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Industrial Ecology

Code: 42405
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Gara Villalba Mendez
Email :
gara.villalba@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Anna Petit Boix

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

NO REQUIREMENTS

Objectives

This course is an introduction to the field of Industrial Ecology (IE) as a multidisciplinary effort to evaluate anthropogenic systems, minimizing their negative effect on our planet. The students are taught the methods, tools, and strategies within IE, aiming to recreate our industrial system in such a way that it can be sustainable and in harmony with the rest of the natural ecosystem. To achieve this general objective, we will learn about:

  • the concepts of IE, its framework as a multidisciplinary area of research based on systems theory;
  • Material Flow Analysis (MFA), which can be applied to different systems, such as a product, process, or region.
  • the concepts of urban metabolism, carbon footprint, including differences in scope, results, and policy implications.
  • process-based approach, MFA-LCA (or Material Flow Analysis coupled with Life Cycle Assessment) and EIO-LCA (or Economic Input-Output coupled with Life Cycle Assessment); the fundamentals of these approaches will be applied to various analyses (e.g., GHG, pollution, water, land, toxics, materials use, etc.)
  • the concept of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), its applications and the global framework for its use.
  • the main steps of LCA (i.e., goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation) and their application to different real-life cases, such as products or services.
  •  the use of LCA software (SimaPro) and its basic functionalities to calculate the environmental impacts of a system.
  • the concept of exergy in the context of thermodynamics in systems theory and its applications

 

Learning outcomes

  • CA08 (Design innovative strategies and proposals in industrial ecology to solve current environmental challenges.) Design innovative strategies and proposals in industrial ecology to solve current environmental challenges.
  • CA09 (Develop sustainable management solutions in production systems, applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the assessment of environmental impacts.) Develop sustainable management solutions in production systems, applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the assessment of environmental impacts.
  • CA10 (Demonstrate ethical responsibility in the design and implementation of industrial ecology solutions.) Demonstrate ethical responsibility in the design and implementation of industrial ecology solutions.
  • KA08 (Describe the fundamental concepts of industrial ecology and their application to the study of productive and urban systems.) Describe the fundamental concepts of industrial ecology and their application to the study of productive and urban systems.
  • KA09 (Define the principles, tools and methodologies of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its use in the environmental assessment of products and processes.) Define the principles, tools and methodologies of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its use in the environmental assessment of products and processes.
  • KA10 (Explain the methodology of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and its application at different scales.) Explain the methodology of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and its application at different scales.
  • SA11 (Be able to run Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) software to quantify the environmental impacts of products and processes.) Be able to run Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) software to quantify the environmental impacts of products and processes.
  • SA12 (Analyse production systems in the context of industrial ecology, selecting the most appropriate methodologies for this.) Analyse production systems in the context of industrial ecology, selecting the most appropriate methodologies for this.

Contents

The various topics developed in the course are:

Topic 1: Concepts of Industrial Ecology as a multidisciplinary research area. Some of these concepts include: systems theory, resource consumption, and socioeconomic metabolism.

Topic 2: Methodology of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and its application to different systems, whether at the product, process, or regional level, ranging from urban to industrial systems.

Topic 3: Methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of products and processes for environmental impact assessment and improvement analysis. It includes: attributional and consequential LCA concepts, scenario and sensitivity analysis, and the application of software and databases to case studies. The use of SimaPro software and ecoinvent databases is carried out in practical sessions applied to case studies. Topic 4: Methodology of EIO-LCA (Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment) for the study of environmental impact at the sectoral level.

Topic 5: Application of thermodynamics in Industrial Ecology (IE), such as the concept of exergy to determine the efficiency of a system.




Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Readings, study, group work and preparation for presentations 25 1 KA08, KA09, KA10
LCA computer lab 18 0.72 CA08, CA09, CA10, KA09, SA11
LCA project 80 3.2 CA08, CA09, CA10
Practical exercises 10 0.4 CA08, SA12
Theory Classes 34 1.36 CA08, CA09, CA10, KA08, KA09, KA10, SA12
Practical exercises related to MFA, LCA and Environmental Input Output 35 1.4 CA10, SA12
Work on LCA project using guidelines 15 0.6 CA08, CA09, CA10

The key concepts of this class will be delivered through theoretical lectures (34 hours), practical exercises in laboratory classes (18 hours), and a significant amount of autonomous and group workload.

