Blog
New E P&L report
February 18, 2014 by Bo Weidema
A new report on environmental profit and loss account (E P&L) for Novo Nordisk has been released.
Several interesting new methodological developments are presented in the new E P&L. The geographical scope of Novo Nordisk’s E P&L is unique by applying two different regional EIO tables. The model used was an extended input-output (EIO) table called FORWAST developed by 2.-0 LCA consultants which was even further elaborated during the study. Indirect land-use (ILUC) was integrated in the EIO.
The Novo Nordisk E P&L is reported in two parts; the main report, which focuses on the results and the application of these in a Novo Nordisk context, and the methodology report which focuses on the methodology applied for establishing the E P&L results.
Novo Nordisk’s E P&L: http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2014/02/978-87-93178-02-1.pdf
Methodology report: http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2014/02/978-87-93178-03-8.pdf
Surprising article in NATURE
December 10, 2013 by Jannick Schmidt
Interesting new article in Nature shows that trees continue to grow and sequester carbon as they mature.
Based on a comprehensive study of 403 tree species and more than 600.000 individual trees from all over the world the scientists question the time-honoured paradigm that old trees grow less than the younger trees. They find that old trees “put on more weight” as they mature – i.e. the productivity at the level of the individual tree is shown to grow with age.
This can explain the “missing sink” for carbon that has puzzled scientist trying to make the carbon cycle data balance.
This news stresses the importance of preserving mature forests, since it would appear that the old giants of the forest are not only carbon reservoirs but actively fix large amounts of carbon compared to smaller trees.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nature12914.html
Roundtable on “Harmonisation beyond standardisation”
November 13, 2013 by admin
This week Prof. Bo Weidema from 2.-0 LCA consultants will be contributing to the Roundtable on “Harmonisation beyond standardisation” at the SETAC Case Studies Symposium, Rome.
One of the questions he will be discussing with the audience is the great number of guidelines that interpret the basic ISO 14040/44 standards for LCA. All the interpretations claim to be based on – if not directly to be in accordance with – the ISO 14040/44.
But are all these guidelines really needed – and if so, does it point to a failure of ISO 14040/44 to fulfil its role as a standard? Perhaps we should focus on clarifying the core standards ISO 14040/44? That might just leave us with more time for the biggest problem on our hands: The lack of high-quality data and impact assessment models!
New scientific arguments for including the rebound effect
September 2, 2013 by Bo Weidema
New scientific arguments for including the rebound effect will be put forward at this weeks advanced LCA PhD course at Aalborg University.
During the session on consequential modelling in life cycle inventory we are keen to discuss with the students our new ideas on up-streaming the price rebound effects to more efficiently balance the individual product systems – Thereby supporting the balance argument for the price rebound effect.
Here is one of the slides we will discuss with the students:
The balance argument for rebound effects
Lecturers in this session are: Professor Bo Weidema, Associate Professor Jannick Schmidt, Associate Professor Søren Løkke, and Anna Flysjö (TBC) (Life Cycle Sustainability Manager, Arla Foods amba)