Poster Session 1 (05:00 - 06:00 UTC)
Poster Session Chairs: Stephen Northey & KK Tong
| ID | Presentation Start Time | Poster title | Student's name (corresponding author) |
| 1 | 5:00:00 | How can the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in circular economy strategies transform the single-use plastic waste in the Asian region? | Mohanad Alkhudhairi |
| 14 | 5:05:00 | Mining Industry Networks and Innovation Diffusion in the Battery Minerals Sector | Bernardo Mendonca Severiano |
| 29 | 5:10:00 | Waste Projection Volume for Lithium-ion Batteries in Australia by 2050 | Mohammad Ratul |
| 38 | 5:15:00 | Life Cycle Assessment of Residual Hemp Waste from Cannabidiol Production | Alana Smith |
| 2 | 5:20:00 | Effects of international trade of steel products on steel recycling performance and its potential promotion from a consumption perspective | Han Gao |
| 7 | 5:25:00 | Life Cycle Assessment of Sugar Production in Mauritius: understanding the impacts from an environmental policy | Isah Mohammed Engha |
| 23 | 5:30:00 | Digital Product Passport & Life Cycle Assessment | Jeongmin Kim |
| 6 | 5:35:00 | Leveraging AI for Material Identification in Unauthorized Dumps for Circular Economy Applications | Adi Mager |
| 27 | 5:40:00 | Environmental life cycle assessment of a building-integrated rooftop aquaponics farm | Elisabet Henriksson |
| 34 | 5:45:00 | Synergistic driving factors and industrial paths of China's water footprint and carbon footprint during 2007-2020 | LiuYewen |
| 18 | 5:50:00 | Structural materials reuse and its role in climate impact mitigation | Ahmad Al-Najjar |
| 39 | 5:55:00 | The impact of dietary time costs on the environment and dietary quality | Xiaoyu Sun |
| 19 | 6:00:00 | Exploring the Role of Environmental and Health Information in Consumer Food Choices: A Conjoint Experiment Analysis in the UK (*) | Jiarui Sun |
POSTER ABSTRACTS
How the Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Circular Economy Strategies Can Transform Single-Use Plastic Waste in Asia
Mohanad Alkhudhairi
Plastic waste is an environmental challenge in Asia where industrialization and population growth have accelerated the issue. The continent is the largest producer of plastic waste in the world and is responsible for more than 50% of the plastic waste generated annually. Single-use plastics have made the issue worse than ever, causing harm to the environment and public health. Solutions are needed to prevent the negative impacts of plastic waste. There is a noticeable growth in digital technologies such as AI and LCA to take waste management to a new level. AI can aid and promote new strategies during the process of sorting and recycling in an effective way. In addition, CE strategies are the fundamental core in optimizing and transforming the current linear model in Asia. This research aims to investigate and explore these advanced technologies, AI and LCA, to improve circular economy strategies to mitigate single-use plastic waste.
Mining Industry Networks and Innovation Diffusion in the Battery Minerals Sector
Bernardo Mendonca Severiano
The shift toward decarbonisation in the transportation sector, primarily through the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), has significantly increased the demand for battery minerals such as lithium, nickel, and manganese. This, in turn, leads to the development of new mining operations and expansion of existing ones. Recognising the reputational risks associated with the mining industry, and the supply-risks associated with transnational multi-layered supply chains, EV manufacturers are intensifying their focus on sustainability-focused innovations and responsible sourcing. However, the industry dynamics of information flows driving the adoption of these innovations and their impact on the supply chain remain largely unexplored. This study aims to address this gap by analysing the diffusion of innovations within the global mining industry, particularly in the context of selected battery mineral supply chains. Employing network theory, we compiled datasets and constructed comprehensive networks of national and international mining industry associations and their affiliated companies. We focused on the top-producing countries for lithium, nickel, and manganese, utilising network-based diffusion algorithms to model the channels potentially available for the dissemination of innovations. Our findings reveal a pronounced transnational character in these networks, with notable isolations. The inclusion of international leadership organisations in the network analysis highlighted its potential role in facilitating faster information dissemination among transnational companies. These results provide critical insights into the mechanisms of innovation diffusion in mining supply chains and underscore the significance of industry associations in influencing sustainability practices. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the network dynamics that govern the adoption of sustainability innovations in the mining sector, offering a basis for further research.
