scholarly journals Material Efficiency design strategies for the circular transition

2021 ◽  
pp. 86-95
Author(s):  
Ilaria Montella ◽  
Paola Marrone
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
History Of ◽  
Circular Design

The history of lightness might not only recount aeroplanes and low-density materials, it might also speak of a need for dematerialisation consistent with the control of resource consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Following the Paris Agreement, carbon neutrality policies had initially focused on mitigation actions for energy efficiency and low-carbon sources. Although crucial for the materials industry, other strategies, especially on the demand side, are possible to reduce their production. In the context of the circular economy applied to the built environment, Material Efficiency (ME) constitutes a set of actions for circular design for which functions, configurations and construction processes need to be reinvented.

scholarly journals Who Is Responsible for Embodied CO2?

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Hans Sanderson
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Life Cycle Analysis ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Total Emission ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Nationally Determined Contributions

With the Paris Agreement, countries are obliged to report greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, which will ensure that the global temperature increase is maintained well below 2 °C. The parties will report their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in terms of plans and progress towards these targets during the postponed COP26 (Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC) in Glasgow in November 2021. These commitments, however, do not take significant portions of the consumption-related emissions related to countries imports into account. Similarly, the majority of companies that report their emissions to CDP (Formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) also do not account for their embodied value-chain-related emissions. Municipalities, on the path towards carbon neutrality in accordance with the methods outlined by C40, also do not include imported and embodied CO2 in their total emission tallies. So, who is responsible for these emissions—the producer or the consumer? How can we ensure that the NDCs, municipalities’ and companies’ reduction targets share the responsibility of the emissions in the value chain, thus ensuring that targets and plans become sustainable, climate fair, and just in global value chains? Today the responsibility lays with the producer, which is not sustainable. We have the outline for the tools needed to quantify and transparently share the responsibility between producers and consumers at corporate, municipal and national levels based on an improved understanding of the attendant sources, causes, flows and risks of GHG emissions globally. Hybrid life cycle analysis/environmentally extended input–output (LCA/EEIO) models can for example be further developed. This will, in the end, enable everyday consumption to support a more sustainable, green and low carbon transition of our economy.

scholarly journals Who is Responsible for Embodied CO2?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Sanderson
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
National Level ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Hybrid Lca ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Nationally Determined Contributions

With the Paris Agreement, countries are obliged to report greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduc-tions, which will ensure that the global temperature increase is maintained well below 2C. The Parties will report their Nationally Determined Contributions in terms of plans and progress to-wards these targets during the postponed COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. These commit-ments however do not take significant portions of the consumption related emissions related to countries imports in to account. Similarly, the majority of companies that report their emissions to CDP also do not account for their embodied value-chain related emissions. Municipalities, on the path towards carbon neutrality in accordance with the methods outlined by C40, also do not in-clude imported and embodied CO2e in their total emission tallies. So, who is responsible for these emissions - the producer or the consumer? How can we ensure that the NDC's, municipalities and companies reduction targets share the responsibility of the emissions in the value-chain thus en-suring that targets and plans become, sustainable, climate fair, and just in global value chains? Today the responsibility lays with the producer, which is not sustainable. We have the outline for the tools needed to quantify and transparently share the responsibility between producers and consumers at corporate, municipal and national level based on an improved understanding of the attendant sources, causes, flows and risks og GHG emissions globally. Hybrid LCA/EEIO models can for example be further developed. This will, in the end, enable everyday consumption to support a more sustainable, green and low carbon transition of our economy.

scholarly journals Policy for material efficiency—sustainable taxation as a departure from the throwaway society

2013 ◽  
Vol 371 (1986) ◽  
pp. 20110567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter R Stahel
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Industrial Economy ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Industrial Sectors

The present economy is not sustainable with regard to its per capita material consumption. A dematerialization of the economy of industrialized countries can be achieved by a change in course, from an industrial economy built on throughput to a circular economy built on stock optimization, decoupling wealth and welfare from resource consumption while creating more work. The business models of a circular economy have been known since the mid-1970s and are now applied in a number of industrial sectors. This paper argues that a simple and convincing lever could accelerate the shift to a circular economy, and that this lever is the shift to a tax system based on the principles of sustainability: not taxing renewable resources including human labour—work—but taxing non-renewable resources instead is a powerful lever. Taxing materials and energies will promote low-carbon and low-resource solutions and a move towards a ‘circular’ regional economy as opposed to the ‘linear’ global economy requiring fuel-based transport for goods throughput. In addition to substantial improvements in material and energy efficiency, regional job creation and national greenhouse gas emission reductions, such a change will foster all activities based on ‘caring’, such as maintaining cultural heritage and natural wealth, health services, knowledge and know-how.

