To assist the sustainable development of the building sector, designers require tools illustrating the most viable design options. This paper, starting by presenting the opportunities and limitations of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and Digital Product Passport (DPP) instrument when applied to Custom Modules for Curtain Walls, proposes a Semantic Data-driven Framework to facilitate the design of low-carbon and circular façade modules. Based on literature and the practical outcome of the H2020 project Basajaun, this framework integrates computer-aided technologies that manufacturing companies commonly employ to automate an efficient sustainability assessment process using primary data. This solution innovates industrial process management and architectural design and supports the creation of greener products. It also facilitates the output of documents supporting end-of-life scenarios. The development methodology involves investigating required quantitative project data, environmental factors, and circularity information, as well as the definition of flowcharts for the Life Cycle Inventory, extending a best practice for the façade module’s DPP. Furthermore, the methodology implicates data collection and IT implementation and organisation. This is through the definition of an ontology conceived for interconnection between digital systems. The findings shall contribute to implementing the LCA and DPP practices for custom prefabricated façade modules and suggest areas for further development. Challenges include obtaining and sharing data on environmental impacts and circularity, but involving stakeholders and addressing technical limitations can improve sustainability. 

The automotive sector has a long history of recycling and a high rate of reuse and recycling. The benefits of recycling lie in reduction of climate impacts. The challenges of recycling lie in the cost of refining and to meet the quality standards. This report present results from an environmental study and is part of a larger research project “SVE-REP” financed by Re:Source and the Swedish Energy agency. The starting point of this study was the idea is to replace fossil plastic to recycling plastic in the Swedish automotive industry (Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks). To measure environmental benefit of recycled plastic instead of fossil-based alternatives, we performed an environmental study looking at the greenhouse gas emission of recycling compared with fossil plastic. Life cycle analysis (LCA) based data and methodology were used to measure the climate impact from the recycled and fossil-based plastic. The data collection includes different plastic companies (Rondo, Mocom, and Sabic). The results were compared between the companies and results were also compared with earlier studies in the literature. The studied recycling rates included in this study are between 25%, 30%, 50% and 70%. The recycling plastic are based on PCR and PIR. The studied plastics were PP (including TPE and PA6) and PC/ABS. The materials and processes included are based on waste to factory gate (cradle to gate). The conclusion made from this project is the following: PP based on recycling plastic are better than fossil-based plastic. Recycling content has been 25%, 30% and 50% and 67% in total. This leads to 30-40% and up to 58% and 90% reduction of GHGemissions. PC/ABS based on recycling plastic are better than fossil-based plastic. The Recycling content has been 25%, 50% and 70% for PC/ABS. This leads to 22%, 55% and 60% reduction of GHG-emissions. Plastic components have different quality and content. The quality is having effect on the recycling content. The industrial based recycled plastic (PIR) has better quality and climate impact than the consumer based recycled plastic (PCR). As a result, the plastic components show different climate effects. The research project has shown that carbon reduction due to the replacement of fossil plastic to recycling plastic in the Swedish automotive industry is possible. As a rule of thumb, % recycling rate means % reduction of climate impacts. For example, 25% recycling rate means 25% reduction climate impacts.

Syftet med förstudien Den cirkulära bilen var att börja bygga konkreta visioner som möjliggör att Sverige har en cirkulärt anpassad bilflotta med fossilfria och klimatneutrala transporter år 2045 och att bygga en solid bas för ett steg 2-projekt, som i sin tur kommer att ge stöd och kapacitet för aktörer att accelerera den cirkulära bilvärdekedjan. Projektet har samlat 13 parter från hela värdekedjan och gemensamt lagt grunden till vidare arbete i ett fortsättningsprojekt – en ansökan som genererat intresse från ett stort antal parter både befintliga och nytillkommande. Inom studien har startmöten och workshops genomförts där parter samlats digitalt och frågeställningar sonderats. Intervjuer har genomförts med parter där möjligheter och utmaningar med omställningen diskuterats. Studiebesök har genomförts där kunskapsdelning skett och samverkan möjliggjorts. Fysisk workshop har genomförts med samtliga parter. Här tittade man gemensamt på trender och möjliga framtidsscenarios genom hela systemet. Detta gav en bra grund för det vidare arbetet med steg 2. Förstudien har genererat stort intresse från aktörer i hela värdekedjan, skapat nya kontakter och möjligheter till samverkan och blivit uppstarten på en gemensam kunskapsresa för verklig förändring. Studien har initierat arbete brett i värdekedjan kopplat till gemensamma frågeställningar samt framtidsspaningar, vilket möjliggör gemensamt arbete för bred omställning och tydliggjort behovet av åtgärder som förflyttar hela systemet. Detta ses som en god grund för ett steg 2 projekt med förutsättningar för att förverkliga den cirkulära bilvärdekedjan.

