| 1. |
- Lindkvist, Mathias, 1979, et al.
(author)
-
Complementing LCA with qualitative organisational study for improving waste management governance – illustrated by a comparative case on metal packaging
- 2016
-
In: Life Cycle Assessment and Other Assessment Tools for Waste Management and Resource Optimization, Cetraro, Calabria, Italy, 5-10 June 2016.
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We here present a novel method that combines the life cycle approach with qualitative organisational study for environmentally effective waste management. While LCA is useful for producing a systems overview of the environmental performance, it does not provide further guidance on systems management since the actors and activities that uphold them are not systematically studied. The human dimension is particularly manifest in waste management where many types of actors (private, public, consumers, legislators, sector organisations) interact in complex ways.Our method, with which we study Product Chain Organisation (PCO), is designed to complement LCA. Descriptions and accounts of actors interacting and communicating in the product chain provide a basis for understanding how actions influence overall environmental performance. The method is thoroughly grounded in a socio-material approach well established in the social sciences and the humanities. The socio-material approach considers human organisation to be intimately entangled with material flows, machines, buildings, the environment, etc, and that they all influence each other.We illustrate our method through a comparative study of metal packaging flows in Sweden (SE) and the Netherlands (NL). We first created an overarching understanding of the organisation of different waste management options and their environmental performance. Several field research methods were employed (interviews, field visits, document studies). The empirical material was used to make descriptions of conditions and practices in the product chain in the respective countries. As both a result and a stepping-stone for further analysis and understanding, we produced an overview combining technical, environmental, and organisational aspects (simplified version in Figure 1). Next, we identified a number of situations where management has a significant influence on life cycle environmental performance, for example, where disagreement between public and private actors blocks change, and organisational sources to unreliable data and statistical methods. The study identified that data transparency is low for both countries, but for somewhat different reasons. Further study of organisational practices in the Swedish recycling system and data collection and statistical practices in the Dutch recycling system could be useful. This makes the statistics for SE and NL not readily comparable.mineral miningmetal productionpackaging production: SE & NL: Producers and importers of packaged products have considerable freedom for how to reach EU and national recycling targets. Fees are included in product prices to cover costs of recycling systems.filling, distribution & use: SE: 7 kg/cap (2011). NL: 12 kg/cap (2011).metal packaging waste collection: SE: Source separation. Organised and carried out by several organisations, with different organisation for household and business waste, respectively. NL: Metal separation from municipal incineration ashes for household waste; source separation for business waste. Nedvang, which represents all Dutch producers and importers of packaged products, oversees and organises packaging waste collection and recycling.recycling and other waste mgt: Recycling rates for SE & NL are not readily comparable owing to different methods and data choices. SE: 75% reported to be recycled, but monitoring is incomplete. Discussions to recover metal from incineration ashes have stalled. NL: 91% reported to be recycled. Recycling statistics by Nedvang; estimation methods change over time. Conflict about fees being siphoned to cover budget deficits.Figure 1: Simplified findings for metal packaging waste management in Sweden and the Netherlands.Our case study illustrates how the method by not being limited to LCA study can be used to produce a realistic understanding of even complex systems, such as waste management. It produces accounts that enable the understanding needed for informed action as well as identifies socio-material sources to data uncertainties that hide behind the figures in official statistics and sustainability reports.
|
|
| 2. |
- Lindkvist, Mathias, 1979, et al.
