Inter-and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Amide-and Urea-Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinoline Deriva... more Inter-and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Amide-and Urea-Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivatives.-A number of amideand urea-substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives is prepared. The X-ray analysis of some of them shows dimeric 8-hydroxyquinoline units with bifurcated inter-and intramolecular H-bonds in the solid state.-(ALBRECHT,
Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology, 2019
Biotechnology is applied in many industrial areas and uses microorganisms, enzymes, or precursors... more Biotechnology is applied in many industrial areas and uses microorganisms, enzymes, or precursors replacing chemicals to produce goods, including chemicals, plastics, food, agricultural and pharmaceutical products, and energy carriers from renewable raw materials and increasingly also from waste from agriculture and forestry (BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH, Facts and Figures. Biotechnologie.de. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/industrial-biotechnology-biological-resources-for-industrial-processes/ , 2013). In comparison with conventional processes, industrial biotechnology processes often run under relatively mild reaction conditions, moderate temperatures, and the use of aqueous media. They might reduce in general the energy requirements and the number of by-products. Since product concentration and formation rate are often very low, the resulting products need to be purified and recovered in marketable quantities in a process that is referred to as downstream processing. Product quantity can also be increased by optimizing the manufacturing processes or biocatalysts used (OECD, the application of biotechnology to industrial sustainability. www.oecd.org/sti/biotechnology , 2001).In this context, developing a sustainable bio-based economy that uses eco-efficient processes is one of the key strategic challenges for the twenty-first century. Decisions in the technology development are often supported by sustainability assessment results using different types of sustainability assessment methods. In the last decades, we developed different types of sustainability assessment methods evaluating aspects of economy, ecology, and society to support decision-making processes. We show in this chapter how different types of questions can be answered, how more sustainable solutions can be identified, and how this information can be used for marketing and research activities.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Aug 2, 2018
Purpose This article proposes an approach describing relative potential toxicological performance... more Purpose This article proposes an approach describing relative potential toxicological performances of products and allows for comparisons with other products with identical functions. The scores derived at the substance level may be aggregated to the product level for each of the life cycle stages of the product. This approach is intended to become a tool for performance assessment of products. It provides complementary information in addition to results from LCA for environmental product declarations (EPD). This article focuses on describing the impact on human health from exposure to construction products and to their ingredients, compatible with Blife cycle thinking^. Ingredient substances can be part of the intended composition or can be relevant residues like monomers in plastics or defined contaminants. The proposed approach can also describe the toxicological impact for other than construction products. Methods The method describes a dimensionless score suitable for ranking with three characteristics: (1) By a hazard score, it describes chemical products for different applications, e.g. for construction, with regard to the inherent toxicity for humans of their ingredients. (2) It considers exposure potentials to the product's ingredients by a generic adjustment factor, which may modify potential health impacts. (3) It addresses not only the use stage of a product and its ingredients (e.g. as construction material in a building), but it also includes other life cycle stages of the product's ingredients. Results and discussion The specific method is described which is still under testing. Therefore, no results of any application can be published so far. Since the method provides a scalable, dimensionless score of potential toxicological impacts, independent of time and location, these scores can in principle be aggregated to the building level, comparable to the life cycle assessment (LCA)-based information in an EPD. The different factors make use of the extensive toxicological and exposure data generated under REACH regulation but are not limited to these. Interpretation of such data differs from REACH. Conclusions The method can be further developed into a tool for product and building assessment and be provided as (voluntary) additional information in an EPD. It is recommended that the basic concept be adapted to the needs of the users of the information generated with this method (e.g. architects, building assessment) and the providers of information (manufacturers). An intense consultation process with other stakeholders should be organised to establish a final method into a guidance document for unambiguous application.
