Life Cycle Assessment ( LCA )

The growing global demand for batteries, driven by the rise of electronic devices and electric vehicles, underscores the critical need for advanced recycling technologies to recover valuable cathodic materials from battery waste. This study introduces a novel Selection Index to holistically assess Direct, Pyrometallurgical, and Hydrometallurgical recycling technologies across various arrangements (Arr 1, Arr 2, and Arr 3), based on energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental impact. Direct recycling (Arr 1a) is the most energy-efficient (510-760 KJ/Kg) but produces high CO₂ emissions (0.95-1.85 Kg/Kg). Hydrometallurgical recycling (Arr 3a) offers a balanced approach, with moderate CO₂ emissions (1.9-3.6 Kg/Kg) and higher costs ($39-$64/kg), achieving the greatest net economic benefit. Pyrometallurgical recycling (Arr 2b and 2c) demonstrates mid-level energy use (420-1120 KJ/Kg) and CO₂ emissions (1.3-3.8 Kg/Kg). The Selection Index identifies hydrometallurgical recycling as the most sustainable solution, offering the best trade-off between energy, cost, and environmental impact. This work contributes to the development of a comprehensive framework for selecting the most suitable recycling technology based on multi-dimensional performance metrics, enabling more informed decisions in the battery recycling industry. These findings highlight the potential of recycling technologies in mitigating environmental impacts, conserving resources, and fostering a circular economy for battery materials.

The growing interest in sustainable energy solutions, coupled with recent technological advancements, has led to increased exploration of ultra-low-head hydropower systems. This study focuses on micro water turbines, particularly zero-to low-head turbines, for off-grid power production. The primary objective is to assess the operational dynamics, performance-influencing variables, and utility of three specific turbine types: the Archimedes screw turbine (AST), water wheels (WW), and zero-head (hydrokinetic) turbines (ZHT). This article rigorously compares the life cycle assessments of these turbines, with an emphasis on energy, economic, and environmental analyses. In the context of rapid technological advancements and increasing sustainability challenges, adopting turbine technologies with over two decades of service life and desired outputs has become critical. Users now place greater importance on economic, energy, and environmental factors when selecting micro-turbine technologies. This paper introduces a new Selection Index (SI) based on life cycle assessment (LCA) to aid in selecting and adopting micro-turbine technologies for long-term operations. The selection index values of AST, WW, and ZHT are 2.532, 2.371, and 2.324, respectively, demonstrating that AST outperforms the other two in terms of energy intensity, economic viability, and environmental sustainability for low-head, off-grid power generation.

The construction industry is a major contributor to global environmental impacts, particularly through the production and use of cement-based materials. In response to this challenge, this study provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the integration of Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for optimizing cementitious composites containing Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). A total of 14 case studies specifically addressing this topic were identified, reviewed, and analyzed, spanning various binder compositions, ANN architectures, and LCA frameworks. The findings highlight how hybrid ANN-LCA systems can accurately predict mechanical performance while minimizing environmental burdens, supporting the formulation of low-carbon, high-performance cementitious composites. The diverse SCMs explored, including fly ash, slag, silica fume, waste glass powder, and rice husk ash, demonstrate significant potential for reducing CO 2 emissions, energy consumption, and raw material depletion. Furthermore, the systematic comparative matrix developed in this work offers a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners aiming to implement intelligent, eco-efficient mix designs. Overall, this study contributes to advancing digital sustainability tools and reinforces the viability of ANN-LCA integration as a scalable decision-support framework for green construction practices.

This preliminary study intends to bring the Circular Economics (CE) approach within the scope of Mining to analyze challenges and opportunities in a possible transition to the new paradigm. CE has been seen as an alternative in potentializing the use of resources and it is a conception constituted in opposition to the traditional linear economy (LE), based on the model extract>make>use>throw. LE neglected the costs and impacts to the environment and to collective health, disregarding the finitude of natural resources that would impact production. CE seeks to integrate costs and value to the environment and resources, proposing a system where materials and products circulate as long as possible through production chains. Since mining is at the base of the technical chain, generating inputs for several production processes, this initial study sought to reflect on the possible impacts that the adoption of CE principles may have on the Brazilian mining industry. Initiatives by ...

The rapid expansion of fashion e-commerce has raised concerns over the environmental cost of last-mile deliveries, especially in pure-player models. This preliminary study examines the estimated carbon footprint of TENDAM's omnichannel model-based on in-store pickup and returns-compared to pure-player home delivery, using a customer-level approach across 11 Spanish cities of varying sizes. A total of 3106 face-to-face surveys were conducted in TENDAM stores, capturing data on mobility behavior, transport modes, trip chaining, and service types. Emission factors were applied using a Python-based analytical model, and results were contrasted with Monte Carlo simulations from existing literature on pure players. Our findings indicate that the average per-service footprint of the omnichannel model is around 400 g CO 2eq, significantly lower than the 1500-3000 g CO 2eq range for pure players. Emissions were especially low in large cities and in street-level stores, largely due to the high rate of walking and multipurpose trips among customers. The study also includes geospatial analysis through interactive influence maps. These results suggest that dense store networks embedded in walkable urban areas can substantially reduce last-mile GHG emissions. While preliminary, the study highlights the potential for omnichannel retail to support urban decarbonization goals and sustainability when integrated with sustainable mobility patterns.

Introduction
Heavy metals have posed significant threats to aquatic organisms and human health globally. Mercury (Hg (II)) is of particular concern due to its persistence and harmful environmental properties. Different physical and chemical separation approaches have been proposed to remove Hg (II) ions from water and wastewater. Regarding the available adsorbents for the adsorption of toxic metal ions, nano-adsorbents are preferred due to their high adsorption capacity, low waste production, and simplicity in design and operation. Among nano-adsorbents, functionalized graphene oxide (GO) is the most applicable and widely used adsorbent for removing metal ions from aqueous solutions. Meanwhile, the use of GO is an emerging technology and is in the early stages of development and the environmental assessment of its application and disposal requires focused attention. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an effective method for estimating the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of a product or process from the early stage of production to its final disposal. Hence, the LCA of mGO-NH2 disposal, utilized for Hg (II) removal, was investigated in two scenarios including: desorption and landfill.

