Browsing by Subject "elinkaariarviointi"
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(2021)Climate change is one of the biggest global threats. Food production is one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. It has been estimated that food systems account for 19 – 29 % of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Many studies have shown that products of animal origin cause more environmentally harmful emissions than plant-based products. In order to reach the 1,5 degree target, diets need to become more sustainable and more plant-based. The life cycle of food is being studied more today to identify their climate and environmental impact. The purpose of this study was to determine life cycle assessment of a plant-based protein product. The life cycle assessment started with the initial production and ended with the finished product in the factory. The study did not take into account the transport of products to stores and consumer activities. The study examined six different scenarios, which were e.g. dealing with the conversion of mixed electricity to wind power and the impact of the new alternative packaging on the results. The study was made by openLCA and the databases used Ecoinvent 3 and AGRIBYLASE 3.0. Life cycle assessment was examined using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H). The impact categories were global warming, land use, water consumption and freshwater eutrophication. According to this study, converting mixed electricity to wind power can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49 – 50 %. Converting electricity to wind also significantly reduces land use, water consumption and freshwater eutrophication. Greenhouse gas emissions and phosphorous emissions of plant-based protein are lower than animal origin products. Packaging materials accounted for 7 to 13 % of greenhouse gas emissions. Based on this study, it is recommended to change the primary electric source to wind power.
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(2019)The purpose of the study was to find out what environmental effects would soil remediation in a waste treatment centre in Southern Finland have. Of particular interest were the cross-impacts caused by remediation, because there are both uncertainties and work-phases that cause environmental effects perse associated with remediation activities. Using a method derived from life-cycle assessment environmental effects of bioremediation with composting, vapour extraction and landfilling of slightly contaminated soil were examined. The method used was a qualitative life-cycle management method, that has been designed to address the contaminated soil remediation life-cycle assessments. The results highlight the many phases of remediation activities requiring transport and machinery and environmental effects caused by these, and on the other hand the risks associated with landfilling. The method used was not able to find many differences in the environmental effects of composting and vapour extraction. The risk of toxic contaminants to air was evaluated higher in vapour extraction than in composting and results mainly from the qualities of soil that is suitable for remediation with vapour extraction. The evaluation of the environmental impacts of landfilling of contaminated soil is associated with difficulties of assessing risk over a prolonged time frame. The possibility to reduce the consumption of virgi n soil and transport could make composting and vapour extraction superior to landfilling as remediation options. According to the results contaminated soil should be remediated with a suitable treatment option first, and then be utilised as backfilling or landfill structure. The uncertainties and need of further study are associated with the qualitative and subjective nature of the method used and the comparing of the results of different life-cycle assessments. It would be beneficial to study further the quantitative secondary and tertiary environmental effects of the remediation options.
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