of water-related diseases. No LCIA consensus has been reached on how to model the potential impacts on human health resulting from water use implying domestic water deprivation. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), this research work provides an updated and revisited characterization model and factors assessing the potential impact on human health induced along this impact pathway.
Method
This work consolidates the cause-effect chain linking water use to domestic impacts on human health. The revised fate factor aligns current water use assessment methods and includes information not only on the physical water scarcity but also on the level of population access to water in a region. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), the global effect factor is revised. The data source is updated, and a novel approach is developed estimating the domestic water deficit. Country-scale exposure factors are updated, building on Boulay et al. (2011)’s proposal to rely on the gross national income per capita as a proxy for a country’s capacity to adapt to water shortages.
Results and discussion
Compared to Boulay et al. (2011), the revised fate and exposure factors show lower values as a result of different methodological choices and of the overall increase of GNI per capita, respectively. The revised value of the effect factor is equal to 3.13E-3DALY/m3 which compares to the value of 3.11E-3 in Boulay et al. (2011). Revised characterization factors (CF) range from 0 DALY/m3 (the potential impact on human health due to water use is null with respect to domestic water deprivation) to 3.13E-3 DALY/m3. The distribution of the new CFs shows an order of magnitude decrease compared to the previous model. These CFs assess the consequences on human health induced by water use leading to short-term water deprivation.
Conclusion and recommendations
This research work helps to better account for the impacts of water use at the endpoint level. However, it underlines significant limitations in the current calculation of the effect factor, in particular regarding current quantification of domestic water deprivation. These shortcomings prevent the model from considering a difference in vulnerability to health damages from the deprivation of 1 m3 of domestic water. This research work argues for additional research efforts aimed at developing an alternative calculation method for this factor.
Bolay A; Bjørn A; Weber O; Margni M
Prospective sectoral GHG benchmarks based on corporate climate mitigation targets Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 376, pp. 134220, 2022, ISSN: 09596526.
@article{Bolay2022,
title = {Prospective sectoral GHG benchmarks based on corporate climate mitigation targets},
author = {Anne-France Bolay and Anders Bjørn and Olaf Weber and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134220},
issn = {09596526},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
volume = {376},
pages = {134220},
abstract = {As climate change becomes firmly acknowledged as a financial risk, shareholders must consider corporate GHG performance to inform responsible investment decisions. To mitigate future climate risks, prospective benchmarks based on corporate climate mitigation targets are increasingly demanded by shareholders. However, existing benchmarks often lack sufficient sectoral coverage or fail to appropriately harmonize target metrics, scope, and corresponding timeframes. A harmonization process was developed which allows the calculation of sector-level prospective GHG benchmarks in terms of absolute or intensity GHG metrics. This process was applied to harmonize scope 1 and 2 emission targets of 1697 companies reporting in 2018 CDP questionnaires across 13 sectors using 2017 as the common reference year. Results indicate the importance of using a sectoral approach and applying a common reference year to avoid considering reductions occurring before the target was launched due to company choice of target reference year. In 2030, the lowest and highest median reduction rates values are −9% and −36% for fossil fuels and power generation sectors respectively. The findings obtained strongly suggest targeted percentage of reductions should not be the only metric considered when comparing corporate climate mitigation targets amongst peers. Target progress when the target was announced and at a common reference year was found to be an important metric to assess potential greenwashing or poor ambition. In 14% of cases, targets were already achieved when company launched them.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
As climate change becomes firmly acknowledged as a financial risk, shareholders must consider corporate GHG performance to inform responsible investment decisions. To mitigate future climate risks, prospective benchmarks based on corporate climate mitigation targets are increasingly demanded by shareholders. However, existing benchmarks often lack sufficient sectoral coverage or fail to appropriately harmonize target metrics, scope, and corresponding timeframes. A harmonization process was developed which allows the calculation of sector-level prospective GHG benchmarks in terms of absolute or intensity GHG metrics. This process was applied to harmonize scope 1 and 2 emission targets of 1697 companies reporting in 2018 CDP questionnaires across 13 sectors using 2017 as the common reference year. Results indicate the importance of using a sectoral approach and applying a common reference year to avoid considering reductions occurring before the target was launched due to company choice of target reference year. In 2030, the lowest and highest median reduction rates values are −9% and −36% for fossil fuels and power generation sectors respectively. The findings obtained strongly suggest targeted percentage of reductions should not be the only metric considered when comparing corporate climate mitigation targets amongst peers. Target progress when the target was announced and at a common reference year was found to be an important metric to assess potential greenwashing or poor ambition. In 14% of cases, targets were already achieved when company launched them.
Pedneault J; Majeau-Bettez G; Pauliuk S; Margni M
Sector‐specific scenarios for future stocks and flows of aluminum: An analysis based on shared socioeconomic pathways Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 26, iss. 5, pp. 1728-1746, 2022, ISSN: 1088-1980.