Södertälje kommun har höga ambitioner att drastiskt sänka sin klimatpåverkan och har ambitionen att inte ha några nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser år 2030 (Södertälje kommun Miljö- och klimatstrategi 2022–2030, 2022). För att nå dessa mål spelar avfallssektorn i Södertälje kommun en avgörande roll, vilket också innebär ett behov av större involvering och ett större engagemang från medborgare och företag. Som en del i det arbetet skapades projektet Det inkluderande, hållbara och uppkopplade samhället. Projektet är ett samarbete mellan Södertälje kommun, Telge Återvinning, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden och Umeå Universitet och avser att undersöka hur maskingenererad data kan ha dubbel nytta i att både skapa externt medborgarvärde och internt organisatoriskt värde i Södertälje kommuns omställning till en hållbar stad. Denna rapport inkluderar en nulägesanalys över tre tematiserade områden; digitalisering, livscykelanalys (LCA), och medborgardialog. Södertälje kommun har tillsammans med Telge Nät byggt upp ett så kallat LoRaWAN2 (ett trådlöst nätverk med dubbelriktad kommunikation3) i Södertälje för att underlätta kommunikation mellan sensorer i uppkopplade enheter. 169 papperskorgar har också försetts med sensorer som mäter fyllnadsgrad, vilket genererat ett proof-of-concept för hur uppkopplad utrustning kan möjliggöra ruttoptimering och placeringsplanering. Att koppla upp en papperskorg har i det här fallet inneburit att man fäster en sensor i locket på befintliga kärl. Denna sensor känner sedan av fyllnadsgraden i papperskorgens plastpåse med jämna mellanrum. Initiativet kring uppkopplade papperskorgar har medfört inlärning på flera nivåer – såväl utvecklarna som utformar sensorerna, som medarbetarna som förlitar sig på dem, har behövt tänka i nya banor och ompröva invanda arbetssätt. Värt att notera är att personalen behöver besöka samtliga områden där papperskorgar finns trots sensortekniken i och med att deras arbetsuppgifter även inkluderar renhållning av gator och vård av grönytor. Det vill säga, det föreligger i nuläget inte en kvantitativ ekonomisk vinst utan snarare en kvalitativ nytta i form av ökade möjligheter att planera sin arbetstid vilket kan leda till en renare stad. Bland de system som Södertälje kommun använder ses två som särskilt intressanta i relation till Sakernas Internet (Internet of Things (IoT)) enligt denna nulägesanalys. På en operativ nivå har Infracontrol potential att anta rollen som ”spindeln i nätet” där status på uppkopplad utrustning kan hanteras. På en strategisk nivå erbjuder verktyget Maptionnaire möjligheter att aggregera, analysera, och presentera data från uppkopplad utrustning. För att realisera potentialen hos dessa (och andra) verktyg krävs dock att Södertälje kommun ställer nya krav och utarbetar nya rutiner vid upphandling då kostnaderna för att integrera uppkopplad utrustning annars skulle bli ohållbar. En LCA har genomförts för att utvärdera miljöpåverkan från sakernas Internet i Södertälje centrum för smart sophämtning ur ett livscykelperspektiv. Med koppling till kommunens klimatstrategi har miljöpåverkan med fokus på klimatpåverkan prioriterats. Den visar att IoT-systemet enbart utgör en liten del av klimatpåverkan (122 kg CO2-ekv per år4), vilket främst härrör från gateways (50%) och sensorer (27%) och användning av Internet (23%). Sophämtningen bidrar med cirka 12 ton CO2-ekv per år, vilket främst bidrog till användningen av fossilbaserade avfallspåsar i plast (96%) och Hydrerad Vegetabilisk Olja (HVO)-baserade transporter (4%). Vidare visar LCAn att potential för framtida klimatsmart sophämtningssystemet ligger inom minskad användning av fossila plastpåsar och smart planering av sophämtning för att reducera transporter. Södertälje har redan minskat sin klimatpåverkan från transporter (under 2016) genom byte från diesel till HVO. För ett system med 169 papperskorgar (studiens utgångspunkt) innebar detta 83% minskning, från 2,3 ton till 380 kg. Enbart två ton av denna minskning härrör från fossilfria transporter (resp. 8,75 ton för ett möjligt framtida system med 700 papperskorgar). Dock visar resultaten att ännu mer klimatpåverkan kan minskas genom att inte använda fossila plastpåsar, nästan 12 ton (resp. 50 ton för 700 papperskorgar). Detta motsvarar fem resor till Thailand (2,5 ton per resa) eller utsläpp för fyra invånare (2,8 ton per invånare) för året 2030. För ett system med 700 papperskorgar betyder det minst 20 resor till Thailand eller utsläpp för upp till 20 invånare per år. Vidare har projektet ett fokus på inkludering av medborgare i frågor kring hållbarhet, med syftet att informera, engagera och inkludera medborgare i målet med att uppnå hållbar resurshantering. Medborgardialog kan ske på många olika vis och innebära olika saker. Nulägesanalysen visar att flera olika aktiviteter genomförts på området, och att dessa framförallt kan kopplas till kategorierna ”information” och ”konsultation”, men där också det finns kommande inslag av ”dialog” med till exempel det Hackathon som planeras. Från nulägesanalysen noterades dock en möjlighet till utökat fokus på medborgardialog i Södertälje, samt att det finns en medvetenhet om behovet av att inkludera många olika grupper i denna dialog, men det noterades även en utmaning vad gäller inkludering och olika språk.

