TRACI Assessment of Transportation Manufacturing Nexus in the U.S.: A Supply Chain-linked Cradle-to-Gate LCA

Abstract

Sustainable transportation is an inevitable component of sustainable development intitiatives for mitigating the climate change impacts and stabilizing the rising carbon emissions thus global temperature. In this context, comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of transportation can play a critical role towards quantifying the midpoint environmental and human health related impacts associated with the transportation activities triggered by manufacturing sectors. This study traces the life cycle impact of the U.S. transportation and manufacturing sectors' nexus using Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) in the context of the Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) framework considering the following midpoint impact categories: 'global warming', 'particulate matter', 'eutrophication', 'acidification', and 'smog air'. Both direct (onsite) and indirect (supply chain) industries' relationships with transportation industry are considered as the main scope. Results indicated that top ten contributor manufacturing sectors accounted for over 55% total environmental impacts on each impact category. Additionally, based on the decomposition analysis, food manufacturing sector was found to be the major contributor to smog air with an approximate share of 21% in the entire supply chain. Automobile related manufacturing sectors also have significant impact on all five life cycle impact categories that the environmental impact of transportation Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

Environmental Assessment of Energy Scenarios for a Low-Carbon Electrical Network in Chile

“…Smog refers to ozone which is formed due to the interaction of volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen in the presence of sunlight [47]. Ozone is located in the upper atmosphere and at the ground level of the earth, which has severe effects on sensitivity vegetation and ecosystems, including forests, wildlife, trees, and plants as well as causing human health effects such as skin cancer, cataracts, and serious breathing Sustainability 2019, 11, 5066 9 of 16 problem [41,48]. Therefore, a reduction in smog carries a great benefit for the ecosystem and human health.…”