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	Author	Thomassen, G.; Van Passel, S.; Alaerts, L.; Dewulf, J.
	Title	Retrospective and prospective material flow analysis of the post-consumer plastic packaging waste management system in Flanders			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2022	Publication	Waste Management	Abbreviated Journal	Waste Manage
	Volume	147	Issue		Pages	10-21
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
	Abstract	The post-consumer plastic packaging waste management in Flanders was analyzed by performing a retrospective material flow analysis, covering an extensive period from 1985 to 2019. In addition, a prospective material flow analysis of 32 improvement scenarios was performed, based on expected changes in the waste management system. Mass recovery rates were calculated based on different interpretations of the calculation rules. Moreover, various cascading levels were identified to differentiate between the quality level of the secondary applications. The mass recovery rate including only recycling evolved from a value of 0% in 1985 to 31% in 2019 and could be increased to 36-62% depending on the improvement scenario selected. However, the different interpretations of the calculation rules led to a variation of up to 20 and 41% on this mass recovery rates for the retrospective and prospective analysis, respectively. The introduction of monostream recycling for additional post-consumer plastic packaging flows, such as low-density polyethylene, did not lead to increasing mass recovery rates, if no differentiation for the cascading levels was made. The Belgian recycling target of 65% for 2023 will be challenging if the strictest calculation method needs to be followed or if the improvements in the Flemish postconsumer plastic packaging waste system do not follow the best-case collection scenarios under the given assumptions. To harmonize the calculation and monitoring of these targets, clear calculation rules need to be accompanied with a harmonized monitoring system over the entire waste management system.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000802961100002	Publication Date	2022-05-17
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0956-053x	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	8.1	Times cited		Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: 8.1
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:188651			Serial	7367
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	Author	Thomassen, G.; Dewulf, J.; Van Passel, S.
	Title	Prospective material and substance flow analysis of the end-of-life phase of crystalline silicon-based PV modules			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2022	Publication	Resources Conservation And Recycling	Abbreviated Journal	Resour Conserv Recy
	Volume	176	Issue		Pages	105917
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
	Abstract	The approaching end-of life phase of early installed PV modules gave rise to a variety of potential end-of-life strategies, ranging from basic generic waste management strategies to advanced case-specific recycling options. However, no comprehensive assessment on the full range of technological possibilities is available and only limited attention was given to the material recovery rates of these different technologies in light of circular economy. In addition, current material recovery rates are indifferent towards the material value and the value of their secondary applications. Based on an extensive literature review, ten end-of-life scenarios with potential learning effects are identified and their material flows are quantified using a combined material and substance flow analysis. Subsequently, material recovery rates from a mass, economic value and embodied energy perspective are calculated, incorporating the differences in secondary applications. The differences in the mass-based recovery rates of the seven end-of-life scenarios that did not have landfill or municipal waste incineration as the main destination were minimal, as 73-79% of the mass was recovered for the best-case learning scenario. For the economic value recovery rate (9-66%) and the embodied energy recovery rate (18-45%), more profound differences were found. The collection rate was identified as most crucial parameter for all end-of-life scenarios, learning scenarios and recycling indicators. The mass-based recovery rate might favor end-of-life scenarios that lead to dissipation of valuable materials in non-functional secondary applications. Additional targets are required to avoid cascading of valuable materials and to avoid the economic cost and environmental burden of virgin materials.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000708339400003	Publication Date	2021-10-08
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0921-3449	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	13.2	Times cited		Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: 13.2
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:182462			Serial	6939
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	Author	Thomassen, G.; Huysveld, S.; Boone, L.; Vilain, C.; Geysen, D.; Huysman, K.; Cools, B.; Dewulf, J.