Materials and Methods
The LCA of mGO-NH2 disposal was evaluated based on ISO 14040:2006 standard, considering a functional unit of one kg of mGO-NH2 nano-adsorbent for mercury removal. The system boundary was based on two disposal scenarios including desorption and landfill from gate to grave. HCl, HNO3, and H2SO4 were utilized for the mercury desorption using mGO-NH2 nano-adsorbent to determine the efficient one. On the other hand, the ReCiPe (H) 2016 midpoint and endpoint methods were applied to assess the environmental impacts of mGO-NH2 nano-adsorbent disposal using SimaPro 9.5.5.0 and the Ecoinvent 3.4 datasets. The 18 midpoint impact categories were summarized into endpoint indicators such as damage to human health, ecosystem, and resources categories. Meanwhile, the life cycle inventory was provided from experimental studies, and SimaPro databases. Moreover, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the disposal process were evaluated by greenhouse gas protocol (GGP). The GHG release was monitored from fossil fuel, biogenic, and land transformation. The energy flow was assessed in six impact categories including non-renewable fossil fuel, nuclear, biomass as well as renewable biomass, wind solar, and water resources using cumulative energy demand (CED). In addition, the ecological footprint (EF) of the disposal process was appraised in CO2, nuclear, and land occupation categories.

Results and discussion
Comparing the two disposal scenarios, the environmental impacts of the desorption scenario were significantly higher than the landfill scenario whereas the landfill scenario showed higher non-carcinogenic toxicity (9.29 kg 1, 4-DCB) than the desorption process with a value of 6.29 kg 1,4-DCB. Evaluation of contributed parameters and processes in the environmental impact categories for the desorption scenario illustrated the significant role of electricity consumption. Since electricity is produced from diesel and oil fuel in Iran, it intensifies the environmental burdens, especially global warming. Due to the substantial electricity required for nano-adsorbent synthesis and desorption, it increased the considered impacts compared to the landfill scenario. Therefore, the electricity consumption during desorption process can be optimized by reducing the reaction time without altering the nano-adsorbent characteristics and its performance. The utilization of renewable energy sources in electricity generation can also reduce pollutant emissions. The assessment of endpoint impacts of nano-adsorbent disposal revealed notable effects of the desorption scenario on human health, ecosystems, and resources. The results of CED also indicated the highest share of fossil fuels with 94.29% and 90.50% contributions to desorption and landfill scenarios, respectively. Meanwhile, the GGP index demonstrated a higher contribution of the desorption scenario to global warming potential, which was attributed to fossil fuel combustion. The amount of CO2 release, land occupation, and nuclear energy derived from the ecological footprint analysis elucidated a much lower ecological footprint of the landfill scenario compared to the desorption scenario.

Conclusion
The environmental impacts of the mGO-NH2 nano-adsorbent disposal used for the removal of Hg (II) ions were investigated to choose the appropriate method within desorption and landfill scenarios using LCA. The comparison of two mGO-NH2 disposal scenarios indicated that the landfill scenario incurred lower environmental impacts compared to the desorption scenario. Evaluation of the midpoint and endpoint impacts, CED, GGP, and EF highlighted the high environmental burdens of the desorption scenario concerning electricity consumption. Moreover, the application of the landfill process can be restricted due to the lack of available land. On the other hand, due to the high cost of mGO-NH2 synthesis and also its suitable potential in Hg (II) ions removal, the possibility of mGO-NH2 desorption and reuse can reduce the environmental burdens compared to re-synthesis. Furthermore, for desorption of mGO-NH2 nano-adsorbent on an industrial scale, electricity consumption should be optimized and supplied by renewable energy sources.

Fish oil has been used in conventional aquaculture for decades, despite the known links between increasing global demand for fish and depletion of natural resources and vital ecosystems . Alternative feed ingredients, including algae oil rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has therefore been increasingly used to substitute traditional fish oil. Heterotrophic algae cultivation in bioreactors can be supported by a primary carbon feedstock recovered from food waste, a solution that could reduce environmental impacts and support the transition towards circular food systems. This study used life cycle assessment to quantify environmental impact of DHA produced by the heterotrophic algae Crypthecodinium cohnii, using short-chain carboxylic acids derived from dark fermentation of food waste. The future potential of DHA from algae was evaluated by comparing the environmental impact to that of DHA from Peruvian anchovy oil. With respect to global warming, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication and land use, algae oil inferred -52 ton CO 2 eq, 3.5 ton SO 2 eq, -94 kg Peq, 2700 m 2 eq, respectively per ton DHA. In comparison, the impact per ton DHA from fish oil was -15 ton CO 2 eq, 3.9 ton SO 2 eq, -97 kg Peq and 3200 m 2 eq. Furthermore, algae oil showed lower climate impact compared to canola and linseed oil. By including Ecosystem damage as indicator for ecosystem quality at endpoint level, the important aspect of biodiversity impact was accounted for. Although the method primarily accounts for indirect effects on biodiversity, DHA from algae oil showed lower Ecosystem damage compared to fish oil even when future energy development, optimized production, increased energy demand and effects on biotic resources were considered via sensitivity analyses. As the results suggest, algae oil holds a promising potential for increased sustainability within aquaculture, provided that continued development and optimization of this emerging technology is enabled through active decision-making and purposeful investments.