scholarly journals Analysis of Circular Development and Investment Possibilities (Transport, Energy and Building) Related to International Sports Event Planning

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bálint Horváth ◽  
Csaba Fogarassy
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Sports Events ◽  
Electric Scooter ◽  
Traffic Systems ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Economic Perspectives ◽  
The Cost

Abstract This study investigates the possibilities of various development areas (transport, energy, building) to make the cost-efficient realisation of high-profile investments, and organising and holding international sports events possible. Using a case study, the paper introduces development routes based on the evaluation of environmental and economic perspectives. The current research introduces the investment characteristics based on the development of the Hungarian building, energy and transport sectors for the 2017-2030 period. The main criterion is the integration of ‘circular economy’. For sectors which operate with high material and energy consumption, the consideration of circular economy principles may prove to be important for sustainable development. Through planning highvolume sports and worldwide events, the usual development strategy for traffic systems focuses on public transport and rentable vehicles (f. e. electric scooter, or bicycle) which can decrease CO2 emissions via modern technological solutions. Regarding the buildings, sports arenas and related facilities, besides the existing low-carbon solutions, the functions of buildings must be expanded and their usage prolonged. The management of waste left after the life cycle is expended has to be pre-planned. These are the options for making the sector’s GHG emissions decrease apart from circular tenders, which can be further combined with SMART energetic solutions.

scholarly journals Greenhouse Gas Inventory of a Typical High-End Industrial Park in China

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Chen ◽  
Guoxuan He ◽  
Jing Qi ◽  
Meirong Su ◽  
Shiyi Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Industrial Park ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Production Factors ◽  
Set Up

Global climate change caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which severely limits the development of human society and threatens the survival of humanity, has drawn the international community's long-term attention. Gathering the most important production factors in the region, an industrial park usually represents the development level of specific industries in the region. Therefore, the industrial park should be regarded as the base unit for developing a low-carbon economy and reducing GHG emissions. Focusing on a typical high-end industrial park in Beijing, we analyze the carbon sources within the system boundary and probe into the emission structure in view of life-cycle analysis. A GHG inventory is thereby set up to calculate all GHG emissions from the concerned park. Based on the results, suggestions are presented to guide the low-carbon development of the high-end industrial park.

scholarly journals Future low-carbon electricity in Africa: how much material is needed?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Cervantes Barron ◽  
Maaike E Hakker ◽  
Jonathan M Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Potential ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Climate Effects ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Electricity Access

Abstract African countries are expected to experience some of the worst climate effects, while trying to provide higher electricity access and increase wellbeing.Concrete, steel, and aluminium pre­sent the largest opportunities for action, given their high mass or embodied emissions projections.Embodied emissions related to material use for electricity plants are evaluated in three scenarios: a refer­ence scenario, and two scenarios related to the Paris Agreement (where renewable energy increases), resulting in higher embodied emissions as renewables are integrated.Pursuing strategies to increase the use of renewables should be done along material efficiency strategies to reach the total low-carbon potential.

scholarly journals Assessment of Carbon Footprint for the Textile Sector in France

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2422
Author(s):  
Jérôme Payet
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Textile Industry ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Textile Production ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Major Subject ◽  
Electricity Mix ◽  
Alternative Scenarios ◽  
Textile Sector

