Search Results (68)

This study presents an integrated Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) of the Natural gas-to-methanol (NGTM) and methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) pathways using Aspen HYSYS process modeling, Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). The results reveal significant variability in sustainability performance across process units. The DME and MTG Reactors Section generates the highest direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at 0.86 million tons CO₂-eq, representing 54.9% of total global warming potential, while the Compression Section consumes 2717.5 TJ/year of energy, making it the dominant source of electricity-related indirect emissions. Distillation and Purification withdraws 31,100 Mm³/year of water—approximately 99% of total demand—yet delivers 86.6% of the overall economic surplus despite high operating costs. Social impacts concentrate in the Methanol Reactor Looping and DME and MTG Reactors Sections, with human health burdens of 305.79 and 804.22 DALYs, respectively, due to catalyst handling and high-pressure operations. Sensitivity results show that methanol purity rises from 0.9993 to 0.9994 with increasing methane content, while gasoline output decreases from 3780 to 3520 kg/h as natural gas flow increases. The findings provide process-level evidence to support sustainable development of natural gas-based fuel conversion industries, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 objectives for industrial diversification and lower-carbon energy systems. Full article

The sustainability of bridge infrastructure is becoming increasingly important due to rising environmental, economic, and social demands. However, most current assessment models remain fragmented, often overlooking the social pillar, underutilizing risk integration across the lifecycle, and failing to fully leverage digital tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), resulting in incomplete sustainability evaluations. This study addresses these limitations by introducing a practical and adaptable model that integrates BIM, LCSA, and expert-driven risk prioritization. Five Hungarian bridge projects were modeled using Tekla Structures and analyzed in OpenLCA to quantify environmental, economic, and social performance. A custom Sustainability Level Change (SLC) algorithm was developed to compare baseline scenarios (equal weighting) with risk-informed alternatives, simulating the impact of targeted improvements. The results demonstrated that prioritizing high-risk sustainability indicators leads to measurable lifecycle gains, typically achieving SLC improvements between +2% and +6%. In critical cases, targeted enhancement scenarios, applying 5% and 10% improvements to top-ranked, high-risk indicators, pushed gains up to +12%. Even underperforming bridges exhibited performance enhancements when targeted actions were applied. The proposed framework is robust, standards-aligned, and methodologically adaptable to various bridge types and lifecycle phases through its data-driven architecture. It empowers infrastructure stakeholders to make more informed, risk-aware, and data-driven sustainability decisions, advancing best practices in bridge planning and evaluation. Compared to earlier tools that overlook risk dynamics and offer limited lifecycle coverage, this framework provides a more comprehensive, actionable, and multi-dimensional approach. Full article

The sustainability of the natural gas-to-methanol (NGTM) and methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) processes are assessed in this systematic review as a potential substitute in the global energy transition. Methanol offers itself as a versatile and less carbon-intensive substitute for conventional gasoline in light of growing environmental concerns and the demand for cleaner fuels. This review’s rationale is to assess MTG’s ability to lessen environmental impact while preserving compatibility with current fuel infrastructure. The goal is to examine methanol and gasoline’s effects on the environment, society, and economy throughout their life cycles. This review used a two-phase systematic literature review methodology, filtering and evaluating studies that were indexed by Scopus using bibliometric and thematic analysis. A total of 25 documents were reviewed, in which 22 documents analyzed part of this study, and 68% employed LCA or techno-economic analysis, with the U.S. contributing 35% of the overall publications. A comparative analysis of the reviewed literature indicates that methanol-based fuels offer significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and life cycle environmental impacts than gasoline, particularly when combined with carbon capture and renewable feedstocks. This review also highlights benefits, such as improved safety and energy security, while acknowledging challenges, including high production costs, infrastructure adaptation, and toxicity concerns. Several drawbacks are high manufacturing costs, the necessity to adjust infrastructure, and toxicity issues. The report suggests investing in renewable methanol production, AI-driven process optimization, and robust legislative frameworks for integrating green fuels. The life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of NGTM and MTG systems should be investigated in future studies, particularly in light of different feedstock and regional circumstances. The findings emphasize NGTM and MTG’s strategic role in aligning with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and add to the worldwide conversation on sustainable fuels. A strong transition necessitates multi-stakeholder cooperation, innovation, and supporting policies to fully realize the sustainability promise of cleaner fuels like methanol. Full article