Nowadays, the reinforcement of concrete with natural fibers can consider being an effectual scheme to achieve the global demand for sustainable development. Due to sustainability, bio degradability, and environmental friendly, natural fibers are preferred as compared to synthetic fibers. The present study investigated the effect of width and thickness of jute fiber strips on the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete beams (RC beams). The experimental program consisted testing of twenty-four RC beams (150*150*1000 mm) comprised of four groups. The first group consisted of three reference RC beams, the second group consisted of three RC beams strengthened longitudinally with carbon fiber strip (CFRP) of 15 cm width, the third group included nine RC beams strengthened longitudinally with one layer of jute fiber strips (JFRP) having variable width, 5, 10, and 15 cm, and lastly the fourth group which was same as the third group except using double layer of jute fiber strips. Generally, the results showed that toughness, ultimate flexural strength, and load carrying capacity of RC beams strengthened with JFRP were increased with the increase of the strip width and thickness. On the other hand, ductility and stiffness were decreased with the increase of the strip width. Test results showed that load carrying capacity was improved by 5.56 and 11.1% for one layer of jute fiber strips of 5 and 15 cm width respectively as compared with the reference specimens. On the other hand, the load carrying capacity was improved by 3.95 and 8.75 % for two layers of jute fiber strips of 10 and 15 cm width respectively as compared with the one layer strengthened specimens. Concerning the CFRP strengthening, the load carrying capacity was improved by 77.76% as compared with the reference specimens.

Predicting the compressive strength of concrete presents a significant challenge due to its complex composition. Traditional approaches often grapple with data uncertainty, hindering accurate predictions. This study introduces an innovative methodology that integrates advanced preprocessing techniques with a suite of sophisticated prediction models. Employing a robust dataset from the UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository, comprising 1030 samples with eight distinct input variables, the methodology synergizes statistical methods, Bayesian analysis, and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms. Central to our approach is the application of normalization strategies Box-Cox transformation. These predictions were combined with Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Support Vector Regression (SVR) to enhance predictive accuracy. The performance of these models is meticulously evaluated using a comprehensive set of metrics, including Root Mean Square
Error (RMSE), R-square, Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Mean Square Error (MSE). Our findings reveal a marked improvement in prediction accuracy, with GPR emerging as the most effective model. This study not only advances our understanding of concrete's compressive strength but also sets a precedent for employing a multi-faceted analytical approach in material science research.

The construction sector is responsible for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions and has a major impact on other environmental aspects. The use of timber offers a potential solution to these environmental issues, as wood absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere during its growth. By reusing materials, the consumption of finite resources and emissions from production and waste processing can be reduced. The reuse of structural timber elements, which often have a long lifespan, thus provides a strategy to mitigate climate change. However, structural uncertainty, logistical challenges, lack of regulations, limited experience, and a prevailing linear mindset in the construction sector pose obstacles. This analysis investigates the environmental impact of the reuse of glued laminated timber (glulam) structures, which are commonly found in halls and warehouses in Belgium. Based on seven successful case studies and data from interviews with experts from the reuse sector, a detailed description of the reuse process is presented. Using these findings, a life cycle assessment is conducted to compare the environmental impact of reused elements with those of newly produced glulam beams. By analysing different scenarios and the impact of specific reuse operations on environmental performance, key considerations and recommendations are formulated for future practices. The findings demonstrate that the reuse of glulam structures can offer significant environmental benefits, while being practically feasible.

Raw materials extraction, production of components, transportation and reverse logistics activities that run in the construction sector are constantly depleting the available global resources. Sustainability of the construction industry and its ability to adopt to the principles of circular economy is under question. This paper addresses these questions through the introduction of a novel reusable steel-concrete composite floor system. Its reuse potential is evaluated through comparative BIM-based Life Cycle Analysis with contemporary systems.

There currently exists a demand in the United States for information about the environmental impacts of consumer products, but there is no consistent system for providing this information. This project proposes guidelines for the creation of a Type III environmental declaration program which will provide objective information about the environmental impacts of products based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methods. To more easily convey complicated information to consumers, the use of an original data presentation f o r ma t , t h e " r a d a r a r e a g r a p h " , wa s s e l e c t e d b a s e d o n t h e r e s u l t s o f a c o n s u me r s u r v e y . B e c a u s e p r i n t e d labels do not allow convenient product comparisons, a model internet website was created to demonstrate the potential of interactive product data. One original recommendation is an interactive personal database that allows consumers to track the impacts of their activities, thus making data more interesting and useful to consumers. Because evaluating products using LCA can be time consuming, we created a method of efficiently and consistently calculating environmental impacts. It includes guidelines for defining system boundaries and functional units, and for characterizing environmental impacts. Ten environmental impact category indicators were selected, and original methods were developed for characterizing land use and water depletion using spatial data. A spreadsheet calculator was created for determining human and ecological toxicity indicators. Finally, original software was developed to demonstrate the proposal for a common database of process and material parameters. To guide an administrator during the creation of a new Type III program, recommendations are provided for organizational structure, product registration procedures, and budget management for continued operation and growth. i Table of Contents ABSTRACT .

Production planning is vital to modern refinery operation because of increasing crude prices and changing market demands. In this article LP/NLP is used to simulate the effect of change in crude types on the yields of CDU, VDU, visbreaker, feed and product blender units. Central Composite experimental Design (CCD)and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) are used to obtain a second-degree polynomial model for maximizing profitability of operation of these units.

Over the last three decades, many experimental studies have been conducted to investigate the behavior of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, shear strengthened with externally bonded Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite. However, the majority of experimental studies have focused on small-to medium-scale beam specimens. As a result, most design equations that have been developed as part of these studies may thus not be accurate at predicting the shear strength of large-scale RC beams shear-strengthened with FRP sheets. This study thus involved performing tests on six specimens to study the effect of the larger scale, along with new variables such as beam width, new varieties of FRP sheets (basalt FRP (BFRP)), and the strengthening configuration (U-jacketing), on the prediction of the ultimate load of RC beams strengthened with externally bonded FRP composite. The experimental results were analyzed and showed that all these variables affected the lateral strain along the bottom and the top of the beams. It was found that variations in the depth to width ratio of the beams caused the failure angle to vary as well. For beams strengthened with BFRP sheets, both the cracking and ultimate load increased to 1.19 and 1.94 times the cracking and ultimate load of the control beams under identical conditions.