@article{Pedneault2022b,
title = {Sector‐specific scenarios for future stocks and flows of aluminum: An analysis based on shared socioeconomic pathways},
author = { Julien Pedneault and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Stefan Pauliuk and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1111/jiec.13321},
issn = {1088-1980},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
volume = {26},
issue = {5},
pages = {1728-1746},
abstract = {Aluminum is an energy-intensive material that is typically used as an alloy. The environmental impacts caused by its production can potentially be spread out over multiple uses through repeated recycling loops. However, inter-alloy contamination can limit the circularity of aluminum, which highlights the importance of analyzing prospective stock dynamics of aluminum at an alloy and alloying element level to inform a more sustainable management of this resource. A dynamic material flow analysis (MFA) of aluminum alloys was developed in line with the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) framework to generate consistent scenarios of the evolution of aluminum stocks and flows from 2015 to 2100 covering 11 economic sectors in 5 world regions. A sector-specific and bottom-up modeling approach was developed. Results show no saturation of global stock per capita before 2100, reaching a range between 200 and 400 kg per capita according to different socioeconomic scenarios. For the business-as-usual scenario, the global annual inflow rises to 100 Mt in 2050 and peaks at 130 Mt in 2090, showing a saturation in total stock. Electricity-sector demand has the highest relative growth over the century, while building and construction demand saturates and decreases from 2090. No major mismatch between inflows and outflows of aluminum alloy is observed. This means that with appropriate dismantling and sorting, changes in alloy demand would not limit the implementation of a closed-loop aluminum industry. This study demonstrates the advantages of combining detailed MFAs and SSPs, both for greater consistency in circular economy modeling and for furthering scenario development efforts. This article met the requirements for a gold-gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Aluminum is an energy-intensive material that is typically used as an alloy. The environmental impacts caused by its production can potentially be spread out over multiple uses through repeated recycling loops. However, inter-alloy contamination can limit the circularity of aluminum, which highlights the importance of analyzing prospective stock dynamics of aluminum at an alloy and alloying element level to inform a more sustainable management of this resource. A dynamic material flow analysis (MFA) of aluminum alloys was developed in line with the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) framework to generate consistent scenarios of the evolution of aluminum stocks and flows from 2015 to 2100 covering 11 economic sectors in 5 world regions. A sector-specific and bottom-up modeling approach was developed. Results show no saturation of global stock per capita before 2100, reaching a range between 200 and 400 kg per capita according to different socioeconomic scenarios. For the business-as-usual scenario, the global annual inflow rises to 100 Mt in 2050 and peaks at 130 Mt in 2090, showing a saturation in total stock. Electricity-sector demand has the highest relative growth over the century, while building and construction demand saturates and decreases from 2090. No major mismatch between inflows and outflows of aluminum alloy is observed. This means that with appropriate dismantling and sorting, changes in alloy demand would not limit the implementation of a closed-loop aluminum industry. This study demonstrates the advantages of combining detailed MFAs and SSPs, both for greater consistency in circular economy modeling and for furthering scenario development efforts. This article met the requirements for a gold-gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges
Debarre L; Boulay A; Margni M
Freshwater consumption and domestic water deprivation in LCIA: revisiting the characterization of human health impacts Journal Article
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 27, iss. 5, pp. 740-754, 2022, ISSN: 0948-3349.
@article{Debarre2022b,
title = {Freshwater consumption and domestic water deprivation in LCIA: revisiting the characterization of human health impacts},
author = { Laura Debarre and Anne-Marie Boulay and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-022-02054-9},
issn = {0948-3349},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment},
volume = {27},
issue = {5},
pages = {740-754},
abstract = {Purpose
An insufficient amount of available domestic water can lead to an increase in the occurrence of water-related diseases. No LCIA consensus has been reached on how to model the potential impacts on human health resulting from water use implying domestic water deprivation. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), this research work provides an updated and revisited characterization model and factors assessing the potential impact on human health induced along this impact pathway.
Method
This work consolidates the cause-effect chain linking water use to domestic impacts on human health. The revised fate factor aligns current water use assessment methods and includes information not only on the physical water scarcity but also on the level of population access to water in a region. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), the global effect factor is revised. The data source is updated, and a novel approach is developed estimating the domestic water deficit. Country-scale exposure factors are updated, building on Boulay et al. (2011)’s proposal to rely on the gross national income per capita as a proxy for a country’s capacity to adapt to water shortages.
Results and discussion
Compared to Boulay et al. (2011), the revised fate and exposure factors show lower values as a result of different methodological choices and of the overall increase of GNI per capita, respectively. The revised value of the effect factor is equal to 3.13E-3DALY/m3 which compares to the value of 3.11E-3 in Boulay et al. (2011). Revised characterization factors (CF) range from 0 DALY/m3 (the potential impact on human health due to water use is null with respect to domestic water deprivation) to 3.13E-3 DALY/m3. The distribution of the new CFs shows an order of magnitude decrease compared to the previous model. These CFs assess the consequences on human health induced by water use leading to short-term water deprivation.
Conclusion and recommendations
This research work helps to better account for the impacts of water use at the endpoint level. However, it underlines significant limitations in the current calculation of the effect factor, in particular regarding current quantification of domestic water deprivation. These shortcomings prevent the model from considering a difference in vulnerability to health damages from the deprivation of 1 m3 of domestic water. This research work argues for additional research efforts aimed at developing an alternative calculation method for this factor.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose
An insufficient amount of available domestic water can lead to an increase in the occurrence of water-related diseases. No LCIA consensus has been reached on how to model the potential impacts on human health resulting from water use implying domestic water deprivation. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), this research work provides an updated and revisited characterization model and factors assessing the potential impact on human health induced along this impact pathway.
Method
This work consolidates the cause-effect chain linking water use to domestic impacts on human health. The revised fate factor aligns current water use assessment methods and includes information not only on the physical water scarcity but also on the level of population access to water in a region. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), the global effect factor is revised. The data source is updated, and a novel approach is developed estimating the domestic water deficit. Country-scale exposure factors are updated, building on Boulay et al. (2011)’s proposal to rely on the gross national income per capita as a proxy for a country’s capacity to adapt to water shortages.
Results and discussion
Compared to Boulay et al. (2011), the revised fate and exposure factors show lower values as a result of different methodological choices and of the overall increase of GNI per capita, respectively. The revised value of the effect factor is equal to 3.13E-3DALY/m3 which compares to the value of 3.11E-3 in Boulay et al. (2011). Revised characterization factors (CF) range from 0 DALY/m3 (the potential impact on human health due to water use is null with respect to domestic water deprivation) to 3.13E-3 DALY/m3. The distribution of the new CFs shows an order of magnitude decrease compared to the previous model. These CFs assess the consequences on human health induced by water use leading to short-term water deprivation.
Conclusion and recommendations
This research work helps to better account for the impacts of water use at the endpoint level. However, it underlines significant limitations in the current calculation of the effect factor, in particular regarding current quantification of domestic water deprivation. These shortcomings prevent the model from considering a difference in vulnerability to health damages from the deprivation of 1 m3 of domestic water. This research work argues for additional research efforts aimed at developing an alternative calculation method for this factor.
An insufficient amount of available domestic water can lead to an increase in the occurrence of water-related diseases. No LCIA consensus has been reached on how to model the potential impacts on human health resulting from water use implying domestic water deprivation. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), this research work provides an updated and revisited characterization model and factors assessing the potential impact on human health induced along this impact pathway.
Method
This work consolidates the cause-effect chain linking water use to domestic impacts on human health. The revised fate factor aligns current water use assessment methods and includes information not only on the physical water scarcity but also on the level of population access to water in a region. Building on Boulay et al. (2011), the global effect factor is revised. The data source is updated, and a novel approach is developed estimating the domestic water deficit. Country-scale exposure factors are updated, building on Boulay et al. (2011)’s proposal to rely on the gross national income per capita as a proxy for a country’s capacity to adapt to water shortages.
Results and discussion
Compared to Boulay et al. (2011), the revised fate and exposure factors show lower values as a result of different methodological choices and of the overall increase of GNI per capita, respectively. The revised value of the effect factor is equal to 3.13E-3DALY/m3 which compares to the value of 3.11E-3 in Boulay et al. (2011). Revised characterization factors (CF) range from 0 DALY/m3 (the potential impact on human health due to water use is null with respect to domestic water deprivation) to 3.13E-3 DALY/m3. The distribution of the new CFs shows an order of magnitude decrease compared to the previous model. These CFs assess the consequences on human health induced by water use leading to short-term water deprivation.
Conclusion and recommendations
This research work helps to better account for the impacts of water use at the endpoint level. However, it underlines significant limitations in the current calculation of the effect factor, in particular regarding current quantification of domestic water deprivation. These shortcomings prevent the model from considering a difference in vulnerability to health damages from the deprivation of 1 m3 of domestic water. This research work argues for additional research efforts aimed at developing an alternative calculation method for this factor.
Kaddoura M; Majeau-Bettez G; Amor B; Moreau C; Margni M
Investigating the role of surface engineering in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions of energy technologies: An outlook towards 2100 Journal Article
In: Sustainable Materials and Technologies, vol. 32, pp. e00425, 2022, ISSN: 22149937.
@article{Kaddoura2022,
title = {Investigating the role of surface engineering in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions of energy technologies: An outlook towards 2100},
author = {Mohamad Kaddoura and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Ben Amor and Christian Moreau and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.susmat.2022.e00425},
issn = {22149937},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Sustainable Materials and Technologies},
volume = {32},
pages = {e00425},
abstract = {Energy improvements in the energy sector constitute a key strategy to mitigate climate change. These expected improvements increasingly depend on the development of materials with improved surface characteristics. To prospectively assess the large-scale benefits and trade-offs of such novel surface engineering (SE) technology deployments in the energy sector, an integrated modelling framework is proposed. This paper links an integrated assessment model (IAM) forecasting socio-economic changes in energy supply with life cycle assessment (LCA) models of targeted technology candidates. Different shared socio-economic pathway narratives are used with the MESSAGE IAM to forecast future energy supply scenarios. A dynamic vintage model is employed to model plants decommissioning and adoption rates of innovative SE. Potential benefits and impacts of SE are assessed through prospective LCA. The approach is used to estimate the prospective GHG emission reduction potential achieved by large-scale adoption of innovative SE technologies to improve the efficiency of four energy conversion technologies (coal power plants, gas turbines, wind turbines and solar panels) until 2100. Applying innovative SE technologies to the energy sector has the potential of reducing annual CO2-eq emissions by 1.8 Gt in 2050 and 3.4 Gt in 2100 in an optimistic socio-economic pathway scenario. This corresponds to 7% and 8.5% annual reduction in the energy sector in 2050 and 2100, respectively. The mitigation potential of applying innovative SE technologies highly depends on the energy technology, the socio-economic pathways, and the implementation of stringent GHG mitigation policies. Due to their high carbon intensity, fossil-based technologies showed a higher GHG mitigation potential compared to renewables. Besides, GHG emissions related to the SE processes are largely offset by the GHG savings of the energy conversion technologies where the innovative SE technologies are applied.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Energy improvements in the energy sector constitute a key strategy to mitigate climate change. These expected improvements increasingly depend on the development of materials with improved surface characteristics. To prospectively assess the large-scale benefits and trade-offs of such novel surface engineering (SE) technology deployments in the energy sector, an integrated modelling framework is proposed. This paper links an integrated assessment model (IAM) forecasting socio-economic changes in energy supply with life cycle assessment (LCA) models of targeted technology candidates. Different shared socio-economic pathway narratives are used with the MESSAGE IAM to forecast future energy supply scenarios. A dynamic vintage model is employed to model plants decommissioning and adoption rates of innovative SE. Potential benefits and impacts of SE are assessed through prospective LCA. The approach is used to estimate the prospective GHG emission reduction potential achieved by large-scale adoption of innovative SE technologies to improve the efficiency of four energy conversion technologies (coal power plants, gas turbines, wind turbines and solar panels) until 2100. Applying innovative SE technologies to the energy sector has the potential of reducing annual CO2-eq emissions by 1.8 Gt in 2050 and 3.4 Gt in 2100 in an optimistic socio-economic pathway scenario. This corresponds to 7% and 8.5% annual reduction in the energy sector in 2050 and 2100, respectively. The mitigation potential of applying innovative SE technologies highly depends on the energy technology, the socio-economic pathways, and the implementation of stringent GHG mitigation policies. Due to their high carbon intensity, fossil-based technologies showed a higher GHG mitigation potential compared to renewables. Besides, GHG emissions related to the SE processes are largely offset by the GHG savings of the energy conversion technologies where the innovative SE technologies are applied.
Agez M; Muller E; Patouillard L; Södersten C; Arvesen A; Margni M; Samson R; Majeau-Bettez G
Correcting remaining truncations in hybrid life cycle assessment database compilation Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 26, iss. 1, pp. 121-133, 2022, ISSN: 15309290.
@article{Agez2022,
title = {Correcting remaining truncations in hybrid life cycle assessment database compilation},
author = {Maxime Agez and Elliot Muller and Laure Patouillard and Carl-Johan Södersten and Anders Arvesen and Manuele Margni and Réjean Samson and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez},
doi = {10.1111/JIEC.13132},
issn = {15309290},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
volume = {26},
issue = {1},
pages = {121-133},
publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Inc},
abstract = {Hybrid life cycle assessment (HLCA) strives to combine process-based life cycle assessment (PLCA) and environmentally extended input–output (EEIO) analysis to bridge gaps of both methodologies. The recent development of HLCA databases constitutes a major step forward in achieving complete system coverage. Nevertheless, current applications of HLCA still suffer from issues related to incompleteness of the inventory and data gaps: (1) hybridization without endogenizing the capital inputs of the EEIO database leads to underestimations, (2) the unreliability of price data hinders the application of streamlined HLCA for processes in some sectors, and (3) the sparse coverage of pollutants in multiregional EEIO databases limits the application of HLCA to a handful of impact categories. This paper aims at offering a methodology for tackling these issues in a streamlined manner and visualizing their effects on impact scores across an entire PLCA database and multiple impact categories. Data reconciliation algorithms are demonstrated on the PLCA database ecoinvent3.5 and the multiregional EEIO database EXIOBASE3. Instead of performing hybridization solely with annual product requirements, this hybridization approach incorporates endogenized capital requirements, demonstrates a novel hybridization methodology to bypass issues of price unavailability, estimates new pollutants to EXIOBASE3 environmental extensions, and thus yields improved inventories characterized in terms of 13 impact categories from the IMPACT World+ methodology. The effect of hybridization on the impact score of each process of ecoinvent3.5 varied from a few percentages to three-fold increases, depending on the impact category and the process studied, displaying in which cases hybridization should be prioritized. This article met the requirements for a Gold—Gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hybrid life cycle assessment (HLCA) strives to combine process-based life cycle assessment (PLCA) and environmentally extended input–output (EEIO) analysis to bridge gaps of both methodologies. The recent development of HLCA databases constitutes a major step forward in achieving complete system coverage. Nevertheless, current applications of HLCA still suffer from issues related to incompleteness of the inventory and data gaps: (1) hybridization without endogenizing the capital inputs of the EEIO database leads to underestimations, (2) the unreliability of price data hinders the application of streamlined HLCA for processes in some sectors, and (3) the sparse coverage of pollutants in multiregional EEIO databases limits the application of HLCA to a handful of impact categories. This paper aims at offering a methodology for tackling these issues in a streamlined manner and visualizing their effects on impact scores across an entire PLCA database and multiple impact categories. Data reconciliation algorithms are demonstrated on the PLCA database ecoinvent3.5 and the multiregional EEIO database EXIOBASE3. Instead of performing hybridization solely with annual product requirements, this hybridization approach incorporates endogenized capital requirements, demonstrates a novel hybridization methodology to bypass issues of price unavailability, estimates new pollutants to EXIOBASE3 environmental extensions, and thus yields improved inventories characterized in terms of 13 impact categories from the IMPACT World+ methodology. The effect of hybridization on the impact score of each process of ecoinvent3.5 varied from a few percentages to three-fold increases, depending on the impact category and the process studied, displaying in which cases hybridization should be prioritized. This article met the requirements for a Gold—Gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.
Houssard C; Revéret J; Maxime D; Pouliot Y; Margni M
Measuring shared value creation with eco-efficiency: Development of a multidimensional value framework for the dairy industry Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 374, pp. 133840, 2022, ISSN: 0959-6526.
@article{Houssard2022,
title = {Measuring shared value creation with eco-efficiency: Development of a multidimensional value framework for the dairy industry},
author = {Catherine Houssard and Jean-Pierre Revéret and Dominique Maxime and Yves Pouliot and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2022.133840},
issn = {0959-6526},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
volume = {374},
pages = {133840},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {The concept of creating shared value was first advanced by Harvard Business School and adopted by companies to develop sustainability strategies to maximize their positive impacts on society. Eco-efficiency is a sustainability concept and a prevalent operational decision support tool that assesses the environmental performance of a system as a function of its value. This paper proposes a novel multidimensional value eco-efficiency framework based on a life cycle perspective that broadens the value dimension assessment in keeping with the concept of creating shared value. The framework is tested and implemented in a case study in the Canadian dairy industry. It uses a systemic approach to compare the eco-efficiency performance of 11 multifunctional Greek yogurt systems delivering various co-products with different functions and economic values across the value chain. It makes it possible to identify the trade-offs between the environment and various value dimensions (economic or functional) based on stakeholders' interests. The results show that the scenarios that create the most economic value for the Greek yogurt processors do not perform as well for the other stakeholders along the value chain or in terms of overall environmental performance. By developing a multi-criteria value assessment, this enhanced eco-efficiency framework brings consistency in covering the same scope of analysis between value creation and environmental impacts. More specifically it breaks with the industry's prevailing value creation philosophy and value measurement in eco-efficiency analysis, which is usually based on cost-effectiveness and profit maximization for one stakeholder at the expense of the others in the value chain. Ultimately, it contributes to align companies' efforts in improving their eco-efficiency with sustainability goals and minimize the risk of burden shifting.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The concept of creating shared value was first advanced by Harvard Business School and adopted by companies to develop sustainability strategies to maximize their positive impacts on society. Eco-efficiency is a sustainability concept and a prevalent operational decision support tool that assesses the environmental performance of a system as a function of its value. This paper proposes a novel multidimensional value eco-efficiency framework based on a life cycle perspective that broadens the value dimension assessment in keeping with the concept of creating shared value. The framework is tested and implemented in a case study in the Canadian dairy industry. It uses a systemic approach to compare the eco-efficiency performance of 11 multifunctional Greek yogurt systems delivering various co-products with different functions and economic values across the value chain. It makes it possible to identify the trade-offs between the environment and various value dimensions (economic or functional) based on stakeholders' interests. The results show that the scenarios that create the most economic value for the Greek yogurt processors do not perform as well for the other stakeholders along the value chain or in terms of overall environmental performance. By developing a multi-criteria value assessment, this enhanced eco-efficiency framework brings consistency in covering the same scope of analysis between value creation and environmental impacts. More specifically it breaks with the industry's prevailing value creation philosophy and value measurement in eco-efficiency analysis, which is usually based on cost-effectiveness and profit maximization for one stakeholder at the expense of the others in the value chain. Ultimately, it contributes to align companies' efforts in improving their eco-efficiency with sustainability goals and minimize the risk of burden shifting.
2021
Pedneault J; Desjardins V; Margni M; Conciatori D; Fafard M; Sorelli L
Economic and environmental life cycle assessment of a short-span aluminium composite bridge deck in Canada Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 310, pp. 127405, 2021, ISSN: 09596526.
@article{Pedneault2021,
title = {Economic and environmental life cycle assessment of a short-span aluminium composite bridge deck in Canada},
author = {Julien Pedneault and Victor Desjardins and Manuele Margni and David Conciatori and Mario Fafard and Luca Sorelli},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959652621016243},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127405},
issn = {09596526},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
volume = {310},
pages = {127405},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Binet F; Saunier F; Margni M
In: Frontiers in Sustainability, vol. 2, pp. 90, 2021, ISSN: 2673-4524.
