Transdisciplinary Development of a Life Cycle–Based Approach to Measure and Communicate Waste Prevention Effects in Local Authorities

Abstract

Although waste prevention was promoted as the first priority for all EU member states in 2008, the actual implementation of activities has thus far been hesitant. Empirical evidence indicates that the reasons for this neglect include the limited measurability of waste prevention effects and the consequential lack of awareness, motivation, and incentive systems. Our research aims to quantify waste prevention and its environmental impacts and, ultimately, to motivate the efficient implementation of waste prevention concepts by a target-group-specific communication of the results.Embedded in a transdisciplinary research setting in close cooperation with practitioners, we develop a life cycle-based approach to calculate the effects of waste prevention in local authorities. This approach features an activity-based analysis that facilitates the assessment of both reduction of waste generated and the related environmental effects. The methodology of life cycle assessment, used to calculate environmental impacts, is adapted to the specific requirements and constitutes an essential step in our measurement approach.Finally, we demonstrate the application of this approach. Five activities deriving from realworld case studies are assessed. These case studies simulate the implementation of waste prevention in a mid-sized German city. We are able to reveal potential waste reduction of 74% and potential reduction of other environmental impacts ranging from 28% to 62% of the targeted material streams. Keywords:activity-based analysis industrial ecology life cycle assessment (LCA) local authorities transdisciplinary waste prevention Supporting information is linked to this article on the JIE website

Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Management: Are We Addressing the Key Challenges Ahead of Us?

“…Hutner and colleagues () assesses waste prevention measures through a community‐based approach involving several steps intended to quantify and communicate potential effects from local prevention activities. Based on a literature review, existing approaches are evaluated and subsequently discussed among stakeholders for determination of criteria for indicator and case‐study selection and, finally, communication of results.…”

“…). Quantification and communication of environmental benefits from waste prevention (Hutner et al. ).…”

Human health effects of recycling and reusing plastic packaging in the food system: a systematic review and meta-analysis of life cycle assessments

“…Reusable products were compared to single use products in 17 LCAs (21,25,28,30,35,41,43,(56)(57)(58)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70). Studies comparing packaging designed to be reused with packaging designed for single use, based on both products being used just once (n=6 studies; 32 comparison points) demonstrated almost universal and often large relative increases in all health-related impacts for reusable packaging (Figure S4).…”

Suggested use? On evidence‐based decision‐making in industrial ecology and beyond

“…Yet other research explicitly investigates the gap between existing research and practical demand for decision‐making. For example, Kühnen and Hahn (2019) use a Delphi study to explore what can be learned from life cycle sustainability assessment and positive sustainability performance measurement; Ryan, Johnson, Keoleian, and Lewis (2018) develop an algorithm for the choice of appropriate methods to calculate CO 2 emissions; Stanisavljevic, Levis, and Barlaz (2018) explore the application of a life cycle model developed for the European Union to emerging economies; Hutner, Helbig, Stindt, Thorenz, and Tuma (2018) call for target‐group‐specific communication of research findings.…”