Abstract Purpose The aim is to conduct a life cycle assessment of the analgesic Eudorlin® Extra t... more Abstract Purpose The aim is to conduct a life cycle assessment of the analgesic Eudorlin® Extra to identify environmental hotspots along its life cycle, i.e. the manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the galenic formulation, packaging, distribution, use and end-of-life. This publication is one of only few LCA studies that consider all life cycle stages of a pharmaceutical. Methods The functional unit is the treatment of an adult in Germany with the purpose of pain relief for 4 days, the reference flow is one package Eudorlin® Extra (10 tablets with 400 mg ibuprofen per tablet). Primary data is provided by the manufacturing companies for the production stage. The impact assessment is conducted for impact categories that have been identified as germane for the sector. A contribution analysis is performed and relevant processes are evaluated by sensitivity analyses. Results and discussion The environmental profile is dominated by the production stage whereas the use and end-of-life are negligible. This seems to be plausible due to the high material usage during manufacturing, as opposed to the use stage where no additional inputs are required. However, methodological issues are identified which potentially affect the results such as the lack of characterization factors for the metabolites. conclusion and outlook The results are in alignment with existing studies which emphasize the environmental relevance of the production stage. Future research should focus on improving existing impact assessment methods, developing characterization factors for metabolites and publishing inventory data on substances that are frequently used in the pharmaceutical life cycle.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Apr 2, 2005
Eco-Efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In mos... more Eco-Efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In most cases, Eco-Efficiency is taken to mean the ecological optimization of overall systems while not disregarding economic factors. Eco-Efficiency should increase the positive ecological performance of a commercial company in relation to economic value creation-or to reduce negative effects. Several companies use Eco-Efficiency Analysis for decision-making processes; and industrial examples of best practices in developing and implementing Eco-Efficiency have been reviewed. They clearly demonstrate the environmental and business benefits of Eco-Efficiency. An instrument for the early recognition and systematic detection of economic and environmental opportunities and risks for production processes in the chemical industry began use in 1997, since when different new features have been developed, leading to many examples. This powerful Eco-Efficiency Analysis allows a feasibility evaluation of existing and future business activities and is applied by BASF. In many cases, decision-makers are able to choose among alternative processes for making a product.
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2017
Purpose This paper proposes a method to assess the social impacts of nano-enabled products throug... more Purpose This paper proposes a method to assess the social impacts of nano-enabled products through the life cycle that is a) quantitative, b) integrates performance and attitudinal dimensions of social impacts, and c) considers the overall and stakeholder balance of benefits and costs. Social Life Cycle Assessment (s-LCA) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) are integrated to address this need, and the method is illustrated on a case study of a nano-enabled product. Method The s-LCA framework comprises of fifteen social indicators within the classification structure of Benefit/Cost and Worker/Community. The method includes four steps: a) Normalization of company level data on the social indicator to country level data for the year, b) Nested weighting at stakeholder and indicator level and its integration with normalized scores to create social indicator scores, c) Aggregation of social indicator scores into benefit score, cost score and net benefit scores as per the s-LCA framework, and d) Classification of social indicator scores and aggregated scores as Low/Medium/High based on benchmarks created using employment and value added proxies. Results and Discussion A prospective production scenario involving novel product, a nano-copper oxide (n-Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation CuO) based paint with anti-microbial functionality, is assessed with respect to its social impacts. The method was applied to twelve indicators at the company level. Classification of social indicator scores and aggregated scores showed that the n-CuO paint has high net benefits. Conclusions The framework and method offer a flexible structure that can be revised and extended as more knowledge and data on social impacts of nano-enabled products becomes available. The proposed method is being implemented in the Social Impact Assessment sub-module of the SUN Decision Support System (SUNDS) software. Companies seeking to improve the social footprint of their products can also use the proposed method to consider relevant social impacts to achieve this goal.
