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Prof. Magdalena Svanström
Chalmers University of Technology

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0 Life Cycle Assessment
0 sustainability assessment
0 biobased products
0 Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
0 Wastewater and sludge treatment

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Life Cycle Assessment
Wastewater and sludge treatment
sustainability assessment
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
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Journal article
Published: 26 March 2021 in Sustainability
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More sustainable management of phosphorus requires comprehensive understanding of phosphorus stocks and flows. With the purpose of shedding light on the possibilities for an increased level of recirculation of phosphorus in Sweden, phosphorus flows entering and exiting biomass production sectors were quantified along with waste flows, that is, flows that are not currently utilized in biomass production. Relevant waste flows were also characterized in terms of phosphorus concentration, plant availability, contamination and geo-spatial distribution. The theoretical recirculation potential of phosphorus in Sweden was then estimated. The results indicate that there is a large potential for making phosphorus management more circular, especially regarding the utilization of phosphorus in sewage sludge as well as wood ashes from the forestry sector. Moreover, there is a large amount of phosphorus in mining waste that could potentially be used for fertilizer production. It is concluded that the amount of phosphorus in flows fit for recirculation in forestry could more or less balance today’s output. In agriculture, however, recirculation can only sufficiently replace imported mineral phosphorus at current demand if the phosphorus in mining waste is utilized. Thus, if the goal is to replace all of the mineral phosphorus, the agricultural sector also has to become much more efficient in its phosphorus usage.

ACS Style

Dag Lorick; Robin Harder; Magdalena Svanström. A Circular Economy for Phosphorus in Sweden—Is it Possible? Sustainability 2021, 13, 3733 .

AMA Style

Dag Lorick, Robin Harder, Magdalena Svanström. A Circular Economy for Phosphorus in Sweden—Is it Possible? Sustainability. 2021; 13 (7):3733.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dag Lorick; Robin Harder; Magdalena Svanström. 2021. "A Circular Economy for Phosphorus in Sweden—Is it Possible?" Sustainability 13, no. 7: 3733.

Short review
Published: 09 September 2020 in Resources, Conservation and Recycling
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The Trans-Atlantic Research and Development Interchange on Sustainability Workshop (TARDIS) is a meeting on scientific topics related to sustainability. The 2019 workshop theme was "On the Role of Uncertainty in Managing the Earth for Global Sustainability." This paper presents the perspectives on this topic derived from talks and discussions at the 2019 TARDIS workshop. There are four kinds of uncertainties encountered in sustainability ranging from clear enough futures to true surprises. The current state-of-the-art in assessing and mitigating these uncertainties is discussed.

ACS Style

U. Diwekar; A. Amekudzi-Kennedy; B. Bakshi; R. Baumgartner; R. Boumans; P. Burger; H. Cabezas; M. Egler; J. Farley; B. Fath; T. Gleason; Y. Huang; A. Karunanithi; V. Khanna; A. Mangan; A.L. Mayer; R. Mukherjee; G. Mullally; V. Rico-Ramirez; D. Shonnard; M. Svanström; T. Theis. A perspective on the role of uncertainty in sustainability science and engineering. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2020, 164, 105140 -105140.

AMA Style

U. Diwekar, A. Amekudzi-Kennedy, B. Bakshi, R. Baumgartner, R. Boumans, P. Burger, H. Cabezas, M. Egler, J. Farley, B. Fath, T. Gleason, Y. Huang, A. Karunanithi, V. Khanna, A. Mangan, A.L. Mayer, R. Mukherjee, G. Mullally, V. Rico-Ramirez, D. Shonnard, M. Svanström, T. Theis. A perspective on the role of uncertainty in sustainability science and engineering. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2020; 164 ():105140-105140.

Chicago/Turabian Style

U. Diwekar; A. Amekudzi-Kennedy; B. Bakshi; R. Baumgartner; R. Boumans; P. Burger; H. Cabezas; M. Egler; J. Farley; B. Fath; T. Gleason; Y. Huang; A. Karunanithi; V. Khanna; A. Mangan; A.L. Mayer; R. Mukherjee; G. Mullally; V. Rico-Ramirez; D. Shonnard; M. Svanström; T. Theis. 2020. "A perspective on the role of uncertainty in sustainability science and engineering." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 164, no. : 105140-105140.