The telecommunications sector plays a crucial role in achieving national sustainability goals, particularly in the context of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. This study develops and validates a comprehensive framework for prioritizing green telecommunications practices using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology. Through systematic literature review and expert consultation, we identified six key categories of green telecom practices: Energy Management Practices (EMP), Green Infrastructure Practices (GIP), Circular Economy Practices (CEP), Digital Innovation Practices (DIP), Stakeholder Engagement Practices (SEP), and Regulatory Compliance Practices (RCP), encompassing 24 specific sub-practices. The DEMATEL analysis revealed that Energy Management Practices and Green Infrastructure Practices are the most influential cause-group factors, while Digital Innovation Practices and Stakeholder Engagement Practices represent key effect-group elements. The framework provides actionable insights for UAE telecom operators, policymakers, and stakeholders to strategically allocate resources and sequence interventions toward sustainable transformation. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable telecommunications management and offers a replicable methodology for emerging economies pursuing ambitious climate goals.

Accurate and interpretable assessment of socioeconomic conditions is vital for equitable policymaking, yet traditional methods face limitations in scalability and resolution. This paper presents a novel explainable multimodal framework that synergizes high-resolution satellite imagery with large language models (LLMs) to infer infrastructure-driven development levels. Unlike opaque deep learning models, our approach extracts visual features (e.g., roof materials, road density) and leverages LLMs to generate human-understandable insights, bridging the gap between geospatial data and actionable policy recommendations. We propose a hybrid architecture that aligns visual and textual modalities, enabling transparent analysis of underdeveloped regions. Experiments on diverse urban datasets demonstrate superior performance in identifying informal settlements and infrastructure gaps. By integrating explainability with remote sensing, this work advances responsible AI for social impact, offering governments and NGOs a scalable tool for targeted interventions.

Les boues de pétrole brut Brent, déchets dangereux de l’industrie pétrolière, constituent une menace sérieuse pour l’environnement en raison de leurs composés toxiques, de leurs métaux lourds et de leurs hydrocarbures pétroliers. Cette étude vise à présenter et à analyser un modèle intégré optimal pour la gestion environnementale de ces déchets. À cet égard, trois méthodes courantes, dont l’incinération, l’enfouissement sanitaire et l’extraction par solvants industriels, ont été modélisées individuellement et en combinaison à l’aide du logiciel SimaPro et de la base de données environnementale Ecoinvent. L'évaluation environnementale des méthodes a été réalisée à l'aide de deux modèles de cycle de vie standard. Les résultats ont montré que le modèle intégré présente une réduction significative des indicateurs tels que le potentiel de réchauffement climatique et la toxicité humaine par rapport aux scénarios individuels. L'analyse de sensibilité a également indiqué que l'utilisation de chaque méthode dans la combinaison finale a un impact significatif sur les résultats. De plus, l'extraction par solvants offre des performances plus durables dans les zones soumises à des contraintes environnementales que les autres méthodes. Globalement, ce modèle peut être utilisé comme modèle novateur, économique et respectueux de l'environnement pour la gestion des déchets

Шлам сырой нефти марки Brent, являясь одним из опасных отходов нефтяной промышленности, считается серьёзной угрозой для окружающей среды из-за содержания в нём токсичных соединений, тяжёлых металлов и нефтяных углеводородов. Целью данного исследования является разработка и анализ оптимальной комплексной модели управления этими отходами в экологическом отношении. В связи с этим три распространённых метода, включая сжигание, захоронение на санитарном полигоне и экстракцию промышленными растворителями, были смоделированы по отдельности и в комбинации с использованием программного обеспечения SimaPro и экологической базы данных Ecoinvent. Экологическая оценка методов проводилась с использованием двух стандартных моделей жизненного цикла. Результаты показали, что комплексная модель обеспечивает значительное снижение таких показателей, как потенциал глобального потепления и токсичность для человека, по сравнению с индивидуальными сценариями. Анализ чувствительности также показал, что использование каждого метода в итоговой комбинации оказывает существенное влияние на результаты. Кроме того, экстракция растворителями обеспечивает более устойчивые результаты в районах с экологическими ограничениями, чем другие методы. В целом, данная модель может быть использована в качестве инновационной, недорогой и экологически безопасной модели управления нефтяными отходами на промышленном уровне. Ключевые слова: Нефтешлам, гибридная модель, оценка жизненного цикла, полигон захоронения отходов, сжигание отходов, промышленный растворитель

Brent-Rohölschlamm, einer der gefährlichen Abfälle der Ölindustrie, gilt aufgrund seiner toxischen Verbindungen, Schwermetalle und Mineralölkohlenwasserstoffe als ernsthafte Umweltbedrohung. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, ein optimales integriertes Modell für das Umweltmanagement dieses Abfalls vorzustellen und zu analysieren. Dazu wurden drei gängige Methoden – Verbrennung, Deponierung und Extraktion mit industriellen Lösungsmitteln – einzeln und in Kombination mit der Software SimaPro und der Umweltdatenbank Ecoinvent modelliert. Die Umweltbewertung der Methoden erfolgte anhand zweier Standard-Lebenszyklusmodelle. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass das integrierte Modell Indikatoren wie Treibhauspotenzial und Humantoxizität im Vergleich zu Einzelszenarien deutlich reduziert. Die Sensitivitätsanalyse ergab zudem, dass die Anwendung der einzelnen Methoden in der finalen Kombination einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Ergebnisse hat. Zudem ist die Extraktion mit Lösungsmitteln in Gebieten mit Umweltauflagen nachhaltiger als andere Methoden. Insgesamt kann dieses Modell als innovatives, kostengünstiges und umweltfreundliches Modell für das Ölabfallmanagement auf industrieller Ebene eingesetzt werden.

Brent crude oil sludge, as one of the hazardous wastes of the oil industry, is considered a serious threat to the environment due to its toxic compounds, heavy metals, and petroleum hydrocarbons. The aim of this study is to present and analyze an optimal integrated model for the environmental management of this waste. In this regard, three common methods, including incineration, sanitary landfill, and extraction with industrial solvents, were modeled individually and in combination using SimaPro software and the Ecoinvent environmental database. The environmental assessment of the methods was carried out using two standard life cycle models. The results showed that the integrated model has a significant reduction in indicators such as global warming potential and human toxicity compared to individual scenarios. Sensitivity analysis also indicated that the use of each method in the final combination has a significant impact on the results. Also, extraction with solvents has a more sustainable performance in areas with environmental constraints than other methods. Overall, this model can be used as an innovative, low-cost and environmentally friendly model for oil waste management at an industrial level.

