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Wouter M.J. Achten
Institute for Environmental Management and Land-use Planning, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue. F.D. Roosevelt 50, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

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Journal article
Published: 09 February 2021 in Sustainable Production and Consumption
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The Circular Economy (CE) has been suggested as an alternative to the traditional linear model of production, consumption, and disposal. It implies a minimisation of raw material consumption and emission, and that end-of-life materials are treated as resources rather than waste. However, the potential benefits and burdens of CE strategies at the national and subnational levels are not well understood. This paper assesses the potential environmental pressures of implementing a CE intervention (CEI) in Belgium, Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia. The CEI include Delayed Replacement (DR), Reuse, Repair, Remanufacturing (3R), Use Intensification (UI), Design Improvement (DI) and Sharing. We apply the unique multiregional hybrid input-output tables at Belgian subnational level that we developed for 2011. Implementing exogenous technology and household consumption changes, we assess the environmental pressures of implementing CEI, by comparing the pressures occurring in the business-as-usual scenario to those occurring in a counterfactual CE scenario. The results show that the implementation of CEI in Belgium, Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia could lead to a net decrease of pressures in each region and overseas, with the highest reduction in Europe. Except for DR, all interventions could lead to impact reduction, with 3R and UI showing the highest environmental performance. Our results constitute novelties providing substantial insights for CE policies implications. It is meaningful to embed well-attuned climate change, resource supply risks, and waste generation considerations into CE policies. Moreover, the interdependencies between countries/regions worldwide calls for concerted efforts to tackle environmental pressures geared towards a transition to a CE. Lastly, we also intend to foster raising attention and inspiration of practitioners and policymakers. The former with regard to developing more CE scenario analyses at different geographic scales. The latter with regard to integrate the CE considerations into foreign policies.

ACS Style

Edgar Towa; Vanessa Zeller; Wouter M.J. Achten. Circular economy scenario modelling using a multiregional hybrid input-output model: The case of Belgium and its regions. Sustainable Production and Consumption 2021, 27, 889 -904.

AMA Style

Edgar Towa, Vanessa Zeller, Wouter M.J. Achten. Circular economy scenario modelling using a multiregional hybrid input-output model: The case of Belgium and its regions. Sustainable Production and Consumption. 2021; 27 ():889-904.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Edgar Towa; Vanessa Zeller; Wouter M.J. Achten. 2021. "Circular economy scenario modelling using a multiregional hybrid input-output model: The case of Belgium and its regions." Sustainable Production and Consumption 27, no. : 889-904.

Journal article
Published: 11 April 2020 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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The territorial life cycle assessment (tLCA) framework was recently developed to support land-use planning at the territorial scale. However, it still faces challenges in terms of its application. This research responds to the need for integrating a geographical information system (GIS) tool into the tLCA framework, which has not yet been operationalised in the framework. This article aims to contribute to harmonising the link between tLCA and GIS at the inventory phase. In specific, we propose to introduce the concept of “territorial Emission Factor (tEF)” in the inventory phase of the current tLCA framework so that emissions can be calculated directly from land-use planning, which can be expressed as spatial data using GIS. A case study of maize land use in the Walloon region (South region in Belgium) is implemented to prove the concept for agricultural territories. Besides the benefit of linking GIS in tLCA, the results show that tEF can serve as an informative indicator, revealing territorial differences and identify hotspots in input inventory. The case study calculates tEF at the subnational level using open-access data, which shows one possibility to discriminate tEF for European countries. The data selection for the case study is mainly based on an analysis of the methods and data sources used in the existing life cycle inventory databases for the agricultural sector. This practice contributes to increasing transparency and comparability of the results. It reveals a possibility to fill the data gap with existing open-access data when the inventory for the agricultural territory at subnational is not available. In sum, this study 1) develops the concept of tEF to facilitate tLCA operationalisation with GIS 2) conducts a case study to demonstrate the utilisation of tEF in tLCA, and 3) explores the possibility of discriminating tEF over European countries for agricultural sector through open-access data.

ACS Style

Tianran Ding; Stéphane Bourrelly; Wouter M.J. Achten. Operationalising territorial life cycle inventory through the development of territorial emission factor for European agricultural land use. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 263, 121565 .

AMA Style

Tianran Ding, Stéphane Bourrelly, Wouter M.J. Achten. Operationalising territorial life cycle inventory through the development of territorial emission factor for European agricultural land use. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 263 ():121565.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tianran Ding; Stéphane Bourrelly; Wouter M.J. Achten. 2020. "Operationalising territorial life cycle inventory through the development of territorial emission factor for European agricultural land use." Journal of Cleaner Production 263, no. : 121565.

Journal article
Published: 28 February 2020 in Sustainability
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This study applies a life cycle assessment (LCA) to the shared dockless standing e-scooter system that is established in Brussels. The results are given for four impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), particulate matter formation, mineral resource, and fossil resource scarcity. Regarding GWP, the use of the shared e-scooters in the current system causes 131 g of CO2-eq. per passenger-kilometer while the mode of transportation displaced has an impact of 110 g of CO2-eq. Thus, at present, the use of e-scooters shows a higher impact than the transportation modes they replace. The high results for the shared e-scooter, in terms of GWP, are mainly caused by the short lifespan of the shared e-scooter. Nevertheless, as the market further matures, the lifespan of e-scooters could increase and the impact per kilometer travelled could decrease accordingly. Regarding the use of the personal e-scooter, the LCA results show an impact of around 67 g of CO2-eq. This study quantifies the LC impacts of the current situation based on local, ‘real-life’ data. However, potential changes on soft mobility patterns induced by the use-oriented product-service system (PSS), such as a shared e-scooter system, could not be quantified.