Journal article
Published: 24 March 2020 in Sustainability
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Despite the significant reduction of phosphorus (P) discharge in the Baltic Sea in the last decades, obtained through the implementation of some approaches within the Helsinki Convention, eutrophication is still considered the biggest problem for the Baltic Sea environment. Consequently, the reduction of P load is an urgent need to solve, but the complexity of both the environmental and legislative context of the area makes this process difficult (more than in the past). Eutrophication is an intricate issue requiring a proper framework of governance that is not easy to determine in the Baltic Sea Region where the needs of several different countries converge. To identify the most suitable strategy to reduce the eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, the InPhos project (no. 17022, 2018–2019, funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Raw Materials) adopted a holistic approach considering technical, political, economic, environmental and social aspects of P management. With the aims to raise awareness about the P challenge, foster the dialogue among all the stakeholders, and find solutions already developed in other countries (such as Germany and Switzerland) to be transferred in the Baltic Sea Region, the InPhos project consortium applied the methodology proposed in this paper, consisting of three main phases: (i) analysis of the available technologies to remove P from waste streams that contribute to eutrophication; (ii) analysis of the main streams involving P in Baltic Sea countries to highlight the potential of more sustainable and circular P management; (iii) study of the current context (e.g., already-existing initiatives and issues). This approach allowed us to identify four categories of recommendations and practical actions proposed to improve P management in the Baltic Sea region. During the project, the consortium mainly addressed social aspects. Following steps beyond the project will be more quantitative to determine the techno-economic feasibility of circular P management in selected demo cases in the region.

ACS Style

Marzena Smol; Michał Preisner; Augusto Bianchini; Jessica Rossi; Ludwig Hermann; Tanja Schaaf; Jolita Kruopienė; Kastytis Pamakštys; Maris Klavins; Ruta Ozola-Davidane; Daina Kalnina; Elina Strade; Viktoria Voronova; Karin Pachel; Xiaosheng Yang; Britt-Marie Steenari; Magdalena Svanström. Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Management of Phosphorus in the Baltic Sea Region: The Holistic Approach of the InPhos Project. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2567 .

AMA Style

Marzena Smol, Michał Preisner, Augusto Bianchini, Jessica Rossi, Ludwig Hermann, Tanja Schaaf, Jolita Kruopienė, Kastytis Pamakštys, Maris Klavins, Ruta Ozola-Davidane, Daina Kalnina, Elina Strade, Viktoria Voronova, Karin Pachel, Xiaosheng Yang, Britt-Marie Steenari, Magdalena Svanström. Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Management of Phosphorus in the Baltic Sea Region: The Holistic Approach of the InPhos Project. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2567.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marzena Smol; Michał Preisner; Augusto Bianchini; Jessica Rossi; Ludwig Hermann; Tanja Schaaf; Jolita Kruopienė; Kastytis Pamakštys; Maris Klavins; Ruta Ozola-Davidane; Daina Kalnina; Elina Strade; Viktoria Voronova; Karin Pachel; Xiaosheng Yang; Britt-Marie Steenari; Magdalena Svanström. 2020. "Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Management of Phosphorus in the Baltic Sea Region: The Holistic Approach of the InPhos Project." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2567.

Lci methodology and databases
Published: 16 October 2018 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
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Toxicity impacts of chemicals have only been covered to a minor extent in LCA studies of textile products. The two main reasons for this exclusion are (1) the lack of life cycle inventory (LCI) data on use and emissions of textile-related chemicals, and (2) the lack of life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) data for calculating impacts based on the LCI data. This paper addresses the first of these two. In order to facilitate the LCI analysis for LCA practitioners, an inventory framework was developed. The framework builds on a nomenclature for textile-related chemicals which was used to build up a generic chemical product inventory for use in LCA of textiles. In the chemical product inventory, each chemical product and its content was modelled to fit the subsequent LCIA step. This means that the content and subsequent emission data are time-integrated, including both original content and, when relevant, transformation products as well as impurities. Another key feature of the framework is the modelling of modularised process performance in terms of emissions to air and water. The inventory framework follows the traditional structure of LCI databases to allow for use together with existing LCI and LCIA data. It contains LCI data sets for common textile processes (unit processes), including use and emissions of textile-related chemicals. The data sets can be used for screening LCA studies and/or, due to their modular structure, also modified. Modified data sets can be modelled from recipes of input chemicals, where the chemical product inventory provides LCA-compatible content and emission data. The data sets and the chemical product inventory can also be used as data collection templates in more detailed LCA studies. A parallel development of a nomenclature for and acquisition of LCI data resulted in the creation of a modularised inventory framework. The framework advances the LCA method to provide results that can guide towards reduced environmental impact from textile production, including also the toxicity impacts from textile chemicals. The framework can be used for guiding stakeholders of the textile sector in macro-level decisions regarding the effectiveness of different impact reduction interventions, as well as for guiding on-site decisions in textile manufacturing.