ABSTRACT BASF is co-operating with Karlsruhe University and the ko-Institut e.V., Germany, in dev... more ABSTRACT BASF is co-operating with Karlsruhe University and the ko-Institut e.V., Germany, in developing a method for measuring social aspects of sustainability with the aim of incorporating them into BASF's existing eco-efficiency analysis. Whereas numerous instruments are used in practice for the ecological assessment of products and processes, a gap still has to be closed by developing social life-cycle assessment procedures. Based on the principles of the BASF eco-efficiency analysis on the one hand, and a product-related specification of the social sustainability dimension on the other hand, a social life-cycle assessment procedure has been developed which is now to be tested and discussed. The new integrated instrument, the so-called SEEbalance, will be applied at BASF in order to improve the performance of the company's product portfolio and manufacturing processes and to market advantageous products. This paper presents the concept of the new methodology. SEEbalance is a comparative life-cycle assessment tool that consists of three main aspects: costs, environmental impact and social effects of different product or process alternatives are examined and compared. Socio-eco-efficient solutions combine a relatively good environmental performance with high social benefit and at the same time low costs for the end customer. Social criteria for the evaluation of products and processes are proposed. The developed method for the social life-cycle assessment is based on an industrial sector analysis of statistical data. The final aggregation and presentation of the results is done in an analogous manner to the eco-efficiency analysis.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Jul 1, 2002
and research. Predictable analysis times and costs are essential factors for the efficient use an... more and research. Predictable analysis times and costs are essential factors for the efficient use and efficacy of this method. It is based on assessing environmental behavior, environmental impact, possible impacts on human health and ecosystems, and on the costs of products and processes from the cradle to the grave. The term eco-efficiency was evidently given currency by Stephan Schmidheiny and coworkers [1]. Eco-efficiency was then defined as a management philosophy by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 1993 following the 1992 Rio summit. Business was to be encouraged to become more competitive and innovative, while at the same time exercising greater responsibility for the environment [2]. Eco-efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In most cases, eco-efficiency is taken to mean the ecological optimization of overall systems while not disregarding economic factors [3]. Eco-efficiency expresses the ratio of economic creation to ecological destruction [4]. However, the improvement of purely ecological factors, for example better utilization of resources through more efficient processes, is also frequently referred to as increased eco-efficiency [5]. This paper discusses the methodology of eco-efficiency analysis by BASF and illustrates the specific procedure using the eco-efficiency analysis of Indigo as an example [6].
Carotenoid pigments are widely used as feed additives in the poultry sector and in salmonid and c... more Carotenoid pigments are widely used as feed additives in the poultry sector and in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture. In these applications the egg, skin or flesh of the target species are pigmented in order to improve marketability. The poultry feed producer is able to source these carotenoids (or indeed, xanthophylls) either from chemical synthesis or from processed plant materials. This
SpringerBriefs in environmental science, Jun 7, 2019
Measuring sustainability is an important prerequisite for making strategic decisions. BASF has de... more Measuring sustainability is an important prerequisite for making strategic decisions. BASF has developed several instruments to evaluate sustainability whereby the utilization of each method depends on the concrete purpose or issue in question. The new Social Analysis will contribute to this setup by assessing social impacts along the value chain.
For successful implementation of sustainability in industry robust assessments of products and pr... more For successful implementation of sustainability in industry robust assessments of products and processes are necessary that quantify environmental aspects under consideration of costs. The sustainability needs of companies vary greatly according to region, sector and stakeholder. BASF has developed a toolbox for eco-efficiency assessments that addresses the broad range of in-house and external needs, allowing flexibility while ensuring that relevant and sufficient environmental impact is covered to support decision-making based on quantified sustainability assessments. The toolbox is based on standard practices for life cycle assessment to support strategic decisions, product development and marketing. Environmental impact assessment follows ISO 14040 and 14044. Impacts are aggregated to an overall environmental impact. Life cycle costs are similarly determined and may be combined with environmental impact to an overall Eco-Efficiency Portfolio and Eco-Efficiency Index. The relevance check ensures inclusion of main impact categories and coverage of sufficient environmental impacts. A peer-reviewed case study on the treatment of flowback from fracturing operations demonstrates the applicability of the Eco-Efficiency Analysis. Deposition of flowback in existing hydrocarbon-containing reservoirs was compared with treatment in preparation for disposal to a municipal waste water treatment plant. The Reservoir option is more eco-efficient both at low and high flowback volumes. Disadvantages of the waste water treatment option include the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the high energy needed for the removal of dissolved solids from the flowback. The relevance check shows that climate change is the dominant environmental impact, but photochemical ozone formation, acidification, freshwater eutrophication, human toxicity and resource depletion (mineral & fossil) are significant as well.
The narrative sustainable building is core message of European politics. Strategies discussed in ... more The narrative sustainable building is core message of European politics. Strategies discussed in this regard concern above all material minimization by using new more efficient manufacturing technologies, new form finding approaches for load‐bearing structures or new high‐performance materials. The goal of the research project V2.10, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, refers to the latter by assessing the sustainability potential of building components made of innovative textile reinforced concrete. We conceptualized a life cycle sustainability assessment framework and applied it to variants of sandwich wall systems made of carbon concrete composites and steel‐reinforced concrete. Results indicate hotspots in technology and material choices that could be addressed by circular strategies, for example, refuse, reduce or recycling. Overall, one design variant made of carbon concrete composites is the best performing with respect to all dimensions of sustainability.