Urban water management faces growing pressure from population growth, pollution, and climate variability, demanding innovative strategies to ensure long-term sustainability. This study applies the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) across four case studies in Brazil and Germany, evaluating integrated systems that combine constructed wetlands for greywater treatment with rainwater harvesting for non-potable use. The scenarios include a single-family household, a high-rise residential building, a rural residence, and worker housing. A multi-criteria analysis was conducted to derive consolidated sustainability indicators, and sensitivity analysis explored the influence of dimension weighting. Results showed that water reuse scenarios consistently outperformed conventional counterparts across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) revealed notable reductions in global warming potential, terrestrial acidification, and eutrophication. Life Cycle Costing (LCC) confirmed financial feasibility when externalities were considered, especially in large-scale systems. Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) highlighted the perceived benefits in terms of health, safety, and sustainability engagement. Integrated water reuse systems achieved overall sustainability scores up to 4.8 times higher than their baseline equivalents. These findings underscore the effectiveness of decentralized water reuse as a complementary and robust alternative to conventional supply and treatment models, supporting climate resilience and sustainable development goals. Full article

This study explores the use of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Total Sustainability Assessment, and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) as tools to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts in Agri-industry. It highlights the unique trajectory of LCA and LCSA implementation in Latin America, shaped by the region’s distinct environmental, social, and economic contexts, contrasted with global research trends. Evidence shows the importance of biodiversity, conservation, and deforestation mitigation in Latin American LCA applications, which differ from the urban-focused impacts seen in regions like Europe or North America. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significant role of LCSA in addressing socio-economic challenges unique to Latin America, such as inequality and labor conditions. The research reveals the benefits of LCA and LCSA methodologies in the agro-industrial sector, particularly in addressing social issues like land use rights and rural community welfare. Despite challenges such as limited access to high-quality data and the need for capacity building, the innovative application of these methodologies in Latin America offers valuable insights for the global community. Our work relies on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to analyze the LCSA literature from 1990 to 2024, identifying evolving trends and research focal areas in sustainability. The analysis herein presented highlights the need for a multi-dimensional and holistic approach to sustainability research and practice. Our findings also emphasize the importance of developing comprehensive models and integrated methodologies to effectively address complex sustainability challenges. Environmental information remains crucial for policy processes, acknowledging uncertainties in estimations and the connection between land use change, agriculture, and emissions from the global food economy and bioenergy sectors. The research underscores the dynamic nature of LCSA and the importance of continually reassessing sustainability efforts to address pressing challenges. Full article

Current issues in sustainable development concern research on comprehensiveness, coherence and practicality. Therefore, the objective was to develop and test a novelty approach to product sustainability assessment based on life cycle, quality, and costs. This approach extends the iterative design thinking process (DT), including overcoming the limitations of existing LCSA methods. We present a systematic process for obtaining and processing customer requirements with a survey and Pareto–Lorenz analysis. Then, using an algorithm developed in Matlab R2021a program, we generated product prototypes considering the key criteria presented in various dimensions of current and modified states. Next, we propose the modeling of prospective LCA for all prototypes in the OpenLCA program with Ecoinvent database. Finally, we aggregated the results considering the cost of prototypes in environmental–cost analysis to determine the direction of product sustainability. We tested this approach in detail with the example of vacuum cleaners for domestic and commercial use. After a literature review and survey research in customers, we developed 54 prototypes, where the modified key quality criteria were as follows: vacuum in the suction pipe, engine power, operating range, and length of the power cable. Using this approach, it was possible to select six prototypes that best meet customer requirements, are environmentally friendly, and cost-effective. Finally, we discuss contributions to DT and LCSA methodologies, and propose future directions for development within the application of artificial intelligence (AI). This approach can be a practical application in SMEs already in the early stages of product development (conceptualization), where access to detailed data is limited. Full article

Taiwan has been actively advancing offshore wind energy, with significant progress in deep-sea and large-scale turbine development. However, this growth poses challenges to coastal fishery communities, particularly regarding the protection of fishery rights and livelihoods. This study employs the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) framework to evaluate the impact of offshore wind farm (OWF) on fishery rights in Taiwan. Through an extensive literature review, we identify key indicators influencing fishery rights within the OWF context. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, expert surveys from diverse fields provide additional insights into these impacts. By aligning our findings with international frameworks, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS) and the Equator Principles (EP), this research underscores the significance of integrating both local concerns and global standards in OWF development. In the lifecycle of long-term, large-scale OWF projects, PS1 of the IFC PS is the most widely applicable standard, whereas P2, P4, P5 and P9 of the EP plays a central role in ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. This study uniquely integrates local fishery rights into global frameworks, bridging regional socio-economic concerns with international sustainability standards—a novel approach to balancing offshore wind development with community interests. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the importance of balancing renewable energy advancement with the preservation of fishery rights. Full article