ACS Style

Sandra Roos; Christina Jönsson; Stefan Posner; Rickard Arvidsson; Magdalena Svanström. An inventory framework for inclusion of textile chemicals in life cycle assessment. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2018, 24, 838 -847.

AMA Style

Sandra Roos, Christina Jönsson, Stefan Posner, Rickard Arvidsson, Magdalena Svanström. An inventory framework for inclusion of textile chemicals in life cycle assessment. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2018; 24 (5):838-847.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sandra Roos; Christina Jönsson; Stefan Posner; Rickard Arvidsson; Magdalena Svanström. 2018. "An inventory framework for inclusion of textile chemicals in life cycle assessment." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 24, no. 5: 838-847.

Journal article
Published: 07 July 2018 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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In education for sustainable development (ESD), the inclusion and handling of a multitude of perspectives and the interconnectivity of different dimensions of the world are often targeted. Based on the assumption that concept maps can capture notions of this learning, concept maps generated by students were used to complement a large number of other empirical data from several years of a master level course module in engineering education with a specific focus on ESD. Multivariate data analysis (MVDA) was used to find correlations between the many different variables. Empirical data included data on the background of students, on their participation in different teaching and learning activities (TLAs), and on their performance in different types of assessment, including concept maps generated before and after the course. According to the concept map results, the students seem to develop, in general, a more balanced and systemic view during the course. The use of MVDA was helpful in revealing both expected and unexpected co-variations. Results show that previous experiences (student background) is an important factor behind high performance and that TLAs in the course are providing complementary knowledge. The main focus of this paper is on how the innovative approach of combining the use of concept maps and MVDA can provide useful understanding of possible correlations between student characteristics, their participation in TLAs and their performance in assessments in an ESD course. The use of concept maps was seen as useful in capturing important notions of ESD while the MVDA enabled quick analysis of the large data set.

ACS Style

Magdalena Svanström; Jonas Sjöblom; Jordi Segalàs; Morgan Fröling. Improving engineering education for sustainable development using concept maps and multivariate data analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 198, 530 -540.

AMA Style

Magdalena Svanström, Jonas Sjöblom, Jordi Segalàs, Morgan Fröling. Improving engineering education for sustainable development using concept maps and multivariate data analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 198 ():530-540.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magdalena Svanström; Jonas Sjöblom; Jordi Segalàs; Morgan Fröling. 2018. "Improving engineering education for sustainable development using concept maps and multivariate data analysis." Journal of Cleaner Production 198, no. : 530-540.

Wood and other renewable resources
Published: 04 July 2018 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
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This article aims to explore how different assumptions about system boundaries and setting of baselines for forest growth affect the outcome of climate impact assessments of forest products using life cycle assessment (LCA), regarding the potential for climate impact mitigation from replacing non-forest benchmarks. This article attempts to explore how several assumptions interact and influence results for different products with different service life lengths. Four products made from forest biomass were analysed and compared to non-forest benchmarks using dynamic LCA with time horizons between 0 and 300 years. The studied products have different service lives: butanol automotive fuel (0 years), viscose textile fibres (2 years), a cross-laminated timber building structure (50 years) and methanol used to produce short-lived (0 years) and long-lived (20 years) products. Five calculation setups were tested featuring different assumptions about how to account for the carbon uptake during forest growth or regrowth. These assumptions relate to the timing of the uptake (before or after harvest), the spatial system boundaries (national, landscape or single stand) and the land-use baseline (zero baseline or natural regeneration). The implications of using different assumptions depend on the type of product. The choice of time horizon for dynamic LCA and the timing of forest carbon uptake are important for all products, especially long-lived ones where end-of-life biogenic emissions take place in the relatively distant future. The choice of time horizon is less influential when using landscape- or national-level system boundaries than when using stand-level system boundaries and has greater influence on the results for long-lived products. Short-lived products perform worse than their benchmarks with short time horizons whatever spatial system boundaries are chosen, while long-lived products outperform their benchmarks with all methods tested. The approach and data used to model the forest carbon uptake can significantly influence the outcome of the assessment for all products. The choices of spatial system boundaries, temporal system boundaries and land-use baseline have a large influence on the results, and this influence decreases for longer time horizons. Short-lived products are more sensitive to the choice of time horizon than long-lived products. Recommendations are given for LCA practitioners: to be aware of the influence of method choice when carrying out studies, to use case-specific data (for the forest growth) and to communicate clearly how results can be used.