ACS Style

Hélie Moreau; Loïc De Jamblinne De Meux; Vanessa Zeller; Pierre D’Ans; Coline Ruwet; Wouter M.J. Achten. Dockless E-Scooter: A Green Solution for Mobility? Comparative Case Study between Dockless E-Scooters, Displaced Transport, and Personal E-Scooters. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1803 .

AMA Style

Hélie Moreau, Loïc De Jamblinne De Meux, Vanessa Zeller, Pierre D’Ans, Coline Ruwet, Wouter M.J. Achten. Dockless E-Scooter: A Green Solution for Mobility? Comparative Case Study between Dockless E-Scooters, Displaced Transport, and Personal E-Scooters. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (5):1803.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hélie Moreau; Loïc De Jamblinne De Meux; Vanessa Zeller; Pierre D’Ans; Coline Ruwet; Wouter M.J. Achten. 2020. "Dockless E-Scooter: A Green Solution for Mobility? Comparative Case Study between Dockless E-Scooters, Displaced Transport, and Personal E-Scooters." Sustainability 12, no. 5: 1803.

Review article
Published: 21 November 2019 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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We analyze 78 case studies that applied an input-output (IO) model for waste management analyses. We categorize all IO models into four types (waste extended IO (WEIO), waste IO (WIO), physical IO (PIO) and hybrid IO (HIO)). We then define each model within a waste analysis framework, and carry out a bibliometric analysis. Our comparative analysis is twofold. Firstly, to compare the models conceptually, we analyze and discuss three characteristics of the models – the units of intersectoral flows, the modelling of waste and the relation with mass balance principle. Secondly, we analyze and discuss six criteria pertaining to the functionalities of the models, – the waste generation accounting, the purpose of the modelling, the geographical scale, the temporal dimension, the coupling of the IO models with other methods and the level of details of waste treatment sectors and waste types. Our findings are fourfold. First, there is increasing interest in assessing waste management policies with IO models; WIO models are the most applied ones, followed by WEIO models; PIO models are the least widely applied. Second, WIO models have the most mature analytical framework, and HIO models are conceptually the most powerful. Third, there is no cause-effect link between the conceptual characteristics and the functionalities of IO models. The IO models have been widely used for diverse applications in waste management at economy-wide level, but there is potential for several other applications. Fourth, the main limitation of all models is data related: future efforts should include more effective monitoring and collection of physical IO data and waste data, as well as the development of methods for consistent data mining.

ACS Style

Edgar Towa; Vanessa Zeller; Wouter M.J. Achten. Input-output models and waste management analysis: A critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production 2019, 249, 119359 .

AMA Style

Edgar Towa, Vanessa Zeller, Wouter M.J. Achten. Input-output models and waste management analysis: A critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019; 249 ():119359.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Edgar Towa; Vanessa Zeller; Wouter M.J. Achten. 2019. "Input-output models and waste management analysis: A critical review." Journal of Cleaner Production 249, no. : 119359.

Journal article
Published: 19 November 2019 in Agricultural Systems
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While the idea of using insect based feeds (IBFs) offers great potential, especially in developing countries, the environmental impact of implementation remains poorly researched. This study investigates the environmental performance of IBF production in the geographical context of West Africa. Drawing on published life cycle inventory (LCIs) data, the impact of three different IBF production systems were ex-ante evaluated (ReCiPe method) and compared to conventional feed resources. The explorative life cycle study provides a basis for trade-off analysis between different insect rearing systems (Musca domestica and Hermetia illucens) and provides insights on the environmental performance of IBF in comparison with conventional animal- and plant based protein feeds (fishmeal, cottonseed and soybean meal). The impacts of IBFs were shown to be largely determined by rearing techniques and the environmental loads of rearing substrates, attesting advantages to the rearing of housefly (M. domestica) larvae on chicken manure and the use of natural oviposition, i.e., substrate inoculation through naturally occurring flies. A comparison with conventional feeds pointed out the environmental disadvantages of current IBF production designs (especially in comparison to plant based feeds) that were largely attributable to their different position in the trophic network (decomposers) and the systems’ sub-standard capacity utilisation (insufficient economy of scale effect). When larvae are reared on substrates of low economic value (i.e., waste streams), IBF impacts were comparable to fishmeal. The results of the comparative assessment also highlighted a methodological limitation in the ReCiPe method, which does not account for impacts related to the use of biotic resources. As a consequence, the utilization of naturally grown resources, such as wild anchoveta, was treated as an ecosystem service of no environmental charge, providing disproportionate advantages to the fishmeal system.

ACS Style

Martin Roffeis; Elaine C. Fitches; Maureen E. Wakefield; Joana Almeida; Tatiana R. Alves Valada; Emilie Devic; N’Golopé Koné; Marc Kenis; Saidou Nacambo; Gabriel K.D. Koko; Erik Mathijs; Wouter M.J. Achten; Bart Muys. Ex-ante life cycle impact assessment of insect based feed production in West Africa. Agricultural Systems 2019, 178, 102710 .

AMA Style

Martin Roffeis, Elaine C. Fitches, Maureen E. Wakefield, Joana Almeida, Tatiana R. Alves Valada, Emilie Devic, N’Golopé Koné, Marc Kenis, Saidou Nacambo, Gabriel K.D. Koko, Erik Mathijs, Wouter M.J. Achten, Bart Muys. Ex-ante life cycle impact assessment of insect based feed production in West Africa. Agricultural Systems. 2019; 178 ():102710.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martin Roffeis; Elaine C. Fitches; Maureen E. Wakefield; Joana Almeida; Tatiana R. Alves Valada; Emilie Devic; N’Golopé Koné; Marc Kenis; Saidou Nacambo; Gabriel K.D. Koko; Erik Mathijs; Wouter M.J. Achten; Bart Muys. 2019. "Ex-ante life cycle impact assessment of insect based feed production in West Africa." Agricultural Systems 178, no. : 102710.

