1
|
Vendries J, Sauer B, Hawkins TR, Mosley JM, Hottle TA, Allaway D, Canepa P, Rivin J, Mistry M. Correction to The Significance of Environmental Attributes as Indicators of the Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Packaging and Food Service Ware. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54:16260. [PMID: 33226215 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Vendries
- Franklin Associates, a Division of Eastern Research Group, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, United States
| | - Beverly Sauer
- Franklin Associates, a Division of Eastern Research Group, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, United States
| | - Troy R Hawkins
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Janet M Mosley
- Franklin Associates, a Division of Eastern Research Group, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, United States
| | - Troy A Hottle
- Franklin Associates, a Division of Eastern Research Group, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, United States
| | - David Allaway
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100, United States
| | - Peter Canepa
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100, United States
| | - Jonathan Rivin
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100, United States
| | - Minal Mistry
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brown KE, Hottle TA, Bandyopadhyay R, Babaee S, Dodder RS, Kaplan PO, Lenox CS, Loughlin DH. Evolution of the United States Energy System and Related Emissions under Varying Social and Technological Development Paradigms: Plausible Scenarios for Use in Robust Decision Making. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:8027-8038. [PMID: 29928794 PMCID: PMC7297051 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The energy system is the primary source of air pollution. Thus, evolution of the energy system into the future will affect society's ability to maintain air quality. Anticipating this evolution is difficult because of inherent uncertainty in predicting future energy demand, fuel use, and technology adoption. We apply scenario planning to address this uncertainty, developing four very different visions of the future. Stakeholder engagement suggested that technological progress and social attitudes toward the environment are critical and uncertain factors for determining future emissions. Combining transformative and static assumptions about these factors yields a matrix of four scenarios that encompass a wide range of outcomes. We implement these scenarios in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency MARKet ALlocation (MARKAL) model. Results suggest that both shifting attitudes and technology transformation may lead to emission reductions relative to the present, even without additional policies. Emission caps, such as the Cross-State Air-Pollution Rule, are most effective at protecting against future emission increases. An important outcome of this work is the scenario-implementation approach, which uses technology-specific discount rates to encourage scenario-specific technology and fuel choices. End-use energy demands are modified to approximate societal changes. This implementation allows the model to respond to perturbations in manners consistent with each scenario.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E. Brown
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711
| | - Troy A. Hottle
- Eastern Research Group, Inc, work performed as Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) postdoctoral fellow at US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 110 Hartwell Ave, Lexington, MA 02421
| | - Rubenka Bandyopadhyay
- Advanced Energy Corp., work performed as ORISE postdoctoral fellow at US EPA, 909 Capability Drive, Suite 2100, Raleigh, NC 2706
| | - Samaneh Babaee
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) postdoctoral fellow at US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Rebecca S. Dodder
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711
| | - P. Ozge Kaplan
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711
| | - Carol S. Lenox
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711
| | - Daniel H. Loughlin
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, 109 TW Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Unger SR, Hottle TA, Hobbs SR, Thiel CL, Campion N, Bilec MM, Landis AE. Do single-use medical devices containing biopolymers reduce the environmental impacts of surgical procedures compared with their plastic equivalents? J Health Serv Res Policy 2017; 22:218-225. [DOI: 10.1177/1355819617705683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background While petroleum-based plastics are extensively used in health care, recent developments in biopolymer manufacturing have created new opportunities for increased integration of biopolymers into medical products, devices and services. This study compared the environmental impacts of single-use disposable devices with increased biopolymer content versus typically manufactured devices in hysterectomy. Methods A comparative life cycle assessment of single-use disposable medical products containing plastic(s) versus the same single-use medical devices with biopolymers substituted for plastic(s) at Magee-Women’s Hospital (Magee) in Pittsburgh, PA and the products used in four types of hysterectomies that contained plastics potentially suitable for biopolymer substitution. Magee is a 360-bed teaching hospital, which performs approximately 1400 hysterectomies annually. Results There are life cycle environmental impact tradeoffs when substituting biopolymers for petroplastics in procedures such as hysterectomies. The substitution of biopolymers for petroleum-based plastics increased smog-related impacts by approximately 900% for laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies, and increased ozone depletion-related impacts by approximately 125% for laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies. Conversely, biopolymers reduced life cycle human health impacts, acidification and cumulative energy demand for the four hysterectomy procedures. The integration of biopolymers into medical products is correlated with reductions in carcinogenic impacts, non-carcinogenic impacts and respiratory effects. However, the significant agricultural inputs associated with manufacturing biopolymers exacerbate environmental impacts of products and devices made using biopolymers. Conclusions The integration of biopolymers into medical products is correlated with reductions in carcinogenic impacts, non-carcinogenic impacts and respiratory effects; however, the significant agricultural inputs associated with manufacturing biopolymers exacerbate environmental impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott R Unger
