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Cultured, or in vitro, meat consists of edible biomass grown from animal stem cells in a factory, or carnery. In the coming decades, in vitro biomass cultivation could enable the production of meat without the need to raise livestock. Using an anticipatory life cycle analysis framework, the study described herein examines the environmental implications of this emerging technology and compares the results with published impacts of beef, pork, poultry, and another speculative analysis of cultured biomass. While uncertainty ranges are large, the findings suggest that in vitro biomass cultivation could require smaller quantities of agricultural inputs and land than livestock; however, those benefits could come at the expense of more intensive energy use as biological functions such as digestion and nutrient circulation are replaced by industrial equivalents. From this perspective, large-scale cultivation of in vitro meat and other bioengineered products could represent a new phase of industrialization with inherently complex and challenging trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IEQ + DLCA framework, which integrates indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and dynamic life cycle assessment (DLCA) at the whole-building level, was revised and expanded to consider non-chemical health impacts and productivity/performance impacts. The complete framework was evaluated for a case study of a LEED gold rated university building, supplemented with a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) designed to elicit qualitative feedback on IEQ and productivity impacts specific to the building. Most non-chemical health impacts (e.g. sick building syndrome (SBS), asthma) were not able to be included in the framework, due to potential overlaps with chemical-specific impacts already included in LCA. However, productivity impacts were able to be included in the framework for the purpose of comparing different design and operational choices for a given building. Occupants were also asked to evaluate the anticipated effects on their individual productivity due to IEQ changes associated with hypothetical energy-saving strategies. Results of the POE showed occupants were generally satisfied with IEQ, and considered that increasing summer cooling temperature set points would enhance productivity. Energy savings were calculated using an empirical energy and IEQ model calibrated with sensed data from the building. Evaluation of the full IEQ + DLCA framework suggested potentially significant energy savings potential and possible productivity enhancement, but indicated tradeoffs between internal chemical impact categories related to building ventilation, indoor pollutant generation and outdoor pollutant intake. The tradeoffs and overlaps between internal chemical impact categories themselves, as well as between chemical and non-chemical impact categories such as (SBS) are a challenge for LCA of whole buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on 20 scenarios of microalgae cultivation. These scenarios examined the utilization of nutrients and CO2 from synthetic sources and waste streams as well as the materials used to construct a photobioreactor (PBR). A 0.2-m3 closed PBR of Chlorella vulgaris at 30%-oil content by weight with the productivity of 25g/m2 ×day was used as a case study. Results of the study show that the utilization of resources from waste streams mainly avoided global warming potential (GWP) and eutrophication impacts. Impacts from the production of material used to construct the PBR dominate total impacts in acidification and ozone depletion categories, even over longer PBR lifetimes; thus, the choice of PBR construction materials is important. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A comparative life cycle assessment examining soybean and petroleum-based lubricants is compiled using Monte Carlo analysis to assess system variability. Experimental data obtained from an aluminum manufacturing facility indicate significantly less soybean lubricant is required to achieve similar or superior performance. With improved performance and a lower use rate, a transition to soybean oil results in lower aggregate impacts of acidification, smog formation, and human health from criteria pollutants. Regardless of quantity consumed, soybean-based lubricants exhibit significant climate change and fossil fuel use benefits; however, eutrophication impacts are much greater due to non-point nutrient emissions. Fundamental tradeoffs in the carbon and nitrogen cycles are addressed in the analysis, demonstrating that a transition to soybean oil may result in climate change benefits at the expense of regional water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bio-based polymers have become feasible alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. However, the factors that influence the sustainability of bio-based polymers are often unclear. This paper reviews published life cycle assessments (LCAs) and commonly used LCA databases that quantify the environmental sustainability of bio-based polymers and summarizes the range of findings reported within the literature. LCA is discussed as a means for quantifying environmental impacts for a product from its cradle, or raw materials extraction, to the grave, or end of life. The results of LCAs from existing databases as well as peer-reviewed literature allow for the comparison of environmental impacts. This review compares standard database results for three bio-based polymers, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and thermoplastic starch (TPS) with five common petroleum derived polymers. The literature showed that biopolymers, coming out of a relatively new industry, exhibit similar impacts compared to petroleum-based plastics. The studies reviewed herein focused mainly on global warming potential (GWP) and fossil resource depletion while largely ignoring other environmental impacts, some of which result in environmental tradeoffs. The studies reviewed also varied greatly in the scope of their assessment. Studies that included the end of life (EOL) reported much higher GWP results than those that limited the scope to resin or granule production. Including EOL in the LCA provides more comprehensive results for biopolymers, but simultaneously introduces greater amounts of uncertainty and variability. Little life-cycle data is available on the impacts of different manners of disposal, thus it will be critical for future sustainability assessments of biopolymers to include accurate end of life impacts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study introduces life cycle assessment as a tool to analyze one aspect of sustainability in healthcare: the birth of a baby. The process life cycle assessment case study presented evaluates two common procedures in a hospital, a cesarean section and a vaginal birth. This case study was conducted at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which delivers over 10,000 infants per year. The results show that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), waste disposal, and the production of the disposable custom packs comprise a large percentage of the environmental impacts. Applying the life cycle assessment tool to medical procedures allows hospital decision makers to target and guide efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of healthcare procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]