Journal article
Published: 12 November 2018 in Waste Management
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To enable cities to become more circular, i.e. close material cycles, decision-makers need detailed data about the production and treatment of waste. At city level, conventional statistics on waste are often incomplete or lack detail. Waste input-output accounting offers an alternative, using waste supply and use tables to create detailed inventories of economy-wide flows of waste. In this study we develop such tables for the city-region of Brussels (Belgium) and use them to analyse the urban waste metabolism in terms of waste flows, waste production intensity and waste treatment performance. The waste flow analysis revealed: the amount of collected waste; the proportion contributed by individual sectors; the material composition of waste flows and the location of treatment. Currently, around 50% of the 1.5 million tons of waste collected in Brussels is treated in local facilities. However, less than 1% of the collected waste is used in a way that closes material cycles within city limits. The waste performance analysis reveals that the construction sector had the highest waste production intensity and the household sector the highest incineration intensity. In terms of waste prevention and local valorisation potential, we identified flows and sectors for future targeting, one of the most promising being food waste. We conclude that the urban context can restrict the local valorisation of waste flows, thus we see the role of cities such as Brussels in a circular economy as mainly contributing to the closing of material cycles at national or even global level.

ACS Style

Vanessa Zeller; Edgar Towa; Marc Degrez; Wouter M.J. Achten. Urban waste flows and their potential for a circular economy model at city-region level. Waste Management 2018, 83, 83 -94.

AMA Style

Vanessa Zeller, Edgar Towa, Marc Degrez, Wouter M.J. Achten. Urban waste flows and their potential for a circular economy model at city-region level. Waste Management. 2018; 83 ():83-94.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vanessa Zeller; Edgar Towa; Marc Degrez; Wouter M.J. Achten. 2018. "Urban waste flows and their potential for a circular economy model at city-region level." Waste Management 83, no. : 83-94.

Journal article
Published: 25 July 2018 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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While there is a growing body of research investigating the technical feasibility and nutritional properties of insect based feeds (IBFs), thus far little attention has been devoted to gauge the economic implications of implementation. This study has investigated the economic performance of ex-ante modelled IBF production systems operating in the geographical context of West Africa. A Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis of recently published life cycle inventory (LCI) data served as a basis to analyse and compare the economic performances of IBF production systems using Musca domestica and Hermetia illucens reared on different substrates. To gauge the application potential of IBF in West Africa, estimated breakeven sale prices of IBFs were benchmarked against the customary market prices of conventional feeds. The results show that the economic performance of IBF production in West Africa is largely determined by the costs attributed to labour and the procurement of rearing substrates, attesting economic advantages to the production of M. domestica larvae by measure of breakeven price (1.28–1.74 EUR/kg IBF) and LCC (1.72–1.99 EUR/kg IBF). A comparison of the breakeven sale prices of IBF with market prices of conventional feeds suggest that IBF has potential to substitute imported fishmeal, but findings offer no support for conjectured economic advantages over plant based feeds.

ACS Style

Martin Roffeis; Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield; Joana Almeida; Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada; Emilie Devic; N'golopé Koné; Marc Kenis; Saidou Nacambo; Elaine Charlotte Fitches; Gabriel K.D. Koko; Erik Mathijs; Wouter M.J. Achten; Bart Muys. Life cycle cost assessment of insect based feed production in West Africa. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 199, 792 -806.

AMA Style

Martin Roffeis, Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield, Joana Almeida, Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada, Emilie Devic, N'golopé Koné, Marc Kenis, Saidou Nacambo, Elaine Charlotte Fitches, Gabriel K.D. Koko, Erik Mathijs, Wouter M.J. Achten, Bart Muys. Life cycle cost assessment of insect based feed production in West Africa. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 199 ():792-806.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martin Roffeis; Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield; Joana Almeida; Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada; Emilie Devic; N'golopé Koné; Marc Kenis; Saidou Nacambo; Elaine Charlotte Fitches; Gabriel K.D. Koko; Erik Mathijs; Wouter M.J. Achten; Bart Muys. 2018. "Life cycle cost assessment of insect based feed production in West Africa." Journal of Cleaner Production 199, no. : 792-806.

Article
Published: 20 March 2018 in Environmental Management
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Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become a common methodology to analyze environmental impacts of forestry systems. Although LCA has been widely applied to forestry since the 90s, the LCAs are still often based on generic Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). With the purpose of improving LCA practices in the forestry sector, we developed a European Life Cycle Inventory of Forestry Operations (EFO-LCI) and analyzed the available information to check if within the European forestry sector national differences really exist. We classified the European forests on the basis of “Forest Units” (combinations of tree species and silvicultural practices). For each Forest Unit, we constructed the LCI of their forest management practices on the basis of a questionnaire filled out by national silvicultural experts. We analyzed the data reported to evaluate how they vary over Europe and how they affect LCA results and made freely available the inventory data collected for future use. The study shows important variability in rotation length, type of regeneration, amount and assortments of wood products harvested, and machinery used due to the differences in management practices. The existing variability on these activities sensibly affect LCA results of forestry practices and raw wood production. Although it is practically unfeasible to collect site-specific data for all the LCAs involving forest-based products, the use of less generic LCI data of forestry practice is desirable to improve the reliability of the studies. With the release of EFO-LCI we made a step toward the construction of regionalized LCI for the European forestry sector.