Note: 15 minutes of a class, within the schedule established by the center/degree program, will be reserved for students to complete the evaluation surveys regarding teaching performance and the course/module evaluation.


Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
LCA exercise 10% 2 0.08 CA09, SA12
LCA project presentation 30% 2 0.08 CA08, CA09, CA10, SA11
input output exercise 10% 2 0.08 SA12
Final Exam 50% 2 0.08 KA08, KA09, KA10, SA12

Course evaluation is based on the completion and submission of practical exercises (20% of the final grade), the preparation and oral presentation of a group project (30%), and a final exam (50%). It is mandatory to complete all gradable activities to pass the course.

A student is only eligible for a retake exam (reassessment) if they have done the following:

  • Submitted all course assignments required in class and turned them in via the Moodle platform.
  • Attended the final exam.
  • Participated in the group assignments throughout the course.
  • Participated in the LCA project and the presentation of the project at the end of the course.

Students will only be allowed to retake the final exam for a second chance, and the final grade for the course [following a retake] will not exceed a 6.

Cheating and Plagiarism

In the event that a student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, this activity will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary process that may be initiated. If several irregularities occur within the evaluation activities of the same course, the final grade for this course will be 0. Evaluation activities in which irregularities have occurred cannot be retaken.

Use of AI

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated by AI will be considered a breach of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total grade penalty for the activity, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.


Bibliography

Industrial Ecology General

 

Saavedra, Y.M.B., Iritani, D.R., Pavan, A.L.R., Ometto, A.R., 2018. Theoretical contribution of industrial ecology to circular economy. J. Clean. Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.260

Dayeen, F.R., Sharma, A.S., Derrible, S., 2020. A text mining analysis of the climate change literature in industrial ecology . J. Ind. Ecol. 24, 276–284. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12998

Kennedy, C., 2020. The energy embodied in the first and second industrial revolutions. J. Ind. Ecol. 24, 887–898. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12994

Goldstein, B., Newell, J.P., 2019. Why academics should study the supply chains of individual corporations. J. Ind. Ecol. 23, 1316–1327. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12932

Lindgreen, E.R., Salomone, R., Reyes, T., 2020. A critical review of academic approaches, methods and tools to assess circular economy at the micro level. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12124973

Mallawaarachchi, H., Sandanayake, Y., Karunasena, G., Liu, C., 2020. Unveiling the conceptual development of industrial symbiosis: Bibliometric analysis. J. Clean. Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120618

Cordella, M., Alfieri, F., Sanfelix, J., Donatello, S., Kaps, R., Wolf, O., 2020. Improving material efficiency in the life cycle of products: a review of EU Ecolabel criteria. Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 25, 921–935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-019-01608-8

Ayres, R., and Ayres, L. Accounting for Resources, volumes I and II, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 1998.

Ayres, R. Industrial Ecology: Towards Closing the Material Cycle. London: Edward Elgar, 1996.

Bringezu, S. And Y. Moriguchi, Material flow analysis, in A handbook of Industrial Ecology, RU Ayres, and LW Ayres, eds, Cheltenham, UK: Ewards Elgar, pp79-90, 2002.

Chertow, M.R., Esty, d.C. Thinking Ecologically. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997.

 

 

 

Classics in systems theory:

Bertalanffy, L. Von: General Systems Theory, New York, George Braziller, 1968 and 1980.

Forrester, Jay W. Industrial Dynamics, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA 1961.

Boulding, K. General Systems Theory, the Skeleton of a Science, in Buckley W. (Ed) Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist, Chicago: Alaine, 1968.

Thermodynamics

Smith and Van Ness. Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. New York: McGraw Hill, 1996.

Szargut, Jan. Exergy analysis of thermal, chemical, and metallurgical processes. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1988.

Ayres Robert U., and Leslie W. Ayres. 1999. Accounting for resources 2: The life cycle of materials. Cheltenham, UK and Lyme MA: Edward Elgar.