@article{Binet2021,
title = {Assessing the Mitigation Potential of Environmental Impacts From Circular Economy Strategies on an Industrial Sector and Its Value Chain: A Case Study on the Steel Value Chain in Quebec},
author = {Flavien Binet and François Saunier and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.3389/FRSUS.2021.738890},
issn = {2673-4524},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Frontiers in Sustainability},
volume = {2},
pages = {90},
publisher = {Frontiers},
abstract = {This research project aims to evaluate the potential reduction of environmental impacts from circular economy strategies on an industrial sector at a regional scale with a case study on GHG emissions in Quebec’s steel industry and its value chain. To do so, an integrated model has been created based on the matrix approach, building on material flow analysis (MFA) tracking flows and stocks and on life cycle assessment (LCA) to compute direct (from the activity, e.g. combustion process) and indirect (from supply chain, e.g. production of raw material inside or outside of region) emissions. This theoretical model is designed to be applied to any emissions or environmental impacts from a specific sector in a given region, and enable to model the effects of circularity strategies to both flows and related environmental impacts. The overall mitigation potential of individual or combined circular economy strategies on a specific sector could thus be evaluated across its entire value chain. In the case study, a set of the most promising circular strategies applicable in the Quebec context were identified and the GHG reduction potential within and outside the province is calculated and compared to actual emissions. Six circular strategies were analyzed acting at three different levers: GHG/material (increase iron recycling rate, switch to hydrogen-based reduction production), material/product (reduce weight of vehicle, limit overspecification in building construction), product/service (increase buildings and cars lifetime, increase car-sharing) and therefore impact rather direct or indirect emissions on different stages of the steel life cycle. Combining these six strategies into a consolidated scenario shows that a circular driven economy allows to cut down GHG emissions of the cradle-to-gate steel industry value chain by -55%, i.e., 1.67 Mt CO2e. Taking into account use phase of steel, overall reductions are estimated at -6.03 MtCO2e, i.e., -30% of the whole life cycle.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This research project aims to evaluate the potential reduction of environmental impacts from circular economy strategies on an industrial sector at a regional scale with a case study on GHG emissions in Quebec’s steel industry and its value chain. To do so, an integrated model has been created based on the matrix approach, building on material flow analysis (MFA) tracking flows and stocks and on life cycle assessment (LCA) to compute direct (from the activity, e.g. combustion process) and indirect (from supply chain, e.g. production of raw material inside or outside of region) emissions. This theoretical model is designed to be applied to any emissions or environmental impacts from a specific sector in a given region, and enable to model the effects of circularity strategies to both flows and related environmental impacts. The overall mitigation potential of individual or combined circular economy strategies on a specific sector could thus be evaluated across its entire value chain. In the case study, a set of the most promising circular strategies applicable in the Quebec context were identified and the GHG reduction potential within and outside the province is calculated and compared to actual emissions. Six circular strategies were analyzed acting at three different levers: GHG/material (increase iron recycling rate, switch to hydrogen-based reduction production), material/product (reduce weight of vehicle, limit overspecification in building construction), product/service (increase buildings and cars lifetime, increase car-sharing) and therefore impact rather direct or indirect emissions on different stages of the steel life cycle. Combining these six strategies into a consolidated scenario shows that a circular driven economy allows to cut down GHG emissions of the cradle-to-gate steel industry value chain by -55%, i.e., 1.67 Mt CO2e. Taking into account use phase of steel, overall reductions are estimated at -6.03 MtCO2e, i.e., -30% of the whole life cycle.
Houssard C; Maxime D; Pouliot Y; Margni M
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 283, 2021, ISSN: 0959-6526.
@article{ISI:000609032200018,
title = {Allocation is not enough! A system boundaries expansion approach to account for production and consumption synergies: The environmental footprint of Greek yogurt},
author = {Catherine Houssard and Dominique Maxime and Yves Pouliot and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124607},
issn = {0959-6526},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
volume = {283},
publisher = {ELSEVIER SCI LTD},
abstract = {The optimal use of food components in human nutrition is key to reduce the environmental burdens of the global food system. In this life cycle assessment (LCA) case study based on Greek yogurt (GY) production systems, we explore how a system boundary expansion approach (SBES), instead of an allocation approach, can help to optimize the use of the milk components in the dairy industry for the province of Quebec, Canada. GY is a high-protein-low-fat dairy product considered as a healthy high-value product for human nutrition. Its production requires large volumes of milk and generates a high-value co-product (cream) and a by-product (whey). This comprehensive LCA study compares three production technologies (centrifugation (CE), ultrafiltration (UF) and fortification (FO)) and different whey management alternatives (animal feed, biogas and fertilizer production, waste treatment). Results show that, under current Canadian market conditions in which milk production is driven by the demand for cream and surplus non-fat-solids are downcycled on the animal feed market, the CE and UF technologies, which require more raw milk than FO and produce more cream, enable better synergies in the use of milk components and improve the environmental performance of GY as compared to FO. Both CE and UF make it possible to use the excess of Canadian milk proteins in human nutrition, in compliance with circular economy principles. In this respect, neither the quantity of whey generated, nor the whey management pathway significantly influence the GY environmental footprint. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The optimal use of food components in human nutrition is key to reduce the environmental burdens of the global food system. In this life cycle assessment (LCA) case study based on Greek yogurt (GY) production systems, we explore how a system boundary expansion approach (SBES), instead of an allocation approach, can help to optimize the use of the milk components in the dairy industry for the province of Quebec, Canada. GY is a high-protein-low-fat dairy product considered as a healthy high-value product for human nutrition. Its production requires large volumes of milk and generates a high-value co-product (cream) and a by-product (whey). This comprehensive LCA study compares three production technologies (centrifugation (CE), ultrafiltration (UF) and fortification (FO)) and different whey management alternatives (animal feed, biogas and fertilizer production, waste treatment). Results show that, under current Canadian market conditions in which milk production is driven by the demand for cream and surplus non-fat-solids are downcycled on the animal feed market, the CE and UF technologies, which require more raw milk than FO and produce more cream, enable better synergies in the use of milk components and improve the environmental performance of GY as compared to FO. Both CE and UF make it possible to use the excess of Canadian milk proteins in human nutrition, in compliance with circular economy principles. In this respect, neither the quantity of whey generated, nor the whey management pathway significantly influence the GY environmental footprint. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Head M; Magnan M; Kurz W A; Levasseur A; Beauregard R; Margni M
Temporally-differentiated biogenic carbon accounting of wood building product life cycles Journal Article
In: SN Applied Sciences, vol. 3, iss. 62, 2021.
