This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Dr. Miguel Brandão
Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 34, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden

Basic Info


Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Agroecology
0 Climate Change
0 Ecosystem Services
0 Environmental Impact Assessment
0 Environmental Science

Fingerprints

life cycle assessment (LCA)
Land Use
Climate Change
Sustainability
Ecosystem Services
Sustainable Development
Life cycle stages
carbon footprint
Life Cycle Thinking

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2021 in Sustainability
Reads 0
Downloads 0

To assess the potential environmental impact of human/industrial systems, life cycle assessment (LCA) is a very common method. There are two prominent types of LCA, namely attributional (ALCA) and consequential (CLCA). A lot of literature covers these approaches, but a general consensus on what they represent and an overview of all their differences seems lacking, nor has every prominent feature been fully explored. The two main objectives of this article are: (1) to argue for and select definitions for each concept and (2) specify all conceptual characteristics (including translation into modelling restrictions), re-evaluating and going beyond findings in the state of the art. For the first objective, mainly because the validity of interpretation of a term is also a matter of consensus, we argue the selection of definitions present in the 2011 UNEP-SETAC report. ALCA attributes a share of the potential environmental impact of the world to a product life cycle, while CLCA assesses the environmental consequences of a decision (e.g., increase of product demand). Regarding the second objective, the product system in ALCA constitutes all processes that are linked by physical, energy flows or services. Because of the requirement of additivity for ALCA, a double-counting check needs to be executed, modelling is restricted (e.g., guaranteed through linearity) and partitioning of multifunctional processes is systematically needed (for evaluation per single product). The latter matters also hold in a similar manner for the impact assessment, which is commonly overlooked. CLCA, is completely consequential and there is no limitation regarding what a modelling framework should entail, with the coverage of co-products through substitution being just one approach and not the only one (e.g., additional consumption is possible). Both ALCA and CLCA can be considered over any time span (past, present & future) and either using a reference environment or different scenarios. Furthermore, both ALCA and CLCA could be specific for average or marginal (small) products or decisions, and further datasets. These findings also hold for life cycle sustainability assessment.

ACS Style

Thomas Schaubroeck; Simon Schaubroeck; Reinout Heijungs; Alessandra Zamagni; Miguel Brandão; Enrico Benetto. Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: Definitions, Conceptual Characteristics and Modelling Restrictions. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7386 .

AMA Style

Thomas Schaubroeck, Simon Schaubroeck, Reinout Heijungs, Alessandra Zamagni, Miguel Brandão, Enrico Benetto. Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: Definitions, Conceptual Characteristics and Modelling Restrictions. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (13):7386.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Thomas Schaubroeck; Simon Schaubroeck; Reinout Heijungs; Alessandra Zamagni; Miguel Brandão; Enrico Benetto. 2021. "Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: Definitions, Conceptual Characteristics and Modelling Restrictions." Sustainability 13, no. 13: 7386.

Research review
Published: 07 May 2021 in GCB Bioenergy
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The scientific literature contains contrasting findings about the climate effects of forest bioenergy, partly due to the wide diversity of bioenergy systems and associated contexts, but also due to differences in methods. The climate effects of bioenergy must be accurately assessed to inform policy‐making, but the complexity of bioenergy systems and associated land, industry and energy systems raises challenges for assessment. We examine misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy and discuss important considerations in assessing these effects and devising measures to incentivise sustainable bioenergy as a component of climate policy. The temporal and spatial system boundary and the reference (counterfactual) scenarios are key methodology choices that strongly influence results. Focussing on carbon balances of individual forest stands, and comparing emissions at the point of combustion, neglect systems‐level interactions that influence the climate effects of forest bioenergy. We highlight the need for a systems approach, in assessing options and developing policy for forest bioenergy, that: 1) considers the whole life cycle of bioenergy systems, including effects of the associated forest management and harvesting on landscape carbon balances; 2) identifies how forest bioenergy can best be deployed to support energy system transformation required to achieve climate goals; and 3) incentivises those forest bioenergy systems that augment the mitigation value of the forest sector as a whole. Emphasis on short‐term emissions reduction targets can lead to decisions that make medium‐ to long‐term climate goals more difficult to achieve. The most important climate change mitigation measure is the transformation of energy, industry, and transport systems so that fossil carbon remains underground. Narrow perspectives obscure the significant role that bioenergy can play by displacing fossil fuels now, and supporting energy system transition. Greater transparency and consistency is needed in greenhouse has reporting and accounting related to bioenergy.