ACS Style

Diego Peñaloza; Frida Røyne; Gustav Sandin; Magdalena Svanström; Martin Erlandsson. The influence of system boundaries and baseline in climate impact assessment of forest products. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2018, 24, 160 -176.

AMA Style

Diego Peñaloza, Frida Røyne, Gustav Sandin, Magdalena Svanström, Martin Erlandsson. The influence of system boundaries and baseline in climate impact assessment of forest products. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2018; 24 (1):160-176.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diego Peñaloza; Frida Røyne; Gustav Sandin; Magdalena Svanström; Martin Erlandsson. 2018. "The influence of system boundaries and baseline in climate impact assessment of forest products." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 24, no. 1: 160-176.

Journal article
Published: 16 November 2017 in European Journal of Engineering Education
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In recent years, there has been increasing interest within the engineering education research community to prepare engineering students to address wicked problems (WPs) such as climate change, resource scarcity and violent conflict. Previous research suggests that engineering students are able to address WPs if they are given adequate support, but there is a lack of research on what kinds of support are needed. This paper aims to reduce this gap by reporting on students’ performance in, and approaches to, addressing WPs when different scaffolding strategies were used in different parts of a rubric-based intervention. The intervention aimed to provide undergraduate engineering students with an understanding of the nature of WPs and with a structured way of addressing them. For each part of the intervention, we discuss affordances for learning provided by the different scaffolding strategies. The results suggest that strong cognitive scaffolding can support students’ understanding of the nature of WPs and students’ performance in written responses to WPs, but possibly also limits deep engagement with WPs and transfer of learning to other contexts.

ACS Style

Johanna Lönngren; Tom Adawi; Magdalena Svanström. Scaffolding strategies in a rubric-based intervention to promote engineering students’ ability to address wicked problems. European Journal of Engineering Education 2017, 44, 196 -221.

AMA Style

Johanna Lönngren, Tom Adawi, Magdalena Svanström. Scaffolding strategies in a rubric-based intervention to promote engineering students’ ability to address wicked problems. European Journal of Engineering Education. 2017; 44 (1-2):196-221.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Johanna Lönngren; Tom Adawi; Magdalena Svanström. 2017. "Scaffolding strategies in a rubric-based intervention to promote engineering students’ ability to address wicked problems." European Journal of Engineering Education 44, no. 1-2: 196-221.

Book chapter
Published: 08 September 2017 in What is Sustainable Technology?
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ACS Style

Magdalena Svanström; Morgan Fröling. Trade-offs in the district heat distribution system. What is Sustainable Technology? 2017, 87 -107.

AMA Style

Magdalena Svanström, Morgan Fröling. Trade-offs in the district heat distribution system. What is Sustainable Technology?. 2017; ():87-107.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magdalena Svanström; Morgan Fröling. 2017. "Trade-offs in the district heat distribution system." What is Sustainable Technology? , no. : 87-107.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2017 in Resources, Conservation and Recycling
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ACS Style

Sara Heimersson; Magdalena Svanström; Christel Cederberg; Gregory Peters. Improved life cycle modelling of benefits from sewage sludge anaerobic digestion and land application. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2017, 122, 126 -134.

AMA Style

Sara Heimersson, Magdalena Svanström, Christel Cederberg, Gregory Peters. Improved life cycle modelling of benefits from sewage sludge anaerobic digestion and land application. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2017; 122 ():126-134.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Heimersson; Magdalena Svanström; Christel Cederberg; Gregory Peters. 2017. "Improved life cycle modelling of benefits from sewage sludge anaerobic digestion and land application." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 122, no. : 126-134.

