Functional unit and product functionality—addressing increase in consumption and demand for functionality in sustainability assessment with LCA

Kim, Seung Jin; Kara, Sami; Hauschild, Michael Zwicky

doi:10.1007/s11367-016-1233-3

Cited by 22 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Yet there are also a few studies where the Kano model has been integrated with software tools. For example, the study by Kim, Kara, and Hauschild (2017) investigates the advancement of LCA. In the study, the Kano model is used to convert the definition of the static functional unit within the current LCA to the dynamic functional unit that considers changes in consumers' behavior and market structure.…”

Section: Integration Of the Kano Model With Environmental Assessment Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A holistic approach to manage environmental quality by using the Kano model and social cognitive theory

Dāce

Stibe²,

Timma

2019

Corp Soc Responsibility Env

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Since its first proposition in 1984, the Kano model has been used extensively in a variety of contexts within industries and academic research demonstrating its wide applicability. The Kano model allows for describing the relationship between an objective aspect and a subjective aspect. Yet is this relevant for environmental quality as well? In this study, we explore the cases where the Kano model is used for assessing environmental quality and its perception by consumers and identify the potential influencing factors for its application with this respect. We find that the Kano model can serve as an effective tool for converging towards environmental quality and sustainability by indicating the direction from a social and behavioral choice perspective. We propose an integration of the Kano model with Bandura's triangle (a concept of the social cognitive theory) to create an instrument for driving change of customer attitude and behavior via changing the perception of environmental quality.

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Section: Integration Of the Kano Model With Environmental Assessment Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A holistic approach to manage environmental quality by using the Kano model and social cognitive theory

Dāce

Stibe²,

Timma

2019

Corp Soc Responsibility Env

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Possible further developments of the framework (Table 2) include whether there exist subcategories that can be distinguished within the different functional unit types and which goals such subcategories then fulfil. Aspects not addressed in the developed framework are challenges related to dynamic aspects in the functional unit definition, such as rebound effects, including changes in consumer behavior and growing markets (Kim et al., 2017). Such aspects could potentially be considered together with the framework suggested here, presumably mainly in the performance functional unit type, since an assessment of consumer behavior probably requires a well‐defined end product.…”

Section: Concluding Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A practice‐based framework for defining functional units in comparative life cycle assessments of materials

Furberg

Arvidsson

Molander

2021

J of Industrial Ecology

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In comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of materials, there is a mismatch between the current practice and existing guidelines regarding functional unit definition. The purpose of this study is to develop a practice-based framework for defining functional units in comparative LCAs of materials and provide guidance regarding in which situations different functional unit types are relevant. A literature review of comparative LCAs of materials identified three types of functional units: (i) the reference flow functional unit, (ii) the property functional unit, and (iii) the performance functional unit. These functional unit types, of which only the latter strictly complies with LCA guidelines, represent varying degrees of functional equivalence and technological maturity. The most relevant functional unit type depends on the goal of the study. We suggest that screening assessments of whether materials have comparable environmental impacts can apply reference flow functional units. Material comparisons for certain application areas with some important properties can apply property functional units. For comparisons of end products, performance functional units can be applied. However, even in such cases, complete functional equivalence can hardly be achieved due to more or less relevant product differences. The applicability of the framework is demonstrated for the case of comparing cemented carbide and polycrystalline diamond hard materials.

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“…As mentioned previously and explained in table 1, the functionality of a single unit of Gen 2 and Gen 3 differs: Gen 3 has an additional display (ECD) to read out the results from the biosensor's drug detection. This difference in functionality implies that a comparison between the two configurations is moot from the LCA perspective due to the absence of functional equivalence (Kim et al 2017). That being said, the goal of this study is not to compare the impacts of the two configurations, but rather to identify the sustainability hotspots in their production chains and bust sustainability myths for material scientists and developers of printed electronics.…”

Section: Goal and Scope Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing sustainability hotspots in the production of paper-based printed electronics

Sudheshwar

Beni

Malinverno

et al. 2023

Flex. Print. Electron.

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Novel printed electronics are projected to grow and be manufactured in the future in large volumes. In many applications, printed electronics are envisaged as sustainable alternatives to conventional (printed circuit board-based) electronics. One such application is in the semi-quantitative drug detection and point-of-care device called 'GREENSENSE' that uses paper-based printed electronics. This paper analyses the carbon footprint of GREENSENSE in order to identify and suggest means of mitigating disproportionately high environmental impacts, labelled 'sustainability hotspots', from materials and processes used during production which would be relevant in high-volume applications. Firstly, a life cycle model traces the flow of raw materials (such as paper, cellulose nanocrystals, and nanosilver) through the three 'umbrella' processes (circuit printing, component mounting, and biofunctionalization) manufacturing different electronic components (the substrate, conductive inks, energy sources, display, etc.) that are further assembled into GREENSENSE. Based on the life cycle model, life cycle inventories are modelled that map out the network of material and energy flow throughout the production of GREENSENSE. Finally, from the environmental impact and sustainability hotspot analysis, both crystalline nanocellulose and nanosilver were found to create material hotspots and they should be replaced in favor of lower-impact materials. Process hotspots are created by manual, lab-, and pilot-scale processes with unoptimized material consumption, energy use, and waste generation; automated and industrial-scale manufacturing can mitigate such process hotspots.

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Functional unit and product functionality—addressing increase in consumption and demand for functionality in sustainability assessment with LCA

Cited by 22 publications

References 15 publications

A holistic approach to manage environmental quality by using the Kano model and social cognitive theory

A holistic approach to manage environmental quality by using the Kano model and social cognitive theory

A practice‐based framework for defining functional units in comparative life cycle assessments of materials

Assessing sustainability hotspots in the production of paper-based printed electronics

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