Primaerlegetenesta er ein hjørnestein i norsk helsevesen. De e er gjenta e gonger slå fast i faglege og politiskedokument, sist i Helsemeldinga frå 1994 (1). Regjeringa understrekar der den sentrale verdien av primaerlegearbeidet, -det samfunnsmedisinske så vel som det kurative. Det blir lagt fram som ei nasjonal helsepolitisk målse ing atprimaerlegetenesta skal vere eit le tilgjengeleg lågterskeltilbod.

The dissipation of metals leads to potential environmental impacts, usually evaluated for product systems with life cycle assessment. Dissipative flows of metals become inaccessible for future users, going against the common goal of a more circular economy. Therefore, they should be addressed in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) in the area of protection "Natural Resources." However, life cycle inventory databases provide limited information on dissipation as they only track emissions to the environment as elementary flows. Therefore, we propose two LCIA methods capturing the expected dissipation patterns of metals after extraction, based on dynamic material flow analysis data. The methods are applied to resource elementary flows in life cycle inventories. The lost potential service time method provides precautionary indications on the lost service due to dissipation over different time horizons. The average dissipation rate method distinguishes between the conservation potentials of different metals. Metals that are relatively well conserved, including major metals such as iron and aluminum, have low characterization factors (CFs). Those with poor process yields, including many companion and high-tech metals such as gallium and tellurium, have high CFs. A comparative study between the developed CFs, along with those of the Abiotic Depletion Potential and Environmental Dissipation Potential methods, show that dissipation trends do not consistently match those of the depletion and environmental dissipation potentials. The proposed methods may thus be complementary to other methods when assessing the impacts of resource use on the area of protection Natural Resources when pursuing an increased material circularity. This article met the requirements for a gold-silver JIE data openness badge at .

Concrete is one of the building industry's most used construction materials. Reducing natural resources, enormous production costs, and environmental issues in cement production have encouraged researchers to partially explore suitable options to substitute Portland cement and the built environment. This article provides a thorough review of the research on the prudent utilization of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as a Portland cement replacement in the production of concrete. The methods used to produce SCBA, the effect of calcining temperature on bagasse ash, its physical and chemical characteristics and the strength development phenomenon are discussed. The impact of SCBA on the properties of concrete under the fresh state is also discussed. The physical and durability properties of concrete manufactured with SCBA are reviewed in-depth to understand its impending use for commercial applications. Finally, SCBA-related issues and challenges are described. A few of the outcomes are: (i) An organized incineration method is required for producing good quality SCBA, (ii) the optimum replacement level of cement by SCBA for mechanical and durability properties are 20%, (iii) improved durability due to an impervious microstructure of SCBA-concrete to harmful agents that cause degradation. Even though there is some disagreement among researchers, the majority continue to agree that using SCBA in cementitious composites is advantageous. However, researchers do not consider its usage in reinforced concrete elements such as slabs and beams; thus, further research is recommended. Finally, the formulation of codal recommendations on technical and environmental factors calls for additional research.

Investigations on the potential use of sustainable sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in concrete production have been carried out. The paper employs model agnostic eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to develop interpretable models for the compressive strength of SCBA concrete. A dataset of SCBA concrete, comprising of 2616 data points, was first established. Then, black box machine learning models were employed for predicting compressive strength of SCBA concrete. White box modelling using model agnostic XAI explanations for the influence of different input parameters on the compressive strength of SCBA concrete was then used for the local and global interpretations of influencing parameters. Based on the relative influence of features on the compressive strength of SCBA concrete, a nonlinear model equation was thus developed. Optimization of SCBA concrete mixes was done and it was found that a compressive strength of 40 MPa could be achieved for water to binder content ranging from 0.42 to 0.48 with low cement content. Additionally, the Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out, and finally, it was proposed that SCBA concrete has potential for becoming an alternate eco-friendly building material.

The outbreak of the coronavirus in December 2019, with its accompanying declaration as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation in March 2020, resulted in lockdown of the global financial markets. This paper uses data from pre-coronavirus, coronavirus endemic and coronavirus pandemic periods to evaluate the impact of coronavirus pandemic on stability of Africa stock markets, sovereign bond markets and U.S. dollar exchange rates in Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa as well as Africa Sharia equity and Sukuk indices. Findings from study suggest that Africa financial markets became very unstable during the coronavirus pandemic than during the endemic and pre-coronavirus periods. Results from bivariate regression model show evidence of negative impact of coronavirus pandemic on financial market returns. The results further show that Africa financial markets return volatility increases as the number of coronavirus cases increases. Overall, the findings suggest that coronavirus h...

The hunt for lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are critical to powering the renewable energy transition, is overshadowed by a growing credibility crisis. While consumers and regulators demand ethical sourcing, traditional mineral supply chain systems fail to provide verifiable proof, allowing greenwashing to thrive in the face of documented environmental devastation, such as the 2.2 million liters of water consumed per ton of lithium mined in arid regions, as well as ongoing social harms, such as child labor in artisanal cobalt mines. This study pioneers a disruptive methodology for closing the accountability gap by seamlessly integrating blockchain technology with Environmental and Social Life Cycle Assessment (ESLCA). We created a Hyperledger Fabric-based traceability system that tracks cobalt from artisanal mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to refining hubs and electric vehicle batteries. It is dynamically linked to an ISO 14040/14044-compliant environmental impact assessment and UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for social impact quantification across five critical categories: water scarcity, human health, child labor, community displacement, and conflict financing. Our 18-month empirical analysis demonstrates that blockchain's cryptographic immutability reduces data tampering risks by 92% compared to traditional audits, while integrated ESLCA identifies hotspots with exceptional precision. DRC cobalt extraction accounts for 78% of overall supply chain socioeconomic

The need to meet society's demands for road infrastructure while minimizing the resulting environmental impacts is a source of great complications. In this context, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be useful by applying a set of rules and processes for the environmental assessment of projects. The objectives of this study were to present the main environmental impact categories associated with emissions from the life cycle phases of a road pavement and how to estimate them. In addition, this paper provides examples of LCA applications on these infrastructures. In view of the evolution of research on LCA, a compilation was made on: the main categories of environmental impact associated with emissions; phases of life cycle impact assessment; and procedures and methods of impact estimation. The impact categories presented are associated with climate change, acidification, ozone depletion, tropospheric ozone formation, eutrophication, and Particulate Matter Formation. Not all methods are able to generate indicators for all types of impact and, depending on the type of materials and services that make up the inventory of the alternatives analyzed, one specific method may be more appropriate to use. The conclusions are that for each environmental impact, the results depend on the input parameters, such as energy flows and materials, along with their processing by methods of life cycle impact assessment. Besides this, despite the great diversity of the databases for the steps of life cycle assessment of roadway pavement, there is a general consensus about the nature of these steps.

