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- Life cycle assessment tool of electricity generation in PortugalPublication . Martins, António A.; Simaria, Marta; Barbosa, Joaquim; Barbosa, Ricardo; Silva, Daniela T.; Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Mata, Teresa M.; Caetano, Nídia S.ABSTRACT: This article presents and describes the LCA4Power tool, developed in this work to assess the potential environmental impacts, as, for example, the contribution to global warming, of electricity generation in continental Portugal, not considering the Madeira and Azores archipelagos. Based on a life cycle perspective, the tool considers the life cycles of various available technologies for producing electricity, on a cradle-to-gate perspective, excluding distribution and final use. It was implemented in MS Excel™ using emission factors obtained from the literature and other sources, instead of raw life cycle inventory data. The current version of the tool includes wind and hydroelectric power as renewable energy sources, and thermal and combined heat and power generation from fossil fuels as non-renewable energy sources. The combination of the aforementioned electricity generation technologies is responsible for more than 90% of the electricity generated in continental Portugal. Results were validated comparing the tool’s predictions with data from other LCA studies of electricity production, showing a good agreement, in particular for the greenhouse gas emissions. As added value, this tool provides a user-friendly way of simulating the potential environmental impacts of different endogenous energy mixes in Portugal, thus support decision making and communication. Future developments of the tool will include other technologies for electricity generation and its application to support decision making through the analysis of future scenarios for electricity generation in Portugal.
- The integration of social criteria in sustainable design for furniturePublication . Vicente, José; Frazão, Rui; Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Silva, Fernando Moreira daSustainable design is a complex area that integrates a wide range of environmental, social and economic criteria. This paper is part of a research (www.designsustentavel.org) that intends to develop a toolkit and information for wood furniture designers to use in their work process and that should push this product range closer to the sustainable production and consumption system. In the course of this research it has been understood that the available information on social criteria is more general and difficult to implement by designers. Not only it appeared to be distant from the designer’s area of influence, but also too scarce and general when compared with environmental criteria already in use on ecodesign tools. The profusion of environmental criteria versus the lack of proper social criteria creates an imbalance on the available decision supporting criteria for the product development team. To tackle this problem the research team analysed the social issues proposed by ISO 26000 and conducted an expert workshop to establish relevant social criteria for this industrial sector that were within reach of the designer action. This paper presents (1) the process of selection, analysis, reflection and discussion of relevant subjects, (2) the effort to involve the stakeholders and (3) the main findings of this process considering the specific characteristics of the wood furniture sector in Portugal.
- Innovation and ecodesign in ceramic industry: an overview of knowledge needs in Portugal, Spain and GreecPublication . Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Celades, Irina; Ros Dosdá, Teresa; Camocho, David; Bajouco, Sofia; Arroz, Maria Helena; Barroso, Manuela; Brarens, Isabel; Grais, Paula Gris; Almeida, Marisa; Francisco, Victor; Frade, José; Carradas, Fernando; Zugasti, Ibon; Eguskizaga, Xabier; Aravossis, Konstantinos; Somakos, Leonidas
- O papel do ecodesign na eficiência energética dos produtos cerâmicosPublication . Sousa Rocha, CristinaA indústria cerâmica tem feito, nas últimas décadas, assinaláveis melhorias no desempenho ambiental em geral, e na redução do consumo de energia em particular, na fase de produção. Pretendeu-se aqui explorar o contributo do ecodesign para os objetivos de aumento da eficiência energética, não só na fabricação, mas também noutras fases do ciclo de vida, especialmente dos produtos cerâmicos de construção, cujo papel no comportamento energético dos edifícios é bastante importante. Ao atuar a nível do design, surgem oportunidades de diferenciação e inovação dos produtos que são cruciais para a competitividade de um sector em crise, apesar da sua longa tradição em Portugal. O projeto InEDIC - Inovação e Ecodesign na Indústria Cerâmica teve como principal objetivo desenvolver materiais didáticos e ferramentas de ecodesign para o sector, testados através de projetos de demonstração em empresas e amplamente disseminados junto das comunidades empresariais e académicas. Neste contexto, foram desenvolvidas estratégias e medidas de ecodesign que aqui se apresentam, com um enfoque nas que se relacionam com a eficiência energética. Tais propostas são ilustradas através de diversos exemplos, alguns já disponíveis no mercado, outros ainda de carácter experimental. O artigo termina com um conjunto de reflexões sobre o papel dos designers neste contexto e o potencial de melhorias ambientais e energéticas associadas ao ecodesign na cerâmica, uma prática ainda incipiente no sector, e abre perspetivas para futuros desenvolvimentos.