Inter-and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Amide-and Urea-Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinoline Deriva... more Inter-and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Amide-and Urea-Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivatives.-A number of amideand urea-substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives is prepared. The X-ray analysis of some of them shows dimeric 8-hydroxyquinoline units with bifurcated inter-and intramolecular H-bonds in the solid state.-(ALBRECHT,
Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology, 2019
Biotechnology is applied in many industrial areas and uses microorganisms, enzymes, or precursors... more Biotechnology is applied in many industrial areas and uses microorganisms, enzymes, or precursors replacing chemicals to produce goods, including chemicals, plastics, food, agricultural and pharmaceutical products, and energy carriers from renewable raw materials and increasingly also from waste from agriculture and forestry (BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH, Facts and Figures. Biotechnologie.de. https://www.biooekonomie-bw.de/en/articles/dossiers/industrial-biotechnology-biological-resources-for-industrial-processes/ , 2013). In comparison with conventional processes, industrial biotechnology processes often run under relatively mild reaction conditions, moderate temperatures, and the use of aqueous media. They might reduce in general the energy requirements and the number of by-products. Since product concentration and formation rate are often very low, the resulting products need to be purified and recovered in marketable quantities in a process that is referred to as downstream processing. Product quantity can also be increased by optimizing the manufacturing processes or biocatalysts used (OECD, the application of biotechnology to industrial sustainability. www.oecd.org/sti/biotechnology , 2001).In this context, developing a sustainable bio-based economy that uses eco-efficient processes is one of the key strategic challenges for the twenty-first century. Decisions in the technology development are often supported by sustainability assessment results using different types of sustainability assessment methods. In the last decades, we developed different types of sustainability assessment methods evaluating aspects of economy, ecology, and society to support decision-making processes. We show in this chapter how different types of questions can be answered, how more sustainable solutions can be identified, and how this information can be used for marketing and research activities.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Aug 2, 2018
Purpose This article proposes an approach describing relative potential toxicological performance... more Purpose This article proposes an approach describing relative potential toxicological performances of products and allows for comparisons with other products with identical functions. The scores derived at the substance level may be aggregated to the product level for each of the life cycle stages of the product. This approach is intended to become a tool for performance assessment of products. It provides complementary information in addition to results from LCA for environmental product declarations (EPD). This article focuses on describing the impact on human health from exposure to construction products and to their ingredients, compatible with Blife cycle thinking^. Ingredient substances can be part of the intended composition or can be relevant residues like monomers in plastics or defined contaminants. The proposed approach can also describe the toxicological impact for other than construction products. Methods The method describes a dimensionless score suitable for ranking with three characteristics: (1) By a hazard score, it describes chemical products for different applications, e.g. for construction, with regard to the inherent toxicity for humans of their ingredients. (2) It considers exposure potentials to the product's ingredients by a generic adjustment factor, which may modify potential health impacts. (3) It addresses not only the use stage of a product and its ingredients (e.g. as construction material in a building), but it also includes other life cycle stages of the product's ingredients. Results and discussion The specific method is described which is still under testing. Therefore, no results of any application can be published so far. Since the method provides a scalable, dimensionless score of potential toxicological impacts, independent of time and location, these scores can in principle be aggregated to the building level, comparable to the life cycle assessment (LCA)-based information in an EPD. The different factors make use of the extensive toxicological and exposure data generated under REACH regulation but are not limited to these. Interpretation of such data differs from REACH. Conclusions The method can be further developed into a tool for product and building assessment and be provided as (voluntary) additional information in an EPD. It is recommended that the basic concept be adapted to the needs of the users of the information generated with this method (e.g. architects, building assessment) and the providers of information (manufacturers). An intense consultation process with other stakeholders should be organised to establish a final method into a guidance document for unambiguous application.
