AdvancedTopic 94 of 102Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems
Sustainability and life-cycle engineering
Design for reduced environmental impact across the product life.
In depth
Life-cycle engineering considers environmental, economic and social impacts from raw materials through manufacturing, use and end-of-life; tools: LCA (ISO 14040), carbon footprint, design for disassembly and recycling, circular economy, ecodesign, SDGs. Engineers must reduce resource use and emissions while meeting needs.
Key points
- Cradle-to-cradle
- Embodied energy
- Rebound effect
ExampleAn LCA shows an EV's break-even against a petrol car after about 20 000–50 000 km depending on grid mix.
What is Sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
Design for reduced environmental impact across the product life.
Why is it important to understand sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
Life-cycle engineering reduces environmental impact from materials to disposal, which is increasingly required by customers and regulation.
What is a life-cycle assessment?
A structured study of the environmental impacts of a product from raw materials through production, use and end of life.
What is design for disassembly?
Designing products so they can be taken apart easily for repair, reuse or recycling, which keeps materials in use longer.
How is Sustainability and life-cycle engineering used in practice?
Typical applications include choosing recyclable materials for a consumer product, designing a product for repair and upgrade to extend its life and comparing the carbon footprint of two designs over their life cycle.
What should I learn before Sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
Study "Renewable energy systems" first (topic 93 of 102 in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
Cradle-to-cradle. Embodied energy. Rebound effect.
Can you give an example of Sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
An LCA shows an EV's break-even against a petrol car after about 20 000–50 000 km depending on grid mix.
What comes after Sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
The next topic is "Engineering economics", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Sustainability and life-cycle engineering?
It is classed as Advanced in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems (topic 94 of 102). It is an advanced topic. It assumes you are comfortable with the intermediate topics in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems.