99166 - PRINCIPI, METODOLOGIA E APPLICAZIONI DEL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has learned the concept of Life Cycle Thinking, its principles and the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The student will also know main sustainability assessment tools for life cycle approach (Carbon Footprint, Product Environmental Footprint, Environmental Product Declaration, etc.) and will be able to set up an LCA study and apply it to obtain an ecological label.

Course contents

The course will be based on the Life Cycle Thinking approach and its main tool: the Life Cycle Assessment according to the ISO standard ISO14040 and ISO14044.

The course will detail the four LCA phases: 1) "Goals and scope definition" phase. 2) Life Cycle Inventory. 3) Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) 4) Interpretation phase.

Program will include: characterisation methods like mid-point and end-point, hotspots analysis, USEtox method to compute the characterisation factors of hazardous substances for the health and the environment and uncertainty in LCA. 

LCA will be presented along with other LCT tools: the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF), ECOLABEL and the Environmental Product Declaration.

"LCA for Experts" software practice will be performed.

Readings/Bibliography

The slides will be available after each lecture on the course website.

Michael Z. Hauschild, Ralph K. Rosenbaum, Stig Irving Olsen. "Life Cycle Assessment Theory and Practice". Springer Cham. 2018. ISBN978-3-319-56474-6

Teaching methods

Numerous and different learning tools will be used such as: lectures, analysis of case studies, guided exercises, and group works.

The experimental activities will have the aim of consolidating and applying the concepts and methods studied in the course.

A dedicated laboratory is provided for the LCA modeling.

Attendance - especially laboratory and practice - is important to have a full understanding of the topic.

Assessment methods

The learning evaluation aims to assess the achievement of the learning outcomes (see above "Learning outcomes").

The exams consist of answering open questions during an oral test. The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale, with a maximum mark of 30 cum laude. The examination is considered passed with a minimum grade of 18/30. Grading criteria:

• 30–30 cum laude: complete, accurate, and comprehensive answers to all questions, including the most challenging ones; well-organized presentation using technically appropriate language; excellent ability to identify connections between different topics covered in the course and to develop critical reasoning.
• 28–29: substantially complete answers, including to moderately difficult questions, with only minor inaccuracies and/or small shortcomings in presentation; good command of technical language and good ability to identify connections between different course topics.
• 26–27: correct answers to the basic questions and an adequate ability to address questions of intermediate difficulty, although with some inaccuracies or shortcomings in presentation; adequate ability to identify connections between different course topics.
• 24–25: correct answers to the basic questions, but incomplete or imprecise responses to more challenging questions; occasionally unclear presentation and limited use of technical terminology; the student nevertheless demonstrates a general, although superficial, knowledge of all the topics addressed in the examination.
• 18–23: ability to answer only the basic questions, albeit incompletely and with inaccuracies; difficulty or inability to answer more challenging questions; unclear presentation and limited command of technical terminology.
• Fail (<18): the student does not demonstrate the minimum required knowledge and is unable to answer even the basic questions satisfactorily.

Students will also be given a list of specific goals for the exam preparation.

Students who need compensatory tools for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can directly contact the Service for Students with Disabilities (disabilita@unibo.it) and the Service for Students with learning disabilities (dsa@unibo.it) to agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

 

Teaching tools

Beamer, PC, blackboard. Lectures or webinars by experts.

The free version of LCA for Experts is available at: https://sphera.com/lca-education-program/

 

Office hours

See the website of Serena Righi