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- PostDoes my foot look big in this? A comparison of life cycle impact assessment methods for chemical footprint calculations(2024) Asplund, Isabelle; Ring, Ottilia; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Peters, Gregory; Peters, Gregory
- PostLife Cycle Assessment of a Camera System for Automobiles(2024) Dossanova, Saltanat; Mirabdolbaghi, Tara; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Ljunggren, Maria; Nordelöf, AndersToday, there is a growing need for companies in different industries to disclose and report their environmental impact. This is the case for Magna company, which assembles a variety of automotive electronics. This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of Magna’s camera system throughout its lifecycle. To do this, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted from raw materials extraction and acquisition to the final product transportation to the customer’s door. This assessment is performed in accordance with the ISO 14040-series. The LCA study is completed utilising OpenLCA software along with the Ecoinvent v3.10 database. Two impact categories are selected to be in focus when assessing the impacts: climate change, and mineral resource scarcity (with two different indicators). The product’s environmental performance is analysed for two scenarios: a base case and an alternative transport. The key findings indicate that the total environmental performance of the alternative transport scenario, where air cargo is swapped for shipping at sea, is the lowest. The printed circuit board (PCB) is the main contributor to the total impact in both scenarios. A sensitivity analysis is done for the mass of integrated circuits mounted on the PCB, being the major contributor in all impact categories. Consequently, results are relatively sensitive to the integrated circuit mass alterations due to the energy-consuming production of this sub-component and its use of several hazardous and precious substances.
- PostCircular Economy Practices in the HVAC Industry Challenges and Opportunities(2024) Kullner, Oskar; Somoshi, Saurabh; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Landström, Catharina; Surber, NicholasThe demand for improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems continues to increase with the population expanding. However, increased usage of HVAC systems entails more energy consumption, and higher amounts of waste in terms of used materials. The aim of this thesis is therefore to explore and assess the opportunities, drivers, and barriers present in the HVAC industry in terms of implementing Circular Economy (CE) practices with the goal of reducing waste and improving sustainability while also positively impacting financial goals. To begin, information related to both CE and HVAC such as scientific articles, online sources, and government publications was collected. This theoretical knowledge helped to construct the framework of questions for the semi-structured interviews. Responses then served the purpose of the empirical data an analyzed together with theoretical content to formulate a case study. The results of this thesis report underlines the opportunities for implementing CE practices including circular business models and reverse supply chains. Some circular approaches were found viable to implement in the HVAC industry. The adoption of Product-as-a-Service models would incentivise product life extension and increasing revenues although requiring substantial changes related to the value chain. Reacquiring products to refurbish and resell them would increase revenue per unit at the cost of additional reverse supply chain costs and undetermined willingness to pay. Reacquiring products in order to disassemble them and return components to stock where they can be incorporated into new units and sold as new could drastically reduce material costs and increase profitability as long as incurred additional costs are lower than savings made in reduced material costs. The study also identifies a number of barriers and drivers considering the reacquisition and refurbishment of the HVAC products. Drivers such as organizational drivers, competitive advantage, product and process development drivers. On the other hand, barriers are subject to raw material selection, lack of resources, cultural barriers, consumers & customer acceptance. The conclusion of the study helps the case company to consider the opportunities, drivers and barriers as mentioned in this report to form the initial foundation towards the step of transitioning to CE.
- PostCitizen perception of different set-ups for solar community Identification of drivers and challenges to engagement in solar communities(2024) Wingårdh, Hedda; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Bergek, Anna; Bergek, AnnaAmongst an ongoing climate crisis and environmental concerns, there have been demands to transform the energy system to be based on renewable sources. A part of transforming the energy system also involves placing citizens at the centre, taking a more active role, and having increased agency in energy questions. The response has been the emergence of solar communities. This thesis explores citizens’ perceptions towards solar community set-ups in Sweden. The focus is on identifying drivers and challenges associated with becoming a member of solar communities and how these drivers and challenges affect the ideal set-up of solar communities. It is a qualitative study employing a mixed-method approach, combining a theoretical framework, a comprehensive survey, and a focus group interview. The study’s findings show that there exist numerous drivers and challenges for non-members to engage in solar communities in Sweden. Numerous motives are identified as drivers to engage, with economic motives viewed as the strongest, followed by environmental motives. The former strongly influences views on the ideal set-up, such as decision-making. Individual characteristics such as being a house owner, make solar communities a more serious alternative for saving on electricity. Substantial challenges are found and are primarily due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the concept. Moreover, the national context of Sweden, with both significant advances in green energy supply and strong social norms, is acting as a challenge to becoming a member. Social norms act as a strong challenge and affect views on engagement with particular influence on social participation where it is deemed unwanted.
- PostCircular Economy Policies in China and the EU A Comparative Analysis with the Extended Policy Mix Concept(2024) Knothe, Robert; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation; Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics; Ljunggren, Maria; Bing , Zhu; Ljunggren, MariaThis study compares a set of Circular Economy (CE) policies from China and the EU using qualitative text analysis. Therefore, the study adopts the Extended Policy Mix Concept (EPMC) by Rogge and Reichardt (2016) and develops an EPMC for CE based on a literature review of CE concepts. With this framework, 13 policy documents i.a., the European Green Deal, the 2015 and 2020 EU CE Action Plan, the Chinese National 12th to 14th Five Year- Plans and the Circular Economy Promotion Law, are selected, coded, and compared regarding the policy strategy objectives, limitations, and the policy instrument goals, types, and purposes. I find that both regions share most of the strategic objectives in their CE ambitions, first and foremost the objective of green economic growth, but also improvement of environmental quality and resource efficiency. In their policy instruments, China and the EU both define reduction, re-utilisation, recycling, and recovery as goals. Differences occur in the importance of certain policy fields: the EU focuses on product-level action and critical raw materials, while China is more concerned with agriculture, land use, and water issues. Also, the two regions differ in their approach towards recovery. Both utilise similar economic, regulatory, and informative policy instruments, which include among others: public procurement for environmentally-friendly products, labelling of products, investment and financing of CErelated projects and enterprises, establishment of product standards, extended producer responsibility schemes, value-added tax, and subsidy schemes. However, Chinese policies employ a unique instrument of demonstration and experimentation. The EU differs in its approach towards consumers, in that consumption reduction is not addressed, while China incorporates a more holistic approach towards an “ecological society”, that aims for frugality, including in its citizens’ lifestyles.