	Title	The environmental impact of household's water use: A case study in Flanders assessing various water sources, production methods and consumption patterns			Type	A1 Journal Article
	Year	2021	Publication	Science Of The Total Environment	Abbreviated Journal	Sci Total Environ
	Volume	770	Issue		Pages	145398
	Keywords	A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
	Abstract	Responsible water use and sustainable consumption and production are high on the agenda of multiple stakeholders. Different water supply sources are available, including tap water, bottled water, domestically harvested rainwater and domestically abstracted groundwater. The extent to which each of these water supply sources is used, differs over consumption patterns in various housing types, being detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses and apartments. To identify the environmental impact of a household's water use and potential environmental impact reduction strategies, a holistic assessment is required. In this paper, the environmental impact of a household's water use in Flanders (Belgium) was assessed including four different water supply sources and four different consumption patterns by means of a life cycle assessment. The outcomes of this study reveal a large difference between the environmental impact of bottled water use, having a global warming impact of 259 kg CO2-eq.·m−3, compared to the other three supply sources. Tap water supply had the lowest global warming impact (0.17 kg CO2-eq.·m−3) and resource footprint (6.51 MJex·m−3) of all water supply sources. The most efficient strategy to reduce the environmental impact of household's water use is to shift the water consumption from bottled to tap water consumption. This would induce a reduction in global warming impact of the water use of an inhabitant in Flanders by on average 80%, saving 0.1 kg CO2-eq.·day−1 in case of groundwater-based tap water. These results provide insights into sustainable water use for multiple consumption patterns and can be used to better frame the environmental benefits of tap water use.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date	2021-01-27
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0048-9697	ISBN		Additional Links
	Impact Factor	4.9	Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access
	Notes	This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.			Approved	Most recent IF: 4.9
	Call Number	ENM @ enm @			Serial	6681
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	Author	Buchmayr, A.; Verhofstadt, E.; Van Ootegem, L.; Sanjuan Delmás, D.; Thomassen, G.; Dewulf, J.
	Title	The path to sustainable energy supply systems: Proposal of an integrative sustainability assessment framework			Type	A1 Journal Article
	Year	2021	Publication	Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews	Abbreviated Journal	Renew Sust Energ Rev
	Volume	138	Issue		Pages	110666
	Keywords	A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
	Abstract	Energy supply is essential for the functioning and well-being of a society. Decision-makers are faced with the challenge to balance burdens and benefits of energy supply practices with the aim to achieve environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Literature exhibits a broad variety of sustainability assessment frameworks for energy supply technologies. However, there is no consensus on which aspects need to be covered for a comprehensive assessment of sustainability. While some aspects, such as environmental emission damage, receive predominant attention, there is a lack of coverage and adequate quantification for others. This led in the past to an unbalanced basis for decision-making. Based on an analysis of literature, 12 impact categories were identified for the assessment of energy technologies. The analysis included the judgement of quantification approaches regarding their significance for describing the impact categories and their maturity resulting in the proposal of 12 concrete indicators. A framework is proposed to manage and integrate the assessment of single impact categories. The framework produces normalized and weighted output indicators to use in the form of a dashboard or alternatively a single sustainability index for informed decision-making. Finally, the proposed sustainability assessment framework relies on life cycle, local impact, and supply chain risks assessment. It consists of both well-established assessment methods as well as suggestions for new indicators in order to allow a full assessment of all impact categories. It thereby goes beyond the isolated assessment of impacts and offers the basis for comparison of complete energy supply mixes.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date	2020-12-24
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	1364-0321	ISBN		Additional Links
	Impact Factor	8.05	Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access
	Notes	The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the Special Research Fund (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds – BOF) of Ghent University under grant agreement number BOF.24Y.2018.003.			Approved	Most recent IF: 8.05
	Call Number	ENM @ enm @			Serial	6680
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	Author	Kleinhans, K.; Hallemans, M.; Huysveld, S.; Thomassen, G.; Ragaert, K.; Van Geem, K.M.; Roosen, M.; Mys, N.; Dewulf, J.; De Meester, S.