ACS Style

Annette L. Cowie; Göran Berndes; Niclas Scott Bentsen; Miguel Brandão; Francesco Cherubini; Gustaf Egnell; Brendan George; Leif Gustavsson; Marc Hanewinkel; Zoe M. Harris; Filip Johnsson; Martin Junginger; Keith L. Kline; Kati Koponen; Jaap Koppejan; Florian Kraxner; Patrick Lamers; Stefan Majer; Eric Marland; Gert‐Jan Nabuurs; Luc Pelkmans; Roger Sathre; Marcus Schaub; Charles Tattersall Smith; Sampo Soimakallio; Floor Van Der Hilst; Jeremy Woods; Fabiano A. Ximenes. Applying a science‐based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy. GCB Bioenergy 2021, 13, 1210 -1231.

AMA Style

Annette L. Cowie, Göran Berndes, Niclas Scott Bentsen, Miguel Brandão, Francesco Cherubini, Gustaf Egnell, Brendan George, Leif Gustavsson, Marc Hanewinkel, Zoe M. Harris, Filip Johnsson, Martin Junginger, Keith L. Kline, Kati Koponen, Jaap Koppejan, Florian Kraxner, Patrick Lamers, Stefan Majer, Eric Marland, Gert‐Jan Nabuurs, Luc Pelkmans, Roger Sathre, Marcus Schaub, Charles Tattersall Smith, Sampo Soimakallio, Floor Van Der Hilst, Jeremy Woods, Fabiano A. Ximenes. Applying a science‐based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy. GCB Bioenergy. 2021; 13 (8):1210-1231.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Annette L. Cowie; Göran Berndes; Niclas Scott Bentsen; Miguel Brandão; Francesco Cherubini; Gustaf Egnell; Brendan George; Leif Gustavsson; Marc Hanewinkel; Zoe M. Harris; Filip Johnsson; Martin Junginger; Keith L. Kline; Kati Koponen; Jaap Koppejan; Florian Kraxner; Patrick Lamers; Stefan Majer; Eric Marland; Gert‐Jan Nabuurs; Luc Pelkmans; Roger Sathre; Marcus Schaub; Charles Tattersall Smith; Sampo Soimakallio; Floor Van Der Hilst; Jeremy Woods; Fabiano A. Ximenes. 2021. "Applying a science‐based systems perspective to dispel misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy." GCB Bioenergy 13, no. 8: 1210-1231.

Journal article
Published: 27 March 2021 in Cleaner Environmental Systems
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Concerns over climate change have led to the promotion of biofuels for transport, particularly biodiesel from oilseed crops and ethanol from sugar and starch crops. However, the climate-change mitigation potential of the various biofuels estimated in published studies tends to vary significantly, questioning the reliability of the methods used to quantify potential impacts. We investigated the values published in the European Commission’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and recalculated the climate-change impacts of a range of biofuels using internally-consistent attributional and consequential modelling approaches to enable comparison of these approaches. We conclude that the estimated results are highly dependent on the modelling approach adopted, to the detriment of the perception of the robustness of life cycle assessment as a tool for estimating the climate-change impacts of biofuels. Land use change emissions are a determining parameter which should not be omitted, even if modelling it introduces a large variability in the results and makes interpretation complex. Clearer guidelines and standardization efforts would be helpful in the harmonization of LCA practice, so that the results can be more useful, robust and reproducible.

ACS Style

Miguel Brandão; Elias Azzi; Renan.M.L. Novaes; Annette Cowie. The modelling approach determines the carbon footprint of biofuels: The role of LCA in informing decision makers in government and industry. Cleaner Environmental Systems 2021, 2, 100027 .

AMA Style

Miguel Brandão, Elias Azzi, Renan.M.L. Novaes, Annette Cowie. The modelling approach determines the carbon footprint of biofuels: The role of LCA in informing decision makers in government and industry. Cleaner Environmental Systems. 2021; 2 ():100027.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miguel Brandão; Elias Azzi; Renan.M.L. Novaes; Annette Cowie. 2021. "The modelling approach determines the carbon footprint of biofuels: The role of LCA in informing decision makers in government and industry." Cleaner Environmental Systems 2, no. : 100027.

