B5004 - CERTIFICAZIONE AMBIENTALE, LCA E VALUTAZIONE DELLA SOSTENIBILITÀ

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will understand the applied aspects of environmental chemistry and the theoretical-practical bases for using tools to assess the environmental impact of reactions, chemical products, and industrial processes, such as Life Cycle Assessment. They will acquire fundamental knowledge concerning the environmental certification of a company (management systems) and a product, within the framework of relevant international and national regulations. Additionally, they will understand the fundamental concepts related to sustainability assessment, concerning socio-economic aspects and chemical risk.

Course contents

Prerequisites: Knowledge of the main concepts of environmental chemistry.

Program:

Introduction to the European Union's policies on environmental management of companies. Definitions of Environmental Management System and environmental policy. Methods and types of environmental system certification: ISO 14001 and EMAS, similarities and differences. The certification process. Ecological labels, environmental footprints (carbon and water footprint, EU environmental footprint), and Green Public Procurement. Strategy for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and Best Available Techniques (BAT). Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Description of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Phases of the LCA methodology. Case studies on the application of LCA to chemical processes and products. Introduction to the European Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for chemicals and materials, including aspects related to risk assessment (intrinsic, production phase, use phase, and end of life), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and environmental Life Cycle Costing (eLCC).

The course will include exercises on the LCA methodology.

Readings/Bibliography

• G. L. Baldo, M. Marino, S. Rossi, "Analisi del Ciclo di Vita LCA. Gli strumenti per la progettazione sostenibile di materiale, prodotti e processi", 2008, Edizioni Ambiente
• M. Z. Hauschild, R. K. Rosenbaum, S. Irving Olsen (Eds.), "Life Cycle Assessment. Theory and Practice", Springer, 2018.
• S. Maranghi, C. Brondi, “Life Cycle Assessment in the Chemical Product Chain: Challenges, Methodological Approaches and Applications», Springer, 2020.
• F. Cavani, G. Centi, M. Di Serio, I. Rossetti, A. Salvini, G. Strukul, “Fondamenti di chimica industriale, Materie prime - Prodotti - Processi – Sostenibilità”, Zanichelli, 2022.
• Alfredo Scialò, La Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale (VIA) dopo il d.lgs. 104/2017, Maggioli editore, 2017.

Teaching methods

The course is delivered through theoretical lectures, in-depth studies of application case studies, and exercises in a computer lab.

Additionally, there may be in-depth lessons given by experts in specific fields.

Assessment methods

The exam will be oral, with a grade expressed in thirtieths, and will aim to verify the achievement of the main learning objectives.

In order to take the exam, it is necessary to enrol through "Alma Esami", in observance of the established deadlines. Those who fail to enrol by the scheduled date are required to promptly notify the problem to the Teachers in charge (and in any case before the official closure of the enrolment lists). It is up to the teacher to admit, or not, the student to take the exam.

Teaching tools

Projector, PC, whiteboard and free apps for smartphones. Computer tools will be used for bibliographic research and to demonstrate examples of calculation software.

The course slides will be made available to students on the portal. https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Students who are affected by a learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate for it are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Cespi