@article{Headb,
title = {Temporally-differentiated biogenic carbon accounting of wood building product life cycles},
author = {Marieke Head and Michael Magnan and Werner A. Kurz and Annie Levasseur and Robert Beauregard and Manuele Margni},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03979-2},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {SN Applied Sciences},
volume = {3},
issue = {62},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Turgeon K; Trottier G; Turpin C; Bulle C; Margni M
Empirical characterization factors to be used in LCA and assessing the effects of hydropower on fish richness Journal Article
In: Ecological Indicators, vol. 121, 2021, ISSN: 1470-160X.
@article{ISI:000604893600011,
title = {Empirical characterization factors to be used in LCA and assessing the effects of hydropower on fish richness},
author = {Katrine Turgeon and Gabrielle Trottier and Christian Turpin and Cécile Bulle and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107047},
issn = {1470-160X},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Ecological Indicators},
volume = {121},
publisher = {ELSEVIER},
abstract = {Hydropower is often presented as a clean, reliable, and renewable energy source, but is also recognized for its potential impacts on aquatic ecosystem biodiversity. We used direct empirical data of change in fish species richness following impoundment to develop ecological indicators to be used in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and accounting for hydropower impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Data were collected on 89 sampling stations (63 stations located upstream, and 26 located downstream of a dam) distributed in 26 reservoirs from three biomes (boreal, temperate and tropical). Overall, the impact of hydropower on fish species richness was significant in the tropics, of smaller amplitude in temperate biome and minimal in boreal biome, stressing the need for regionalisation when developing indicators. The impact of hydropower was consistent across scales for a given biome (same directionality and statistical significance across sampling stations and reservoirs). However, the indicators were sensitive to the duration of the study (the period over which data have been collected after impoundment), which can underestimate the impacts. This result highlights the need to account for the duration of the transient dynamics to reach a steady state (rate of change in species richness = 0) before developing ecological indicators. By using the LCA approach, our suggested indicators contribute to fill a major gap in assisting decision-makers when evaluating the potential of alternative energy technologies, such as hydropower, to decarbonize the worldwide economy, while minimizing the impacts on aquatic ecosystems.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hydropower is often presented as a clean, reliable, and renewable energy source, but is also recognized for its potential impacts on aquatic ecosystem biodiversity. We used direct empirical data of change in fish species richness following impoundment to develop ecological indicators to be used in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and accounting for hydropower impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Data were collected on 89 sampling stations (63 stations located upstream, and 26 located downstream of a dam) distributed in 26 reservoirs from three biomes (boreal, temperate and tropical). Overall, the impact of hydropower on fish species richness was significant in the tropics, of smaller amplitude in temperate biome and minimal in boreal biome, stressing the need for regionalisation when developing indicators. The impact of hydropower was consistent across scales for a given biome (same directionality and statistical significance across sampling stations and reservoirs). However, the indicators were sensitive to the duration of the study (the period over which data have been collected after impoundment), which can underestimate the impacts. This result highlights the need to account for the duration of the transient dynamics to reach a steady state (rate of change in species richness = 0) before developing ecological indicators. By using the LCA approach, our suggested indicators contribute to fill a major gap in assisting decision-makers when evaluating the potential of alternative energy technologies, such as hydropower, to decarbonize the worldwide economy, while minimizing the impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Trottier G; Turgeon K; Verones F; Boisclair D; Bulle C; Margni M
In: Sustainability, vol. 13, iss. 5, 2021.
@article{ISI:000628599500001,
title = {Empirical Characterization Factors for Life Cycle Assessment of the Impacts of Reservoir Occupation on Macroinvertebrate Richness across the United States},
author = {Gabrielle Trottier and Katrine Turgeon and Francesca Verones and Daniel Boisclair and Cécile Bulle and Manuele Margni},
doi = {10.3390/su13052701},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Sustainability},
volume = {13},
issue = {5},
publisher = {MDPI},
abstract = {The transformation of a river into a reservoir and the subsequent occupation of the riverbed by a reservoir can impact freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. We used the National Lake Assessment (134 reservoirs) and the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (2062 rivers and streams) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in order to develop empirical characterization factors (CFs; in Potentially Disappeared Fraction of species [PDF]) evaluating the impacts of reservoir occupation on macroinvertebrate richness (number of taxa) at the reservoir, ecoregion and country spatial scales, using a space-for-time substitution. We used analyses of variance, variation partitioning, and multiple regression analysis to explain the role of ecoregion (or regionalization; accounting for spatial variability) and other potentially influential variables (physical, chemical and human), on PDFs. At the United States scale, 28% of macroinvertebrate taxa disappeared during reservoir occupation and PDFs followed a longitudinal gradient across ecoregions, where PDFs were higher in the west. We also observed that high elevation, oligotrophic and large reservoirs had high PDF. This study provides the first empirical macroinvertebrate-based PDFs for reservoir occupation to be used as CFs by LCA practitioners. The results provide strong support for regionalization and a simple empirical model for LCA modelers.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The transformation of a river into a reservoir and the subsequent occupation of the riverbed by a reservoir can impact freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. We used the National Lake Assessment (134 reservoirs) and the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (2062 rivers and streams) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in order to develop empirical characterization factors (CFs; in Potentially Disappeared Fraction of species [PDF]) evaluating the impacts of reservoir occupation on macroinvertebrate richness (number of taxa) at the reservoir, ecoregion and country spatial scales, using a space-for-time substitution. We used analyses of variance, variation partitioning, and multiple regression analysis to explain the role of ecoregion (or regionalization; accounting for spatial variability) and other potentially influential variables (physical, chemical and human), on PDFs. At the United States scale, 28% of macroinvertebrate taxa disappeared during reservoir occupation and PDFs followed a longitudinal gradient across ecoregions, where PDFs were higher in the west. We also observed that high elevation, oligotrophic and large reservoirs had high PDF. This study provides the first empirical macroinvertebrate-based PDFs for reservoir occupation to be used as CFs by LCA practitioners. The results provide strong support for regionalization and a simple empirical model for LCA modelers.
Pedneault J; Desjardins V; Margni M; Conciatori D; Fafard M; Sorelli L
Economic and environmental life cycle assessment of a short-span aluminium composite bridge deck in Canada Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 310, pp. 127405, 2021, ISSN: 09596526.
