Life Cycle Assessment: A simple overview of a complex process

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Life Cycle AssessmentA simple overview of a
complex process
Marty Matlock Jennie Popp Nathan Kemper Zara
Niederman Center for Agricultural and Rural
Sustainability Mike Faupel Michele Halsell Jon
Johnson Applied Sustainability Center Greg
Thoma Darin Nutter Tom Costello Institute for
Sustainable Engineering Analysis
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Everything is Connected
Source R. E. Ricklefs Economy of Nature
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Everything is changing
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Every process has inputs and outputs
Energy
Water
Raw Materials
Manufacturing Process
Raw Materials
End Product
Raw Materials
Gas Waste
Solid Waste
Liquid Waste
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The more processes, the more complexity
Water
Energy
Water
Energy
Manufacturing Process
Energy
Water
Manufacturing Process
Raw Materials
Manufacturing Process
Gas Waste
Raw Materials
Gas Waste
Solid Waste
Liquid Waste
Solid Waste
Liquid Waste
Gas Waste
Water
Raw Materials
Energy
Solid Waste
Liquid Waste
Manufacturing Process
End Product
Gas Waste
Solid Waste
Liquid Waste
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Life Cycle Assessment quantifies processes

• Goal Quantify inputs and outputs for a system
  in terms of a standardized unit of measure.
• The scope and structure of the LCA are directly
  dependent upon the unit of measure (functional
  unit)
• Energy embodied in a single product
• Green house gasses produced per unit product
• Tons of carbon produced per volume of product
• Volume of water consumed per mass of product
• Goal and Scope of LCA must be formulated at the
  outset of the project, and the functional unit
  must be defined.
• LCA Process is described in ISO 14040 and 14044
  Standards.

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Four Phases of a Life Cycle Assessment
Phase 1 Goal Definition and Scope
Phase 2 Life Cycle Inventory
Interpretation and Context
Phase 3 Life Cycle Impact Assessment
Phase 4 Assessment/Scenario Analysis
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Life Cycle Assessment Reconciling Functional
Units
CO2 CH4 N2O
1 g CO2 1g CO2-equiv.
Green House Gas Potentials
1 g CH4 25 g CO2-equiv.
1 g NO2 310 g CO2-equiv.
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Cotton LCA Case StudyPhase 1 Goal Definition
and Scope

• Develop a model
• Estimate the energy embodied in a unit (metric
  ton or 480 lb bale) of cotton produced (lint plus
  seed)
• Compare the total energy (MJ) required over
  varying cotton production strategies

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Cotton LCA Case Study Phase 2 LCA Inventory
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Africa Cotton Production Organic Fertilizer and
Non-Irrigated
Field Preparation
Planting
Pest Control
Irrigation
Manual
Manual
Manual
1066 5 India,6, 19
98 5 (India),6
380 5 (India),6,19
0 Rain-Fed
Weed Control
Harvesting
Tonne of Cotton Bale of Cotton
Fertilization
Yield
Manual
Manual
Manual Application
Embodied Chemical
0.75 Tonne/ha 14(Africa)
990 5 (India),6
618 4 (Turkey),6
271 5 (India),6,19
0 Manure
103 5 (India),6
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North America Eastern United States
Field Preparation
Irrigation
Pest Control
Planting
Mechanical
Mechanical
Mechanical
Mechanical
1895 2 Arizona
105 2 Arizona
141 2 Arizona
4223 4 Turkey
4023 8 New Mexico, 2
338 8 New Mexico, 2
5000 9 Turkey
36 (Embodied) 2 Arizona, 21, 26
1106 21 Arkansas, 2
213 21 Arkansas, 2
2328 Water Amount 4 Turkey, Energy Estimation
20, 2
144 (Embodied) 21 Arkansas, 26
24 (Embodied) 21 Arkansas, 26
7449 Water Amount 1 Greece, Energy Estimation
20, 2
Weed Control
Tonne of Cotton 1000kg
Harvesting
Fertilization
Yield
Mechanical Application
Embodied Chemical
Mechanical
Mechanical
2.85 tonne/ha 2 Georgia
105 2 Arizona
282 2 Arizona
1895 2 Arizona
5293 21 Arkansas 13
1440 8 New Mexico, 2
4023 8 New Mexico, 2
354 21 Arkansas, 2
2.2 tonne/ha 21 Arkansas
AVG 7564 STDEV 822 16 ICAC, 2,4,9,10
1106 21 Arkansas, 2
72 (Embodied) 2 Arizona, 21, 26
45 (Embodied) 2 Turkey, 21, 26
2.5 tonne/ha 21 Mississippi
782 (Embodied) 2 Turkey, 21, 26
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Cotton LCA Case StudyPhase 3 Impact Assessment
North America Eastern United States
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Cotton LCA Case Study Phase 4
Assessment/Scenario Analysis
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Life Cycle Assessment Case StudyCarbon
Equivalent GHG of Fluid Milk
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Life Cycle Assessment Case StudyCarbon
Equivalent GHG of Fluid Milk