Research article
Published: 06 June 2017 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
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A holistic assessment procedure has been used in this study for comparing conventional activated sludge (CAS) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes for the treatment of municipal wastewater. Technical, social, administrative, economic and environmental impacts have been evaluated based on 1 year of operational data from three full-scale lines (one MBR and two CAS) working in parallel in a large municipal treatment plant. The comparative assessment evidences a slight advantage of the conventional process in the studied case, essentially due to lower costs, complexity and energy consumption. On the other hand, the MBR technology has a better social acceptance and similar overall environmental footprint. Although these results are influenced by site-specific parameters and cannot be generalized, the assessment procedure allowed identifying the most important factors affecting the final scores for each technology and the main differences between the compared technologies. Local conditions can affect the relative importance of the assessed impacts, and the use of weighting factors is proposed for better tailoring the comparative assessment to the local needs and circumstances. A sensitivity analysis on the weighted final scores demonstrated how local factors are very important and must be carefully evaluated in the decision making process.

ACS Style

Giorgio Bertanza; Matteo Canato; Giuseppe Laera; Mentore Vaccari; Magdalena Svanstrã¶m; Sara Heimersson. A comparison between two full-scale MBR and CAS municipal wastewater treatment plants: techno-economic-environmental assessment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2017, 24, 17383 -17393.

AMA Style

Giorgio Bertanza, Matteo Canato, Giuseppe Laera, Mentore Vaccari, Magdalena Svanstrã¶m, Sara Heimersson. A comparison between two full-scale MBR and CAS municipal wastewater treatment plants: techno-economic-environmental assessment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2017; 24 (21):17383-17393.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgio Bertanza; Matteo Canato; Giuseppe Laera; Mentore Vaccari; Magdalena Svanstrã¶m; Sara Heimersson. 2017. "A comparison between two full-scale MBR and CAS municipal wastewater treatment plants: techno-economic-environmental assessment." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24, no. 21: 17383-17393.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2017 in Microbial Risk Analysis
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Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are two distinct environmental management techniques that can provide complementary perspectives when assessing management options for urban water and sanitation infrastructure. While QMRA per definition concerns microbial risks, accounting for pathogens in LCA has received little attention. A few case studies, however, have explored the concurrent use of QMRA and LCA. These studies were motivated by the perceived need to address trade-offs between local health burdens associated with pathogens and global health burdens associated with other stressors at different spatial and temporal scales. Along with the LCA, the QMRA results were sought to provide the basis for addressing such trade-offs, rather than for deciding whether pathogen-related adverse effects experienced by specific individuals or populations are acceptable, or which scenario leads to the highest overall health burden for a given community, as is traditionally the case in QMRA. This paper highlights opportunities and unresolved issues related to the concurrent use of QMRA and LCA, such as assumptions in translating chemical and pathogen health impacts to a common metric or other mode structure and parameterisation aspects. Our aim is to facilitate more consistent design and transparent communication of future case studies of this type, and to highlight opportunities for QMRA experts to contribute to LCA method development so as to include pathogen health impacts. While most examples provided in this paper focus on water reuse, the findings apply more broadly and can also be extrapolated to other pathogen exposures in the context of urban water and sanitation systems as well as other contexts.

ACS Style

Robin Harder; Gregory M. Peters; Nicholas J. Ashbolt; Magdalena Svanström. Using quantitative microbial risk assessment and life cycle assessment to assess management options in urban water and sanitation infrastructures: Opportunities and unresolved issues. Microbial Risk Analysis 2017, 5, 71 -77.

AMA Style

Robin Harder, Gregory M. Peters, Nicholas J. Ashbolt, Magdalena Svanström. Using quantitative microbial risk assessment and life cycle assessment to assess management options in urban water and sanitation infrastructures: Opportunities and unresolved issues. Microbial Risk Analysis. 2017; 5 ():71-77.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Robin Harder; Gregory M. Peters; Nicholas J. Ashbolt; Magdalena Svanström. 2017. "Using quantitative microbial risk assessment and life cycle assessment to assess management options in urban water and sanitation infrastructures: Opportunities and unresolved issues." Microbial Risk Analysis 5, no. : 71-77.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2017 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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ACS Style

Claudio Di Iaconi; Guido Del Moro; Giorgio Bertanza; Matteo Canato; Giuseppe Laera; Sara Heimersson; Magdalena Svanström. Upgrading small wastewater treatment plants with the sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor technology: Techno-economic and environmental assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 148, 606 -615.