Review
Published: 01 November 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The number of publications on environmental footprint indicators has been growing rapidly, but with limited efforts to integrate different footprints into a coherent framework. Such integration is important for comprehensive understanding of environmental issues, policy formulation and assessment of trade-offs between different environmental concerns. Here, we systematize published footprint studies and define a family of footprints that can be used for the assessment of environmental sustainability. We identify overlaps between different footprints and analyse how they relate to the nine planetary boundaries and visualize the crucial information they provide for local and planetary sustainability. In addition, we assess how the footprint family delivers on measuring progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), considering its ability to quantify environmental pressures along the supply chain and relating them to the water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) nexus and ecosystem services. We argue that the footprint family is a flexible framework where particular members can be included or excluded according to the context or area of concern. Our paper is based upon a recent workshop bringing together global leading experts on existing environmental footprint indicators.

ACS Style

Davy Vanham; Adrian Leip; Alessandro Galli; Thomas Kastner; Martin Bruckner; Aimable Uwizeye; Kimo van Dijk; Ertug Ercin; Carole Dalin; Miguel Brandão; Simone Bastianoni; Kai Fang; Allison Leach; Ashok Chapagain; Marijn Van der Velde; Serenella Sala; Rana Pant; Lucia Mancini; Fabio Monforti-Ferrario; Gema Carmona-Garcia; Alexandra Marques; Franz Weiss; Arjen Y. Hoekstra. Environmental footprint family to address local to planetary sustainability and deliver on the SDGs. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 693, 133642 .

AMA Style

Davy Vanham, Adrian Leip, Alessandro Galli, Thomas Kastner, Martin Bruckner, Aimable Uwizeye, Kimo van Dijk, Ertug Ercin, Carole Dalin, Miguel Brandão, Simone Bastianoni, Kai Fang, Allison Leach, Ashok Chapagain, Marijn Van der Velde, Serenella Sala, Rana Pant, Lucia Mancini, Fabio Monforti-Ferrario, Gema Carmona-Garcia, Alexandra Marques, Franz Weiss, Arjen Y. Hoekstra. Environmental footprint family to address local to planetary sustainability and deliver on the SDGs. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 693 ():133642.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Davy Vanham; Adrian Leip; Alessandro Galli; Thomas Kastner; Martin Bruckner; Aimable Uwizeye; Kimo van Dijk; Ertug Ercin; Carole Dalin; Miguel Brandão; Simone Bastianoni; Kai Fang; Allison Leach; Ashok Chapagain; Marijn Van der Velde; Serenella Sala; Rana Pant; Lucia Mancini; Fabio Monforti-Ferrario; Gema Carmona-Garcia; Alexandra Marques; Franz Weiss; Arjen Y. Hoekstra. 2019. "Environmental footprint family to address local to planetary sustainability and deliver on the SDGs." Science of The Total Environment 693, no. : 133642.

Review
Published: 10 October 2019 in Journal of Industrial Ecology
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Bo Weidema; Miguel Brandão. Book Review of Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Practice , edited by Michael Z. Hauschild, Ralph K. Rosenbaum, and Stig Irving Olsen; Environmental Life Cycle Assessment , by Olivier Jolliet, Myriam Saadé‐Sbeih, Shanna Shaked, Alexandre Jolliet, and Pierre Crettaz; and Life Cycle Assessment: Quantitative Approaches for Decisions That Matter , by H. Scott Matthews, Chris T. Hendrickson, and Deanna H. Matthews. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2019, 24, 726 -730.

AMA Style

Bo Weidema, Miguel Brandão. Book Review of Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Practice , edited by Michael Z. Hauschild, Ralph K. Rosenbaum, and Stig Irving Olsen; Environmental Life Cycle Assessment , by Olivier Jolliet, Myriam Saadé‐Sbeih, Shanna Shaked, Alexandre Jolliet, and Pierre Crettaz; and Life Cycle Assessment: Quantitative Approaches for Decisions That Matter , by H. Scott Matthews, Chris T. Hendrickson, and Deanna H. Matthews. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2019; 24 (3):726-730.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bo Weidema; Miguel Brandão. 2019. "Book Review of Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Practice , edited by Michael Z. Hauschild, Ralph K. Rosenbaum, and Stig Irving Olsen; Environmental Life Cycle Assessment , by Olivier Jolliet, Myriam Saadé‐Sbeih, Shanna Shaked, Alexandre Jolliet, and Pierre Crettaz; and Life Cycle Assessment: Quantitative Approaches for Decisions That Matter , by H. Scott Matthews, Chris T. Hendrickson, and Deanna H. Matthews." Journal of Industrial Ecology 24, no. 3: 726-730.