When evaluating the sustainability of a construction project, it is important to verify the influence of climate uncertainty and the depletion of natural resources that permeate the strategies to make infrastructure possible, especially those associated with the transportation sector, which have great potential to generate environmental impacts. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effect that subgrade material variation, which constitutes highway pavements with flexible surfacing, can generate in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of these infrastructures. For this purpose, pavements that had the same materials and thicknesses for the execution of the base (gravel soil-NG') and the subbase (clay soil LG'), but with subgrades composed of different types of tropical soils, classified as lateritic and non-lateritic, were proposed. The combination of these elements enabled the elaboration of pavements with different service lives and atmospheric emissions. The scope of the study included the phases of extraction and production of the inputs necessary to build the roadway envisioned in each scenario, as well as the construction phase itself, considering the operation of construction equipment. The LCA focused on the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the quantity of primary energy employed in the phases considered. It was concluded that the materials used in this study have similar mechanical behavior, and therefore the results of the design of the thicknesses of the asphalt overlay were close and consequently result in similar energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano are two of the most important Italian PDO cheeses. To improve the environmental impact performances of their production, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method has been used. In the Life DOP Project, LCA of milk production at farm will be completed on about 120 dairy farms of the province of Mantova (Northern Italy). Mitigation strategies to improve both environmental and economic production sides will be suggested, focusing on forage crop production (yield increase), milk production (dairy efficiency increase), herd management (animals’ health and welfare) and off-farm purchased feed. From the preliminary results, shown on 4 farms, there is evidence that improvements are needed. In particular, the most efficient farm (farm C) has the best environmental sustainability, while the others have worse outcomes, mainly due to poor dairy efficiency and related issues.

In recent years, global society has been subjected to great change due to unpredictable events such as pandemics, migrant flow, urban homeless, wars, and natural disasters. There has been an increased demand for fast and easily constructed buildings characterized by limited space and used for a limited time, modular and flexible self-assembly homes that are reusable without compromising comfort and environmental sustainability. A highly sustainable timber-cork modular system for lightweight temporary housing (LTH) is proposed in this paper. The structure of the proposed LTH was designed as a succession of modular timber portal frames composed of spruce boards hinged together. The concept of the prototype was a full modular shelter. It was possible to interchange every piece of the building, the structural elements, and the walls with each other. Due to the modularity of the elements of which the shelter was composed, this system could offer different solutions to the events above. The proposed LTH was analyzed in terms of its structural, thermal, and environmental performance. The structural system is very reminiscent of the platform frame, characterized by a light load-bearing frame consisting of solid timber uprights and crosspieces connected to the internal frame by means of a mechanical connection. The structural FEM analysis highlighted the structure's capacity to withstand wind with a velocity of 72 m•s-1 , corresponding to the F3 of the enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) of tornado damage intensity. The thermal analysis highlighted a yearly energy use of 430.49 kWh to maintain a set-point temperature indoors of 20-26°C compared with a yearly energy use of 625.93 kWh for a common container house (CH) with the same dimensions under the same environmental conditions. Finally, a Life Cycle Analysis comparison between the proposed LTH and the CH was carried out by means of the One Click LCA software. Two different scenarios of service life were considered: one of 10 years and the other of 5 years. The results highlighted the higher sustainability of the proposed LTH than that of the CH for the required service life (Req SL) period. In particular, the calculated greenhouse gas emissions of the LTH (3.52ž 10 3 kgCO2 eq) were less than 1/2 of the gas emissions of the CH (8.53ž 10 3) for a Req SL of 10 years and about 1/3 for a Req SL of 5 years. Furthermore, the LTH showed a value of biogenic carbon storage (7.76E2 kgCO2) about 6 times bigger than the temporary house container (1.31E2 kgCO2).

This manuscript investigates the possibility of using recycled glass fiber-reinforced polymer for the production of loadbearing elements in construction. Due to the increasing use of GFRP in the world, an increasing amount of waste is generated. The main objective of this research is to expand the use of composite materials in construction and, in particular, to examine the possibilities of original and recycled GFRP. Firstly, the basic characteristics of two different but very similar materials were determined using standard testing samples. Subsequently, experimental beam models were tested as a fourpoint bending beam model. The beam models used in this experiment were made of two types of materials, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and recycled glass fiber-reinforced polymer (RGFRP). The experiments were conducted until the failure of the beam models. The test results are presented in the form of a force/displacement diagram, and the confirmation of the experimental results is shown by means of a numerical model of the beam. Both materials exhibited a very good strength-to-weight ratio, rendering them a suitable choice of material for load-bearing beam elements. Finally, the justification for recycling and the comparison of original and recycled material are presented in a dimensionless diagram. The comparison of these two materials provides some good insights for future research into GFRP beams.

This thesis deals with the optimization of powertrains for port applications, integrating eco-design criteria. The study focuses on powertrains comprising Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) systems, lithium-ion batteries and Electronic Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) supercapacitors. After an in-depth analysis of energy components from societal, environmental and technoeconomic angles, semi-empirical modeling of these components is presented. Several powertrain configurations are studied, ranging from 100% battery solutions to hybrid configurations with a PEMFC system, as well as triple hybridization solutions incorporating supercapacitors. Simulations of these powertrains, based on driving cycles from GAUSSIN's port tractors, enable us to compare the different configurations according to a number of criteria: technical, economic, environmental and societal. The results show that the triple hybridization solution with Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery packs offers the best compromise between performance, cost and reduced environmental impact, although certain configurations may be preferable depending on the specific priorities of the players involved. The prospects of this thesis include model improvements, in-depth reflection on sustainability and on emissions generated throughout the vehicle's life cycle.