	Title	Development and application of a predictive modelling approach for household packaging waste flows in sorting facilities			Type	A1 Journal Article
	Year	2021	Publication	Waste Management	Abbreviated Journal	Waste Management
	Volume	120	Issue		Pages	290-302
	Keywords	A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
	Abstract	Household packaging waste sorting facilities consist of complex networks of processes to separate diverse waste streams. These facilities are a key first step to re-enter materials into the recycling chain. However, so far there are no general methods to predict the performance of such sorting facilities, i.e. how efficiently the heterogeneous packaging waste is sorted into fractions with value for further recycling. In this paper, a model of the material flow in a sorting facility is presented, which allows changing the incoming waste composition, split factors on the sorting units as well as the setup of the sorting facility. The performance of the sorting facility is judged based on the purity of the output material (grade) and the recovery of the input material. A validation of the model was performed via a case study on Belgian post-consumer packaging waste with a selection of typical waste items that can be found in this stream. Moreover, the model was used to predict the possible sorting qualities of future Belgian postconsumer packaging waste after an extension of the allowed waste packaging items in the waste stream. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the split factors, which are a key data source in the model. Overall, the developed model is flexible and able to predict the performance of packaging waste sorting facilities as well as support waste management and design for recycling decisions, including future design of packaging, to ensure proper sorting and separation.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date	2020-12-16
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0956053X	ISBN		Additional Links
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access
	Notes	We would like to thank Indaver (https://www.indaver.com/been/home/), especially Erik Huybrechts, Eric Goddaert, Eline Meyvis and Erik Moerman, for their great support on this research. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the help of Colruyt (https://www.colruyt.be/) and CEFLEX (https://ceflex.eu/) for the pre-studies for this research. Moreover, we would like to show our appreciation for the financial support by the Catalisti-ICON project (HBC.2018.0262) MATTER (Mechanical and Thermochemical Recycling of mixed plastic waste) funded by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). We also thank the Interreg 2 Seas program PlastiCity that is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under subsidy contract No. 2S05-021 and the province of East-Flanders for funding this research.			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	ENM @ enm @			Serial	6667
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	Author	Thomassen, G.; Van Passel, S.; Dewulf, J.
	Title	A review on learning effects in prospective technology assessment			Type	A1 journal article
	Year	2020	Publication	Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews	Abbreviated Journal	Renew Sust Energ Rev
	Volume	130	Issue		Pages	109937
	Keywords	A1 journal article; Learning effects; Life cycle assessment; Techno-economic assessment; Prospective technology assessment; Learning-by-doing; Learning curve; Progress rate; Experience curve; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
	Abstract	Global environmental problems have urged the need for developing sustainable technologies. However, new technologies that enter the market have often higher economic costs and potentially higher environmental impacts than conventional technologies. This can be explained by learning effects: a production process that is performed for the first time runs less smooth than a production process that has been in operation for years. To obtain a fair estimation of the potential of a new technology, learning effects need to be included. A review on the current literature on learning effects was conducted in order to provide guidelines on how to include learning effects in prospective technology assessment. Based on the results of this review, five recommendations have been formulated and an integration of learning effects in the structure of prospective technology assessment has been proposed. These five recommendations include the combined use of learning effects on the component level and on the end product level; the combined use of learning effects on the technical, economic and environmental level; the combined use of extrapolated values and expert estimates; the combined use of learning-by-doing and learning-by-searching effects and; a tier-based method, including quality criteria, to calculate the learning effect. These five complementary strategies could lead to a clearer perspective on the environmental impact and cost structure of the new technology and a fairer comparison base with conventional technologies, potentially resulting in a faster adoption and a shorter time-to-market for sustainable technologies.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000548790900008	Publication Date	2020-06-10
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	1364-0321	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	15.9	Times cited		Open Access
	Notes	The authors acknowledge the full financial support received from the Flemish administration via the Steunpunt Circulaire Economie (Policy Research Centre Circular Economy). We would also like to thank the SDEWES conference for the best paper award which was granted to the current paper. The authors declare no competing financial interests. This publication contains the opinions of the authors, not that of the Flemish administration. The Flemish administration will not carry any liability with respect to the use that can be made of the produced data or conclusions.			Approved	Most recent IF: 15.9; 2020 IF: 8.05
	Call Number	ENM @ enm @c:irua:170076			Serial	6389
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	Author	Alaerts, L.; Van Acker, K.; Rousseau, S.; De Jaeger, S.; Moraga, G.; Dewulf, J.; De Meester, S.; Van Passel, S.; Compernolle, T.; Bachus, K.; Vrancken, K.; Eyckmans, J.