Research and analysis
Published: 01 April 2019 in Journal of Industrial Ecology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are an alternative technology to tackle the major environmental challenges associated with conventional cage culture systems. In order to systematically assess the environmental performance of RAS farming, it is important to take the whole life cycle into account so as to avoid ad hoc and suboptimal environmental measures. So far, the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) in aquaculture, especially to indoor RAS, is still in progress. This study reports on an LCA of Atlantic salmon harvested at an indoor RAS farm in northern China. Results showed that 1 tonne live‐weight salmon production required 7,509 kWh farm‐level electricity and generated 16.7 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (eq), 106 kg of SO2 eq, 2.4 kg of P eq, and 108 kg of N eq (cradle‐to‐farm gate). In particular, farm‐level electricity use and feed product were identified as primary contributors to eight of nine impact categories assessed (54–95% in total), except the potential marine eutrophication (MEU) impact (dominated by the grow‐out effluents). Among feed ingredients (on a dry‐weight basis), chicken meal (5%) and krill meal (8%) dominated six and three, respectively, of the nine impact categories. Suggested environmental improvement measures for this indoor RAS farm included optimization of stocking density, feeding management, grow‐out effluent treatment, substitution of feed ingredients, and selection of electricity generation sources. In a generic context, this study can contribute to a better understanding of the life cycle environmental impacts of land‐based salmon RAS operations, as well as science‐based communication among stakeholders on more eco‐friendly farmed salmon.

ACS Style

Xingqiang Song; Ying Liu; Johan Berg Pettersen; Miguel Brandão; Xiaona Ma; Stian Røberg; Björn Frostell. Life cycle assessment of recirculating aquaculture systems: A case of Atlantic salmon farming in China. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2019, 23, 1077 -1086.

AMA Style

Xingqiang Song, Ying Liu, Johan Berg Pettersen, Miguel Brandão, Xiaona Ma, Stian Røberg, Björn Frostell. Life cycle assessment of recirculating aquaculture systems: A case of Atlantic salmon farming in China. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2019; 23 (5):1077-1086.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xingqiang Song; Ying Liu; Johan Berg Pettersen; Miguel Brandão; Xiaona Ma; Stian Røberg; Björn Frostell. 2019. "Life cycle assessment of recirculating aquaculture systems: A case of Atlantic salmon farming in China." Journal of Industrial Ecology 23, no. 5: 1077-1086.

Research and analysis
Published: 01 April 2019 in Journal of Industrial Ecology
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Photosynthetic cyanobacteria have attracted interest as production organisms for third‐generation biofuels, where sunlight and CO2 are used by microbes directly to synthesize fuel molecules. A particularly suitable biofuel is n‐butanol, and there have been several laboratory reports of genetically engineered photosynthetic cyanobacteria capable of synthesizing and secreting n‐butanol. This work evaluates the environmental impacts and cumulative energy demand (CED) of cyanobacteria‐produced n‐butanol through a cradle‐to‐grave consequential life cycle assessment (LCA). A hypothetical production plant in northern Sweden (area 1 ha, producing 5–85 m3n‐butanol per year) was considered, and a range of cultivation formats and cellular productivity scenarios assessed. Depending on the scenario, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) ranged from 16.9 to 58.6 gCO2eq/MJBuOH and the CED from 3.8 to 13 MJ/MJBuOH. Only with the assumption of a nearby paper mill to supply waste sources for heat and CO2 was the sustainability requirement of at least 60% GHGe savings compared to fossil fuels reached, though placement in northern Sweden reduced energy needed for reactor cooling. A high CED in all scenarios shows that significant metabolic engineering is necessary, such as a carbon partitioning of >90% to n‐butanol, as well as improved light utilization, to begin to displace fossil fuels or even first‐ and second‐generation bioethanol.

ACS Style

Astrid Nilsson; Kiyan Shabestary; Miguel Brandão; Elton P. Hudson. Environmental impacts and limitations of third‐generation biobutanol: Life cycle assessment of n ‐butanol produced by genetically engineered cyanobacteria. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2019, 24, 205 -216.

