Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Incorporating linear programing and life cycle thinking into environmental sustainability decision-making: a case study on anchovy canning industry

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool to support environmental informed decisions among product and process alternatives. LCA results reflect the process stage contributions to several environmental impacts, which should be made mutually comparable to help in the decision-making process. Aggregated environmental indexes enable the translation of this set of metrics into a one final score, by defining the attached weights to impacts. Weighting values reflect the corresponding relevance assigned to each environmental impact. Current weighing schemes are based on pre-articulation of preferences, without considering the specific features of the system under study. This paper presents a methodology that combines LCA methodology and linear programming optimisation to determine the environmental improvement actions that conduct to a more sustainable production. LCA was applied using the environmental sustainability assessment methodology to obtain two main indexes: natural resources (NR) and environmental burdens (EB). Normalised indexes were optimised to determine the optimal joint of weighting factors that lead to an optimised global Environmental Sustainability Index. The proposed methodology was applied to a food sector, in particular, to the anchovy canning industry in Cantabria Region (Northern Spain). By maximising the objective function composed of NR and EB variables, it is possible to find the optimal joint of weights that identify the best environmental sustainable options. This study proves that LCA can be applied in combination with linear programing tools as a part of the decision-making process in the development of more sustainable processes and products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

References

  • Almeida C, Vaz S, Ziegler F (2015) Environmental life cycle assessment of a canned sardine product from Portugal. J Ind Ecol 19(4):607–617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azapagic A, Clift R (1999a) The application of life cycle assessment to process optimisation. Comput Chem Eng 23(10):1509–1526

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azapagic A, Clift R (1999b) Life cycle assessment and multiobjective optimisation. J Clean Prod 7(2):135–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bala A, Raugei M, Fullana-i-Palmer P (2015) Introducing a new method for calculating the environmental credits of end-of-life material recovery in attributional LCA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 20(5):645–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bare JC (2010) Life cycle impact assessment research developments and needs. Clean Technol Environ Policy 12(4):341–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandi HS, Daroda RJ, Olinto AC (2014) The use of the Canberra metrics to aggregate metrics to sustainability. Clean Technol Environ Policy 16(5):911–920

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulle C, Jolliet O, Humbert S, Rosenbaum R, Margni M (2012) IMPACT world: a new global regionalized life cycle impact assessment method. LCA XII, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortés-Borda D, Guillén-Gosálbez G, Esteller LJ (2013) On the use of weighting in LCA: translating decision makers’ preferences into weights via linear programming. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18(5):948–957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca AI, Iofrida N, Leskinen P, Stillitano T, Falcone G, Strano A et al (2017) Life cycle tools combined with multi-criteria and participatory methods for agricultural sustainability: insights from a systematic and critical review. Sci Total Environ 595:352–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diniz da Costa JC, Pagan RJ (2006) Sustainability metrics for coal power generation in Australia. Process Saf Environ Prot 84(B2):143–149

  • Dos Santos SF, Brandi HS (2015) Model framework to construct a single aggregate sustainability indicator: an application to the biodiesel supply chain. Clean Technol Environ Policy 17(7):1963–1973

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ec JCR (2010) ILCD handbook: general guide for life cycle assessment—provisions and action steps. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecoembes (2016) Results report 2016. https://www.ecoembes.com/sites/default/files/reciclaje-en-datos-2016.pdf. Accessed 12 May 2017 (in Spanish)

  • Ecoinvent (2014) Ecoinvent database version 3.1. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) http://www.ecoinvent.org/. Accessed 15 May 2017

  • Ecovidrio (2016) Glass recycling in Spain. El reciclado del vidrio en España 2016. http://www.ecovidrio.es/. Accessed 12 May 2017 (in Spanish)