- Graduate Research Associate, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, USA
| | - Troy A Hottle
- Graduate Research Associate, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, USA
| | - Shakira R Hobbs
- Graduate Research Associate, Institute for Sustainability, Glenn Department of Civil Engineering, Clemson University, USA
| | - Cassandra L Thiel
- Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health, NYU Lagone Medical Center, New York University, USA
| | - Nicole Campion
- Graduate Research Associate, Mascaro Center For Sustainable Innovation, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Melissa M Bilec
- Associate Professor, Mascaro Center For Sustainable Innovation, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Amy E Landis
- Professor, Institute of Sustainability, Glenn Department for Civil Engineering, Clemson University, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hottle TA, Bilec MM, Brown NR, Landis AE. Toward zero waste: composting and recycling for sustainable venue based events. Waste Manag 2015; 38:86-94. [PMID: 25666546 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2015.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated seven different waste management strategies for venue-based events and characterized the impacts of event waste management via waste audits and the Waste Reduction Model (WARM). The seven waste management scenarios included traditional waste handling methods (e.g. recycle and landfill) and management of the waste stream via composting, including purchasing where only compostable food service items were used during the events. Waste audits were conducted at four Arizona State University (ASU) baseball games, including a three game series. The findings demonstrate a tradeoff among CO2 equivalent emissions, energy use, and landfill diversion rates. Of the seven waste management scenarios assessed, the recycling scenarios provide the greatest reductions in CO2 eq. emissions and energy use because of the retention of high value materials but are compounded by the difficulty in managing a two or three bin collection system. The compost only scenario achieves complete landfill diversion but does not perform as well with respect to CO2 eq. emissions or energy. The three game series was used to test the impact of staffed bins on contamination rates; the first game served as a baseline, the second game employed staffed bins, and the third game had non staffed bins to determine the effect of staffing on contamination rates. Contamination rates in both the recycling and compost bins were tracked throughout the series. Contamination rates were reduced from 34% in the first game to 11% on the second night (with the staffed bins) and 23% contamination rates at the third game.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Troy A Hottle
- Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, 370 Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 4 (ISTB4), 781 East Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287-6004, USA.
| | - Melissa M Bilec
- University of Pittsburgh, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 153 Benedum Hall, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261-3949, USA.
| | - Nicholas R Brown
- Arizona State University, University Sustainability Practices, 1130 East University Drive, Suite 206, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
| | - Amy E Landis
- Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, 375 Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 4 (ISTB4), 781 East Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287-6004, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wender BA, Foley RW, Prado-Lopez V, Ravikumar D, Eisenberg DA, Hottle TA, Sadowski J, Flanagan WP, Fisher A, Laurin L, Bates ME, Linkov I, Seager TP, Fraser MP, Guston DH. Illustrating anticipatory life cycle assessment for emerging photovoltaic technologies. Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48:10531-8. [PMID: 25121583 DOI: 10.1021/es5016923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Current research policy and strategy documents recommend applying life cycle assessment (LCA) early in research and development (R&D) to guide emerging technologies toward decreased environmental burden. However, existing LCA practices are ill-suited to support these recommendations. Barriers related to data availability, rapid technology change, and isolation of environmental from technical research inhibit application of LCA to developing technologies. Overcoming these challenges requires methodological advances that help identify environmental opportunities prior to large R&D investments. Such an anticipatory approach to LCA requires synthesis of social, environmental, and technical knowledge beyond the capabilities of current practices. This paper introduces a novel framework for anticipatory LCA that incorporates technology forecasting, risk research, social engagement, and comparative impact assessment, then applies this framework to photovoltaic (PV) technologies. These examples illustrate the potential for anticipatory LCA to prioritize research questions and help guide environmentally responsible innovation of emerging technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben A Wender
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University (ASU) , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
|