The environmental and societal challenges of our contemporary society are leading us to reconsider our approaches to vehicle design. The aim of this article is to provide the reader with the essential knowledge needed to responsibly design a vehicle equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system. Two pivotal aspects of hydrogen-electric powertrain eco-design are examined. First, the global warming potential is assessed for both PEMFC systems and Type IV hydrogen tanks, accounting for material extraction, production, and end-of-life considerations. The usage phase was omitted from the study in order to facilitate data adaptation for each type of use. PEMFC exhibits a global warming potential of about 29.2 kgCO 2eq /kW, while the tank records 12.4 kgCO 2eq /kWh, with transportation factors considered. Secondly, the societal and governmental impacts are scrutinized, with the carbon-intensive hydrogen tank emerging as having the most significant societal and governmental risks. In fact, on a scale of 1-5, with 5 representing the highest level of risk, the PEMFC system has a societal impact and governance risk of 2.98. The Type IV tank has a societal impact and governance risk of 3.31. Although uncertainties persist regarding the results presented in this study, the values obtained provide an overview of the societal and governmental impacts of the hydrogen ecosystem in the transportation sector. The next step will be to compare, for the same usage, which solution between hydrogen-electric and 100% battery is more respectful of humans and the environment.

The article (in the Norwegian language) discusses the Norwegian regulation of access to transfer and mortgage of public permits or concessions to the exploitation of natural resources or running an industry. Petroleum activity, aquaculture, offshore energy production, carbon storage, and mineral exploration are examples of this, as are fishing or emission quotas. The article highlights that the regulation of these issues is fragmented and insufficient to meet the investment needs in new industries, particularly offshore.

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Sustainability assessment from the beginning of the process design phase is crucial to ensure the development of a sustainable chemical process. Hence, a myriad of different methods for sustainability assessment of chemical process designs are reported in the literature. These methods differ significantly in terms of the sustainability dimensions they cover, their applicability in different phases of process design, their methodological approach and data needs. While there are several reviews existing on this topic, there is a lack of reviews focusing on sustainability assessment methods for chemical process design applicable in the early stages. Therefore, we perform a systematic literature review focusing exclusively on early-phase sustainability assessment methods. For this purpose, we use a mixed-method approach combining qualitative analysis and quantitative bibliometric analysis. From the complete literature dataset (n = 565), the analysis uncovered a diverse array of 53 methods well-suited for early-phase sustainability assessment of chemical processes. Through qualitative analysis, the reviewed literature was organised into distinct categories, including assessment methods, decision-making procedures and result characteristics. Additionally, quantitative analysis via bibliometric techniques revealed five distinct research clusters and several trends within the field, highlighting areas for potential future exploration. As a synthesis of the review, we visualised and structured the identified assessment tools in a sustainability target graphic and developed a decision tree to support the identification of an appropriate sustainability assessment method. With this review, we aim to offer a comprehensive and informative overview and guidance for researchers seeking to assess the sustainability of chemical processes during the early design phase. Green foundation 1. This study reviews and analyses various methods for conducting early-phase sustainability assessments of chemical processes, encompassing elements of green and sustainable chemistry, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. 2. As most of the sustainability impacts of a chemical process are determined in the early stages of process development, it is imperative to integrate sustainability assessment into the initial phases of chemical process design. Our review specifically focuses on sustainability assessment methods applicable during the early design phase of chemical processes. 3. Our review seeks to provide researchers with a comprehensive overview of the available methods for early-phase sustainability assessment of chemical processes, along with guidance for selecting the most appropriate tools. Future studies should focus on addressing data uncertainty, enhancing social sustainability, and integrating the concepts of circularity and absolute sustainability.

Purpose Companies need to enhance their understanding of the environmental impacts of their products and services. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become a prevalent method for evaluating these impacts. Despite significant advancements in LCA methodology and data availability, several challenges persist. Digital technologies may offer solutions to these challenges in LCA. Therefore, it is crucial to explore how digital technologies can be integrated into LCAs. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the application of digital technologies, specifically blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence (AI), within LCAs. The review included 103 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers. Contributions of these technologies were categorized according to the four LCA phases outlined in ISO 14040/44 standards. The findings were synthesized into a framework that highlights the individual and combined potential of these technologies for enhancing LCAs. Results and discussion The review reveals that IoT is primarily used in the inventory analysis phase, while blockchain, AI, and big data are applied across the goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation phases. Based on these findings, a comprehensive theoretical concept was developed to outline all possible combinations of these four technologies with LCA for synergistic application. Conclusions This study proposes a framework for integrating four key digital technologies-blockchain, IoT, big data, and AI-into LCAs to support environmental sustainability assessment from a company perspective. This framework offers a current overview and a foundation for future research. For LCA practitioners, it serves as a strategic tool for identifying potential technologies and making informed decisions about which digital technologies to apply in their assessments. Keywords LCA • Life cycle assessment • Artificial intelligence • Blockchain • Internet of Things • Big data Communicated by Matthias Finkbeiner.

Assessing the sustainability of chemical processes in terms of environmental, economic, and social aspects, especially during the early stages of development, is crucial to designing sustainable manufacturing routes. In this study, we compared the sustainability performance of an electrochemical route for synthesizing noroxymorphone, an intermediate in the synthesis of opioid antagonists, with that of a conventional process. For that purpose, we followed the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework of the European Commission and applied selected sustainability indicators from the literature. Compared to the conventional procedure, the electrochemical process has the potential to offer advantages in all three dimensions of sustainability, primarily due to the lower environmental impacts of the employed reagents in the upstream supply chain and their reduced hazards during the production process. Furthermore, it was found that further steering the electrochemical process toward sustainability is possible by optimizing the solvents and reducing the use of hazardous reagents.