  • Finnveden G, Hofstetter P, Bare J, Basson L, Ciroth A, Mettier T et al (2002) Normalization, grouping and weighting in life cycle impact assessment. In: de Haes HU et al (eds) Life cycle impact assessment: striving towards best practice. SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL, pp 177–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnveden G, Hauschild MZ, Ekvall T, Guinée J, Heijungs R, Hellweg S et al (2009) Recent developments in life cycle assessment. J Environ Manag 91(1):1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman GS, Divita VB, Han J, Cai H, Elgowainy A, Wang M (2014) US refinery efficiency: impacts analysis and implications for fuel carbon policy implementation. Environ Sci Technol 48(13):7625–7633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galán-Martín Á, Guillén-Gosálbez G, Stamford L, Azapagic A (2016) Enhanced data envelopment analysis for sustainability assessment: a novel methodology and application to electricity technologies. Comput Chem Eng 90:188–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GAMS Development Corporation (2017) GAMS: general algebraic modeling system, Washington, DC, USA. https://www.gams.com/. Accessed 15 May 2017

  • García V, Margallo M, Aldaco R, Urtiaga A, Irabien A (2013) Environmental sustainability assessment of an innovative cr (III) passivation process. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1(5):481–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goedkoop M, Spriensma R (2001) The eco-indicator99: a damage oriented method for life cycle impact assessment: methodology report. Ministry of VROM, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Goedkoop M, Heijungs R, Huijbregts MAJ, De Schryver A, Struijs J, Van Zelm R (2009) ReCiPe 2008. A life cycle impact assessment method which comprises harmonised category indicators at the midpoint and the endpoint level, 1st edn. Report I: Characterisation, Ministry of VROM, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Goetfried F, Stratmann B, Quack D (2012) Life cycle assessment of sodium chloride production and transport. In: International conference on biodiversity, sustainability and solar salt proceedings, pp 59–63

  • Guinée JB, Gorrée M, Heijungs R, Huppes G, Kleijn R, Koning A et al (2002) An operational guide to the ISO standards. Centrum Milieukunde Leiden (CML) Kluwer, Leiden University, Dordrecht, NL

    Google Scholar 

  • Hospido A, Vazquez ME, Cuevas A, Feijoo G, Moreira MT (2006) Environmental assessment of canned tuna manufacture with a life-cycle perspective. Resour Conserv Recy 47(1):56–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huppes G, van Oers L (2011) Background review of existing weighting approaches in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Publications Office. http://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/. Accessed 12 May 2017

  • IChemE (2002) The sustainability metrics: sustainable development progress metrics recommended for use in the process industry. The Institution of Chemical Engineers, Rugby

    Google Scholar 

  • IOOM (2016) International olive oil market. https://www.oliveoilmarket.eu/. Accessed 12 May 2017

  • Irabien A, Aldaco R, Dominguez-Ramos A (2009) Environmental sustainability normalization of industrial processes. Comput Aided Chem Eng 26:1105–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Islam S, Ponnambalam SG, Lam HL (2017) A novel framework for analyzing the green value of food supply chain based on life cycle assessment. Clean Technol Environ Policy 19(1):93–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISO (2006a) ISO 14044: Environmental management—life cycle assessment—requirements and guidelines. ISO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO (2006b) ISO 14040: environmental management—life cycle assessment—principles and framework. ISO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolliet O, Margni M, Charles R, Humbert S, Payet J, Rebitzer G et al (2003) IMPACT 2002+: a new life cycle impact assessment methodology. Int J Life Cycle Assess 8(6):324–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kägi T, Dinkel F, Frischknecht R, Humbert S, Lindberg J, De Mester S et al (2016) Session “Midpoint, endpoint or single score for decision-making?”—SETAC Europe 25th annual meeting, may 5th, 2015. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21(1):129–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laso J, Margallo M, Fullana P, Bala A, Gazulla C, Irabien A, Aldaco R (2016a) Introducing life cycle thinking to define best available techniques for products: Application to the anchovy canning industry. J Clean Prod. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.040 (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laso J, Margallo M, Celaya J, Fullana P, Bala A, Gazulla C, Irabien A, Aldaco R (2016b) Waste management under a life cycle approach as a tool for a circular economy in the canned anchovy industry. Waste Manag Res 34(8):724–733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laso J, Margallo M, Fullana P, Bala A, Gazulla C, Irabien A et al (2017) When product diversification influences life cycle impact assessment: a case study of canned anchovy. Sci Total Environ 581–582:629–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LME (2016) London metal exchange. https://www.lme.com/. Accessed 12 May 2017