AMA Style

Astrid Nilsson, Kiyan Shabestary, Miguel Brandão, Elton P. Hudson. Environmental impacts and limitations of third‐generation biobutanol: Life cycle assessment of n ‐butanol produced by genetically engineered cyanobacteria. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2019; 24 (1):205-216.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Astrid Nilsson; Kiyan Shabestary; Miguel Brandão; Elton P. Hudson. 2019. "Environmental impacts and limitations of third‐generation biobutanol: Life cycle assessment of n ‐butanol produced by genetically engineered cyanobacteria." Journal of Industrial Ecology 24, no. 1: 205-216.

Original research
Published: 16 December 2018 in GCB Bioenergy
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Ongoing concern over climate change has led to interest in replacing fossil energy with bioenergy. There are different approaches to quantitatively estimate the climate change effects of bioenergy systems. In the present work, we have focused on a range of published impact‐assessment methods that vary due to conceptual differences in the treatment of biogenic carbon fluxes, the type of climate change impacts they address, and differences in time horizon and time preference. Specifically, this paper reviews fifteen different methods and apply these to three hypothetical bioenergy case studies: 1) woody biomass grown on previously forested land; 2) woody biomass grown on previous pasture land; and 3) annual energy crop grown on previously cropped land. Our analysis shows that the choice of method can have an important influence on the quantification of climate change effects of bioenergy, particularly when a mature forest is converted to bioenergy use as it involves a substantial reduction in biomass carbon stocks. Results are more uniform in the other case studies. In general, results are more sensitive to specific impact‐assessment methods when they involve both emissions and removals at different points in time, such as for forest bioenergy, but has a much smaller influence on agricultural bioenergy systems grown on land previously used for pasture or annual cropping. The development of effective policies for climate change mitigation through renewable energy use requires consistent and accurate approaches to identification of bioenergy systems that can result in climate‐change mitigation. The use of different methods for the same purpose: estimating the climate‐change effects of bioenergy systems, can lead to confusing and contradictory conclusions. A full interpretation of the results generated with different methods must be based on an understanding that the different methods focus on different aspects of climate change and represent different time preferences. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

ACS Style

Miguel Brandão; Miko U. F. Kirschbaum; Annette L. Cowie; Susanne Vedel Hjuler. Quantifying the climate change effects of bioenergy systems: Comparison of 15 impact assessment methods. GCB Bioenergy 2018, 11, 727 -743.

AMA Style

Miguel Brandão, Miko U. F. Kirschbaum, Annette L. Cowie, Susanne Vedel Hjuler. Quantifying the climate change effects of bioenergy systems: Comparison of 15 impact assessment methods. GCB Bioenergy. 2018; 11 (5):727-743.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miguel Brandão; Miko U. F. Kirschbaum; Annette L. Cowie; Susanne Vedel Hjuler. 2018. "Quantifying the climate change effects of bioenergy systems: Comparison of 15 impact assessment methods." GCB Bioenergy 11, no. 5: 727-743.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Kati Koponen; Sampo Soimakallio; Keith Kline; Annette Cowie; Miguel Brandão. Quantifying the climate effects of bioenergy – Choice of reference system. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2018, 81, 2271 -2280.

AMA Style

Kati Koponen, Sampo Soimakallio, Keith Kline, Annette Cowie, Miguel Brandão. Quantifying the climate effects of bioenergy – Choice of reference system. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2018; 81 ():2271-2280.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kati Koponen; Sampo Soimakallio; Keith Kline; Annette Cowie; Miguel Brandão. 2018. "Quantifying the climate effects of bioenergy – Choice of reference system." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 81, no. : 2271-2280.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2017 in Sustainability
Reads 0
Downloads 0

In recent years, a growing interest from consumers to know the origins and contents of foods has put alternative choices, such as organic foods and dietary changes, on the agenda. Dietary choices are important to address, as many studies find that activities related to food production account for nearly 20–30% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nonetheless, while GHG emissions are important, often other environmental impact categories are not considered in the assessment of the sustainability of different foods, diets and choices. This study aims to quantify the implications of dietary choices for Swedish food consumption on a broad range of environmental impact categories using life cycle assessment to provide insight into the impacts, and potential tradeoffs, associated with certain food products and dietary choices. Scenarios are used to assess the implications of diets with reduced meat, increased Swedish food consumption, increased organic foods, vegan and semi-vegetarian diets. The results indicate that tradeoffs could be possible with certain dietary choices. Increasing Swedish food production and consumption may lead to lower impacts for all impact categories by reducing imports, although limitations in growing season and availability of foods in Sweden allows only for minor increases. The results also indicate that large reductions of greenhouse gas emissions are possible by reducing meat consumption, i.e., by halving meat consumption and through vegan and vegetarian diets. Nonetheless, an increase in vegetable, legume and fruit products may lead to a potential increase in human and ecosystem toxicity. Diets based on nutritional guidelines, show reductions in all impact categories, as these guidelines call for an increase in vegetables and fruits and a reduction in meat consumption. An increase in organic foods showed no significant change in climate impact, although toxicity potential was reduced significantly. Increasing consumption of organic foods may also lead to a reduction in biodiversity damage potential, and if all food is produced organically, it risks increasing eutrophication and land use.