Baumgärtner Stefan. 2002. Thermodynamics of waste generation. In Waste in Ecological Economics, edited by K. P. Bisson, J. Cheltenham, UK and Nothampton, MA,USA: Edward Elgar.

Szargut, J.;, D.R.; Morris, and F. R.; Steward. 1988. Exergy analysis of thermal, chemical, and metallurgical processes. New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.

Conelly, Ll. and C.; Koshland. 2001. Exergy and industrial ecology. Part 2: A nondimensional analysis of means to reduce resource depletion. Exergy, an International Journal 1 (4):234-255.

Ayres Robert U., Katalin Martinás, and Leslie W. Ayres. 1998. Exergy, waste accounting and life cycle analysis. Energy 23 (5):355-363.

Ayres, Robert U., Andrea Masini, and Leslie W. Ayres. 2001. An Application of Exergy Accounting to Five Basic Metal Industries. Fontainebleau, France: INSEAD.

Van Gool, W. 1992. Exergy analysis of industrial processes. Energy 17 (8):791-803.

Szargut, J.;, A.; Ziebik, and W. Stanek. 2002. Depletion of the non-renewable natural exergy resources as a measure of the ecological cost Energy conversion and management 43:1149-1163.

 

MFA

Matthews, E., Amann, C., Bringezu, S., Hüttler, W., Ottke, C., Rodenburg, E., Rogich, D., Schandl, H., Van, E., Voet, D., Weisz, H., Billings, H., 2000. The Weight of Nations - Material Outflows from Industrial Economies. WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE.

Eurostat, 2013. Economy-wide Material Flow Accounts (EW-MFA) Compilation Guide. European Commission, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. 

Graedel, T.E., 2019. Material Flow Analysis from Origin to Evolution. Environ. Sci. Technol. 53, 12188–12196. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b03413

Persson, L., Arvidsson, R., Berglund, M., Cederberg, C., Finnveden, G., Palm, V., Sörme, L., Schmidt, S., Wood, R., 2019. Indicators for national consumption-based accounting of chemicals. J. Clean. Prod. 215, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.294

Calvo, G., Valero, Alicia, Valero, Antonio, 2018. Thermodynamic Approach to Evaluate the Criticality of Raw Materials and Its Application through a Material Flow Analysis in Europe. J. Ind. Ecol. 22, 839–852. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12624

LCA

Klöpffer, W., Grahl, B. 2014. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A Guide to Best Practice | Wiley. 

Finkbeiner, M., Ackermann, R., Bach, V., Berger, M., Brankatschk, G., Chang, Y.-J., Grinberg, M., Lehmann, A., Martínez-Blanco, J., Minkov, N., Neugebauer, S., Scheumann, R., Schneider, L., Wolf, K., 2014. Challenges in Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview of Current Gaps and Research Needs. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 207–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8697-3_7

Guinée, J. B., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Zamagni, A., Masoni, P., Buonamici, R., Ekvall, T., & Rydberg, T. (2011). Life Cycle Assessment: Past, Present, and Future. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(1), 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1021/es101316v 

Visentin, C., Trentin, A.W. da S., Braun, A.B., Thomé, A., 2020. Life cycle sustainability assessment: A systematic literature review through the application perspective, indicators, and methodologies. J. Clean. Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122509

Palazzo, J., Geyer, R., Suh, S., 2020. A review of methods for characterizing the environmental consequences of actions in life cycle assessment. J. Ind. Ecol. 24, 815–829. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12983

Beloin-Saint-Pierre, D., Albers, A., Hélias, A., Tiruta-Barna, L., Fantke, P., Levasseur, A., Benetto, E., Benoist, A., Collet, P., 2020. Addressing temporal considerations in life cycle assessment. Sci. Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140700

Mendoza Beltran, A., Cox, B., Mutel, C., Vuuren, D.P., Font Vivanco, D., Deetman, S., Edelenbosch, O.Y., Guinée, J., Tukker, A., 2020. When the Background Matters: Using Scenarios from Integrated Assessment Models in Prospective Life Cycle Assessment. J. Ind. Ecol. 24, 64–79. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12825

García-Pérez, S., Sierra-Pérez, J., Boschmonart-Rives, J., 2018. Environmental assessment at the urban level combining LCA-GISmethodologies: A case study of energy retrofits in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Build. Environ. 134, 191–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.01.041

Urban metabolism

Wolman, A., 1965. The metabolism of cities. Sci. Am. 213, 179–190. 