Internet of things (IoT) is expected to transform the way we live, work, and learn. Using IoT can be a game-changer for municipalities to move towards sustainability. Within the Vinnova financed project, The inclusive, sustainable, and connected society, the municipality wants to explore how IoT can enable route optimization and placement planning for increased operational efficiency. The aim of these environmental studies is to enhance the knowledge of the environmental benefits of IoT systems in three parts of the waste collection systems and services provided in the municipality of Södertälje: Waste collection in the city centre (Telge Återvinning), Textile collection (Human Bridge) and Recycling stations (Telge Återvinning). The LCA results for waste collection in the city centre are documented in Chiew & Brunklaus (2021); while the main LCA results and conclusions for textile collection (part 2) and recycling stations (part 3) are summarized in this report. The results for all three types of waste collection system show that the implementation of the IoT system is quite low (<1%). In this study, the climate impacts of both textile waste collection and recycling stations services per year were identified with LCA. By using the actor analysis, we found that in both the textile waste collection and the recycling stations services, the major climate impacts come from citizens, e.g., in the case of the textile waste collection service. The climate impact of transportation of the citizens to the textile station is 36%, followed by the plastic or paper bags from the citizens is 22% of the total impact of the textile waste, while the transportation of citizens to the recycling stations is even higher, such as 70% of the total impact of the recycling station system. The textile collection and recycling stations showed that citizen’s choice has huge impact on the CO2 emission. Re-used and recycled textiles, instead of incinerating can save up to 23-44kg CO2 per kg of new textile produced. The recycling stations collects almost 9kt of waste, which are consumer products (e.g. bicycles, furniture, electronic devices and car decks). Re-used products can save between 100kg CO2 eq per bicycle up to 300kg CO2 eq per electronic devices, such as electric tools or laptop computers, as well as 28kg CO2 eq per car decks. On the other hand, the service provided by Södertälje has a huge influence on the citizens choice. The “rullande återvinning” (rolling service), in which Telge Återvinning arranged trucks to collect bulky waste closer to the citizen can reduce the emission that is caused by the citizen transportation. In addition, the IoT system installed in the recycling station can provide good information to the citizen to avoid congestion time and paying for an empty visit due to long queue in the recycling stations. The service provided by Human Bridge and Telge Återvinning can be improved. However, both have already started to implement green choices. The environmental choices already made by Human Bridge (part 2) include the choice of thinner and recycled plastic bags and the choice of green electricity. The environmental choices already made by Telge Återvinning (part 3) include the choice of transportation (HVO instead of diesel) and the choice of green electricity. The recommendations for the future could include better service for the citizens (rolling service) and setting requirements on the service provider, such as in the textile collection (fossil-free transport).