ACS Style

Michael Martin; Miguel Brandão. Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices. Sustainability 2017, 9, 2227 .

AMA Style

Michael Martin, Miguel Brandão. Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (12):2227.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Martin; Miguel Brandão. 2017. "Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices." Sustainability 9, no. 12: 2227.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2017 in Journal of Cleaner Production
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Ali Mohammadi; Annette L. Cowie; Thi Lan Anh Mai; Miguel Brandão; Ruy Anaya de la Rosa; Paul Kristiansen; Stephen Joseph. Climate-change and health effects of using rice husk for biochar-compost: Comparing three pyrolysis systems. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 162, 260 -272.

AMA Style

Ali Mohammadi, Annette L. Cowie, Thi Lan Anh Mai, Miguel Brandão, Ruy Anaya de la Rosa, Paul Kristiansen, Stephen Joseph. Climate-change and health effects of using rice husk for biochar-compost: Comparing three pyrolysis systems. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 162 ():260-272.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ali Mohammadi; Annette L. Cowie; Thi Lan Anh Mai; Miguel Brandão; Ruy Anaya de la Rosa; Paul Kristiansen; Stephen Joseph. 2017. "Climate-change and health effects of using rice husk for biochar-compost: Comparing three pyrolysis systems." Journal of Cleaner Production 162, no. : 260-272.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2017 in Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Miguel Brandão; Michael Martin; Annette Cowie; Lorie Hamelin; Alessandra Zamagni. Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: What, How, and Why? Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies 2017, 277 -284.

AMA Style

Miguel Brandão, Michael Martin, Annette Cowie, Lorie Hamelin, Alessandra Zamagni. Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: What, How, and Why? Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies. 2017; ():277-284.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miguel Brandão; Michael Martin; Annette Cowie; Lorie Hamelin; Alessandra Zamagni. 2017. "Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: What, How, and Why?" Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies , no. : 277-284.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2016 in Energy Procedia
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Ali Mohammadi; Annette Cowie; Thi Lan Anh Mai; Ruy Anaya De La Rosa; Miguel Brandão; Paul Kristiansen; Stephen Joseph. Quantifying the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Benefits of Utilising Straw Biochar and Enriched Biochar. Energy Procedia 2016, 97, 254 -261.

AMA Style

Ali Mohammadi, Annette Cowie, Thi Lan Anh Mai, Ruy Anaya De La Rosa, Miguel Brandão, Paul Kristiansen, Stephen Joseph. Quantifying the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Benefits of Utilising Straw Biochar and Enriched Biochar. Energy Procedia. 2016; 97 ():254-261.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ali Mohammadi; Annette Cowie; Thi Lan Anh Mai; Ruy Anaya De La Rosa; Miguel Brandão; Paul Kristiansen; Stephen Joseph. 2016. "Quantifying the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Benefits of Utilising Straw Biochar and Enriched Biochar." Energy Procedia 97, no. : 254-261.

Journal article
Published: 25 August 2016 in Nature Climate Change
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Annette Cowie; Fabiano Ximenes; Göran Berndes; Miguel Brandão; Patrick Lamers; Gregg Marland. Policy institutions and forest carbon. Nature Climate Change 2016, 6, 805 -805.

AMA Style

Annette Cowie, Fabiano Ximenes, Göran Berndes, Miguel Brandão, Patrick Lamers, Gregg Marland. Policy institutions and forest carbon. Nature Climate Change. 2016; 6 (9):805-805.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Annette Cowie; Fabiano Ximenes; Göran Berndes; Miguel Brandão; Patrick Lamers; Gregg Marland. 2016. "Policy institutions and forest carbon." Nature Climate Change 6, no. 9: 805-805.

