How can Industrial Engineering Help to Achieve Sustainability ?

The Sustainability Concept Triple Bottom Line People: Good for Society Fair practices for all people and does not exploit interest of separate parties based on money, status or growth. Planet: Good for the Environment Management of renewable and non renewable resources while reducing waste. Profit: Good for the Economy Financial benefit enjoyed by the majority of society.

The Product Life-Cycle Cradle-to-grave: Products are assessed at every aspect throughout its entire life cycle (design to disposal) Cradle-to-cradle: Products are evaluated for sustainability and efficiency in manufacturing processes, material properties, and toxicity as well as potential to reuse materials

Sustainability - Economics Multiple individuals, acting independently, and solely and rationally consulting their own self-interest, will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen. Possible Solutions: Triple bottom line accounting Emissions trading systems Including environmental benefits in cost-benefit analysis Life cycle cost analysis

Today’s Material Flow Approximately 25% of what goes ‘in the pipe’ comes out as goods and services. Natural Resources Goods and Services Pollution, Waste and Environmental Disturbances Key Message The high percentage of waste, pollution and environment disturbances that results from today’s manufacturing process is not sustainable and needs to be addressed with a sense of urgency. Talking Points Ask students to think of the various products they use. How many products reached their end of functional life before they are discarded? Think of products like computers and cell phones – most are functionally working but people discard them because a “newer and cooler” gadget is available. Some companies are looking at “product leasing” as a viable option over “product ownership” to reduce environmental impact. Product leasing, in many cases, helps companies to collect back “used” products and put them back in the circular economy stream. Source: World Resources Institute

Tomorrow’s Material Flow Reduce Use of Natural Resources Recover Technical Nutrients Key Message The high percentage of waste, pollution and environment disturbances that results from today’s manufacturing process is not sustainable and needs to be addressed with a sense of urgency. Talking Points Ask students to think of the various products they use. How many products reached their end of functional life before they are discarded? Think of products like computers and cell phones – most are functionally working but people discard them because a “newer and cooler” gadget is available. Some companies are looking at “product leasing” as a viable option over “product ownership” to reduce environmental impact. Product leasing, in many cases, helps companies to collect back “used” products and put them back in the circular economy stream. Source: World Resources Institute

References [1] Garrett Hardin, ”The Tragedy of the Commons”, Science, Vol. 162, No. 3859 (December 13, 1968), pp. 1243-1248. [2] epa.gov, nrel.gov [3] http://www.episodes.org/backissues/264/279-284.pdf, http://www.groundwater.org/gi/contaminationconcerns.html [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommuting [5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel, http://www.biodieselsustainability.com/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy

References [6] http://rainforests.mongabay.com/1010.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logging, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp [7] http://www.sustainablefish.org/, http://marinebio.org/Oceans/Conservation/sustainable- fisheries.asp [8] http://www.epa.gov/ord/lrp/research/landfill.htm, http://www.wm.com/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill [9] http://www.usgbc.org/, http://www.greenbuilding.com/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building, http://www.carbonsmart.com/carboncopy/2009/03/leed- breeam-and-green-star-joining-forces.html

Industrial Engineering Approach to Sustainability For a given topic, students should be able to address the following questions: What are the issues that impact sustainability? What is currently known about these issues? What are the life cycle stages? In what stage(s) do the various impacts take place? How can data help? What knowledge is needed to better understand how to achieve sustainability? Where are better decisions possible? What are possible actions to achieve sustainability?

Example: Public Transportation Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Identify the area that needs public transportation. Develop a public transportation plan (rail or road). Stage 2: Build public transportation system. Stage 3: Utilize the public transportation system. Note: This set of stages can loop around since the system can be expanded as more public transportation is needed.

Public Transportation Sustainability Impacts People: Provide a more sustainable transportation option (stage 3). Planet: Reduce the quantity of private transport, which helps to reduce vehicle emissions in the region (stages 2 & 3). Improve the region’s transportation infrastructure (stage 2). Profit: Provide a potentially more cost-effective option of transportation (stages 2 & 3).

Public Transportation How Can Data Help? Collecting data on public transportation usage can help guide the development in other cities. Collecting data on vehicle traffic before and after building public transportation can help assess impacts. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Optimize the public transportation plan. Determine effective ways to improve the efficiency of public transportation.

Example: Biodiesel for Cleaner Energy Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Acquire resources, specifically diesel, vegetable oil (such as from crops or waste oil), and other chemicals for processing biodiesel. Stage 2: Manufacture biodiesel. This includes the production of various grades of biodiesel fuels using different processes. Stage 3: Burn biodiesel fuel to generate power, in particular, for vehicles.

Biodiesel for Cleaner Energy Sustainability Impacts People: Provide a more sustainable alternative fuel for existing combustion-based vehicles (stage 3). Planet: Reuse vegetable oil waste (stage 1). Emit less CO2 compared to other fuels (stage 3). Produce glycerin for soap manufacturing (stage 2). Recycle the catalyst (NaOH +CH3OH) throughout the manufacturing process (stage 2). Profit: Create alternatives to typical fossil fuel resources (stage 1).