  • Mainali B, Silveira S (2015) Using a sustainability index to assess energy technologies for rural electrification. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 41:1351–1365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margallo M, Dominguez-Ramos A, Aldaco R, Bala A, Fullana P, Irabien A (2014) Environmental sustainability assessment in the process industry: a case study of waste-to-energy plants in Spain. Resour Conserv Recy 93:144–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris GA (2001) The requirement for congruence in normalization. Int J Life Cycle Assess 6(2):85–88

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Notarnicola B, Salomone R, Petti L, Renzulli PA, Roma R, Cerutti AK (2015) Life cycle assessment in the agri-food sector. Case studies, methodological issues and best practices. Springer, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • NYSDEC (2015) Solution salt mining summary. New York State Department of environmental Conservation

  • Olinto AC, Islam S (2017) Optimal aggregate sustainability assessment of total and selected factors of industrial processes. Clean Technol Environ Policy. doi:10.1007/s10098-017-1350-0 (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasqualino JC, Meneses M, Abella M, Castells F (2009) LCA as a decision support tool for the environmental improvement of the operation of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Environ Sci Technol 43(9):3300–3307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PE International (2014) GaBi 6 software and database on life cycle assessment. Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany

  • Pizzol M, Laurent A, Sala S, Weidema B, Verones F, Koffler C (2017) Normalisation and weighting in life cycle assessment: Quo vadis? Int J Life Cycle Assess 22(6):853–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plastics Informat (2016) LDPE price chart. http://www.plasticsinfomart.com/ldpe-price-chart/. Accessed 12 May 2017

  • Sikdar SK (2009) On aggregating multiple indicators into a single metric for sustainability. Clean Technol Environ Policy 11(2):157–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sikdar SK, Sengupta D, Harten P (2012) More on aggregating multiple indicators into a single index for sustainability analyses. Clean Technol Environ Policy 14(5):765–773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steubing B, Mutel C, Suter F, Hellweg S (2016) Streamlining scenario analysis and optimization of key choices in value chains using a modular LCA approach. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21(4):510–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SUDOE (2011) Olive oil life cycle assessment. OILCA tool. http://www.oilca.eu/oilcatool/. Accessed 12 May 2017

  • Tan RR, Culaba AB, Aviso KB (2008) A fuzzy linear programming extension of the general matrix-based life cycle model. J Clean Prod 16(13):1358–1367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolle DA, Lang RT, Becker JR, Pugsley KD, Vigon BW (1995) Life-cycle assessment: public data sources for the LCA practitioner. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publication. EP A530-R-95-009

  • Vázquez-Rowe I, Villanueva-Rey P, Mallo J, De La Cerda JJ, Moreira MT, Feijoo G (2013) Carbon footprint of a multi-ingredient seafood product from a business-to-business perspective. J Clean Prod 44:200–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vázquez-Rowe I, Golkowska K, Lebuf V, Vaneeckhaute C, Michels E, Meers E et al (2015) Environmental assessment of digestate treatment technologies using LCA methodology. Waste Manag 43:442–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou P, Ang BW, Poh KL (2007) A mathematical programming approach to constructing composite indicators. Ecol Econ 62(2):291–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou L, Tokos H, Krajnc D, Yang Y (2012) Sustainability performance evaluation in industry by composite sustainability index. Clean Technol Environ Policy 14(5):789–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler F, Emanuelsson A, Eichelsheim JL, Flysjö A, Ndiaye V, Thrane M (2011) Extended life cycle assessment of southern pink shrimp products originating in senegalese artisanal and industrial fisheries for export to Europe. J Ind Ecol 15(4):527–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors thank to Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spanish Government for the financial support through the project GeSAC-Conserva (CTM2013-43539-R). Jara Laso also thanks to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spanish Government for the financial support through the research fellowship BES-2014-069368.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. Garcia-Herrero.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Garcia-Herrero, I., Laso, J., Margallo, M. et al. Incorporating linear programing and life cycle thinking into environmental sustainability decision-making: a case study on anchovy canning industry. Clean Techn Environ Policy 19, 1897–1912 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-017-1373-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-017-1373-6

Keywords

Navigation