Journal article
Published: 29 June 2016 in Resources
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A thermodynamic approach based on exergy use has been suggested as a measure for the use of resources in Life Cycle Assessment and other sustainability assessment methods. It is a relevant approach since it can capture energy resources, as well as metal ores and other materials that have a chemical exergy expressed in the same units. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the use of the thermodynamic approach in case studies and to compare the results with other approaches, and thus contribute to the discussion of how to measure resource use. The two case studies are the recycling of ferrous waste and the production and use of a laptop. The results show that the different methods produce strikingly different results when applied to case studies, which indicates the need to further discuss methods for assessing resource use. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of the thermodynamic approach. It identifies the importance of both energy resources, as well as metals. We argue that the thermodynamic approach is developed from a solid scientific basis and produces results that are relevant for decision-making. The exergy approach captures most resources that are considered important by other methods. Furthermore, the composition of the ores is shown to have an influence on the results. The thermodynamic approach could also be further developed for assessing a broader range of biotic and abiotic resources, including land and water.

ACS Style

Goran Finnveden; Yevgeniya Arushanyan; Miguel Brandão. Exergy as a Measure of Resource Use in Life Cycle Assessment and Other Sustainability Assessment Tools. Resources 2016, 5, 23 .

AMA Style

Goran Finnveden, Yevgeniya Arushanyan, Miguel Brandão. Exergy as a Measure of Resource Use in Life Cycle Assessment and Other Sustainability Assessment Tools. Resources. 2016; 5 (3):23.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Goran Finnveden; Yevgeniya Arushanyan; Miguel Brandão. 2016. "Exergy as a Measure of Resource Use in Life Cycle Assessment and Other Sustainability Assessment Tools." Resources 5, no. 3: 23.

Journal article
Published: 21 June 2016 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Purpose Despite a mature debate on the importance of a time-dependent account of carbon fluxes in life cycle assessments (LCA) of forestry products, static accounts of fluxes are still common. Time-explicit inventory of carbon fluxes is not available to LCA practitioners, since the most commonly used life cycle inventory (LCI) databases use a static approach. Existing forest models are typically applied to specific study fields for which the detailed input parameters required are available. This paper presents a simplified parametric model to obtain a time-explicit balanced account of the carbon fluxes in a forest for use in LCA. The model was applied to the case of spruce as an example. Methods The model calculated endogenous and exogenous carbon fluxes in tons of carbon per hectare. It was designed to allow users to choose (a) the carbon pools to be included in the analysis (aboveground and belowground carbon pools, only aboveground carbon or only carbon in stem); (b) a linear or sigmoidal dynamic function describing biomass growth; (c) a sigmoidal, negative exponential or linear dynamic function describing independently the decomposition of aboveground and belowground biomass; and (d) the forest management features such as stand type, rotation time, thinning frequency and intensity. Results and discussion The parametric model provides a time-dependent LCI of forest carbon fluxes per unit of product, taking into account the typically limited data available to LCA practitioners, while providing consistent and robust outcomes. The results obtained for the case study were validated with the more complex CO2FIX. The model ensures carbon balance within spatial and time delimitation defined by the user by accounting for the annual biomass degradation and production in each carbon pool. The inventory can be used in LCA studies and coupled with classic indicators (e.g. global warming potential) to accurately determine the climate impacts over time. The model is applicable globally and to any forest management practice. Conclusions This paper proposes a simplified and flexible forest model, which facilitates the implementation in LCA of time-dependent assessments of bio-based products.

ACS Style

Michele De Rosa; Jannick Schmidt; Miguel Brandão; Massimo Pizzol. A flexible parametric model for a balanced account of forest carbon fluxes in LCA. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2016, 22, 172 -184.

AMA Style

Michele De Rosa, Jannick Schmidt, Miguel Brandão, Massimo Pizzol. A flexible parametric model for a balanced account of forest carbon fluxes in LCA. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2016; 22 (2):172-184.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michele De Rosa; Jannick Schmidt; Miguel Brandão; Massimo Pizzol. 2016. "A flexible parametric model for a balanced account of forest carbon fluxes in LCA." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 22, no. 2: 172-184.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2016 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Sampo Soimakallio; Miguel Brandão; Tomas Ekvall; Annette Cowie; Göran Finnveden; Martin Erlandsson; Kati Koponen; Per-Erik Karlsson. On the validity of natural regeneration in determination of land-use baseline. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2016, 21, 448 -450.