With the global shift to sustainability, the energy sector faces pressure to adopt low-carbon solutions. Blue ammonia (BA), derived from natural gas (NG) with carbon capture, presents significant opportunities but requires a holistic sustainability assessment. This study conducts a novel life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of BA, evaluating environmental, economic, and social impact performance from feedstock processing to maritime transport for a 1.2 MMTPA production capacity. Process simulations in Aspen HYSYS V12 and the ammonia maritime transport operations’ sustainability assessment model provide critical insights. The ammonia converter unit contributes the highest emissions (17.9 million tons CO₂-eq), energy use (963.2 TJ), and operational costs (USD 189.2 million). CO₂ removal has the most considerable land use (141.7 km²), and purification records the highest water withdrawal (14.8 million m³). Carbon capture eliminates 6.5 million tons of CO₂ annually. Economically, ammonia shipping dominates gross surplus (USD 653.9 million, 72%) and tax revenue (USD 65.3 million) despite employing just 43 workers. Socially, the ammonia converter unit has the highest human health impact (16,621 DALY, 54%). Sensitivity analysis reveals transport distance (46.5% CO₂ emissions) and LNG fuel prices (63.8% costs) as key uncertainties. Findings underscore the need for optimized logistics and alternative fuels to enhance BA sustainability. Full article

The significant environmental impact of the built environment, particularly concerning energy use, carbon emissions, and material consumption, coupled with its economic and social implications, has driven the demand for sustainable buildings. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating sustainability performance by integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions across the building life cycle. However, the application of LCSA frameworks in the buildings sector remains limited due to the challenges in harmonizing different sustainability dimensions and addressing methodological inconsistencies. This study employs a scientometric analysis to systematically examine the research landscape on LCSA for buildings. Bibliographic records from the Scopus and Web of Science databases (1999–2024) were systematically analyzed using science mapping techniques and tools, including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Gephi. The analysis identifies key research trends, conceptual developments, influential academic sources, and collaboration patterns at the country level. The findings reveal a multi-faceted research landscape characterized by a predominance of environmental assessments, increasing attention to economic and social dimensions, the development of BIM-related methodologies, and emerging trend towards dynamic LCSA. Persistent barriers include insufficient standardization of methodologies, limited data availability, and the fragmented incorporation of the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. The findings emphasize the need for advancing LCSA frameworks to achieve more effective integration of the triple bottom line, enabling robust decision-making and advancing sustainability in the built environment. Full article

This paper introduces a comprehensive sustainability assessment framework integrating Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) with Scenario Planning and Sensitivity Analysis, using the alumina industry as a case study. Current sustainability frameworks often focus narrowly on carbon emissions, neglecting broader environmental and social impacts, such as biodiversity loss, land rehabilitation, and social equity. By combining LCSA with forward-looking Scenario Planning, the proposed framework provides a multi-dimensional assessment, enabling industries to anticipate future challenges and adapt to technological, regulatory, and market changes. The analysis of Australia’s alumina production under Net-Zero and Accelerated Net-Zero scenarios demonstrates significant decarbonisation potential, achieving up to 97% emission reductions while improving energy efficiency by 50%. Despite these advances, indicators like biodiversity preservation and social equity remain insufficiently addressed, underscoring the need for a more holistic, industry-specific approach. Future research directions include improving measurement methods for ecological and social indicators, exploring policy mechanisms to enhance adoption, and establishing partnerships with international bodies like the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative to ensure global adaptability. The increasing adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) methodologies highlights the need for comprehensive impact management and higher standards of governance. Although the proposed framework has notable strengths, its reliance on region-specific quantifiable indicators and simplified models limits its global adaptability. The proposed framework advocates for a mandatory, independent regulatory mechanism to drive balanced, transparent reporting, supporting industries in achieving transformative sustainability outcomes. Full article

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a biomediated ground improvement technology that uses ureolytic bacteria to precipitate calcium carbonate minerals to improve the strength and stiffness of soils. MICP can be mediated by either augmented non-native or stimulated indigenous microorganisms, resulting in biocemented soils and generated aqueous ammonium (NH₄⁺) byproducts. Although the process has been extensively investigated, the fate and transport of generated NH₄⁺ byproducts has posed an environmental challenge and to date, their associated environmental impacts have remained poorly understood. In an effort to better quantify process impacts, a large-scale experiment was conducted involving three 3.7 m long soil columns, wherein three different ureolytic biocementation treatment approaches were employed. A life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) was performed to compare the environmental impacts and costs of these different MICP treatment approaches as well as evaluate the potential environmental benefits of NH₄⁺ byproduct removal using post-treatment rinsing. The objective of this paper is to present the results of the LCSA study. LCSA results suggest that when treatments are consistent with those performed in this study, stimulation can be more sustainable than augmentation, and the use of lower ureolytic rates can further reduce process environmental impacts by achieving greater spatial uniformity and extent of biocementation. The LCSA outcomes also illustrate tension between the environmental benefits afforded by NH₄⁺ byproduct removal and the life cycle impacts and costs associated with this removal. For the specific testing conditions, the injection of 1.8 pore volumes of rinse solutions to remove generated NH₄⁺ byproducts following biocementation was found to minimize environmental impacts; however, further refinement of such approaches will likely result from future field-scale applications. Full article