ACS Style

Giuseppe Cardellini; Tatiana Valada; Claire Cornillier; Estelle Vial; Marian Dragoi; Venceslas Goudiaby; Volker Mues; Bruno Lasserre; Arkadiusz Gruchała; Per Kristian Rørstad; Mathias Neumann; Miroslav Svoboda; Risto Sirgmets; Olli-Pekka Näsärö; Frits Mohren; Wouter M. J. Achten; Liesbet Vranken; Bart Muys. EFO-LCI: A New Life Cycle Inventory Database of Forestry Operations in Europe. Environmental Management 2018, 61, 1031 -1047.

AMA Style

Giuseppe Cardellini, Tatiana Valada, Claire Cornillier, Estelle Vial, Marian Dragoi, Venceslas Goudiaby, Volker Mues, Bruno Lasserre, Arkadiusz Gruchała, Per Kristian Rørstad, Mathias Neumann, Miroslav Svoboda, Risto Sirgmets, Olli-Pekka Näsärö, Frits Mohren, Wouter M. J. Achten, Liesbet Vranken, Bart Muys. EFO-LCI: A New Life Cycle Inventory Database of Forestry Operations in Europe. Environmental Management. 2018; 61 (6):1031-1047.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppe Cardellini; Tatiana Valada; Claire Cornillier; Estelle Vial; Marian Dragoi; Venceslas Goudiaby; Volker Mues; Bruno Lasserre; Arkadiusz Gruchała; Per Kristian Rørstad; Mathias Neumann; Miroslav Svoboda; Risto Sirgmets; Olli-Pekka Näsärö; Frits Mohren; Wouter M. J. Achten; Liesbet Vranken; Bart Muys. 2018. "EFO-LCI: A New Life Cycle Inventory Database of Forestry Operations in Europe." Environmental Management 61, no. 6: 1031-1047.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in Procedia CIRP
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The development of material flow accounting and environmental impact assessment models to evaluate production and consumption activities is a challenge at the regional level due to the restricted availability of regional data, especially waste data. However, the regional context is often required, for example for the development and evaluation of regional circular economy programs for which waste generation and valorization plays a key role. In this research, we present an approach to develop regional waste supply and use tables based on regional waste statistics and national input-output tables. The results show that this method is well suited to quantify waste generation from households, but it is more difficult to implement for waste generation from urban economic activities where production and waste intensities deviate from the national average. The comparison between regional statistics and calculated waste extensions indicates that regional statistics could underestimate certain waste flows which are important for the circular economy context, such as metal, glass and inert waste. Such uncertainties can be reduced by developing more complete and reliable bottom-up waste data and physical/hybrid tables where full mass balance checks can be carried out. However, the results demonstrate that it is possible to develop a coherent framework at city-regional scale that integrates material/waste flow accounting and impact assessment of production and consumption.

ACS Style

Vanessa Zeller; Edgar Towa; Marc Degrez; Wouter M.J. Achten. Integration of Waste Supply and Use Data into Regional Footprints: Case Study on the Generation and Use of Waste from Consumption and Production Activities in Brussels. Procedia CIRP 2018, 69, 100 -105.

AMA Style

Vanessa Zeller, Edgar Towa, Marc Degrez, Wouter M.J. Achten. Integration of Waste Supply and Use Data into Regional Footprints: Case Study on the Generation and Use of Waste from Consumption and Production Activities in Brussels. Procedia CIRP. 2018; 69 ():100-105.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vanessa Zeller; Edgar Towa; Marc Degrez; Wouter M.J. Achten. 2018. "Integration of Waste Supply and Use Data into Regional Footprints: Case Study on the Generation and Use of Waste from Consumption and Production Activities in Brussels." Procedia CIRP 69, no. : 100-105.

Journal article
Published: 22 September 2017 in Sustainability
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While the concept of insect based feeds (IBFs) promises great potential, especially in developing countries, the sustainability performance of IBF production remains widely underexplored. Drawing on experimental data from rearing trials in West Africa, three different insect production systems were modelled ex-ante. The generic models served as a basis to analyse and compare the process performances of different IBF production systems using Musca domestica and Hermetia illucens reared on different substrates. The results show that the input efficiency in the production of IBF is largely determined by the quality of rearing substrates, the larval development time and the employed inoculation practises, i.e., the method by which eggs or larvae are added to rearing substrates. The H. illucens system ranked highest for conversion efficiency (substrate input per IBF output), but showed substantially higher inputs in labour, fossil energy and output of wastewater. M. domestica systems operated at lower conversion efficiencies, which resulted in higher outputs of residue substrates, together with higher emissions, land requirements, built infrastructure and water. By offering full disclosure of generic inventory data, this study provides data and inspiration for prospect research and development activities and offers a reference to future life cycle assessments (LCAs) on IBF.

ACS Style

Martin Roffeis; Joana Almeida; Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield; Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada; Emilie Devic; N’Golopé Koné; Marc Kenis; Saidou Nacambo; Elaine Charlotte Fitches; Gabriel K. D. Koko; Erik Mathijs; Wouter M. J. Achten; Bart Muys. Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of Prospective Insect Based Feed Production in West Africa. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1697 .

AMA Style

Martin Roffeis, Joana Almeida, Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield, Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada, Emilie Devic, N’Golopé Koné, Marc Kenis, Saidou Nacambo, Elaine Charlotte Fitches, Gabriel K. D. Koko, Erik Mathijs, Wouter M. J. Achten, Bart Muys. Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of Prospective Insect Based Feed Production in West Africa. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (10):1697.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martin Roffeis; Joana Almeida; Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield; Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada; Emilie Devic; N’Golopé Koné; Marc Kenis; Saidou Nacambo; Elaine Charlotte Fitches; Gabriel K. D. Koko; Erik Mathijs; Wouter M. J. Achten; Bart Muys. 2017. "Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of Prospective Insect Based Feed Production in West Africa." Sustainability 9, no. 10: 1697.