AMA Style

Claudio Di Iaconi, Guido Del Moro, Giorgio Bertanza, Matteo Canato, Giuseppe Laera, Sara Heimersson, Magdalena Svanström. Upgrading small wastewater treatment plants with the sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor technology: Techno-economic and environmental assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 148 ():606-615.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Claudio Di Iaconi; Guido Del Moro; Giorgio Bertanza; Matteo Canato; Giuseppe Laera; Sara Heimersson; Magdalena Svanström. 2017. "Upgrading small wastewater treatment plants with the sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor technology: Techno-economic and environmental assessment." Journal of Cleaner Production 148, no. : 606-615.

Journal article
Published: 07 February 2017 in Water Science and Technology
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To provide input to sewage sludge management strategies that address expected new regulations in terms of hygienisation and phosphorus recovery in Sweden, an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was made. The LCA identified environmental hot spots for methods that may permit sludge or phosphorus from sludge to be applied on agricultural land. In particular, thermophilic digestion, pasteurisation, thermal hydrolysis, urea treatment and mono-incineration with phosphorus recovery were compared. In addition, a sludge management system involving drying of sludge before use in forestry was investigated. The results showed that some major impacts are related to large uncertainties, such as those related to emissions from sludge storage. It also showed that large gains can be achieved when products from the systems replace other products, in particular when biogas is used to replace natural gas in vehicles, but also when sludge is used in agriculture and forestry. In general, there are small differences between the sludge management methods. Retaining the sludge matrix to allow for its utilisation in agriculture may conflict with keeping emissions to air and water from the sludge matrix low. It is recommended that any sludge management option minimises emissions from sludge to air and water and that resources are recovered and used, in line with the principles of a circular economy.

ACS Style

M. Svanström; S. Heimersson; Gregory Peters; Robin Harder; D. I'ons; A. Finnson; J. Olsson. Life cycle assessment of sludge management with phosphorus utilisation and improved hygienisation in Sweden. Water Science and Technology 2017, 75, 2013 -2024.

AMA Style

M. Svanström, S. Heimersson, Gregory Peters, Robin Harder, D. I'ons, A. Finnson, J. Olsson. Life cycle assessment of sludge management with phosphorus utilisation and improved hygienisation in Sweden. Water Science and Technology. 2017; 75 (9):2013-2024.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Svanström; S. Heimersson; Gregory Peters; Robin Harder; D. I'ons; A. Finnson; J. Olsson. 2017. "Life cycle assessment of sludge management with phosphorus utilisation and improved hygienisation in Sweden." Water Science and Technology 75, no. 9: 2013-2024.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2016 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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ACS Style

Sandra Roos; Bahareh Zamani; Gustav Sandin; Gregory Peters; Magdalena Svanström. A life cycle assessment (LCA)-based approach to guiding an industry sector towards sustainability: the case of the Swedish apparel sector. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 133, 691 -700.

AMA Style

Sandra Roos, Bahareh Zamani, Gustav Sandin, Gregory Peters, Magdalena Svanström. A life cycle assessment (LCA)-based approach to guiding an industry sector towards sustainability: the case of the Swedish apparel sector. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2016; 133 ():691-700.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sandra Roos; Bahareh Zamani; Gustav Sandin; Gregory Peters; Magdalena Svanström. 2016. "A life cycle assessment (LCA)-based approach to guiding an industry sector towards sustainability: the case of the Swedish apparel sector." Journal of Cleaner Production 133, no. : 691-700.

Journal article
Published: 09 July 2016 in Research in Science Education
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Wicked sustainability problems (WSPs) are an important and particularly challenging type of problem. Science and engineering education can play an important role in preparing students to deal with such problems, but current educational practice may not adequately prepare students to do so. We address this gap by providing insights related to students’ abilities to address WSPs. Specifically, we aim to (I) describe key constituents of engineering students’ approaches to a WSP, (II) evaluate these approaches in relation to the normative context of education for sustainable development (ESD), and (III) identify relevant aspects of learning related to WSPs. Aim I is addressed through a phenomenographic study, while aims II and III are addressed by relating the results to research literature about human problem solving, sustainable development, and ESD. We describe four qualitatively different ways of approaching a specific WSP, as the outcome of the phenomenographic study: A. Simplify and avoid, B. Divide and control, C. Isolate and succumb, and D. Integrate and balance. We identify approach D as the most appropriate approach in the context of ESD, while A and C are not. On this basis, we identify three learning objectives related to students’ abilities to address WSPs: learn to use a fully integrative approach, distinguish WSPs from tame and well-structured problems, and understand and consider the normative context of SD. Finally, we provide recommendations for how these learning objectives can be used to guide the design of science and engineering educational activities.

