31 Development of a Method for Measuring Resource Efficiency …
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and chromium were calculated as larger by EDIP than by TMR. In addition, environmental efficiency was improved by recycling, especially when the material collected
had a high level of purity. Although this factor was not examined in our study, there
is a danger of double-counting the recycling effect when recycled materials are both
used as inputs at the time of manufacturing and then collected for further recycling.
Future research should consider this factor when allocating the effects of recycling.
In addition, it seems that the usage value of the product, which was set at 1 for all
scenarios in our study for the purpose of simplicity, should greatly affect resource
efficiency just as the usage period does, so it will be necessary to develop a method of
deriving this value in the future. In addition, although this paper focuses on resource
aspects throughout the product life cycle, when designing real products it is necessary
to evaluate LC and other costs, and product design and production schemes are also
complex and difficult to represent accurately.
31.4 Summary
In this study, we developed indicators to evaluate resource efficiency throughout
a product’s life cycle. We then conducted a case study on refrigerated showcases,
testing four scenarios and examining the quantitative results as determined using
TMR and EDIP. As a result, we found that the results differed greatly depending on
the choice of the environmental impact coefficient. However, the length of the usage
period greatly affected resource efficiency.
In the future, it will be necessary to make comparative evaluations relative to
other environmental impact coefficients and to examine the indicators. We also need
to conduct case studies with other products and to consider whether this approach
can be effectively applied to various types of products.
References
G20 Ministerial meeting on energy transitions and global environment for sustainable growth (15–16
June 2019) Communiqué https://www.g20nagano2019.jp/english
Halada Kohmei (2007) Sustainability risk of metals and elements. Materia Japan 46:543–548
Itsubo and Inaba; LIME 2, Japan environmental management association for industry (JEMAI)
(2010)
Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI) LCA software: MiLCA http://
www.milca-milca.net/
479
and chromium were calculated as larger by EDIP than by TMR. In addition, environmental efficiency was improved by recycling, especially when the material collected
had a high level of purity. Although this factor was not examined in our study, there
is a danger of double-counting the recycling effect when recycled materials are both
used as inputs at the time of manufacturing and then collected for further recycling.
Future research should consider this factor when allocating the effects of recycling.
In addition, it seems that the usage value of the product, which was set at 1 for all
scenarios in our study for the purpose of simplicity, should greatly affect resource
efficiency just as the usage period does, so it will be necessary to develop a method of
deriving this value in the future. In addition, although this paper focuses on resource
aspects throughout the product life cycle, when designing real products it is necessary
to evaluate LC and other costs, and product design and production schemes are also
complex and difficult to represent accurately.
31.4 Summary
In this study, we developed indicators to evaluate resource efficiency throughout
a product’s life cycle. We then conducted a case study on refrigerated showcases,
testing four scenarios and examining the quantitative results as determined using
TMR and EDIP. As a result, we found that the results differed greatly depending on
the choice of the environmental impact coefficient. However, the length of the usage
period greatly affected resource efficiency.
In the future, it will be necessary to make comparative evaluations relative to
other environmental impact coefficients and to examine the indicators. We also need
to conduct case studies with other products and to consider whether this approach
can be effectively applied to various types of products.
References
G20 Ministerial meeting on energy transitions and global environment for sustainable growth (15–16
June 2019) Communiqué https://www.g20nagano2019.jp/english
Halada Kohmei (2007) Sustainability risk of metals and elements. Materia Japan 46:543–548
Itsubo and Inaba; LIME 2, Japan environmental management association for industry (JEMAI)
(2010)
Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI) LCA software: MiLCA http://
www.milca-milca.net/