Proposal for the integration of life cycle engineering and management practices with the phases of cleaner production

Author(s)

Mariana Guardia

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2016-02-26

Examining board members

Aldo Roberto Ometto; Cecília Maria Villas Boas de Almeida; Kleber Francisco Espôsto

• Advisor: Aldo Roberto Ometto

Abstract

With the intensification of economic activities and resulting impacts, environmental issues are receiving growing attention and environmental practices are evolving from \"end-of-pipe\" solutions to more preventive approaches such as Cleaner Production (CP). More recently, a paradigm shift is taking place with the adoption of a more holistic and proactive approach towards environmental impacts, where all the impacts throughout the life cycle of products have to be considered resulting in the creation of the so called Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), which is put into practice though Life Cycle Engineering and Management (LCEM) practices. In this new context, environmental improvements in production process have to consider the life cycle impacts of the analyzed processes and proposed improvements. Even though Cleaner Production is often mentioned as a LCEM practice, LCT is not systematically integrated in CP implementation stages. Therefore, the goal of this research is to contribute to the integration of LCT in the CP framework through the integration of LCEM practices in the stages and activities of CP. The first step was to perform an analysis of the CP implementation guides and the selection of a \"model guide\" to be used. Subsequently, compatible LCEM practices were selected though a literature review and selection criteria. A comparison of the inputs and outputs of both the stages of CP and the selected LCEM practices was performed for the identification of compatibilities and integration opportunities. Based on a systematic review of the literature between the two subjects, a CP success stories analysis and a case study in a company which is benchmark in LCT, recommendations for the integration of LCT in CP were derived. The simple and systematic review of the literature reinforced the pertinence and relevance of the research\'s question. The results show that the lack of a life cycle perspective in CP is a significant gap both in theory (in the CP implementation guides) and in practice (in the CP success stories) and that, despite the fact that many authors have dedicated to the subject, as shown in the systematic review of the literature, further research is still necessary to help fill this gap. The results of the proposed integration show that the application of LCEM practices in the stages of CP is an efficient way to help fill this gap, systematically integrating LCT in the CP framework. Many opportunities for the integration were identified and twentyone recommendations were derived from the results. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/26587-8 - PROPOSAL FOR THE INTEGRATION OF LIFE CYCLE ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH THE PHASES OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
• Grantee: Mariana Guardia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master