Abstract Purpose The aim is to conduct a life cycle assessment of the analgesic Eudorlin® Extra t... more Abstract Purpose The aim is to conduct a life cycle assessment of the analgesic Eudorlin® Extra to identify environmental hotspots along its life cycle, i.e. the manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the galenic formulation, packaging, distribution, use and end-of-life. This publication is one of only few LCA studies that consider all life cycle stages of a pharmaceutical. Methods The functional unit is the treatment of an adult in Germany with the purpose of pain relief for 4 days, the reference flow is one package Eudorlin® Extra (10 tablets with 400 mg ibuprofen per tablet). Primary data is provided by the manufacturing companies for the production stage. The impact assessment is conducted for impact categories that have been identified as germane for the sector. A contribution analysis is performed and relevant processes are evaluated by sensitivity analyses. Results and discussion The environmental profile is dominated by the production stage whereas the use and end-of-life are negligible. This seems to be plausible due to the high material usage during manufacturing, as opposed to the use stage where no additional inputs are required. However, methodological issues are identified which potentially affect the results such as the lack of characterization factors for the metabolites. conclusion and outlook The results are in alignment with existing studies which emphasize the environmental relevance of the production stage. Future research should focus on improving existing impact assessment methods, developing characterization factors for metabolites and publishing inventory data on substances that are frequently used in the pharmaceutical life cycle.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Apr 2, 2005
Eco-Efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In mos... more Eco-Efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In most cases, Eco-Efficiency is taken to mean the ecological optimization of overall systems while not disregarding economic factors. Eco-Efficiency should increase the positive ecological performance of a commercial company in relation to economic value creation-or to reduce negative effects. Several companies use Eco-Efficiency Analysis for decision-making processes; and industrial examples of best practices in developing and implementing Eco-Efficiency have been reviewed. They clearly demonstrate the environmental and business benefits of Eco-Efficiency. An instrument for the early recognition and systematic detection of economic and environmental opportunities and risks for production processes in the chemical industry began use in 1997, since when different new features have been developed, leading to many examples. This powerful Eco-Efficiency Analysis allows a feasibility evaluation of existing and future business activities and is applied by BASF. In many cases, decision-makers are able to choose among alternative processes for making a product.
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2017
Purpose This paper proposes a method to assess the social impacts of nano-enabled products throug... more Purpose This paper proposes a method to assess the social impacts of nano-enabled products through the life cycle that is a) quantitative, b) integrates performance and attitudinal dimensions of social impacts, and c) considers the overall and stakeholder balance of benefits and costs. Social Life Cycle Assessment (s-LCA) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) are integrated to address this need, and the method is illustrated on a case study of a nano-enabled product. Method The s-LCA framework comprises of fifteen social indicators within the classification structure of Benefit/Cost and Worker/Community. The method includes four steps: a) Normalization of company level data on the social indicator to country level data for the year, b) Nested weighting at stakeholder and indicator level and its integration with normalized scores to create social indicator scores, c) Aggregation of social indicator scores into benefit score, cost score and net benefit scores as per the s-LCA framework, and d) Classification of social indicator scores and aggregated scores as Low/Medium/High based on benchmarks created using employment and value added proxies. Results and Discussion A prospective production scenario involving novel product, a nano-copper oxide (n-Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation CuO) based paint with anti-microbial functionality, is assessed with respect to its social impacts. The method was applied to twelve indicators at the company level. Classification of social indicator scores and aggregated scores showed that the n-CuO paint has high net benefits. Conclusions The framework and method offer a flexible structure that can be revised and extended as more knowledge and data on social impacts of nano-enabled products becomes available. The proposed method is being implemented in the Social Impact Assessment sub-module of the SUN Decision Support System (SUNDS) software. Companies seeking to improve the social footprint of their products can also use the proposed method to consider relevant social impacts to achieve this goal.
ABSTRACT BASF is co-operating with Karlsruhe University and the ko-Institut e.V., Germany, in dev... more ABSTRACT BASF is co-operating with Karlsruhe University and the ko-Institut e.V., Germany, in developing a method for measuring social aspects of sustainability with the aim of incorporating them into BASF's existing eco-efficiency analysis. Whereas numerous instruments are used in practice for the ecological assessment of products and processes, a gap still has to be closed by developing social life-cycle assessment procedures. Based on the principles of the BASF eco-efficiency analysis on the one hand, and a product-related specification of the social sustainability dimension on the other hand, a social life-cycle assessment procedure has been developed which is now to be tested and discussed. The new integrated instrument, the so-called SEEbalance, will be applied at BASF in order to improve the performance of the company's product portfolio and manufacturing processes and to market advantageous products. This paper presents the concept of the new methodology. SEEbalance is a comparative life-cycle assessment tool that consists of three main aspects: costs, environmental impact and social effects of different product or process alternatives are examined and compared. Socio-eco-efficient solutions combine a relatively good environmental performance with high social benefit and at the same time low costs for the end customer. Social criteria for the evaluation of products and processes are proposed. The developed method for the social life-cycle assessment is based on an industrial sector analysis of statistical data. The final aggregation and presentation of the results is done in an analogous manner to the eco-efficiency analysis.