While multilayer plastic is difficult for recycling, innovative technologies and tactics are being developed to improve the process. New technologies in chemical recycling show promising results; however, the net improvement brought to the environment, economy, and society should be assessed for their wider adoption and diffusion. This study focuses on a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) of an innovative process for the sorting and chemical recycling of multilayer plastic packaging waste from post-consumer sources to obtain new packaging for the food industry. The analysis indicated that the packaging made of rPET obtained through depolymerization is environmentally and economically competitive compared to the virgin PET. Packaging made of rPET and rLDPE obtained through delamination usually performed worse (or comparable) than the virgin counterparts. The social impact assessment indicated some areas of concern (e.g., workers’ health and safety risks due to exposure to hazardous substances), as well as potential opportunities (e.g., improved local employment). This paper is the first to present a synergetic approach to the sustainability assessment of chemical recycling technologies to obtain new high-performance packaging solutions. It provides useful insights to academics, managers, and decision makers in the plastic recycling sector whether (and under what conditions) the chemical recycling of multilayer plastic waste is feasible from the environmental, economic, and social perspectives. Despite associated uncertainties, the results are promising as an attractive option for further research, optimization, and upscaling. Full article

The end-of-life (EoL) management of solar panel waste has emerged as an important issue related to first-generation solar panels in South Korea, which have already entered their retirement stage. In this study, the sustainability impacts of three scenarios for recycling EoL solar panels, namely mechanical recycling (MR), chemical recycling (CR), and thermal recycling (TR), were investigated, and their environmental and economic benefits were evaluated using the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) method, with landfilling as the reference scenario. The results obtained showed a high global warming potential (GWP) as well as acidification for MR owing to the additional burden of transportation and industrial processes associated with MR. For CR, the use of chemicals and subsequent landfilling resulted in approximately 4.7 times higher terrestrial eco-toxicity than was observed for the landfilling scenario. Further, the GWP of TR was approximately 1.5 times higher than that of CR owing to its high energy consumption. However, its environmental burden was generally lower than that of MR and CR. The results of this study, which capture the current situation of EoL PV panels in South Korea, can be employed to facilitate the establishment of regulations that ensure sustainable management in this regard. Full article

Building bridges sustainably is essential for advancing infrastructure development and ensuring long-term environmental, social, and economic viability. This study presents a framework that integrates risk management strategies and Building Information Modeling (BIM) with Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) standards to enhance bridge project sustainability. Through a targeted survey, the study evaluates risks across bridge lifecycle phases, identifying the main processes that significantly impact sustainability. Using the Pareto Principle, the framework prioritizes these processes and associated risks, guiding the creation of targeted improvement guidelines aligned with ISO 9001:2015, BIM, and LCSA standards, which support high quality and efficiency. The results reveal that 38 of 55 identified risks account for 80% of the lifecycle impact, and they include the majority of those derived from international standards, underscoring their significance in sustainability efforts. Additionally, 36 of 47 main processes are subject to 80% of the impact from these vital risks, highlighting phases like Construction and Supervision as priority areas for intervention. By linking specific risks to each process within these phases, the study outlines essential guidelines and strategic measures, ensuring a focused approach to sustainable bridge development that aligns with international standards and maximizes lifecycle sustainability outcomes. Full article

The construction industry has enormous impacts on the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. To mitigate these impacts, several researchers have explored a variety of methods that link Building Information Modeling (BIM) with methodologies for a holistic evaluation of sustainability, such as Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). However, the complete integration of BIM-LCSA still remains unresolved, with a series of challenges that must be overcome. Consequently, the aim of this article is to identify the advances and challenges of BIM-LCSA integration focused on buildings through a literature review of the existing solutions presented by researchers worldwide. The PRISMA 2020 protocol is used. A total of 135 articles published between 2010–2023 are reviewed for bibliometric analysis. Furthermore, an exhaustive analysis of the case studies is carried out, by taking into account the structure proposed by ISO 14040. The authors identify a gap in the literature mainly regarding the full integration of the three dimensions with BIM that facilitates a simultaneous on-the-air assessment, in addition to the lack of a standardized LCSA method of calculation. Full article