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Sustainable Nanotechnology: Need to Consider the Role of Ecosystem Services in LCA

Bhavik R. BakshiDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210

Motivation for LCA

Avoid the unpleasant surprises due to technology Systems view Broad analysis boundary

Expected to guide selection and design of technological alternatives

Commonly expected to encourage sustainable development

Unfortunately, current LCA need not encourage sustainability Economic rebound effect Using a boundary that is not broad enough

Ecosystem Services & Sustainability

Ecosystem goods and services (Natural Capital) are essential for sustainability

Decisions to encourage sustainability must consider role of ecosystem services

NaturalCapital

Economic Products &

Services

Ecosystem

Economy

Sun

4

Types of Ecosystem Services

RegulatingBenefits obtained from

regulation of ecosystem processes

• climate regulation• disease regulation

• flood regulation• detoxification

ProvisioningGoods produced or

provided by ecosystems• food

• fresh water• fuel wood

• fiber• biochemicals

• genetic resources

CulturalNon-material benefits

obtained from ecosystems• spiritual

• recreational • aesthetic

• inspirational• educational

• symbolic

SupportingServices necessary for production of other ecosystem services

• Soil formation• Nutrient cycling

• Primary production

Status of Ecosystem Services

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment “… assessed the consequences of ecosystem change

for human well-being… … the MA involved the work of more than 1,360

experts worldwide. Their findings provide a state-of-the-art scientific

appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide, …

… as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.”

Many ecosystem goods and services are highly degraded

http://www.maweb.org

LCA and Ecosystem Services

LCA accounts for some provisioning services, but ignores the rest

Decisions based on LCA can be perverse An alternative with smaller life cycle impact may be

less sustainable due to greater reliance on scarce ecosystem services

None of the existing life cycle oriented methods account for ecosystem services

Zhang, Singh and Bakshi, Env. Sci. Technol., 2009

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LCA of Polymer Nanocomposite Cars

Potential savings if automotive steel is replaced by polymer nanocomposites

Approach identifies new engineering opportunities

CNF: 0.6 v/v

CNF: 2.3 v/v

CNF: 1 v/vCNF: 3.4 v/v

CNF: 2.4 v/v

PP-GF-CNF

PP-GF-CNF

UPR-CNFUPR-CNF

UPR-GF-CNF

Khanna, Bakshi, Env. Sci. Technol, 2009

LCA of CNF Reinforced Windmills

CNF in windmill blades can enhance their strength to weight ratio Permit larger blades Increase electricity generation

LCA indicates that with current technology, Energy ROI does not improve

Increasing efficiency in making CNF and polymer nanocomposites may make the life cycle more attractive

Merugula and Bakshi, AIChE Conference, 2009

Ecosystem Services and Nanotechnology

Life cycle of nanotechnologies may rely on scarce ecosystem services

Provisioning Fossil fuels and minerals Water

Regulating Air quality regulation Climate & Water regulation Waste processing

Supporting Primary production Water cycling

Most of these services are already stressed

Ecologically-Based LCA PROVISIONING SERVICES

Fuels Crude Oil; Natural

gas; Coal; Nuclear fuel

Ores Iron; Copper; Silver;

Zinc and lead; Gold; Other metallic ores

Non-metallic Minerals; Crushed

stone; Sand Water

Irrigation water Thermoelectric

power generation water

Public Supply Water

Primary production Fish & related

species Wood Grass

Land Cropland;

Rangeland and pasture; Timber

SUPPORTING SERVICES Mineralization

Nitrogen, Phosphorus

Soil Nitrogen deposition

from atmosphere; Detrital matter; erosion

Farm, Timber, Ranch * Work In Progress

Pollination Sunlight Hydropotential Geothermal Wind

REGULATING SERVICES Carbon

Sequestration Forest, Farm,

Ranch Soil Ocean*

Air Quality* Water Regulation* Climate Regulation* Disease Regulation* Pest Regulation*

Zhang, Baral, Bakshi, Env. Sci. Technol., 2009Singh, Bakshi, 2009

http://resilience.osu.edu/ecolca/

Eco-LCA of Corn Ethanol vs. Gasoline

Scenario: All corn is used for fuel Meets 12% of total U.S. fuel demand

Graph shows % of U.S resource consumption Indicates vulnerability to resources

Gasoline is vulnerable to crude oil depletion Corn ethanol to land use and availability of fertile soil

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

Crud

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l

Natu

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as

Iron

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Copp

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Gol

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Zinc

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Oth

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etal

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Non-

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allic

min

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hed

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Coal

Detri

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atte

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Sunl

ight

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ear e

nerg

y

Soil e

rosi

on

Crop

landnorm

alize

d res

ourc

e con

sum

ption Gasoline

Ethanol

Crude oil Detritalmatter

Water

CroplandCO2 uptake

Soil Erosion

Vulnerability to loss of Ecosystem Service

Identifying Critical Supporting Services

Air quality regulating service looks most critical since LC intensity and vulnerability are both high

Summary

Sustainability relies on ecosystem services

Current life cycle oriented methods ignore most ecosystem services

For LCA to point toward sustainability, accounting for ecosystem services is essential, particularly for emerging technologies

Eco-LCA is a step in this direction