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Jul 1, 2002
and research. Predictable analysis times and costs are essential factors for the efficient use an... more and research. Predictable analysis times and costs are essential factors for the efficient use and efficacy of this method. It is based on assessing environmental behavior, environmental impact, possible impacts on human health and ecosystems, and on the costs of products and processes from the cradle to the grave. The term eco-efficiency was evidently given currency by Stephan Schmidheiny and coworkers [1]. Eco-efficiency was then defined as a management philosophy by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 1993 following the 1992 Rio summit. Business was to be encouraged to become more competitive and innovative, while at the same time exercising greater responsibility for the environment [2]. Eco-efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In most cases, eco-efficiency is taken to mean the ecological optimization of overall systems while not disregarding economic factors [3]. Eco-efficiency expresses the ratio of economic creation to ecological destruction [4]. However, the improvement of purely ecological factors, for example better utilization of resources through more efficient processes, is also frequently referred to as increased eco-efficiency [5]. This paper discusses the methodology of eco-efficiency analysis by BASF and illustrates the specific procedure using the eco-efficiency analysis of Indigo as an example [6].
Carotenoid pigments are widely used as feed additives in the poultry sector and in salmonid and c... more Carotenoid pigments are widely used as feed additives in the poultry sector and in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture. In these applications the egg, skin or flesh of the target species are pigmented in order to improve marketability. The poultry feed producer is able to source these carotenoids (or indeed, xanthophylls) either from chemical synthesis or from processed plant materials. This
SpringerBriefs in environmental science, Jun 7, 2019
Measuring sustainability is an important prerequisite for making strategic decisions. BASF has de... more Measuring sustainability is an important prerequisite for making strategic decisions. BASF has developed several instruments to evaluate sustainability whereby the utilization of each method depends on the concrete purpose or issue in question. The new Social Analysis will contribute to this setup by assessing social impacts along the value chain.
For successful implementation of sustainability in industry robust assessments of products and pr... more For successful implementation of sustainability in industry robust assessments of products and processes are necessary that quantify environmental aspects under consideration of costs. The sustainability needs of companies vary greatly according to region, sector and stakeholder. BASF has developed a toolbox for eco-efficiency assessments that addresses the broad range of in-house and external needs, allowing flexibility while ensuring that relevant and sufficient environmental impact is covered to support decision-making based on quantified sustainability assessments. The toolbox is based on standard practices for life cycle assessment to support strategic decisions, product development and marketing. Environmental impact assessment follows ISO 14040 and 14044. Impacts are aggregated to an overall environmental impact. Life cycle costs are similarly determined and may be combined with environmental impact to an overall Eco-Efficiency Portfolio and Eco-Efficiency Index. The relevance check ensures inclusion of main impact categories and coverage of sufficient environmental impacts. A peer-reviewed case study on the treatment of flowback from fracturing operations demonstrates the applicability of the Eco-Efficiency Analysis. Deposition of flowback in existing hydrocarbon-containing reservoirs was compared with treatment in preparation for disposal to a municipal waste water treatment plant. The Reservoir option is more eco-efficient both at low and high flowback volumes. Disadvantages of the waste water treatment option include the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the high energy needed for the removal of dissolved solids from the flowback. The relevance check shows that climate change is the dominant environmental impact, but photochemical ozone formation, acidification, freshwater eutrophication, human toxicity and resource depletion (mineral & fossil) are significant as well.
The narrative sustainable building is core message of European politics. Strategies discussed in ... more The narrative sustainable building is core message of European politics. Strategies discussed in this regard concern above all material minimization by using new more efficient manufacturing technologies, new form finding approaches for load‐bearing structures or new high‐performance materials. The goal of the research project V2.10, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, refers to the latter by assessing the sustainability potential of building components made of innovative textile reinforced concrete. We conceptualized a life cycle sustainability assessment framework and applied it to variants of sandwich wall systems made of carbon concrete composites and steel‐reinforced concrete. Results indicate hotspots in technology and material choices that could be addressed by circular strategies, for example, refuse, reduce or recycling. Overall, one design variant made of carbon concrete composites is the best performing with respect to all dimensions of sustainability.
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Papers by Peter Saling