Waste Projection Volume for Lithium-ion Batteries in Australia by 2050
Mohammad Ratul
Due to the unprecedented rise in EV adoption in Australia, there needs to be a policy to deal with spent EV batteries in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Australia has no established EV battery recycling industry, as the industry considers the volume too “low” for investment. This study shows the growth of the battery waste volume on an annual basis until 2050. It uses the growth model of both BEV and PHEV to understand when a “sizeable” volume would arrive in Australia. By 2050, the modelling suggests an annual outflow of spent batteries between 500,000 and 900,000 tonnes. The model demonstrated that features like battery chemistry type, size, and lifetime significantly affected the potential values that could be extracted from recycling these batteries. The results of this study can be used by stakeholders to further policymaking and inform investment.
Life Cycle Assessment of Residual Hemp Waste from Cannabidiol Production
Alana Smith
About 90% of the hemp feedstock is wasted during cannabidiol (CBD) production. In-situ anaerobic digestion was proposed to transform the residual hemp into biomethane which can be used to replace or supplement an existing fuel in the CBD production process as a step towards circularity. A process model was created using SuperPro Designer to simulate theoretical biogas yield, and a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to analyze the environmental impact of the biomethane. A gate-to-grave LCA was used to compare the traditional end-of-life options for residual hemp (i.e., composting, incineration, and landfill) to the proposed alternative waste-to-energy scenario. The simulated biomethane potential was 477.3 mL CH4/g VS, and anaerobic digestion of residual hemp had the lowest environmental impact of all impact categories compared to the traditional end-of-life options. High biomethane potential plus low environmental impact show promising results for a future circular CBD industry.
Effects of International Trade of Steel Products on Steel Recycling Performance and Its Potential Promotion from a Consumption Perspective
Han Gao
Recycling input rate (RIR) and consumption-based recycled content (CB-RC) reflect production- and consumption-based steel recycling performance, respectively. International trade causes a difference between these two approaches, influencing the credit and penalties for steel recycling efforts. This study aims to assess how international trade influences the current status and potential promotions of steel recycling. Using the data from a multiregional material flow table of iron and steel, we calculate CB-RCs in 25 countries. Trade effects on evaluating the current status of steel recycling are quantified by the difference between RIR and CB-RC. Trade effects on the promotion of CB-RC are quantified by the difference between CB-RCs under two scenarios: one assuming the investigated country produces steel exclusively with scrap, and the other reflecting the current condition. Results show that CB-RCs range from 10% to 54%, with developed countries clustering between 27% and 54%. Higher CB-RCs than RIRs in Greece, the U.S., Italy, and Spain reveal a phenomenon of shifting domestic demand for primary iron resources to other countries through imports of primary iron-based steel products. International trade significantly influences the promotion of steel recycling for 18 countries.
Life Cycle Assessment of Sugar Production in Mauritius: Understanding the Impacts from an Environmental Policy
Isah Mohammed Engha
Population growth and tourism boom are projected to increase energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius. Due to its remoteness and high reliance on fossil fuel imports, the country is focused on bioethanol production and electricity generation from bagasse. While the sugarcane sector plays an important role in meeting the rising energy demand and offers a greener alternative to fossil fuels, its environmental impacts need to be assessed. In Switzerland, the Ecological Scarcity Method (ESM) was used as the policy decision tool for developing the Biofuels Life Cycle Assessment Ordinance. Although the Eco Factors developed in Switzerland can be applied in carrying out LCA analysis of sugar production, they will not reflect the environmental realities of Mauritius. Therefore, the objective of this study is to adopt the “distance-to-target” ESM to develop Mauritius eco-factors, empowering us to assess the impacts of sugar accurately.
Digital Product Passport & Life Cycle Assessment
Jeongmin Kim
Imagine every product you buy, such as smartphones and clothes, comes with a digital passport detailing its entire lifecycle. This is becoming a reality with Digital Product Passports (DPP) introduced by the European Commission. Combined with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which evaluates environmental impacts, DPP and LCA together provide a comprehensive approach to enhancing product sustainability. The poster explores the comparative analysis across five of Sintef’s projects regarding applying DPP and LCA. Sintef is an independent research organization founded in 1950 that conducts contract research and development projects.
Leveraging AI for Material Identification in Unauthorized Dumps for Circular Economy Applications
Adi Mager
Our research presents an advanced method for semantic segmentation of aerial images to detect specific waste types in illegally dumped construction waste, focusing on supporting circular economy efforts. Utilizing Meta’s Segment Anything Model (SAM), we developed accurate masks from drone-captured imagery, producing a dataset of over 46,000 manually labeled masks as the base database. We then fine-tuned the ResNet-50 classification model, integrating its predictions with these masks to create a comprehensive waste stream map. This map provides critical insights into waste composition, aiding environmental and economic decision-making, such as cleanup operations and resource recovery. Our approach achieved 86% overall detection accuracy, with higher performance on common waste types. These findings offer new opportunities for waste stream analysis, contributing to more efficient waste management and understanding untapped resources on the ground, supporting both municipal and national policies for sustainable waste and resource management.