Review
Published: 19 June 2017 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
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In addition to the Guidelines for the social life-cycle assessment of products (S-LCA) (Benoît and Mazijn 2009), there are several other methodological frameworks in this field. In recent S-LCA literature reviews, much attention has been paid to how performances or impacts should be or are measured (i.e., life-cycle impact assessment) in existing S-LCA studies. In this review, we focus on what is measured (i.e., assessment criteria and indicators [C&I]) and on the definition and selection of these C&I. We conduct a review of existing S-LCA frameworks in order to understand (i) the origin, selection, and applicability of C&I; (ii) the purpose of the assessment and the assessed phenomena as reflected in the indicators; and (iii) the scope of C&I of the topics, life-cycle stages, and stakeholders. Based on our review, we identify 14 distinct S-LCA frameworks, for which we propose a classification according to the rationale behind the definition and selection of C&I: value-based, context-oriented, theory-structured, impact-based, and applicability-oriented. While authors of the frameworks agree with the purpose of supporting decision-making, the assessed phenomena are quite diverse among the frameworks. However, given the mixed character of the indicators, we cannot draw a clear line between frameworks assessing practices or performances and frameworks assessing effects or impacts. Lastly, our review highlights the uneven coverage of the stakeholder, life-cycle stages and topics in the S-LCA frameworks and confirms that the use stage and the relations between value chain actors receive less attention than the production stage. Our comparative review not only confirms the diverse nature of S-LCA frameworks but also highlights their specificities, common features, and potential areas for improvement. We encourage the use of assessment criteria that are legitimate and meaningful for stakeholders. In addition, given the S-LCA promise to provide a holistic assessment, the variables included should be envisaged as elements of a product system and that must be branded according to their position in relation to other elements. In addition, we recommend for LCIA the combination of type I and type II assessment, including further research on impact pathways, that could link these meaningful and legitimate criteria with further impacts and related stressors in order to strengthen the capacity of S-LCA to contribute to sustainability management.

ACS Style

Solène Sureau; Bernard Mazijn; Sara Russo Garrido; Wouter M. J. Achten. Social life-cycle assessment frameworks: a review of criteria and indicators proposed to assess social and socioeconomic impacts. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2017, 23, 904 -920.

AMA Style

Solène Sureau, Bernard Mazijn, Sara Russo Garrido, Wouter M. J. Achten. Social life-cycle assessment frameworks: a review of criteria and indicators proposed to assess social and socioeconomic impacts. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2017; 23 (4):904-920.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Solène Sureau; Bernard Mazijn; Sara Russo Garrido; Wouter M. J. Achten. 2017. "Social life-cycle assessment frameworks: a review of criteria and indicators proposed to assess social and socioeconomic impacts." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 23, no. 4: 904-920.

Journal article
Published: 28 October 2016 in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
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The main aim of the study is to assess the environmental and economic impacts of the lodging sector located in the Himalayan region of Nepal, from a life cycle perspective. The assessment should support decision making in technology and material selection for minimal environmental and economic burden in future construction projects. The study consists of the life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of lodging in three building types: traditional, semi-modern and modern. The life cycle stages under analysis include raw material acquisition, manufacturing, construction, use, maintenance and material replacement. The study includes a sensitivity analysis focusing on the lifespan of buildings, occupancy rate and discount and inflation rates. The functional unit was formulated as the ‘Lodging of one additional guest per night’, and the time horizon is 50 years of building lifespan. Both primary and secondary data were used in the life cycle inventory. The modern building has the highest global warming potential (kg CO2-eq) as well as higher costs over 50 years of building lifespan. The results show that the use stage is responsible for the largest share of environmental impacts and costs, which are related to energy use for different household activities. The use of commercial materials in the modern building, which have to be transported mostly from the capital in the buildings, makes the higher GWP in the construction and replacement stages. Furthermore, a breakdown of the building components shows that the roof and wall of the building are the largest contributors to the production-related environmental impact. The findings suggest that the main improvement opportunities in the lodging sector lie in the reduction of impacts on the use stage and in the choice of materials for wall and roof.

ACS Style

Silu Bhochhibhoya; Massimo Pizzol; Wouter M. J. Achten; Ramesh Kumar Maskey; Michela Zanetti; Raffaele Cavalli. Comparative life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of lodging in the Himalaya. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2016, 22, 1851 -1863.

AMA Style

Silu Bhochhibhoya, Massimo Pizzol, Wouter M. J. Achten, Ramesh Kumar Maskey, Michela Zanetti, Raffaele Cavalli. Comparative life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of lodging in the Himalaya. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2016; 22 (11):1851-1863.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silu Bhochhibhoya; Massimo Pizzol; Wouter M. J. Achten; Ramesh Kumar Maskey; Michela Zanetti; Raffaele Cavalli. 2016. "Comparative life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of lodging in the Himalaya." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 22, no. 11: 1851-1863.

Review
Published: 13 July 2016
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Urban agriculture (UA) is increasingly proposed as an environmentally friendly answer to global challenges including urbanization, public health, food security and climate change. We provide an overview of present evidence of ecosystem services delivered by UA that could potentially increase the sustainability of the urban ecosystem, including the often claimed reduced greenhouse gas emissions. There is general agreement that UA is important for local food production, especially in the south; that UA has a role in regulating green and blue water flows, organic waste flows and pollination; and that UA has important socio-cultural values, including an improved quality of city life and increased local community capacity. There is some evidence that UA may also improve human health because of dietary changes in certain social classes, but these are potentially confounded by environmental pollution in the city. Quantitative evidence is very limited for all ecosystem services, but the available data nevertheless suggests that the overall food productivity and the total reductions in greenhouse gas emission are low at global or city-wide scale despite the fact that UA has potential strong effects on food security at the local scale. The current eagerness of industrialized cities to integrate UA into their food policies as an approach to become “climate neutral” or to rely on ecosystem services to become more resilient calls for life cycle assessment studies that accurately quantify emission reductions and other urban ecosystem services of urban agriculture.