@article{Pedneault2021b,
title = {Economic and environmental life cycle assessment of a short-span aluminium composite bridge deck in Canada},
author = { Julien Pedneault and Victor Desjardins and Manuele Margni and David Conciatori and Mario Fafard and Luca Sorelli},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959652621016243},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127405},
issn = {09596526},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
volume = {310},
pages = {127405},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pedneault J; Majeau-Bettez G; Pauliuk S; Margni M
Future metal stock and flows by sector based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathways - The example of aluminium alloys Proceedings Article
In: SAM15, 2021.
@inproceedings{Pednault2021,
title = {Future metal stock and flows by sector based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathways - The example of aluminium alloys},
author = {Julien Pedneault and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Stefan Pauliuk and Manuele Margni},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
booktitle = {SAM15},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Lathuillière M J; Patouillard L; Margni M; Ayre B; Löfgren P; Ribeiro V; West C; Gardner T A; Suavet C
A Commodity Supply Mix for More Regionalized Life Cycle Assessments Journal Article
In: Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 55, iss. 17, 2021, ISSN: 0013-936X.
@article{Lathuillire2021,
title = {A Commodity Supply Mix for More Regionalized Life Cycle Assessments},
author = {Michael J. Lathuillière and Laure Patouillard and Manuele Margni and Ben Ayre and Pernilla Löfgren and Vivian Ribeiro and Chris West and Toby A. Gardner and Clément Suavet},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.1c03060},
issn = {0013-936X},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Environmental Science & Technology},
volume = {55},
issue = {17},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Côté S; Beauregard R; Margni M; Bélanger L
Using Naturalness for Assessing the Impact of Forestry and Protection on the Quality of Ecosystems in Life Cycle Assessment Journal Article
In: Sustainability, vol. 13, iss. 8859, 2021.
@article{Cote2021,
title = {Using Naturalness for Assessing the Impact of Forestry and Protection on the Quality of Ecosystems in Life Cycle Assessment},
author = {Sylvie Côté and Robert Beauregard and Manuele Margni and Louis Bélanger},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168859},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Sustainability},
volume = {13},
issue = {8859},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Kaddoura M; Majeau-Bettez G; Amor B; Moreau C; Margni M
Linking Life Cycle Assessment and Integrated Assessment Models for Prospective Modelling: A Case Study of Emerging Surface Engineering Technologies in Energy Systems Proceedings Article
In: ACLCA conference, 2021.
@inproceedings{Kaddoura2021,
title = {Linking Life Cycle Assessment and Integrated Assessment Models for Prospective Modelling: A Case Study of Emerging Surface Engineering Technologies in Energy Systems},
author = {Mohamad Kaddoura and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Ben Amor and Christian Moreau and Manuele Margni},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
booktitle = {ACLCA conference},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
2020
Houssard C; Maxime D; Benoit S; Pouliot Y; Margni M
Comparative life cycle assessment of five Greek yogurt production systems: A perspective beyond the plant boundaries; under review in Journal Article
In: Sustainability, 2020.
@article{Houssard2020b,
title = {Comparative life cycle assessment of five Greek yogurt production systems: A perspective beyond the plant boundaries; under review in},
author = { Catherine Houssard and Dominique Maxime and Scott Benoit and Yves Pouliot and Manuele Margni},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Sustainability},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Verones F; Hellweg S; Antón A; Azevedo L B; Chaudhary A; Cosme N; Cucurachi S; Baan L D; Dong Y; Fantke P; Golsteijn L; Hauschild M Z; Heijungs R; Jolliet O; Juraske R; Larsen H; Laurent A; Mutel C; Margni M; Núñez M; Owsianiak M; Pfister S; Ponsioen T; Preiss P; Rosenbaum R K; Roy P; Sala S; Steinmann Z; Zelm R; Dingenen R V; Vieira M; Huijbregts M A J
LC‐IMPACT: A regionalized life cycle damage assessment method Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, pp. jiec.13018, 2020, ISSN: 1088-1980.
@article{Verones2020,
title = {LC‐IMPACT: A regionalized life cycle damage assessment method},
author = {Francesca Verones and Stefanie Hellweg and Assumpció Antón and Ligia B. Azevedo and Abhishek Chaudhary and Nuno Cosme and Stefano Cucurachi and Laura De Baan and Yan Dong and Peter Fantke and Laura Golsteijn and Michael Zwicky Hauschild and Reinout Heijungs and Olivier Jolliet and Ronnie Juraske and Henrik Larsen and Alexis Laurent and Christopher Mutel and Manuele Margni and Montserrat Núñez and Mikolaj Owsianiak and Stephan Pfister and Tommie Ponsioen and Philipp Preiss and Ralph K. Rosenbaum and Pierre-Olivier Roy and Serenella Sala and Zoran Steinmann and Rosalie Zelm and Rita Van Dingenen and Marisa Vieira and Mark A. J. Huijbregts},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jiec.13018},
doi = {10.1111/jiec.13018},
issn = {1088-1980},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
pages = {jiec.13018},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Viau S; Majeau-Bettez G; Spreutels L; Legros R; Margni M; Samson R
Substitution modelling in life cycle assessment of municipal solid waste management Journal Article
In: Waste Management, vol. 102, pp. 795-803, 2020, ISSN: 0956053X.
@article{Viaua,
title = {Substitution modelling in life cycle assessment of municipal solid waste management},
author = {Stéphanie Viau and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Laurent Spreutels and Robert Legros and Manuele Margni and Réjean Samson},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0956053X1930738X},
doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2019.11.042},
issn = {0956053X},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Waste Management},
volume = {102},
pages = {795-803},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Head M; Levasseur A; Beauregard R; Margni M
Dynamic greenhouse gas life cycle inventory and impact profiles of wood used in Canadian buildings Journal Article
In: Building and Environment, vol. 173, pp. 106751, 2020, ISSN: 03601323.
@article{Heada,
title = {Dynamic greenhouse gas life cycle inventory and impact profiles of wood used in Canadian buildings},
author = {Marieke Head and Annie Levasseur and Robert Beauregard and Manuele Margni},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0360132320301098},
doi = {10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106751},
issn = {03601323},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Building and Environment},
volume = {173},
pages = {106751},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Koffler C; Amor B; Carbajales-Dale M; Cascio J; Conroy A; Fava J A; Gaudreault C; Gloria T; Hensler C; Horvath A; Humbert S; Manzardo A; Margni M; Osset P; Sinistore J; Vigon B; Wallace M L; Wang M; Prox M
On the reporting and review requirements of ISO 14044 Journal Article
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 25, iss. 3, pp. 478-482, 2020, ISSN: 0948-3349.