	Title	Towards a more direct policy feedback in circular economy monitoring via a societal needs perspective			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2019	Publication	Resources, conservation and recycling	Abbreviated Journal	Resour Conserv Recy
	Volume	149	Issue	149	Pages	363-371
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	The increasing focus on circular economy at the level of governments and policy requires the development of appropriate indicators to effectively monitor the progress towards the circular economy. Currently two very different types of indicator areas are under development: (i) monitoring frameworks based on macro indicators that summarize the progress at (supra)national level, and (ii) micro indicators tailored towards assessing circularity at the level of products. It is not possible to obtain sufficiently direct feedback about the impact of policy interventions by either macro or micro indicators alone. In this paper, a conceptual approach is developed that aims to bridge the gap between the micro and macro level with meso level indicators, and thus ultimately deliver more direct feedback for policymakers, via the insertion of an extra level of meso indicators in between the macro and the micro level. These indicators have been extracted from a dedicated workshop that involved policy, sector and societal stakeholders. The aim of these indicators is to report on progress towards circular economy objectives based on the fulfillment of societal needs. In this way the consumption perspective is given a central position, and the role of circular business models is acknowledged. Following the development of the concept, the next steps towards tailored, flexible and agile monitoring frameworks for circular economy at (supra)national and regional level are outlined. The paper concludes with an illustrative example of the framework applied to the mobility system.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000483414300034	Publication Date	2019-06-21
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0921-3449	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	3.313	Times cited	1	Open Access
	Notes	; The authors are very grateful for financial support received from the Flemish administration via the Steunpunt Circulaire Economie (Policy Research Centre Circular Economy). This publication contains the opinions of the authors, not that of the Flemish administration. The Flemish administration will not carry any liability with respect to the use that can be made of the produced data or conclusions. The authors are also grateful to the numerous stakeholders for extended discussions and comments. ;			Approved	Most recent IF: 3.313
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:162774			Serial	6271
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	Author	Sfez, S.; De Meester, S.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Dewulf, J.
	Title	Improving the resource footprint evaluation of products recovered from wastewater : a discussion on appropriate allocation in the context of circular economy			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2019	Publication	Resources, conservation and recycling	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	148	Issue		Pages	132-144
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	Shifting from a linear to a circular economy has consequences on how the sustainability of products is assessed. This is the case for products recovered from resources such as sewage sludge. The “zero-burden” assumption is commonly used in Life Cycle Assessment and considers that waste streams are burden-free, which becomes debatable when comparing waste-based with virgin material-based products in the context of the growing circular economy. If waste streams are considered as resources rather than waste, upstream burdens should be partly allocated to all products to allow a fair comparison with their virgin material-based equivalents. In this paper, five allocation approaches are applied to allocate the resource use of upstream processes (consumer goods production) to products recovered from the processing of sewage sludge in the Netherlands, which produces biogas, (phosphorus-based) chemicals and building materials. Except for the approach which allocates 100% of the impact from resource recovery processes to the preceding consumer goods, the allocation approaches show a resource use 27 to 80% higher than with the “zero-burden” assumption. In this particular case, using these allocation approaches is likely to find little support from recyclers. The producers of household products, recyclers and policy makers should find a consensus to consider the shift from a linear to a circular economy in sustainability assessment studies while avoiding discouraging the implementation of recovery technologies. This paper suggests starting the discussion with the approach which allocates the impacts from upstream processes degressively to the downstream products as it best translates the industrial ecology principles.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000472242800012	Publication Date	2019-05-28
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0921-3449	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:159887			Serial	8072
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	Author	Schaubroeck, T.; De Clippeleir, H.; Weissenbacher, N.; Dewulf, J.; Boeckx, P.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Wett, B.
	Title	The importance of resource recovery for the environmental sustainability of an energy self-sufficient sewage treatment plant			Type	P3 Proceeding
	Year	2015	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	3 p. T2 - IWA Resource Recovery Conference, 30 Aug
	Keywords	P3 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:151141			Serial	8068
Permanent link to this record