ACS Style

Raf Aerts; Valérie Dewaelheyns; Wouter M J Achten. Potential ecosystem services of urban agriculture: a review. 2016, 1 .

AMA Style

Raf Aerts, Valérie Dewaelheyns, Wouter M J Achten. Potential ecosystem services of urban agriculture: a review. . 2016; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Raf Aerts; Valérie Dewaelheyns; Wouter M J Achten. 2016. "Potential ecosystem services of urban agriculture: a review." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2016 in Biomass and Bioenergy
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Jatropha was identified as a potential feedstock to satisfy off-grid and on-grid energy solutions. However, the potential has been questioned due to agronomic frustrations, the lack of an organized value chain and heavy criticism on biofuels due to emissions triggered by land use change (LUC). To contribute to the realistic integration of Jatropha in rural development, this article proposes a modeling approach to probe the feasibility of Jatropha-based electrification in rural Africa and the layout of such a value chain. A multi-component modeling setup is presented, featuring a life cycle inventory, spatial modeling and the optimization model, OPTIMASS. In this modeling setup, OPTIMASS is parameterized with data regarding the global warming potential and the potential location of each operation in the value chain including cultivation sites and related LUC emissions. This enables OPTIMASS to spatially design the Jatropha-based on-grid and off-grid electrification value chain (i.e. cultivation, transport and storage, biofuel production and electricity generation) in Southern Mali with minimal GWP to reach 10% substitution of fossil fuels for Jatropha in electricity production for a current and two future electricity demand scenarios. Analysis of the optimization results demonstrates that emissions from transporting the oil are lower than LUC emissions per harvestable seed of other sites. Finally, it can be said that harnessing the entirety of the Jatropha value chain is crucial to make it GWP competitive relative to fossil fuels in which the location of plantations is crucial to attain low LUC-related emissions and viable yields.

ACS Style

Joana Almeida; Annelies De Meyer; Dirk Cattrysse; Jos Van Orshoven; Wouter M.J. Achten; Bart Muys. Spatial optimization of Jatropha based electricity value chains including the effect of emissions from land use change. Biomass and Bioenergy 2016, 90, 218 -229.

AMA Style

Joana Almeida, Annelies De Meyer, Dirk Cattrysse, Jos Van Orshoven, Wouter M.J. Achten, Bart Muys. Spatial optimization of Jatropha based electricity value chains including the effect of emissions from land use change. Biomass and Bioenergy. 2016; 90 ():218-229.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joana Almeida; Annelies De Meyer; Dirk Cattrysse; Jos Van Orshoven; Wouter M.J. Achten; Bart Muys. 2016. "Spatial optimization of Jatropha based electricity value chains including the effect of emissions from land use change." Biomass and Bioenergy 90, no. : 218-229.

Journal article
Published: 22 June 2016 in BioEnergy Research
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Appropriate canopy management, including planting density and pruning, and application of fertilizer may increase flowering success and seed and oil yields of Jatropha curcas L. Two field experiments were performed from 2009 to 2011 in Balaka, Malawi, to assess the effect of planting density and pruning regime and single fertilizer application (N, P, and K) on male and female flower number and seed and oil yields of J. curcas. Planting density influenced flower sex ratio and female flower number. Branch pruning treatments did not influence the flower sex ratio but reduced seed and final oil yield by 55 % in the following year. It is claimed that J. curcas can be grown on soils with low nutrient content, but this study revealed that yield was low for non-fertilized trees. We observed higher seed and oil yields at higher N application rates (up to 203 ± 42 % seed and 204 ± 45 % oil yield increase) compared with the non-fertilized control. The study suggests thatcurrently used heavy pruning practice is not recommended for J. curcas cultivation, although it needs further longer term investigation. Applying nitrogen fertilizer is effective in increasing yield.

ACS Style

Aklilu Negussie; Wouter M. J. Achten; Lindsey Norgrove; Wolde Mekuria; Kiros Hadgu; Greta De Both; Ben Leroy; Martin Hermy; Bart Muys. Initial Effects of Fertilization and Canopy Management on Flowering and Seed and Oil Yields of Jatropha curcas L. in Malawi. BioEnergy Research 2016, 9, 1231 -1240.

AMA Style

Aklilu Negussie, Wouter M. J. Achten, Lindsey Norgrove, Wolde Mekuria, Kiros Hadgu, Greta De Both, Ben Leroy, Martin Hermy, Bart Muys. Initial Effects of Fertilization and Canopy Management on Flowering and Seed and Oil Yields of Jatropha curcas L. in Malawi. BioEnergy Research. 2016; 9 (4):1231-1240.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Aklilu Negussie; Wouter M. J. Achten; Lindsey Norgrove; Wolde Mekuria; Kiros Hadgu; Greta De Both; Ben Leroy; Martin Hermy; Bart Muys. 2016. "Initial Effects of Fertilization and Canopy Management on Flowering and Seed and Oil Yields of Jatropha curcas L. in Malawi." BioEnergy Research 9, no. 4: 1231-1240.