(author)
-
The influence of organisational practices on environmental performance: A screening of the organising of nodes in product life cycles in six test cases
- 2015
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In the here reported on project, we have screened relations between product life cycle environmental performance and organising traced from technical processes that are nodes by having central roles in these cycles. Thereby, we have aimed both to further an already introduced method for this type of study by introducing an approach that is quicker to use than the thorough design previously deployed and to test it on a broader range of empirical domains.The method used combines life cycle assessment (LCA) and organisational studies, which are coherently integrated with each other using particularly the socio-material approaches actor-network theory (ANT) and action nets. The screening approach was applied to six test cases that covered six different types of services and physical commodities, and for each of these six comparisons have been performed between the organising traced empirically from at least three different nodes and their product life cycles environmental performance. The cases have covered the products and nodes listed in table S.1, further on in this summary.The test case on properties management was based on existing publications on a thorough study using the combination of LCA and organisational studies, while the other five test cases were performed as screenings applying this combination approach for the first time.A large number of practices of this organising have been indicated potentially to considerably influence product life cycle environmental performance. These organisational practices have been indicated to vary considerably between different activities both regarding the practices themselves and regarding the discernibility of their relations to each other and of their influence on environmental performance. The approach used in the project necessarily has limitations due to its screening characteristic, but these can be seen as prerequisites both for identifying the large number of organisational practices with indicated large influence on environmental performance and for reaching the overarching indications made through the project.However, even if no direct quantitative environmental differences were possible and feasible to present, the screening has at least shown that the environmental performances of the studied product life cycles seemed considerably to depend on organisational practices through not straightforward interplays between organising, technology and materials and energy processes. These organisational practices include the examples presented in Table S.2, further on in this summary.Table S.2:Bowling:Ceasing of business or not,Lunch provision or not,Additional games and similar activities degrees;Bread:Supply transport distance,Bread thickness and baking,Overproduction;Bus travel on intercity routes:Eco-driving training and discussions degrees,Number of routes served by the ticket offices,Seats organisation differences on the buses;Cement:Production permits renewal procedure differences,Production permit expiration criteria differences,Organisational practices for handling technical problems at and operation of the plant differences;Properties management:Types of windows related to the handling of cultural heritage requirements,Water taps replacement related to renovation and emergencies, system knowledge and operation and maintenance differences,Insulation differences due to fire protection differences;Road management (operation and routine maintenance of roads):Renewal or not of procurement contracts,Centralisation of contractors activities,Fragmentation of procurement governance.Regarding overall usefulness of screening and thorough nodal LCA organisation studies, respectively, generally the screenings were found to be considerably useful but instead performing thorough studies was indicated to provide considerable additional usefulness although the level and type of this addition were generally found to be difficult to predict. In relation to this, the results have also been discussed regarding whether and if so how they may point towards more overarching ideas on considerable reductions of society’s environmental impacts. This has covered internally driven environmental work within the organising connected to and along product life cycles, substantial amounts of assistance in such work from external experts, and an approach to focus of with a global coverage letting the local activities where the environmentally impacting resource use and emissions occur be monetary targeted. The actual feasibility of each of these approaches, however, have been found to be more or less limited and a uniting requirement seem to be a considerable pressure from the public. Finally, even if such considerable undertakings are made the project here reported on suggests that the environmental effects of a considerable share of actions still may not be possible or feasible to foresee.
|
|
| 3. |
- Nikulina, Varvara, 1987, et al.
(author)
-
Planning transport futures. Backcasting vs forecasting.
- 2016
-
In: The 7th International Sustainability Transitions (IST) Conference. Wuppertal, Germany, 6-9 September 2016.
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- A quarter of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) originate from the transportation sector. Continuously increasing demand for transportation services worldwide is one of the main present-day urban challenges. One way to address this issue is to develop an integrated transportation system that can ensure confidence and comfort for the passengers. This will contribute not only to the customers’ experience, but also to operators and authorities through sustainable, cost effective and profitable services. Conversely, the lack of such a system or a poorly managed system prevents the economy and society from realizing its potential. In transition towards sustainability the planning process of complex systems such as transportation, often requires supportive tools and methods. The example of those is futures methodologies that assist decision making by providing information about possible futures. In the rapidly changing environment of the modern cities, forecasting tools do not always provide the expected outcomes since it is difficult to predict all the unexpected events. Therefore, there is a demand for alternative methods that not only grasp the constant changes, but also create additional value (for example, meeting the needs of multisectoral collaboration and creation of common vision). The present article investigates the usefulness of backcasting methodology in the planning process of the bus park and railway station in Kisumu, Kenya and Centralen in Gothenburg, Sweden compared to the standard forecasting methodologies. The paper’s contribution is a description of the Kenyan transportation system (which has not been studied in detail before), planning process and pertinent issues related to the stations both in Kisumu and Gothenburg. Based on the sharply contrasting contexts of global South and global North determined through field studies, interviews and feasibility study of futures methodologies, the paper concludes that backcasting is the most suitable methodology for both places rather than alternative approaches such as foresighting and SymbioCity, since it can be applied on the small scale, provides creative solutions and has a high level of integration of stakeholders.