AMA Style

Sampo Soimakallio, Miguel Brandão, Tomas Ekvall, Annette Cowie, Göran Finnveden, Martin Erlandsson, Kati Koponen, Per-Erik Karlsson. On the validity of natural regeneration in determination of land-use baseline. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2016; 21 (4):448-450.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sampo Soimakallio; Miguel Brandão; Tomas Ekvall; Annette Cowie; Göran Finnveden; Martin Erlandsson; Kati Koponen; Per-Erik Karlsson. 2016. "On the validity of natural regeneration in determination of land-use baseline." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 21, no. 4: 448-450.

Journal article
Published: 05 August 2015 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Purpose This paper aims to clarify the application of a land-use baseline in attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA) for product systems involving land use, through consideration of the fundamental purpose of ALCA. Currently, there is no clear view in the literature whether a baseline should be used when accounting for environmentally relevant physical flows related to land use. Methods An extensive search of literature was carried out using the key terms ‘attributional life cycle assessment’ and ‘attributional LCA’ in the Google Scholar web search engine. Approximately 700 publications were reviewed and summarised according to their type and scope, relevance of land use, key statements and references given for ALCA, and arguments for and against using a baseline in ALCA. Based on the literature review and supplementary literature references, a critical discussion on the use of a baseline and determination of the most appropriate land-use baseline in ALCA is provided. Results and discussion A few studies clearly argued that only absolute (observable) flows without a baseline are to be inventoried in ALCA, while the majority of the studies did not make any clear statement for or against. On the other hand, a land-use baseline was explicitly applied or proposed in a minority of the studies only, despite the fact that we classified land use as highly relevant for the majority of the studies reviewed. Furthermore, the LCA guidelines reviewed give contradictory recommendations. The most cited studies for the definition of ALCA provide general rules for selecting processes based on observable flows but do not argue that observable flows necessarily describe the environmentally relevant physical flows. Conclusions We conclude that a baseline is required to separate the studied parts of the technosphere from natural processes and to describe the impact of land use on ecosystem quality, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The most coherent baseline for human-induced land-use in ALCA is natural regeneration. As the natural-regeneration baseline has typically been excluded, may vary bio-geographically and temporally, and is subject to uncertainties, case studies applying it should be performed so that implications can be studied and evaluated. This is particularly important for agricultural and forestry systems, such as food, feed, fibre, timber and biofuels.

ACS Style

Sampo Soimakallio; Annette Cowie; Miguel Brandão; Göran Finnveden; Tomas Ekvall; Martin Erlandsson; Kati Koponen; Per-Erik Karlsson. Attributional life cycle assessment: is a land-use baseline necessary? The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2015, 20, 1364 -1375.

AMA Style

Sampo Soimakallio, Annette Cowie, Miguel Brandão, Göran Finnveden, Tomas Ekvall, Martin Erlandsson, Kati Koponen, Per-Erik Karlsson. Attributional life cycle assessment: is a land-use baseline necessary? The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2015; 20 (10):1364-1375.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sampo Soimakallio; Annette Cowie; Miguel Brandão; Göran Finnveden; Tomas Ekvall; Martin Erlandsson; Kati Koponen; Per-Erik Karlsson. 2015. "Attributional life cycle assessment: is a land-use baseline necessary?" The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 20, no. 10: 1364-1375.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2015 in Journal of Cleaner Production
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Jannick H. Schmidt; Bo Weidema; Miguel Brandão. A framework for modelling indirect land use changes in Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production 2015, 99, 230 -238.

AMA Style

Jannick H. Schmidt, Bo Weidema, Miguel Brandão. A framework for modelling indirect land use changes in Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2015; 99 ():230-238.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jannick H. Schmidt; Bo Weidema; Miguel Brandão. 2015. "A framework for modelling indirect land use changes in Life Cycle Assessment." Journal of Cleaner Production 99, no. : 230-238.

Review
Published: 01 January 2015 in Journal of Cleaner Production
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Massimo Pizzol; Bo Weidema; Miguel Brandão; Philippe Osset. Monetary valuation in Life Cycle Assessment: a review. Journal of Cleaner Production 2015, 86, 170 -179.

AMA Style

Massimo Pizzol, Bo Weidema, Miguel Brandão, Philippe Osset. Monetary valuation in Life Cycle Assessment: a review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2015; 86 ():170-179.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Massimo Pizzol; Bo Weidema; Miguel Brandão; Philippe Osset. 2015. "Monetary valuation in Life Cycle Assessment: a review." Journal of Cleaner Production 86, no. : 170-179.