@article{Koffler2020,
title = {On the reporting and review requirements of ISO 14044},
author = {Christoph Koffler and Ben Amor and Michael Carbajales-Dale and Joseph Cascio and Alison Conroy and James A. Fava and Caroline Gaudreault and Thomas Gloria and Connie Hensler and Arpad Horvath and Sebastien Humbert and Alessandro Manzardo and Manuele Margni and Philippe Osset and Julie Sinistore and Bruce Vigon and Michele L Wallace and Michael Wang and Martina Prox},
url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11367-019-01706-7},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-019-01706-7},
issn = {0948-3349},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment},
volume = {25},
issue = {3},
pages = {478-482},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Agez M; Majeau-Bettez G; Margni M; Strømman A H; Samson R
Lifting the veil on the correction of double counting incidents in hybrid life cycle assessment Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2020.
@article{Agez2019a,
title = {Lifting the veil on the correction of double counting incidents in hybrid life cycle assessment},
author = {Maxime Agez and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Manuele Margni and Anders Hammer Strømman and Réjean Samson},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12945},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Industrial Ecology},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Lonca G; Lesage P; Majeau-Bettez G; Bernard S; Margni M
Assessing scaling effects of circular economy strategies: A case study on plastic bottle closed-loop recycling in the USA PET market Journal Article
In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 162, pp. 105013, 2020, ISSN: 09213449.
@article{Lonca2020a,
title = {Assessing scaling effects of circular economy strategies: A case study on plastic bottle closed-loop recycling in the USA PET market},
author = {Geoffrey Lonca and Pascal Lesage and Guillaume Majeau-Bettez and Sophie Bernard and Manuele Margni},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S092134492030330X},
doi = {10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105013},
issn = {09213449},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Resources, Conservation and Recycling},
volume = {162},
pages = {105013},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Faucher M; Henaux L; Chaudron C; Mikhaylin S; Margni M; Bazinet L
In: Journal of Food Engineering, vol. 273, pp. 109802, 2020, ISSN: 02608774.
@article{Faucher2020,
title = {Electromembrane approach to substantially improve the ecoefficiency of deacidified cranberry juice production: Physicochemical properties, life cycle assessment and ecoefficiency score},
author = {Mélanie Faucher and Loïc Henaux and Camille Chaudron and Sergey Mikhaylin and Manuele Margni and Laurent Bazinet},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0260877419304467},
doi = {10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2019.109802},
issn = {02608774},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Food Engineering},
volume = {273},
pages = {109802},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Côté S; Bélanger L; Beauregard R; Thiffault É; Margni M
Naturalness Assessment of Forest Management Scenarios in Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera Forests Journal Article
In: Forests, vol. 11, iss. 5, pp. 601, 2020, ISSN: 1999-4907.
@article{Cote2020,
title = {Naturalness Assessment of Forest Management Scenarios in Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera Forests},
author = {Sylvie Côté and Louis Bélanger and Robert Beauregard and Évelyne Thiffault and Manuele Margni},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/5/601},
doi = {10.3390/f11050601},
issn = {1999-4907},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Forests},
volume = {11},
issue = {5},
pages = {601},
abstract = {Research Highlights: This research provides an application of a model assessing the naturalness of the forest ecosystem to demonstrate its capacity to assess either the deterioration or the rehabilitation of the ecosystem through different forest management scenarios. Background and Objectives: The model allows the assessment of the quality of ecosystems at the landscape level based on the condition of the forest and the proportion of different forest management practices to precisely characterize a given strategy. The present work aims to: (1) verify the capacity of the Naturalness Assessment Model to perform bi-directional assessments, allowing not only the evaluation of the deterioration of naturalness characteristics, but also its improvement related to enhanced ecological management or restoration strategies; (2) identify forest management strategies prone to improving ecosystem quality; (3) analyze the model’s capacity to summarize the effect of different practices along a single alteration gradient. Materials and Methods: The Naturalness Assessment Model was adapted to the Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera forest of Quebec (Canada), and a naturalness assessment of two sectors with different historical management strategies was performed. Fictive forest management scenarios were evaluated using different mixes of forestry practices. The sensitivity of the reference data set used for the naturalness assessment has been evaluated by comparing the results using data from old management plans with those based on Quebec’s reference state registry. Results: The model makes it possible to identify forest management strategies capable of improving ecosystem quality compared to the current situation. The model’s most sensitive variables are regeneration process, dead wood, closed forest and cover type. Conclusions: In the Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera forest, scenarios with enhanced protection and inclusion of irregular shelterwood cuttings could play an important role in improving ecosystem quality. Conversely, scenarios with short rotation (50 years) could lead to further degradation of the ecosystem quality.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Research Highlights: This research provides an application of a model assessing the naturalness of the forest ecosystem to demonstrate its capacity to assess either the deterioration or the rehabilitation of the ecosystem through different forest management scenarios. Background and Objectives: The model allows the assessment of the quality of ecosystems at the landscape level based on the condition of the forest and the proportion of different forest management practices to precisely characterize a given strategy. The present work aims to: (1) verify the capacity of the Naturalness Assessment Model to perform bi-directional assessments, allowing not only the evaluation of the deterioration of naturalness characteristics, but also its improvement related to enhanced ecological management or restoration strategies; (2) identify forest management strategies prone to improving ecosystem quality; (3) analyze the model’s capacity to summarize the effect of different practices along a single alteration gradient. Materials and Methods: The Naturalness Assessment Model was adapted to the Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera forest of Quebec (Canada), and a naturalness assessment of two sectors with different historical management strategies was performed. Fictive forest management scenarios were evaluated using different mixes of forestry practices. The sensitivity of the reference data set used for the naturalness assessment has been evaluated by comparing the results using data from old management plans with those based on Quebec’s reference state registry. Results: The model makes it possible to identify forest management strategies capable of improving ecosystem quality compared to the current situation. The model’s most sensitive variables are regeneration process, dead wood, closed forest and cover type. Conclusions: In the Abies balsamea–Betula papyrifera forest, scenarios with enhanced protection and inclusion of irregular shelterwood cuttings could play an important role in improving ecosystem quality. Conversely, scenarios with short rotation (50 years) could lead to further degradation of the ecosystem quality.
