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How can you optimize the environmental performance of a material throughout its life cycle?

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Materials are essential for human activities, but they also have significant impacts on the environment. From extraction to disposal, materials consume energy, generate emissions, and create waste. How can you optimize the environmental performance of a material throughout its life cycle? In this article, you will learn about some life cycle assessment methods that can help you evaluate and improve the sustainability of materials.

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Hasler Iglesias

Development, innovation, circular economy and sustainability | Economics PhD student | Chemical engineer
Bablu Ghosh

Senior lecturer, EEE.program, UMS , SMIEEE, MIET, CEng. PhD

1 What is life cycle assessment?

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a systematic method to quantify the environmental impacts of a product or a service from cradle to grave. It considers all the stages of the material life cycle, such as raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. LCA can help you identify the hotspots of environmental impacts, compare different alternatives, and design strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of materials.

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Bablu Ghosh

Senior lecturer, EEE.program, UMS , SMIEEE, MIET, CEng. PhD
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Yes, materials life cycle consideration the circular materials flow as circular economy is very essential now. Because raw materials to product quality materials development the energy uses is huge. Therefore it is essential to introduce materials recycling process in many industrial products.

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Bablu Ghosh

Senior lecturer, EEE.program, UMS , SMIEEE, MIET, CEng. PhD
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Light-matter interactions, the nanomaterials in nanotechnology appear as a big deal. The photon phonon coupling process sharing of phonon energy toward the electron and eventually the carrier transport increasing is the ultimate success of nanomaterials for efficient optoelectrical energy transformation. Higher dimension to low dimensional materials transformation process band gap engineering or its tuning leading to greater conductivity, higher signal-to-noise ratio for detector technology, faster response, and lower dissipation can make the system more energy efficient and robust. That is most appropriate for the advancement of future self-energy-supported robust technologies.

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2 What are the steps of LCA?

LCA consists of four main steps: goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. In the goal and scope definition, you define the purpose, boundaries, functional unit, and assumptions of your study. In the inventory analysis, you collect data on the inputs and outputs of each life cycle stage, such as materials, energy, water, emissions, and waste. In the impact assessment, you assign these inputs and outputs to different impact categories, such as climate change, acidification, eutrophication, and human health. In the interpretation, you evaluate the results, identify the limitations, and draw conclusions and recommendations.

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Bablu Ghosh

Senior lecturer, EEE.program, UMS , SMIEEE, MIET, CEng. PhD
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At the interface of energy and environment, nanotechnology can play a vital role. Both low dissipation and energy use the nanomaterials greater carrier transport and higher conversion efficiency is the most attractive feature for the research community. The dissipation-lessening purposes of the greater quantum efficiency material choice for sensing technology are highly desired for both energy and environmental purposes. Low dimensional materials whether carrier degree of freedom or reduction of defect with respect to bulk materials appropriate are not revealed properly. Low interface resistance and carrier greater electrodynamics are possible better choices in this respect.

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3 What are some LCA tools and databases?

To conduct an LCA, you need to use software tools and databases that can help you collect, organize, and analyze data. There are many LCA tools and databases available, such as SimaPro, GaBi, OpenLCA, Ecoinvent, ELCD, and USLCI. These tools and databases vary in their features, functionalities, coverage, and quality. You should choose the ones that suit your needs and objectives, and check the reliability and validity of the data sources.

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4 How can you optimize the material selection?

One of the ways to optimize the environmental performance of a material is to choose the most sustainable option among different alternatives. To do this, you can use LCA to compare the environmental impacts of different materials that have the same function and performance. For example, you can compare the impacts of steel, aluminum, and composite materials for a car body. You should consider the trade-offs between different impact categories and life cycle stages, and select the material that minimizes the overall impacts.

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Hasler Iglesias

Development, innovation, circular economy and sustainability | Economics PhD student | Chemical engineer
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In my experience, the heart of the matter is being clear about the environmental priorities of the organization before conducting the interpretation of the LCA results. Trade-offs are the daily bread of LCAs. Is it better to select a material with higher global warming potential but lower eutrophication potential, or the other way around? It will depend on the company's priorities and even the local environmental challenges. Chances are that one can indulge in "carbon tunnel vision", favoring just carbon footprint at the expense of other relevant categories. While the ideal scenario would be to reduce all the environmental impacts through material selection, in reality, this is a rather uncommon situation.

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5 How can you optimize the material design?

Another way to optimize the environmental performance of a material is to design it in a way that reduces its environmental impacts. To do this, you can use LCA to evaluate the effects of different design parameters, such as shape, size, thickness, composition, and structure, on the environmental impacts of the material. For example, you can optimize the design of a concrete mix by adjusting the proportions of cement, aggregates, water, and additives. You should aim to design the material that meets the functional requirements while minimizing the environmental impacts.

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6 How can you optimize the material management?

A third way to optimize the environmental performance of a material is to manage it in a way that extends its life cycle and reduces its waste. To do this, you can use LCA to assess the impacts of different management options, such as reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal, on the environmental impacts of the material. For example, you can optimize the management of a plastic bottle by choosing the best end-of-life scenario, such as mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, incineration, or landfilling. You should strive to manage the material in a circular way that preserves its value and reduces its environmental burden.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you optimize the environmental performance of a material throughout its life cycle?

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1 What is life cycle assessment?

2 What are the steps of LCA?

3 What are some LCA tools and databases?

4 How can you optimize the material selection?

5 How can you optimize the material design?

6 How can you optimize the material management?

7 Here’s what else to consider

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