Journal article
Published: 12 March 2016 in Journal of Environmental Management
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For a sustainable future, we must sustainably manage not only the human/industrial system but also ecosystems. To achieve the latter goal, we need to predict the responses of ecosystems and their provided services to management practices under changing environmental conditions via ecosystem models and use tools to compare the estimated provided services between the different scenarios. However, scientific articles have covered a limited amount of estimated ecosystem services and have used tools to aggregate services that contain a significant amount of subjective aspects and that represent the final result in a non-tangible unit such as ‘points’. To resolve these matters, this study quantifies the environmental impact (on human health, natural systems and natural resources) in physical units and uses an ecosystem service valuation based on monetary values (including ecosystem disservices with associated negative monetary values). More specifically, the paper also focuses on the assessment of ecosystem services related to pollutant removal/generation flows, accounting for the inflow of eutrophying nitrogen (N) when assessing the effect of N leached to groundwater. Regarding water use/provisioning, evapotranspiration is alternatively considered a disservice because it implies a loss of (potential) groundwater. These approaches and improvements, relevant to all ecosystems, are demonstrated using a Scots pine stand from 2010 to 2089 for a combination of three environmental change and three management scenarios. The environmental change scenarios considered interannual climate variability trends and included alterations in temperature, precipitation, nitrogen deposition, wind speed, Particulate matter (PM) concentration and CO2 concentration. The addressed flows/ecosystem services, including disservices, are as follows: particulate matter removal, freshwater loss, CO2 sequestration, wood production, NOx emissions, NH3 uptake and nitrogen pollution/removal. The monetary ecosystem service valuation yields a total average estimate of 361–1242 euro ha−1 yr−1. PM2.5 (<2.5 μm) removal is the key service, with a projected value of 622–1172 euro ha−1 yr−1. Concerning environmental impact assessment, with net CO2 uptake being the most relevant contributing flow, a loss prevention of 0.014–0.029 healthy life years ha−1 yr−1 is calculated for the respective flows. Both assessment methods favor the use of the least intensive management scenario due to its resulting higher CO2 sequestration and PM removal, which are the most important services of the considered ones.

ACS Style

Thomas Schaubroeck; Gaby Deckmyn; Olivier Giot; Matteo Campioli; Charlotte Vanpoucke; Kris Verheyen; Benedetto Rugani; Wouter Achten; Hans Verbeeck; Jo Dewulf; Bart Muys. Environmental impact assessment and monetary ecosystem service valuation of an ecosystem under different future environmental change and management scenarios; a case study of a Scots pine forest. Journal of Environmental Management 2016, 173, 79 -94.

AMA Style

Thomas Schaubroeck, Gaby Deckmyn, Olivier Giot, Matteo Campioli, Charlotte Vanpoucke, Kris Verheyen, Benedetto Rugani, Wouter Achten, Hans Verbeeck, Jo Dewulf, Bart Muys. Environmental impact assessment and monetary ecosystem service valuation of an ecosystem under different future environmental change and management scenarios; a case study of a Scots pine forest. Journal of Environmental Management. 2016; 173 ():79-94.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Thomas Schaubroeck; Gaby Deckmyn; Olivier Giot; Matteo Campioli; Charlotte Vanpoucke; Kris Verheyen; Benedetto Rugani; Wouter Achten; Hans Verbeeck; Jo Dewulf; Bart Muys. 2016. "Environmental impact assessment and monetary ecosystem service valuation of an ecosystem under different future environmental change and management scenarios; a case study of a Scots pine forest." Journal of Environmental Management 173, no. : 79-94.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2016 in Forest Ecology and Management
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National and international carbon reporting systems require information on carbon stocks of forests. For this purpose, terrestrial assessment systems such as forest inventory data in combination with carbon estimation methods are often used. In this study we analyze and compare terrestrial carbon estimation methods from 12 European countries. The country-specific methods are applied to five European tree species (Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Roth, Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L.), using a standardized theoretically-generated tree dataset. We avoid any bias due to data collection and/or sample design by using this approach. We are then able to demonstrate the conceptual differences in the resulting carbon estimates with regard to the applied country-specific method. In our study we analyze (i) allometric biomass functions, (ii) biomass expansion factors in combination with volume functions and (iii) a combination of both. The results of the analysis show discrepancies in the resulting estimates for total tree carbon and for single tree compartments across the countries analyzed of up to 140 t carbon/ha. After grouping the country-specific approaches by European Forest regions, the deviation within the results in each region is smaller but still remains. This indicates that part of the observed differences can be attributed to varying growing conditions and tree properties throughout Europe. However, the large remaining error is caused by differences in the conceptual approach, different tree allometry, the sample material used for developing the biomass estimation models and the definition of the tree compartments. These issues are currently not addressed and require consideration for reliable and consistent carbon estimates throughout Europe.

ACS Style

Mathias Neumann; Adam Moreno; Volker Mues; Sanna Härkönen; Matteo Mura; Olivier Bouriaud; Mait Lang; Wouter Achten; Alain Thivolle-Cazat; Karol Bronisz; Ján Merganič; Mathieu Decuyper; Iciar Alberdi; Rasmus Astrup; Frits Mohren; Hubert Hasenauer. Comparison of carbon estimation methods for European forests. Forest Ecology and Management 2016, 361, 397 -420.

AMA Style

Mathias Neumann, Adam Moreno, Volker Mues, Sanna Härkönen, Matteo Mura, Olivier Bouriaud, Mait Lang, Wouter Achten, Alain Thivolle-Cazat, Karol Bronisz, Ján Merganič, Mathieu Decuyper, Iciar Alberdi, Rasmus Astrup, Frits Mohren, Hubert Hasenauer. Comparison of carbon estimation methods for European forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 2016; 361 ():397-420.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mathias Neumann; Adam Moreno; Volker Mues; Sanna Härkönen; Matteo Mura; Olivier Bouriaud; Mait Lang; Wouter Achten; Alain Thivolle-Cazat; Karol Bronisz; Ján Merganič; Mathieu Decuyper; Iciar Alberdi; Rasmus Astrup; Frits Mohren; Hubert Hasenauer. 2016. "Comparison of carbon estimation methods for European forests." Forest Ecology and Management 361, no. : 397-420.