|
|
| 4. |
- Arvidsson, Rickard, 1984, et al.
(author)
-
On the scientific justification of the use of working hours, child labour and property rights in social life cycle assessment: Three topical reviews
- 2015
-
In: International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1614-7502 .- 0948-3349. ; 20:2, s. 161-173
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PurposeWorking hours, child labour and property rights have been suggested as topics to assess in social life cycle assessment (SLCA). The purpose of this study is to investigate the scientific justification of the current use of these topics. The long-term aim is to contribute to the future development of SLCA.MethodsA literature review was conducted for each of the three topics. One thousand scientific articles were analysed for each topic, and relevant articles were selected. The articles were analysed based on whether the topics facilitated or obstructed beneficial social values, and whether they facilitated or obstructed adverse social values.Results and discussionThe results show that the three topics both facilitate and obstruct beneficial social values. They also show that the topics both facilitate and obstruct adverse social values. Considering the complex and ambiguous nature of these topics reported in the scientific literature, the current use of these topics in the SLCA literature is found not to be completely scientifically justified.ConclusionsBased on this study, the current use of working hours, child labour and property rights in SLCA studies should be questioned. We suggest that the fields of social science and economics may be fruitfully considered when seeking scientific justification for topics to assess in SLCA.
|
|
| 5. |
- Baumann, Henrikke, 1964, et al.
(author)
-
12 x LCM : Variants of life cycle management
- 2019
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- A case-based review shows that, in practice, LCM is shaped by a dominant action logic in the setting. A dominant action logic is, for example, the business strategy of a company or a government objective. A first typology reveals 12 forms of LCM, in which each type is a result of life cycle thinking meeting a particular action logic. It also shows when and how LCM is seen to fit the purpose of different actors. This typology provides an overview of the diversity of practiced LCM and a matching vocabulary with the aim of furthering discussion and understanding of LCM.
|
|
| 6. |
- Baumann, Henrikke, 1964, et al.
(author)
-
Beyond a CSR context towards pluralism in SLCA: exploring alternative social theoretical perspectives
- 2018
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Most current efforts in social life cycle assessment (SLCA), and in particular the UNEP/SETAC guidelines, have corporate social responsibility (CSR) as underpinning theoretical perspective. However, over 50 years of studies on CSR suggest that the companies themselves have benefitted more than has society. CSR has therefore been criticised for legitimising and consolidating the power of large corporations. In response to this critique and since the social dimension of product life cycles is broader than the corporate perspective, we explore alternative theoretical perspectives that can inform SLCA. Two alternatives not departing from a corporate worldview are the theory of ecologically unequal exchange (TEUE) and actor-network-theory (ANT). TEUE highlights inequalities between different actors along product chains as manifested in today’s international trade, in particular between high- and low-income countries (Hornborg 2009). ANT is a descriptive approach for mapping networks of relationships between both actors and material (both technological and natural) entities (Latour 2005). Here, we explore a number of case studies informed by TEUE and ANT in order to identify the contribution of these alternative perspectives to SLCA. The covered cases include studies of airbag systems comparing health impacts mitigated by these devices to health impacts caused during their life cycle and cocoa supply chains through a north-south perspective. The analysis shows that these alternative perspectives add to the current SLCA framework in that they enable description of phenomena and issues hitherto uncovered by it. We go on to discuss the difference between description and assessment in SLCA and argue for greater pluralism in the theoretical and methodological approach to SLCA.
|
|
| 7. |
- Baumann, Henrikke, 1964, et al.