Global warming represents a major subject on all society levels including governments, economic actors and citizens. The textile industry is often considered a polluting activity. In this project, French textile manufacturers sought to quantify the carbon footprint (CF) of sold clothes and household linen using Life Cycle Assessment in France for the purpose of reducing it to meet the constraints of Paris Agreement by 2050. First, manufacturers calculated the carbon footprint of 17 clothes and household linen products and established alternative scenarios for four production routes. Secondly, they modeled the supply of the upstream sector through different countries. Based on imports of textile products, their calculated CF for one French person reaches 442 kg of CO2eq/year. Means of action to reduce this carbon footprint by a factor of 6 (74 kg of CO2eq/person/year for textiles) are calculated and are the following: installing the most energy-intensive production processes in a country with a low carbon electricity mix, avoiding unsold goods, implementing eco-design approaches and enhancing the value of end-of-life products with reuse or recycling. Therefore, CF for textiles per capita is reduced to 43 kg CO2eq/year which goes beyond the objectives of Paris Agreement and facilitates carbon neutrality in the textile sector. The first priority for reducing the French carbon footprint of clothes and household linen would be to locate textile production in countries with (i) low carbon electricity, (ii) to reduce unsold items, and (iii) to elaborate ecodesign of product including circular economy.

scholarly journals Global scenarios of resource and emission savings from material efficiency in residential buildings and cars

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Pauliuk ◽  
Niko Heeren ◽  
Peter Berrill ◽  
Tomer Fishman ◽  
Andrea Nistad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Use ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Passenger Vehicles ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Wood Construction ◽  
Ghg Reduction ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

AbstractMaterial production accounts for a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Resource-efficiency and circular-economy strategies, both industry and demand-focused, promise emission reductions through reducing material use, but detailed assessments of their GHG reduction potential are lacking. We present a global-scale analysis of material efficiency for passenger vehicles and residential buildings. We estimate future changes in material flows and energy use due to increased yields, light design, material substitution, extended service life, and increased service efficiency, reuse, and recycling. Together, these strategies can reduce cumulative global GHG emissions until 2050 by 20–52 Gt CO2-eq (residential buildings) and 13–26 Gt CO2e-eq (passenger vehicles), depending on policy assumptions. Next to energy efficiency and low-carbon energy supply, material efficiency is the third pillar of deep decarbonization for these sectors. For residential buildings, wood construction and reduced floorspace show the highest potential. For passenger vehicles, it is ride sharing and car sharing.

scholarly journals Circular Design and Consumer Involvement in Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (43) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Ľubica Knošková
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Business Models ◽  
User Behavior ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Consumer Involvement ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
User Influence ◽  
Purchase Patterns ◽  
Circular Design

Abstract The circular economy is an approach to help reduce global sustainability pressures. In circular economy it is important to involve design from the beginning of the product lifecycle, including product ideation and material selection. Involvement of consumers and users into circular economy is very important and enables change in purchase patterns and product utilization. The paper methodology consists of a profound literature review and analysis in area of circular economy, circular design and consumer or user influence on circularity. The goal of the paper is to provide insights into the consumer involvement into a circular economy and changes in users’ behavior. The research results in discussion of design strategies to slow down “resource loops”, to close “resource loops”, and to “narrow material flow” to enhance circular economy and business models, as well as consumer involvement in circular economy. We outline desired consumer and user behavior leading to circular economy.

Climate change and the railway industry: A review

2009 ◽  
Vol 224 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Baker ◽  
L Chapman ◽  
A Quinn ◽  
K Dobney
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Modal Shift ◽  
Rail Network ◽  
Use Of Resources

This article considers the issues surrounding climate change and the rail industry in two ways. First, it discusses the role that railways could play in reducing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and thus help to reduce and mitigate the global temperature increase that will occur over the coming decades. It is argued that, while railways in general have lower emissions than other modes, if a significant decrease in emissions is to be attained, then the capacity of the current rail network needs to be greatly increased to encourage a significant modal shift from road and domestic air travel. Electrification and the provision of high-speed lines can also play a role in this regard, but only if the power that is drawn from the grid is supplied by low carbon sources. Second, the article considers the effect of climate change on the operation of the railway in the next few decades and the adaptations that will be required. The main effects of such changes are likely to be an increase in the track buckling problem, severe strain on railway drainage systems, and the increased likelihood of disruption because of extreme weather events. Ongoing work in this field, aimed at making the railways more resilient, is discussed. It is concluded that, for each of the two areas considered, there is a need for overall system modelling, both to fully evaluate possible mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions, taking account of transfer between modes, capacity limitations, and the national energy mix; and to properly evaluate the major climate change risks to railway operation and to prioritize the use of resources in tackling these issues.

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