Climate change is a threat and crisis that hit the world today. The green industry is widely implemented in the manufacturing sector as an effort to reduce negative impacts on the environment. The implementation of the green industry is influenced by various factors. The Chemical Industry is one sector that faces challenges in implementing green industry practices. The objective of this paper is to create an innovative conceptual framework that combines blockchain technology and building information modeling. This research examines the concept of green retrofitting in the chemical industry using an assessment based on the Ministry of Public Works and Housing Regulation No. 21 of 2021. The study was conducted in a chemical industry located in Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia. The research method combines Blockchain-Building Information Modeling (BIM) to analyze the cost efficiency of green retrofitting and Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) as a tool to process data from questionnaires and identify influential factors. The results indicate that the use of Blockchain-BIM can reduce retrofitting costs by 4.42% for low-level, 4.45% for medium-level, and 4.40% for high-level categories. This demonstrates that Blockchain-BIM has a significant impact on improving cost performance in the retrofitting process.

The promise of bio-based polymers like polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) as sustainable packaging solutions is tempered by significant real-world challenges: persistent cost premiums, complex supply chain logistics, and geographically variable environmental footprints that diminish their theoretical benefits. This study directly addresses these complexities by combining cradle-tograve Life Cycle Assessment (ISO 14040/44) with a multi-objective Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to identify economically feasible and environmentally superior configurations for regional PLA and PHA packaging systems across Western Europe. Our innovative approach goes beyond traditional methods by optimizing facility locations, transportation networks, feedstock sourcing, and endof-life options simultaneously while assessing trade-offs between total costs and Global Warming Potential (GWP). The analysis offers valuable insights: PHA consistently outperforms PLA in net energy demand (-6.5 to +9.6 MJ/kg) and achieves true circularity within effective composting systems, yet requires significant policy support to overcome its 20% capital cost disadvantage. While localized production significantly reduces emissions by 15-30% in regions rich in renewable energy, it also increases costs by 10-15%-a paradox that can only be managed through strategically designed policies. Targeted incentives for composting infrastructure further boost circularity metrics by 40%, turning waste streams into valuable resources. These findings provide policymakers with a rigorous, data-driven framework to guide regional

Wood is a renewable material resource that is produced naturally in the forest ecosystem. After every harvested tree, another one regrows in its place. Being an organic material also increases the potential of bioenergy production from wood residues during use and post-use phases and even energy recovery from landfill emissions after disposal. However, the use of wood as a sustainable replacement for many other building materials is challenged by the scientific publications and environmental regulations that depict how harmful the process is for forests. Therefore, this study is reviewing four papers that assess the life cycle of wood products in the building industry. Only articles on wood-based building products were chosen, studies on entire wooden buildings were eliminated. Most of the papers used data from CORRIM and tools like SimaPro for modelling the data. Despite illustrating very similar environmental impacts and conclusions, the reviewed papers varied in their system boundaries & functional units. It was observed that most of the publications on the topic only had a Cradle-to-gate approach. This was also discussed & explained. However, it can be plausible to conclude that if some of the recommendations suggested at the end of the paper are taken into consideration, wood-based building products contribute to less environmental impacts and consume less energy than its alternatives.

The Circular Economy (CE) is a paradigm aimed at slowing and closing resource loops, and reducing resource flows, to achieve environmental, economic, and social benefits. Notwithstanding its current widespread adoption in manufacturing, the effectiveness of circular manufacturing (CM) strategies could be hampered by the occurrence of the so-called rebound effects (REs). RE is defined as an undesirable increase in consumption of a resource due to improved efficiency. The identification and prevention of REs' occurrence is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of CM strategies. Although CE's RE is gaining momentum in literature, there is still a limited understanding of how to explore this topic and implement related avoidance, mitigation and/or remediation actions. To this concern, this paper aims to unveil and systematize the main research gaps and to open rooms for further studies in this domain. To address this objective, a systematic literature has been conducted, investigating all of the five previously identified dimensions composing the twofold domain CE and REs (i.e., business models, drivers, product lifecycle management, circular manufacturing ecosystem, and socioeconomic aspects). The analysis of the selected sources allowed to identify seven gap categories. Finally, from a criticality prioritization of the gap categories, a research agenda has been developed, indicating as priority industrial applications, technologies potential and performance assessment.

Eco-efficiency is used to analyze the convenience of installing a solar-based water heating system for a large-scale mining operation in Chile. The solarbased system will be used as primary source of heat, complemented with the currently in-use diesel-based system. Eco-efficiency is defined as the ratio between comparative savings from business as usual and GWP 100. Use scenarios are fixed to 25 years, with variations depending on annual energy demand and technology used. Eco-efficiency increases when the solar-based system is used for both energy scenarios. We find that incorporating the solarbased system makes the heating process more resilient, hence improving the overall performance of the whole system.

In the last years there has been an increasing of global demand for dairy products particularly in developing regions, despite bovine milk production being criticized for its environmental impact such as greenhouse gas emission. To assess the environmental impact of a product it is crucial to consider the entire product chain, for this purpose Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a valuable tool, it allows to quantify the environmental burden of a product and to identify areas where the largest potential improvements can be made. In Europe dairy products contribute to 5% of global greenhouse gas emission for that reason in the last years the dairy industry has been extensively studied to determine its environmental impact. Italy is the 5th European milk producer but at the moment only few studies investigated the sustainability of Italian dairy sector. The aim of this work was to quantify the carbon footprint of the whole life cycle of 1 kg of pasteurized milk and to identify the environm...

Recently, applications of soil and water bioengineering constructions using living plants and supplementary materials have become increasingly popular. Besides technical effects, soil and water bioengineering has the advantage of additionally taking into consideration ecological values and the values of landscape aesthetics. When implementing soil and water bioengineering structures, suitable plants must be selected, and the structures must be given a dimension taking into account potential impact loads. A consideration of energy flows and the potential negative impact of construction in terms of energy and greenhouse gas balance has been neglected until now. The current study closes this gap of knowledge by introducing a method for detecting the possible negative effects of installing soil and water bioengineering measures. For this purpose, an environmental life cycle assessment model has been applied. The impact categories global warming potential and cumulative energy demand are...