González‐García, S., Dias, A.C., 2019. Integrating lifecycle assessment and urban metabolism at city level: Comparison between Spanish cities. J. Ind. Ecol. 23, 1062–1076. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12844

Jeong, S., Park, J., 2020. Evaluating urban water management using a water metabolism framework: A comparative analysis of three regions in Korea. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 155, 104597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104597 

Hu, G., Mu, X., 2019. Analysis of urban energy metabolic system: An ecological network framework and a case study for Beijing. J. Clean. Prod. 210, 958–969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.088

Chen, Q., Su, M., Meng, F., Liu, Y., Cai, Y., Zhou, Y., Yang, Z., 2020. Analysis of urban carbon metabolism characteristics based on provincial input-output tables. J. Environ. Manage. 265, 110561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110561

Bibliography- more specific

Adriaanse, A., S. Bringezu, A. Hammond, Y. Moriguchi, E. Rodenburg, D. Rogich, H. Schütz 1997. Resource Flows: The Material Basis of Industrial Economies. Washington DC: World Resources Institute.

Ayres, R. U. (1978): Resources, Environment and Economics. Applications of the Materials/ Energy Balance Principle. New York: John Wiley & Sons

Ayres, R. U. and Kneese, A. V. (1969): Production, Consumption and Externalities. In: American Economic Review 59(3), pp. 282-297

Ayres, R. U. and U. E. Simonis 1994. Industrial Metabolism: Restructuring for Sustainable Development. Tokyo, New York, Paris: United Nations University Press.

Ayres,R.U. and Ayres,L.W., 1999. Accounting for Resources, 2, The Life Cycle of Materials. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK and Lyme, US.

Baccini, Peter and Brunner, Paul H. (1991): The metabolism of the anthroposphere. Berlin: Springer. 

Barbiero, G., Camponeschi, S., Femia, A., Greca, G., Tudini, A., and Vannozzi, M. (2003): 1980-1998 Material-Input-Based Indicators Time series and 1997 Material Balances of the Italian Economy. Rome: ISTAT

Brunner, Paul H. and Rechberger, Helmut (2004): Practical Handbook of Material Flow Analysis. New York: Lewis Publishers. 

Bullard, C. and Herendeen, R. A. (1975): The Energy Costs of Goods and Services. In: Energy Policy 3(4), pp. 268-278

Dietzenbacher, E., 2005. Waste Treatment in Physical Input-Output Analysis. Ecological Economics, 55, 11-23.

 

 

 

Duchin, F. (1992): Industrial Input-Output Analysis. Implications for Industrial Ecology. In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 89, pp. 1-5

Duchin, F. (1998): Structural Economics: Measuring Change in Technology, Lifestyles, and the Environment. Washington: Island Press

Eurostat 2001. Economy-wide Material Flow Accounts and Derived Indicators. A methodological guide. Luxembourg: Eurostat, European Commission, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

Eurostat (2002): Material use in the European Union 1980-2000. Indicators and Analysis. Luxembourg: Eurostat, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, prepared by Weisz, H., Amann, C., Eisenmenger, N., Hubacek, K., and Krausmann, F.

Fischer-Kowalski, Marina (1998): Society's Metabolism. The Intellectual History of Material Flow Analysis, Part I, 1860 - 1970. In: Journal of Industrial Ecology 2(1), pp. 61-78. 

Fischer-Kowalski, Marina and Haberl, Helmut (1993): Metabolism and Colonization. Modes of Production and the Physical Exchange between Societies and Nature. In: Innovation - The European Journal of Social Sciences 6(4), pp. 415-442. 

Fischer-Kowalski, Marina and Hüttler, Walter (1999): Society's Metabolism. The Intellectual History of Material Flow Analysis, Part II: 1970-1998. In: Journal of Industrial Ecology 2(4), pp. 107-137. 