ACS Style

Johanna Lönngren; Åke Ingerman; Magdalena Svanström. Avoid, Control, Succumb, or Balance: Engineering Students’ Approaches to a Wicked Sustainability Problem. Research in Science Education 2016, 47, 805 -831.

AMA Style

Johanna Lönngren, Åke Ingerman, Magdalena Svanström. Avoid, Control, Succumb, or Balance: Engineering Students’ Approaches to a Wicked Sustainability Problem. Research in Science Education. 2016; 47 (4):805-831.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Johanna Lönngren; Åke Ingerman; Magdalena Svanström. 2016. "Avoid, Control, Succumb, or Balance: Engineering Students’ Approaches to a Wicked Sustainability Problem." Research in Science Education 47, no. 4: 805-831.

Book chapter
Published: 24 June 2016 in World Sustainability Series
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The chemical engineering programme at Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg, Sweden, has had compulsory courses on environmental science, environmental engineering and sustainable development (SD) at bachelor level for many years. This paper reports on curriculum development projects performed in 2013 and 2014 aimed at improving the quality of the program curriculum with regard to the compulsory content on ‘environment and SD’ and on experiences of planning a new course that was developed as a result of these projects: Perspectives on chemical engineering. The curriculum development projects contrasted the existing curriculum to syllabi from upper secondary school, to needs expressed by industry, alumni and engineering students, and to state-of-the-art engineering education for SD, and ended up in, among other things, ideas to be implemented in a new course in the first year. The new course focuses on introducing chemical engineering and the professional role of the chemical engineer, and developing change agency for SD. The new course was given for the first time in late spring 2015. In the course, the students are doing a smaller individual change project in which they change something in their daily life for a week and assess the impact and reflect on the challenges in making the change. They also do a larger group project in which they make a sustainability assessment of a considered sustainability-motivated change in chemical industry, including reflecting on the challenges of achieving change. Industry representatives help to guide the students in the project. The course also introduces basic concepts and tools like life cycle perspective, mass balances, biorefinery and industrial symbiosis. Special care was put into attempting to constructively align teaching and learning activities and assessment to the overall goal of developing students’ change agency for SD.

ACS Style

Magdalena Svanström. Developing Change Agency for Sustainable Development—Experiences from a New Chemical Engineering Course. World Sustainability Series 2016, 295 -307.

AMA Style

Magdalena Svanström. Developing Change Agency for Sustainable Development—Experiences from a New Chemical Engineering Course. World Sustainability Series. 2016; ():295-307.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magdalena Svanström. 2016. "Developing Change Agency for Sustainable Development—Experiences from a New Chemical Engineering Course." World Sustainability Series , no. : 295-307.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2016 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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As life cycle assessments are often conducted to provide decision support, it is important that impact assessment methodology is consistent with the intended decision context. The currently most used climate impact assessment metric, the global warming potential, and how it is applied in life cycle assessments, has for example been criticised for insufficiently accounting for carbon sequestration, carbon stored in long-lived products and timing of emission. The aim of this study is to evaluate how practitioners assess the climate impact of forest products and the implications of method choice for results and decision-making. To identify current common practices, we reviewed climate impact assessment practices in 101 life cycle assessments of forest products. We then applied identified common practices in case studies comparing the climate impact of a forest-based and a non-forest-based fuel and building, respectively, and compared the outcomes with outcomes of applying alternative, non-established practices. Results indicate that current common practices exclude most of the dynamic features of carbon uptake and storage as well as the climate impact from indirect land use change, aerosols and changed albedo. The case studies demonstrate that the inclusion of such aspects could influence results considerably, both positively and negatively. Ignoring aspects could thus have important implications for the decision support. The product life cycle stages with greatest climate impact reduction potential might not be identified, product comparisons might favour the less preferable product and policy instruments might support the development and use of inefficient climate impact reduction strategies.

ACS Style

Frida Røyne; Diego Peñaloza; Gustav Sandin; Johanna Berlin; Magdalena Svanström. Climate impact assessment in life cycle assessments of forest products: implications of method choice for results and decision-making. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 116, 90 -99.