- Life cycle in practice: capacity building aiming European SME’sPublication . Pasquet, V.; Roy, A.; Adibi, N.; Coppee, S.; Echard, P.; Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Martins, Paulo; Alexandre, Jorge; Atin, E.The application of life cycle approaches – including life cycle assessment, ecodesign and environmental labelling – is becoming an increasing reality for business, and a growing challenge in many economic sectors. Businesses are facing increasing legal and market requirements to enhance resource efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of their products & services. To significantly address this challenge, the Life Cycle in Practice (LCiP) project was conceived, aiming to promote the uptake of LC approaches particularly in SMEs. The LCiP project helps SMEs in France, Belgium, Portugal and Spain reduce the environmental impacts of their products and services across the entire Life Cycle in three sectors: Buildings & Construction, Waste Management and Energy Equipment. LCiP’s specific objectives are to foster the widespread uptake of these approaches by SMEs beyond the duration of the project, by (i) Demonstrating the environmental and business benefits of applying LC Approaches through practical application in 32 businesses; (ii) Providing physical and online resource centres to support regional application of LC approaches; (iii) Building capacity for on-going implementation of LC approaches through a network of Life Cycle Champions and (iv) (Re)designing practical tools & methods tailored to the needs of the three industrial sectors. This paper presents the project's activities and expected results, as well as the conclusions of a maturity assessment on life cycle approaches that has been performed in the three sectors and four partner regions, as a means to identify needs and gaps that LCiP should fulfil.
- Pressure cooker under pressure: implementation of life cycle strategies and tools in a medium sized industry in PortugalPublication . Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Alexandre, Jorge; Camocho, David; Martins, PauloThis paper concerns the application of a set of life cycle oriented strategies and tools to a pressure cooker manufactured by a medium size company located in Portugal and targeting the international market. The life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated the major environmental problems of this product, which together with the company strategy of appealing the consumer through a 100% recyclable and more ergonomic product, provided the direction for the product and market development. Besides the LCA, an ecodesign project was carried out for a reference pressure cooker and through the use of several tools, including ecodesign checklists co-developed by LNEG in a previous project, a number of improvement options was generated, leading to the reduction and substitution of raw materials consumption, improved recyclability, better ergonomic features, more eco-friendly packaging and improved user interaction. A simplified environmental product declaration for the reference product was elaborated, in the framework of the EU Stepwise EPD project, and its marketing asset was evaluated through different communication methods, including phone meetings, website feedback, mailing lists and direct communication with customers in business fairs. This paper presents the results of this project and the characteristics of the improved product, and reflects upon the use of different life cycle-related strategies and tools in an integrated way; thus, this case study contributes to the understanding of the pros and cons of implementing life cycle strategies and tools in businesses.
- Design for sustainability models : a multiperspective reviewPublication . Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Antunes, Paula; Partidário, Paulo JorgeABSTRACT: Several authors have identified limitations in the uptake of design for sustainability (DfS) in companies and value chains. In spite of the extensive literature on the subject, researchers and practitioners still do not share a common overview on the subject, which hinders operationalization efforts. This paper proposes that DfS adoption is more likely to be successful if informed by corporate sustainability management and design management theories. Therefore, an analytical framework has been developed and applied to systematically analyse ten published design for sustainability models, which were identified through an extensive literature review. The analytical framework is composed of nine building blocks, or elements, organized in three levels: strategic, tactical and operational. To facilitate a more detailed and objective analysis of the selected models against each element, 22 questions have been established. The findings show that while some authors have focused on abstract models that support companies in establishing a vision and concepts for (more) sustainable products and services, others offer more instrumental approaches to guide the different phases of design. On the level of the building blocks, there is a considerable alignment of the models with the analytical framework; the detailed mechanisms and processes for implementation, however, vary a lot. Overall, difficulties related to developing a sustainability vision that guides the design for sustainability process, co-creating with stakeholders and harmonizing environmental, social and economic criteria were identified. The social dimension of design for sustainability is still poorly established and tackled in a multi-level, non-systemized way. The paper concludes with promising research directions focusing on design for sustainability.
- The ISO 26000 standard as a driver for systemic design for sustainabilityPublication . Sousa Rocha, Cristina; Schmidt, KirstenSustainable product development is considered a key factor for sustainable development. Products are placed in the interface between production and consumption, therefore the consideration of sustainability criteria early in their development phase, to improve them throughout the life cycle, opens up for innovations that contribute to tackle major sustainability problems in the context of a globalized economy. Design for sustainability (DfS) is distinguished from ecodesign in terms of sustainability topics covered (not only environmental and economic, but also social) and in terms on the focus on finding new ways to satisfy customers and client needs and make business sense while respecting the physical limits of the planet in providing resources and absorbing pollution.