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of a Building-Integrated Rooftop Aquaponics Farm
Elisabet Henriksson
This study aims to evaluate the environmental potential of building-integrated decoupled aquaponics in colder climates using an attributional life cycle assessment of an existing such system. To further understand which life cycle stages in the joint aquaponic production of tilapia and basil are most influential on environmental impacts, we also analyze the differences in impact between alternatives for specific parameters. To contribute to the broader field of research concerning the building integration of greenhouses, we also perform an in-depth analysis of the symbiotic benefits of residual heat use for scenarios where heat requirements can be fully covered by residual heat.
Synergistic Driving Factors and Industrial Paths of China’s Water Footprint and Carbon Footprint During 2007-2020
Liu Yewen
We calculated China’s water footprint (WF) and carbon footprint (CF) during 2007-2020, and identified key synergistic factors and synergistic industrial paths with critical WF and CF changes. Overall, China’s WF followed an “inverted U-shaped” trend, peaking in 2012, while CF increased steadily by 52.85%. Final demand product structure effect (FL) and final demand category structure effect (FC) drove divergent trends, inhibiting WF and promoting CF. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery products and services (S1) and Food and Tobacco (S6) were critical CF changing sectors, and Nonmetal Mineral Products (S13), Smelting and Pressing of Metals (S14), Production and Supply of Electric Power, Steam and Hot Water (S22) and Construction (S25) were critical for CF. FL-driven path “S1→Export” contributed most to WF increase, FC-driven path “S1→S6→City” led to the largest decrease. FL-driven path “S13→S25→Export” was the biggest contributor to CF growth, FC-driven “S13→S25→Capital” drove the most reduction.
Structural Materials Reuse and Its Role in Climate Impact Mitigation
Ahmad Al-Najjar
Background and aim: The increasing demand for structural materials in residential buildings contributes significantly to embodied carbon. Enhancing circularity, especially through reuse rather than recycling, offers a potential solution to mitigate climate impact. However, the supply of reusable materials from demolition is limited. This study assesses how increased circularity in Swedish residential buildings can reduce climate impact. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted, using historical data on material flows and demolition rates to model a reuse scenario for structural materials. The study integrates principles from industrial ecology to evaluate the impact of reuse strategies. Findings: The research highlights that while reuse strategies offer meaningful reductions in embodied carbon, current demolition practices are insufficient to meet material demand. Implications: The findings suggest that further exploration of prospective scenarios is needed, focusing on the production impact of materials. This will help identify strategies to reduce embodied carbon from the building sector.
The Impact of Dietary Time Costs on the Environment and Dietary Quality
Xiaoyu Sun
Healthy and sustainable diets contribute to human and planetary health. Numerous studies have addressed the fact that healthy foods may be costly, making them potentially unaffordable for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations worldwide. While monetary costs have been widely considered in discussions about the cost of healthy and sustainable diets, the impact of time costs on achieving healthy eating has been largely overlooked. This paper emphasizes the importance of considering time costs and incorporates locations (home cooking vs. away from home) and types (unprepared vs. convenience) as key indicators in exploring the cost of healthy eating. Utilizing regression analysis and a recursive structural model, the study investigates how personal income influences dietary choices and how these choices, in turn, affect the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and environmental impacts.
Exploring the Role of Environmental and Health Information in Consumer Food Choices: A Conjoint Experiment Analysis in the UK
Jiarui Sun
Global food systems significantly contribute to climate change, with animal-based diets driving greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and water depletion. Promoting dietary transitions toward sustainable food consumption is crucial, but achieving this shift requires understanding the mechanisms influencing consumer behavior and the variability in information processing across different groups. This study investigates the role of environmental and health information in shaping consumer food choices in the UK, focusing on high-protein sustainable foods. Through a conjoint experiment, the research evaluates how attributes such as price, environmental impact, and nutritional content influence decisions. Findings reveal that price and health factors are prioritized over environmental considerations, with notable differences in how various demographic groups process information. These insights highlight key pathways for policymakers to encourage dietary shifts aligned with sustainability and health goals.
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