AMA Style

Frida Røyne, Diego Peñaloza, Gustav Sandin, Johanna Berlin, Magdalena Svanström. Climate impact assessment in life cycle assessments of forest products: implications of method choice for results and decision-making. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2016; 116 ():90-99.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Frida Røyne; Diego Peñaloza; Gustav Sandin; Johanna Berlin; Magdalena Svanström. 2016. "Climate impact assessment in life cycle assessments of forest products: implications of method choice for results and decision-making." Journal of Cleaner Production 116, no. : 90-99.

Journal article
Published: 17 February 2016 in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
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Energy use is a common impact category in life cycle assessment (LCA). Many different energy use indicators are used in LCA studies, accounting for energy use in different ways. Often, however, the choice of the energy use indicator applied is poorly described and motivated. To contribute to a more purposeful selection of energy use indicators and to ensure consistent and transparent reporting of energy use in LCA, a general framework for energy use indicator construction and reporting in LCA studies will be presented in this paper. The framework differentiates between (1) renewable and non-renewable energies, (2) primary and secondary energies, and (3) energy intended for energy purposes versus energy intended for material purposes. This framework is described both graphically and mathematically. Furthermore, the framework is illustrated by applying it to a number of energy use indicators that are frequently used in LCA studies: cumulative energy demand (CED), non-renewable cumulative energy demand (NRCED), fossil energy use (FEU), primary fossil energy use (PFEU), and secondary energy use (SEU). To illustrate how the application of different energy use indicators may lead to different results, cradle-to-gate energy use of the bio-nanomaterial cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) is assessed using five different indicators and showing a factor of three differences between the highest and lowest results. The relevance of different energy use indicators to different actors and contexts will be discussed, and further developments of the framework are then suggested. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

ACS Style

Rickard Arvidsson; Magdalena Svanström. A framework for energy use indicators and their reporting in life cycle assessment. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 2016, 12, 429 -436.

AMA Style

Rickard Arvidsson, Magdalena Svanström. A framework for energy use indicators and their reporting in life cycle assessment. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. 2016; 12 (3):429-436.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rickard Arvidsson; Magdalena Svanström. 2016. "A framework for energy use indicators and their reporting in life cycle assessment." Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 12, no. 3: 429-436.

Book
Published: 01 January 2016 in SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science
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ACS Style

Gustav Sandin; Greg M. Peters; Magdalena Svanström. Life Cycle Assessment of Forest Products. SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science 2016, 1 .

AMA Style

Gustav Sandin, Greg M. Peters, Magdalena Svanström. Life Cycle Assessment of Forest Products. SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science. 2016; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gustav Sandin; Greg M. Peters; Magdalena Svanström. 2016. "Life Cycle Assessment of Forest Products." SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2016 in Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering
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This paper discusses how the fate of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in wastewater and sludge management affects the environmental performance as it may easily be shifted from a resource to a problem and vice versa. The paper explores the impact of some variations in wastewater treatment technology with resulting shifts of elements between forms and media. To this end, life cycle assessment (LCA) results were calculated for a model municipal wastewater treatment plant with primary settling and secondary treatment, and anaerobic digestion of mixed primary and secondary sludge and subsequent use of the sludge in agriculture (baseline scenario). The effect of changing plant operation to increase nitrogen removal and to add also phosphorus control was studied, using data from mass and energy balances. Further, the paper shows that how data for many flows containing nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon is selected in LCA within ranges found in literature may have a large influence on the results. This effect was studied by varying the flows in the baseline scenario between high and low values found in literature. It was shown that LCA results are considerably affected by both considered operational changes and by assumptions on the magnitudes of some flows. The paper argues that more careful consideration of flows of these elements should be made in the operation of wastewater treatment plants and in selection of data in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies.

ACS Style

Magdalena Svanström; Giuseppe Laera; Sara Heimersson. Problem or Resource - Why It Is Important For the Environment to Keep Track of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Carbon in Wastewater and Sludge Management. Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering 2016, 5, 1 .

AMA Style

Magdalena Svanström, Giuseppe Laera, Sara Heimersson. Problem or Resource - Why It Is Important For the Environment to Keep Track of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Carbon in Wastewater and Sludge Management. Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering. 2016; 5 (6):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magdalena Svanström; Giuseppe Laera; Sara Heimersson. 2016. "Problem or Resource - Why It Is Important For the Environment to Keep Track of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Carbon in Wastewater and Sludge Management." Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering 5, no. 6: 1.