Articles
Published: 02 November 2015 in Carbon Management
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Presently, climate metrics in life-cycle assessment (LCA) aggregate the emission of greenhouse gases in one impact-triggering instant, rather than accommodating its distribution along a timeline. There have been efforts to make the global warming potential (GWP) metric dynamic to study temporary carbon storage in wood products. In this article, we test the use of dynamic LCA on bioenergy production from Jatropha oil in Mali, which offers temporary carbon sequestration in biomass and soil. We built a life-cycle inventory for land conversion to jatropha after cropland and fallow land. The assessment was made for one and for 10 consecutive rotations, and yielded dynamic emission profiles over the years. We found that dynamic LCA is sensitive to variations in emission over time, and that it resulted in lower GWP compared to the conventional static approach following IPCC rules, except for early times of analysis. But the largest variation occurs within dynamic LCA between readings at different times of analysis. The choice of time of analysis in the dynamic LCA methodology has no theoretical grounds and is therefore subjective. In the particular case of this short-lived product, we did not find an added value for the provoked increase in complexity of LCA.

ACS Style

Joana Almeida; Jeroen Degerickx; Wouter Achten; Bart Muys. Greenhouse gas emission timing in life cycle assessment and the global warming potential of perennial energy crops. Carbon Management 2015, 6, 185 -195.

AMA Style

Joana Almeida, Jeroen Degerickx, Wouter Achten, Bart Muys. Greenhouse gas emission timing in life cycle assessment and the global warming potential of perennial energy crops. Carbon Management. 2015; 6 (5-6):185-195.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Joana Almeida; Jeroen Degerickx; Wouter Achten; Bart Muys. 2015. "Greenhouse gas emission timing in life cycle assessment and the global warming potential of perennial energy crops." Carbon Management 6, no. 5-6: 185-195.

Journal article
Published: 02 November 2015 in GCB Bioenergy
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Small‐scale Jatropha cultivation and biodiesel production has the potential of contributing to local development, energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. In recent years however, the GHG mitigation potential of biofuel crops is heavily disputed due to the occurrence of a carbon debt, caused by CO2 emissions from biomass and soil after land use change (LUC). Most published carbon footprint studies of Jatropha report modeled results based on a very limited database. In particular, little empirical data exist on the effects of Jatropha on biomass and soil C stocks. In this study we used field data to quantify these C pools in three land uses in Mali, i.e. Jatropha plantations, annual cropland and fallow land, to estimate both the Jatropha C debt and its C sequestration potential. Four years old Jatropha plantations hold on average 2.3 Mg C ha−1 in their above‐ and belowground woody biomass, which is considerably lower compared to results from other regions. This can be explained by the adverse growing conditions and poor local management. No significant soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration could be demonstrated after four years of cultivation. While the conversion of cropland to Jatropha does not entail significant C losses, the replacement of fallow land results in an average C debt of 34.7 Mg C ha−1, mainly caused by biomass removal (73%). Retaining native savannah woodland trees on the field during LUC and improved crop management focusing on SOC conservation can play an important role in reducing Jatropha's C debt. Although planting Jatropha on degraded, carbon‐poor cropland results in a limited C debt, the low biomass production and seed yield attained on these lands reduce Jatropha's potential to sequester C and replace fossil fuels. Therefore, future research should mainly focus on increasing Jatropha's crop productivity in these degraded lands. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

ACS Style

Jeroen Degerickx; Joana Almeida; Pieter C.J. Moonen; Leen Vervoort; Bart Muys; Wouter Achten. Impact of land-use change to Jatropha bioenergy plantations on biomass and soil carbon stocks: a field study in Mali. GCB Bioenergy 2015, 8, 443 -455.

AMA Style

Jeroen Degerickx, Joana Almeida, Pieter C.J. Moonen, Leen Vervoort, Bart Muys, Wouter Achten. Impact of land-use change to Jatropha bioenergy plantations on biomass and soil carbon stocks: a field study in Mali. GCB Bioenergy. 2015; 8 (2):443-455.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jeroen Degerickx; Joana Almeida; Pieter C.J. Moonen; Leen Vervoort; Bart Muys; Wouter Achten. 2015. "Impact of land-use change to Jatropha bioenergy plantations on biomass and soil carbon stocks: a field study in Mali." GCB Bioenergy 8, no. 2: 443-455.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2015 in Biomass and Bioenergy
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Aklilu Negussie; Jeroen Degerickx; Lindsey Norgrove; Wouter M.J. Achten; Kiros Hadgu; Ermias Aynekulu; Bart Muys. Effects of accession, spacing and pruning management on in-situ leaf litter decomposition of Jatropha curcas L. in Zambia. Biomass and Bioenergy 2015, 81, 505 -513.

AMA Style

Aklilu Negussie, Jeroen Degerickx, Lindsey Norgrove, Wouter M.J. Achten, Kiros Hadgu, Ermias Aynekulu, Bart Muys. Effects of accession, spacing and pruning management on in-situ leaf litter decomposition of Jatropha curcas L. in Zambia. Biomass and Bioenergy. 2015; 81 ():505-513.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Aklilu Negussie; Jeroen Degerickx; Lindsey Norgrove; Wouter M.J. Achten; Kiros Hadgu; Ermias Aynekulu; Bart Muys. 2015. "Effects of accession, spacing and pruning management on in-situ leaf litter decomposition of Jatropha curcas L. in Zambia." Biomass and Bioenergy 81, no. : 505-513.