Framework for Sustainability Metrics

Abstract

This work presents the application of a new framework for sustainability metrics to industrial processes, in particular, to chemical processes. The sustainability of an industrial process can be evaluated using a set of three-dimensional (3D) indicators that represent all three dimensions of sustainability: economic, environmental, and societal. The four 3D metrics proposed in this worksnamely, material intensity, energy intensity, potential chemical risk, and potential environmental impactsare applicable to a wide range of process systems. The first two metrics are associated with the process operation. The remaining two metrics, potential chemical risk and potential environmental impact, respectively represent chemical risk to human health in the process environment, and the potential environmental impact of the process on the surrounding environment. To illustrate this framework and the applicability of the proposed set of 3D metrics, two case studies are presented: chlorine production process using three different alternatives (membrane, diaphragm, and mercury cells), and the separation of an acetone/chloroform mixture by two different solvents (benzene and methyln-pentyl-ether). Results of this study show that this framework can be effective in selecting the more-sustainable process by comparing process alternatives.

Chemical storage of wind energy by renewable methanol production: Feasibility analysis using a multi-criteria decision matrix

“…This study uses the sustainability metrics of 'material intensity', 'energy intensity' and 'potential environmental impact' as emissions of CO 2 e by using the 'Carbon Tracking' and the 'Global Warming Potential' options [21,22]. The carbon tracking is based on the emission factor data source of US-EPA-Rule-E9-5711, while the global warming potential is based on the US-EPA's (CO2E-US) with the fuel source of natural gas and a predetermined cost for CO 2 e fee/tax of $2/mt CO 2 e [23e25].…”

A Life-cycle Approach to Improve the Sustainability of Rural Water Systems in Resource-Limited Countries

“…In other words, sustainability across the life cycle of a rural water system in a resource-limited community includes many dimensions: technical, environmental, institutional, community and managerial, financial, and human health. We illustrate these dimensions with a description of various sustainability considerations and possible measures ( Table 1) that are generic to some extent so that they can apply to a variety of alternatives, independent of each other if possible, limited to the most important aspects in terms of sustainable decisions, quantifiable, unambiguous, and representative [5][6][7][8]. Table 1.…”

A Classification Scheme for Smart Manufacturing Systems’ Performance Metrics

“…These metrics are very useful as in conducting an initial performance evaluation, but they are not usually detailed enough to find the source of a specific inefficiency. In these cases, we can use more specific performance metrics by considering 2-D and 1-D metrics, which cover two or one of the pillars of sustainability, respectively [24–25]. It is important to assure that any selected performance metric captures useful and relevant information efficiently and effectively.…”