Nexus Between Life Cycle Assessment, Circularity and Sustainability Indicators—Part II: Experimentations

Michael Saidani (), François Cluzel, Yann Leroy, Daniela Pigosso, Mariia Kravchenko and Harrison Kim
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Michael Saidani: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
François Cluzel: Université Paris-Saclay
Yann Leroy: Université Paris-Saclay
Daniela Pigosso: Technical University of Denmark
Mariia Kravchenko: Technical University of Denmark
Harrison Kim: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2022, vol. 2, issue 4, 1399-1424

Abstract: Abstract Considering the growing number of metrics and indicators to assess the circular economy transition, it is paramount to shed light on how they complement and differ from traditional approaches, such as life cycle assessment or sustainability performance indicators. This study provides new empirical insights on the correlation between life cycle assessment, circularity, and sustainability indicator-based approaches to design circular and sustainable products. Specifically, the importance lies in analyzing how the results generated by these different approaches can be used to support the design of products that are not only circular but also sustainable. A practice-based project, involving over 175 engineering students over two consecutive academic years, is conducted with the purpose of comparing and improving the circularity and sustainability performance of three product alternatives of lawn mowing systems (gasoline, electric, autonomous). Notably, the following resources are deployed: 18 midpoints environmental indicators calculated by life cycle assessment, nine product circularity indicators, and numerous leading sustainability indicators. Critical analyses on the usability, time efficiency, scientific soundness, and robustness of each approach are drawn, combining quantitative results generated by each group with the feedback of future engineers. Last but not least, the developed workshop could be reused or adapted to train further the designers, engineers, and managers of tomorrow in deploying life cycle, circularity, and/or sustainability-indicator-based approaches to make more informed and sustainable decisions, e.g., between design trade-offs.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment; Circularity indicators; Sustainability indicators; Correlation; Workshop; Engineering students; Sustainable design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/s43615-022-00160-2

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