Session (accepted): In order to reach sustainability goals in the future, green and social living must be considered. The interface between production and consumption set the frame for future sustainable lifestyles, including sharing consumption of transport and space in buildings, or the need of a circular production for clothing and electronics. Sustainable lifestyles imply a change of action. It implies new ways of consumption, including behavior change and nudging, as well as new ways of production, including business modeling and service design. This session encourages using visual examples and digital aids to present new ways of consumption and production for future sustainable lifestyles. We will discuss future lifestyles including their environmental and social effects from a life cycle perspective. Session (policy, reguklartion, targets) and scientific commitee (LCM 2023):

The production of vehicles is one of the most resource-intensive industries. 10 % of the overall consumption of plastics, 6 million tonnes/year is used by the European vehicle industry1. Increase the use of recycled plastics in vehicles is one of the key challenges for sustainable transformation of the vehicle industry as it plays an important role in saving resources and reducing greenhouse emissions. The main goal of this project was to contribute to increased use of recycled plastic in the Swedish vehicle industry. Volvo Cars goal is that 25 % of the plastic used in cars should be recycled or biobased by 2025. The goal will most probably be reached according to Volvo Cars. Volvo group has the goal to be fossil neutral, which requires recycled material in the truck components. The recycled plastics evaluated in the project came from both post industrial waste (PIR) and post consumer waste (PCR). Rondo Plast, Polykemi, Albis, Mocom, Biesterfield, Borealis, Sabic, Total and LG Chem have supplied recycled and virgin plastics tested in the project. The plastics we have focusing on in this project were polypropylene (PP) plastics (homo- and copolymer) and PC/ABS plastic compounds. Thus, these plastics are most used in vehicle components and recycled PP plastics are more accessible than the other plastics that can be used in vehicles. Analysis and evaluation of recycled plastics have been performed by RISE. Also, long term ageing and recyclability studies have been performed. A study to upgrade PP plastic recycled from packaging (PCR) with additives from DOW and Rondo Plast were performed.

The 2030 Agenda has pushed practitioners as well as academia to renew their efforts on promoting sustainability, e.g. in how digital technologies can support cities to improve their environmental performance. However, as scholars focus their attention on the positive outcomes of implementation, they often neglect the environmental impact of the artefact itself. We present a study of a Green IS implementation – a municipal Internet of Things (IoT) solution which was expected to decrease the carbon emissions produced by urban waste collection in Sweden. Using a mixed methods approach, we present qualitative findings from interviews & project meetings as well as quantitative findings from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We find that (1) the environmental impact of the connected litter-bins – however small – is not necessarily offset by any significant benefits, and (2) the most significant way for the stakeholders to reduce environmental impact is to utilize more ecologically friendly trash bags.

Circular economy, public procurement, and increased resource efficiency: Environmental and social effects of resource flows in the City of Malmö.

The procurement practices in public organisations are traditionally performed in a linear way. Using circular economy solutions could help public organisations to save both natural and economic resources and tackle climate change. The Swedish City of Malmö strives to include circular economy solutions and become a circular municipality. The scope of the project named “SINA – Sluta med Ineffektiv Användning” SINUS (stop ineffective Use) was to increase the practical knowledge regarding circular procurement and circular user flow within public organisations. In practice, the project tried to increase the efficiency and circularity of material flows in the city of Malmö. The goal of the project was to explore activities for increased reuse and visualise how circular material flows can reduce environmental impacts. The goal was also to develop a method for mapping material flows that can be used in the City of Malmö and other public organisations. Within the project, the purchase and waste flows within the City of Malmö have been mapped and analysed to identify circular activities and product categories. The studied activities and product categories included in this study are the reuse of furniture and replacement of single use plastic with reuse alternatives, as well as prolonged lifetime of IT products and textiles. Life cycle analysis (LCA) based methods were used to estimate the reduction in environmental impact from the studied circular activities. The results showed that most reduction can be achieved though purchasing agreements with increased lifetime from 3 to 4 years, such as for IT products and clothing (25%). The reuse of furniture and the replacement of single use plastic also leads to reduced environmental impacts. Some methodological difficulties might be found in data collection, not for environmental data, but for procurement and waste data. The perception of circular activities within the City of Malmö were analysed with a survey. The results also showed that most employees value the function of the product rather the need of new products, and they are interested in using a digital sharing platform. Additionally, the results pointed out the need for a circular manager handling the material flows, handling storage and repairs and handling the values of employees. This research has been resulted in a draft roadmap for circular economy for the City of Malmö, as well as a description of the methodology developed within the project, to be shared with other public organisations through various networks and digital channels.