Biodiesel for Cleaner Energy How Can Data Help? The performance of biodiesel vs. conventional fuels can be compared by collecting data on fuel efficiency, cost, emissions, etc. The properties of the biodiesel can be improved by collecting data on biodiesel manufacturing via different processes. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Optimize the performance of biodiesel fuels. Minimize the cost of the biodiesel powered vehicle.

Example: Logging Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3: Identify where to harvest the trees. Stage 2: Use the trees for paper production and other manufacturing purposes. Stage 3: Plant trees to replenish lost species.

Logging Sustainability Impacts People: Planet: Profit: Create useful products made from trees (stage 2). Balance CO2 and O2 by replenishing logged trees (stage 3). Planet: Prevent soil erosion or landfall (stage 1). Create recyclable and biodegradable products made from trees (stage 2). Maintain the natural bio-diversity of trees (stage 3) Profit: Manufacture and sell products made from trees (stage 2). Maintain future resources (stage 3).

Logging How Can Data Help? Where are Better Decisions Possible? Study CO2 levels before and after planting trees. Monitor deforestation and biodiversity before and after logging and reforestation. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Optimize where and how much logging to conduct without excessive deforestation. Optimize reforestation to maintain biodiversity.

Example: Fisheries Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3: Locate the area/period where/when the given variety/size of fish are found. Stage 2: Conduct fishing, including unintended by-catches. Stage 3: Monitor breeding and fish populations in various regions.

Fisheries Sustainability Impacts People: Planet: Profit: Purchase fish for consumption (stage 2). Planet: Maintain the natural distribution of food among the aquatic fauna (stages 2 & 3). Maintain the ocean food web by fishing the right quantity (stages 1 & 3). Profit: Sell fish to consumers (stage 2). Consider future resources while fishing (stage 3).

Fisheries How Can Data Help? Where are Better Decisions Possible? Collecting data on the amount of fish caught over different periods of time helps in maintaining natural fish populations. Over-fishing can be minimized by collecting data on breeding periods of different kinds of fish. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Optimize the quota limits on fish of different species. Optimize mesh sizes to minimize by-catches.

Example: Groundwater Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3: Study the precipitation patterns by region to design the reservoir system. Stage 2: Capture water in branch reservoirs. Stage 3: Transfer water to the main reservoir or to other reservoirs for flood control. Stage 4: Use the stored water for drinking, irrigation, hydro-electric power, etc.

Groundwater Sustainability Impacts People: Planet: Profit: Increase the availability of water for drinking, irrigation and power generation (stage 4). Planet: Minimize flooding caused by heavy rainfall (stage 2). Reduce the scarcity of groundwater (stage 2). Profit: Maintain future water resources (stage 3).

Groundwater How Can Data Help? Where are Better Decisions Possible? Collecting data on the water collected in a reservoir system can help model variations in the water supply. Collecting data on the groundwater level before and after building reservoirs can help to assess environmental impacts. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Optimize the flow of water between reservoirs to maintain the water supply and achieve flood control. Optimize the design of a water reservoir system.

Example: Green Building Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Determine site and building plan. Stage 2: Acquire/manufacture environmentally-friendly materials. Stage 3: Construct the building. Stage 4: Utilize the building. Stage 5: Dispose/Reuse/Recycle the materials used for the building.

Green Building Sustainability Impacts People: Planet: Profit: Improve public health by using environmentally-friendly materials (stage 1). Planet: Reduce waste by recycling/re-using (stages 2 & 5). Improve energy efficiency and reduce water usage (stage 4). Profit: Enable “green” marketing (stage 3). Reduce resource (water, energy) and maintenance costs (stage 4).

Green Building How Can Data Help? Where are Better Decisions Possible? Performance of the solar energy can be studied by collecting data on different solar technologies. The impact of site orientation can be studied by collecting data on light and heat entering a building. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Study the cost-effectiveness of using locally available resources. Identify the potential of reusing the reusable materials for various purposes.

Example: Bioreactor / Waste Management Life Cycle Stages Stage 1: Build the bioreactor. Stage 2: Adjust the micro-organisms in the process to handle different types of waste. Stage 3: Convert waste to useful fertilizers and methane gas. Harmless gases are released. Stage 4: Scrap the bioreactor.

Bioreactor for Waste Management Sustainability Impacts People: Reduce harmful emissions of due to decomposition (stage 3). Planet: Recycle moisture in waste decomposition, making the process more efficient (stage 2). Reduce landfill space by speeding up waste decomposition (stages 2 & 3). Profit: Preserve land from landfill use, so that it can be used for other purposes in the future (stage 3). Produce fertilizers and methane energy as useful products (stage 3).

Bioreactor for Waste Management How Can Data Help? Efficiency can be improved by collecting data on the decomposition rates of different wastes using different bio-processes. Emissions can be studied by collecting data on the gases emitted during waste decomposition. Where are Better Decisions Possible? Identify the potential for converting different waste types into useful products. Identify the most cost-effective bio-process to achieve the desired waste decomposition.