Steven Zhang, an American Fulbright Scholar doing research in China at Zhejiang University, kindly gave a us a presentation about quantifying the environmental impacts of modern, manufactured consumer products by analysing their entire life cycles. Date: 22 Oct 2012 Venue: Vineyard Cafe (YuGu Road - 50m north of the XiXi Road intersection - Hangzhou City, China) Hangzhou Green Drinks

1. Good intentions, bad results
The importance of quantifying environmental impact
Steven Zhang
Hangzhou Green Drinks
October 22, 2012
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2. About me
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3. The Problem
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4. Product life cycle
Raw material
extraction
Manufacture
Use
Disposal
Product life cycle
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5. Life cycle inventory
Raw material Atmospheric
extraction emissions
Energy
Manufacture Waterborne waste
Raw materials
Use Solid waste
Disposal Other releases
Inputs Product life cycle Outputs
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6. Life cycle impact assessment
Global
Warming
Raw Atmospheri
material c emissions
extraction Ozone
depletion
Energy
Manufactu Waterborn Acidificatio
re e waste n
Raw
materials
Use Solid waste Eutrophicat
ion
…… ……
Disposal Other Carcinogeni
releases cs
Inputs Product life Outputs Impact
cycle categories
Life Cycle Inventory Life Cycle Impact Assessment
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7. Life cycle analysis: the whole process
Global
Warming
Raw Global
material
Atmospheri
Warming 1.1pts
c emissions
extraction Ozone Ozone
depletion depletion 1.0pts
Energy
Manufactu Waterborn Acidificatio Acidific 3.2pts
re e waste n ation
Raw
materials
Use Solid waste Human
toxicity Human
…… …… toxicity 3.0pts
Disposal Other Carcinogeni
releases cs
Carcinogens 0.7pts
Total: 9.0pts
Inputs Product life Outputs Impact Normalized
cycle categories impact scores
Life Cycle Inventory Life Cycle Impact Assessment 7

8. More on product life cycle
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9. System boundaries
Kindle 3
Manufacture and Transport Use Disposal
Materials
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10. System boundaries
Outside system
boundary
Manufacture and
Transport Use Disposal
Materials
Kindle 3
Product 10% recycled
China to Boston Charging
Packaging 90% landfill
Charger
Inside system
boundary
Transportation for Wi-Fi/3G network
recycling Amazon.com servers
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11. Kindle 3 impact
Battery .05
Use
Materials/
Manufactur
e: 3.95
ReciPe
poins
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13. LCA as part of the redesign process
1. Understand users 2. Quantify
and needs environmenta
l impact of
current
product
4. Quantify impact of
new design
3. Ideate with
sustainability
in mind 13

14. China
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15. Circular economy 循环经济
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Image source:chinacir.com.cn

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18. How to contact me
linkedin.com/in/stevenqzhang
QQ: 2380733807
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