This article presents a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of an innovative slaughter concept, i.e., a semi-automated version of the Meat Factory Cell (MFC). The system is characterised by division ...of labour with close human-robot interaction, as compared to a Conventional Slaughter and Cutting Process (CSCP). A case study is built which considers the conditions at a Norwegian slaughter facility. Several assumptions are made for the MFC as the concept is still in the development phase. A sensitivity analysis has been employed to highlight the key factors leading to changes in the environmental, economic and social aspects of the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment framework.
The results show that MFC is a viable alternative to CSCP within a life cycle sustainability assessment, even though there is a trade-off between the three dimensions of sustainability and variability among the considered impact categories. At the slaughterhouse, the climate change performance for the CSCP is 387 kg CO2eq/ton carcass. For the MFC concept, results showed no substantial changes in the environmental performance. For the Life Cycle Costing, the difference between the two concepts arises primarily from lower energy costs due to a 50% reduction in the cost of chilling. From a cost perspective, the innovative concept is relatively more profitable for small and medium-size abattoirs than for very large slaughterhouses. The social LCA indicates that a more efficient abattoir system using MFC might lead to the loss of low-skilled jobs but creates opportunities for more qualified personnel.
•The Meat Factory Cell (MFC) is a revolutionary modular robotics-based concept for slaughtering, cutting and deboning meat;.•The MFC does not notably change the environmental profile of a pig abattoir.•The MFC concept is an economically and socially viable alternative.•The Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment shows that there is a trade-off between the three dimensions of sustainability.
Wastewater treatment plants play a key role in preserving the resources of the environment, as well as human health. The applied technological system of a wastewater treatment plant determines the ...efficiency of wastewater and sewage sludge treatment, but also energy efficiency and operating costs. The aim of the presented work is to analyse the technological unconventional system of a small wastewater treatment plant with some modifications generating ecological profits, mainly the fertiliser, biomass or peat substitution (“biosolids factory” concept). The modification of the technological system consists in the application of sewage microfiltration, conditioning of sewage and sludge with cellulose material and application of short-term thermo-composting (Bionor technology). The use of a belt filter for suspension separation reduces the load on activated sludge bioreactors and aerobic stabilisation. The basic modification is the use of thermo-composting of separated sewage sludge with the addition of a structure-forming agent (straw pellet). Importantly, no precipitating or flocculating chemical substances or agents are used in this technology. The technology used enables the processing of sewage sludge into biomass with high fertilising and energy potential. In the following work, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a wastewater (and sewage sludge) treatment plants was made, comparing different possible concepts of sewage sludge management. The LCA was performed on five applied sewage sludge treatment scenarios: incineration of biomass (S1); biomass as a fertiliser product – “fertiliser substitution” (S2); biomass as a soil addition - “peat substitution” (S3); biomass as both fertiliser and a soil addition - “fertiliser and peat substitution” (S4); and biomass as a filling without any substitution benefits - “no specific use” (S5). The LCA analyses of the Bionor sludge technology applied in the wastewater and sewage sludge treatment plant confirm the environmental benefits and minimise the environmental impact with conventional solutions. The fertiliser and peat substitution scenario cause the least impact on climate change. This scenario was found as beneficial for avoiding net CO2 emissions (−5.8 kg CO2 eq/1 m3 wastewater) and eutrophication potential (−1.7 to −2.0 kg N2O eq/1 m3 wastewater, −2.78 to −3.0 PO4 eq/1 m3 wastewater). The eco-toxicity study also showed low impact potentials for a land application scenario. Incineration of biomass yields higher environmental impacts than any application scenario (13.8 kg CO2 eq/1 m3 wastewater). The LCA analysis confirmed that the peat substitution scenario was found as the most valuable.
∙Filtration device replaces the primary and secondary settling tank at the same time.∙Straw acts as a conditioner for wastewater filtration and sludge dewatering and composting.∙Biomass is a key feature of the analysed technology.∙Bionor technology-strategy of wastewater treatment plant to local “biofactory”.
Increased separation of food waste driven by the European Circular Economy Action Plan will create a need for establishing new treatment plants that can turn waste resources into high value products. ...This paper presents a real example of how life cycle assessment was used as decision support when establishing a new anaerobic digestion plant in Norway. The aim of the paper is to investigate the accuracy of the results of the predictive study performed before the plant was built by comparing them with results from the operation of the plant. The comparative assessment revealed that both the burdens and avoided emissions were underestimated. The production volume of upgraded biogas as a fuel for transport was higher than anticipated, resulting in a higher benefit than expected associated with substitution of diesel. Conversely, the impacts from transport and from the anaerobic digestion process were higher than forecasted. In total the net results from the predictive study were within an acceptable range compared with results based on real data.
In recent years, it has become essential to consider the total carbon footprint of a construction project. Commonly, the question has been: ’What is the best material to be used in this context?’ In ...this paper we argue that this question is incomplete, not taking the complexity of design choices into consideration. This paper intends to share light on how to analyse some factors that influence the construction of buildings in order to contribute to climate change mitigation, taking this complexity into consideration. Calculation of fossil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for two load-bearing structures for office buildings in 4, 8 and 16 storeys with equal functional requirements; e.g. load bearing capacity, acoustic performance, fire resistance and adaptability are addressed. The main materials for the load-bearing structures are cross laminated timber (CLT) elements and precast concrete elements respectively. The result show that one cannot on a general basis conclude that either type of load-bearing structure cause less fossil GHG emissions. It is always important to consider the building design, functionality as well as external conditions such as location when considering different load-bearing structure materials.
Cross laminated timber (CLT) has recently increased in use as a building material for low carbon design and is often applied in small and multi-story buildings. Several studies have shown lower ...fossil related greenhouse gas emission than alternatives, but the life cycle emissions vary substantially between different CLT producers. These emissions are mainly indirect and thus climate change mitigation could reduce these emissions. Previous research shows that that biofuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS) are technologies that have the potential to reduce the climate impacts of the CLT life cycle. This study assesses the impacts on climate change from CLT with these technologies within the framework of environmental product declarations (EPD). In the short run, switching to fossil free fuels provides a reduction in the carbon footprint of CLT. In the long run, CCS at the end-of-life of CLT buildings can provide a net negative carbon footprint over the life cycle. This assessment on the use of CLT is mainly related to the Sustainable Development Goal SDG9 Industries, innovation and infrastructure and the indicator for CO2 emissions per value added, so the assessment in this paper is mainly focused on this goal. SDG7 on affordable and clean energy and SDG15 Life on land are also relevant.
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