Fleissner, P., Böhme, W., Brautzsch, H. U., Höhne, J., Siassi, J., and Stark, K. (1993): Input-Output-Analyse. Eine Einführung in Theorie und Anwendungen. Wien, New York: Springer Verlag

Giljum, S. and Hubacek, K., 2004. Alternative Approaches of Physical Input-Output Analysis to Estimate Primary Material Inputs of Production and Consumption Activities. Economics Systems Research, 16 (3): 301-310. 

Giljum, S., Hubacek, K., and Sun, L. (2004): Beyond the simple material balance: a reply to Sangwon Suh's note on physical input-output analysis. In: Ecological Economics 48(1), pp. 19-22

Griffin, J. (1976): Energy Input-Output Modeling. Palo Alto: Electric Power Research Institute

Haberl, Helmut, Fischer-Kowalski, Marina, Krausmann, Fridolin, Weisz, Helga, and Winiwarter, Verena (2004): Progress Towards Sustainability? What the conceptual framework of material and energy flow accounting (MEFA) can offer. In: Land Use Policy 21(3), pp. 199-213. 

Hubacek, K. and Giljum, S. (2003): Applying physical input-output analysis to estimate land appropriation (ecological footprints) of international trade activities. In: Ecological Economics 44(1), pp. 137-151

Japan Environment Agency (1992): Quality of the Environment in Japan 1992. Tokyo: Japan Environment Association. 

 

 

 

Konijn, P. J. A., de Boer, S., and van Dalen, J. (1997): Input-Output analysis of Material flows with applications to iron, steel and zinc. In: Structural Change and Economic Dynamics 8, pp. 129-153

Leontief, W. (1936): Quantitative input-output relations in the economic system. In: Review of Economics and Statistics 18, pp. 105-125

Leontief, W. (1941): The Structure of American Economy. New York: Oxford University Press

Leontief, W. (1970): Environmental Repercussions and the Economic Structure. An Input-Output-Approach. In: Review of Economics and Statistics 52, pp. 262-271

Machado, G., Schaeffer, R., and Worrel, E. (2001): Energy and Carbon embodied in the international trade of Brazil: an input - output approach. In: Ecological Economics 39(3), pp. 409-424

Mäenpää, I. and Muukkonen, J. (2001): Physical Input-Output in Finland: Methods, Preliminary Results and Tasks Ahead. Paper presented at Workshop on Economic growth, material flows and environmental pressure, 25th - 27th April, Stockholm, Sweden.

Matthews, E., C. Amann, M. Fischer-Kowalski, S. Bringezu, W. Hüttler, R. Kleijn, Y. Moriguchi, C. Ottke, E. Rodenburg, D. Rogich, H. Schandl, H. Schütz, E. van der Voet, H. Weisz 2000. The Weight of Nations: Material Outflows from Industrial Economies. Washington, D.C.: World Resources Institute.

Miller, R. E. and Blair, P. D. (1985): Input-Output Analysis: Foundations and Extensions. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc.

Pedersen, O. G. (1999): Physical Input-Ouput Tables for Denmark. Products and Materials 1990. Air Emissions 1990-92. Kopenhagen: Statistics Denmark

Pedersen, O. G. (2002): DMI and TMR for Denmark 1981, 1990, 1997. An assessment of the Material Requirements of the Danish Economy. Statistics Denmark

Proops, J. L. R. (1977): Input-output analysis and energy intensities: a comparison of some methodologies. In: Applied Mathematical Modelling 1(March), pp. 181-186

Stahmer, C., Kuhn, M., and Braun, N., 1998. Physical Input-Output Tables for Germany, 1990. Eurostat Working Paper No 2/1998/B/1, European Commission , Luxembourg.

Suh, S. (2004): A note on the calculus for physical input–output analysis and its application to land appropriation of international trade activities. In: Ecological Economics 48(1), pp. 9-17

Weisz, Helga and Duchin, Faye (2006): Physical and monetary input-output analysis: What makes the difference? In: Ecological Economics 57(3), pp. 534-541.

Software

LCA software (Open LCA, simapro, Gabi)

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 English first semester afternoon
(PAULm) Classroom practices (master) 1 English first semester morning-mixed