(author)
-
One, two, three, many! or…? Mapping of the controversy over the Swedish West Coast shrimp
- 2016
-
In: 22nd International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference.
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 'Controversy mapping' can provide insights about issues related to actors, their networking, and governance where the interpretation of science is at stake. In turn, these insights can be useful for advocacy processes and collective problem-solving. In order to illustrate this statement a case study was conducted for the North Sea prawn (Pandalus borealis) in the West Coast of Sweden which was the main subject of a controversy that started in 2014 and ended in October 2015 with a Marine Stewardship Council labeling for the contested prawn. We used a method from the scientific humanities, 'controversy mapping', following the methodology suggested by Venturini (2010) and Latour (2012). The method enabled us to trace statements, literatures, and actors involved in the shrimp controversy. By assembling these elements over time, we were able to describe the process of the controversy and identify the networks that 'wrestled' over the scientific interpretation of the (same) data on shrimp population size along the Swedish West Coast. By using network visualisation and analysis software, the case study shows the extension of the network of actors that were part of the controversy, their roles, influence, perspectives and relationships. The material gathered on the controversy was subsequently analysed from the perspective of the production and consumption system of the shrimp. It shows how advocacy actors build alliances with selected product chain actors in order to gather momentum for change. Based on the findings from this research it is possible to suggest that controversy study can help the product chain actors understand their production and consumption system better and provide a basis for product chain roundtables for conflict resolution and problem solving. Latour, Bruno. “Mapping controversies: syllabus 2012 -13.” MediaLab. Science Po. Retrieved from www.medialab-dev.sciences-po.fr October 15, 2015. Venturini, Tommaso. “Diving in magma: How to explore controversies with actor-network theory.” Public understanding of science 19.3 (2010): 258-273
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Baumann, Henrikke, 1964, et al.
(author)
-
Urban hunters and gatherers - an exploration into different varieties and their relevance to industrial ecology
- 2015
-
In: The ISIE 2015 Conference — Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology.
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The advent of the anthropocene was preceded by the advent of the holocene. One of the characteristics of the holocene is that it was a period with stable temperature and weather patterns, which in turn enabled the development of an agricultural society. Before that, human subsistence relied heavily on hunting and gathering. Given climate change and more unstable weather patterns, present-day practices of hunting and gathering for subsistence become relevant to explore. In this study, focus is turned onto hunting and gathering in urban environments. Empirical cases mainly in the Göteborg region (Sweden) are documented. Many varieties are found, ranging from dumpster-diving, street angling, to 'nicking' fruits from both public and private gardens. Some practices have even become operationalised as businesses (food rescue ventures). An attempt of quantifying and evaluating the environmental significance of these practices is made based on estimates of volumes and time used together with the accounts of the interviewees. The analysis and discussion delves into how urban planning enables or hinders such activities, and to what extent these are important for resilience and sustainability.
|
|
| 10. |
- Boons, Frank, et al.
(author)
-
Conceptualizing sustainable development and global supply chains
- 2012
-
In: Ecological Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-8009. ; 83, s. 134-143
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper introduces a holistic approach to the study of sustainable development of global product chains. We first present a number of perspectives on this topic from disciplines such as economic geography, management science, sociology and environmental sciences. Each of these approaches brings in a specific focus: the consequences of geographical dispersion of economic activities, measurement of ecological and social impact, managing sustainability in supply chains, and power asymmetry among economic actors. Until now, these disciplinary research lines have remained unconnected. We argue that ecological economics provides a promising background for a more holistic conceptualization. To this end, we formulate five basic questions that serve to advance the study of sustainability throughout the product chain by connecting the foci of the identified scientific disciplines. The aim of advancing a holistic perspective has guided the selection of papers for this special subsection, which are introduced throughout the text.
|
|
