The design of sustainable processes and products is of great importance in modern society, which makes this point of view an essential part of business activity. The subject deals with an environmental analysis from the point of view of the life cycle of products and processes, deepening in tools for the application of the circular economy to the productive sector, thus responding to the needs observed in relation to the proposed topic.



The subject is an optional subject of 6 ECTS credits, which is offered in the fourth year of the following degrees: Degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering Management and Computer Systems. This course aims to provide the scientific-technological basis for the sustainable design of processes and products.





The subject has no prerequisites. However, due to its characteristics, it is advisable for students to have already completed ‘Fundamentos Químicos de la Ingeniería’, a subject of the ‘Formación Básica’ module offered in the first year of the three degrees, and ‘Tecnologías Ambientales’, a subject of the ‘’Common to the Industrial Field‘’ module offered in the first four-month period of the 4th year.

GENERAL AND SPECIFIC SKILLS



C4 - Ability to solve problems with initiative, decision-making, creativity, critical reasoning and to communicate and transmit knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of Industrial Engineering.

C6 - Ability to handle specifications, regulations and mandatory standards.

C7 - Ability to analyse and assess the social and environmental impact of technical solutions.

CRI10 - Basic knowledge and application of environmental technologies and sustainability.



TRANSVERSAL SKILLS (C.T):



CT1 - Autonomy and Self-Regulation

CT3 - Communication and Multilingualism

CT5 - Information Management and Digital Citizenship

CT7 - Critical Thinking

CT8 - Teamwork

The content of this subject is divided into 3 blocks with 6 basic topics, which are detailed below:



Block I:

Topic 1: Introduction

Topic 2: Environmental management tools



Block II: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Topic 3: Philosophy of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Topic 4: Computer tools for carrying out LCA



Block III: Tools for more environmentally friendly production

Topic 5: Ecodesign

Topic 6: Eco-labels

The methodology proposed for this subject is based on an active methodology through which students will participate in the construction of their knowledge thanks to the planned activities. This also allows students to acquire greater responsibility.



The communication and relationship between the teaching staff and the students is carried out through the following channels:

- Theoretical and practical classes

- Use of eGela. On this platform, students have all the necessary information at their disposal.

- Tutorials



If health circumstances require online teaching, the characteristics of this subject allow it to be developed, as it is designed, using the computer resources that the UPV/EHU makes available to us (Microsoft Teams, eGela, etc).

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Multiple-Choice Test (%): 20
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 65
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 15

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION:



Students who choose this evaluation will have to complete the following activities:

1) Written test (20%)

2) Written work (Group) (65%)

3) Presentation of work (Group) (15%)



The FINAL mark is obtained by applying these percentages to the results of the evaluation in each of the concepts indicated above, taking into account the following REQUIREMENTS:

a) Complete all the established activities.

b) Complete the tasks within the established deadline (which will be announced on eGela).

c) Obtain a minimum mark of 3.5/10 in each of them.



In order to approve the course, a final mark of 5/10 will be required. If any requirement is not fulfilled, the course will be failed in the ordinary exam with a maximum final mark of 4.



WRITTEN TEST: Negative answers will be penalised by 25% compared to positive answers.



WRITTEN WORK will be assessed by the teacher.



ORAL PRESENTATIONS will be evaluated by the teacher according to the correctness of the content of the exposition and its execution.



In any case, students will have the right to be evaluated through the Final Evaluation system, regardless of whether or not they have participated in the Continuous Evaluation system. In order to do so, students must submit a written resignation from the Continuous Evaluation, for which they will have a period of 9 weeks from the beginning of the term.





FINAL EVALUATION:



The Final EVALUATION will consist of an exam, worth 70% of the final mark, which will include theoretical and practical questions, and a written assignment, worth 30% of the final mark. This work will be submitted for assessment on the date assigned to the final exam. In order to pass the course, a minimum mark of 3.5/10 must be obtained in each of the parts and a final mark of 5/10.





Resignation from the ordinary evaluation call:



Students who have chosen continuous evaluation may submit their resignation from the evaluation period by writing to the lecturer who teaches the subject, within one month of the end of the teaching period of the subject.



In the case of students who choose the final evaluation system, in order to waive the evaluation period, it will be sufficient not to sit the final exam.



In the case that it is not possible to carry out a face-to-face assessment of the subject, the pertinent changes will be made in order to perform an on-line assessment using the existing computer tools at the UPV/EHU. The characteristics of this on-line assessment will be published in the student guides and in eGela.

In order to pass the course, all students who have to sit the extraordinary exam must take an evaluation consisting of an exam, worth 70% of the final grade, which will include theoretical and practical questions, and a written assignment, worth 30% of the final grade. This work will be submitted for assessment on the date assigned for the final exam.



In order to pass the course, a minimum mark of 3.5/10 must be obtained in each of the parts and a final mark of 5/10.





Resignation from the extraordinary evaluation:



The procedure for renouncing the extraordinary evaluation call for students consists of NOT sitting the final exam.



In the case that it is not possible to carry out a face-to-face assessment of the subject, the pertinent changes will be made in order to perform an on-line assessment using the existing computer tools at the UPV/EHU. The characteristics of this on-line assessment will be published in the student guides and in eGela.

Standards:
- ISO 14040 (Life Cycle Assessment)
- ISO 14006 (Ecodesign)
- ISO 14064 (Ecolabels)
- ISO 14067 (Ecolabels)

Basic bibliography

Baumann, H., Tillman, A.M. The Hitch Hiker´s Guide to LCA. An orientation in life cycle assessment methodology and application. Lund: Editorial Studentlitteratur, 2004. ISBN: 91-44-02364-2. Código BETSE: A244 15



Valdivia, S., Sonnemann G. Handbook on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment.Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781800378643. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800378650



Leonard, A. La historia de las cosas. Buenos Aires: Ed. Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2010. ISBN: 978-84-375-0650-0. Código BUSC: M-EMA 476

In-depth bibliography

McDonough, W., Braungart, M. Cradle to cradle : (de la cuna a la cuna): rediseñando la forma en que hacemos las cosas. Madrid: McGraw-Hill, 2005. ISBN: 84-481-4295-0. Código BETSE: A234 14

Muthu, S.S. Assessment of Carbon Footprint in Different Industrial Sectors. Volume 1 & 2. Berlin: Springer, 2014. ISBN: 978-981-4560-40-5 (Vol. 1) & 978-981-4585-74-3 (Vol. 2). Código BETSE: 244 10

Journals

- The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment: https://link.springer.com/journal/11367

- Science of The Total Environment: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/science-of-the-total-environment

- Journal of Cleaner Production: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-cleaner-production

Web addresses

IHOBE: https://www.ihobe.eus/

BASQUE CIRCULAR HUB: http://www.basquecircularhub.eus/

OPENLCA: https://www.openlca.org/

Departamento de Desarrollo Económico, Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente del Gobierno vasco: https://www.euskadi.eus/gobierno-vasco/departamento-desarrollo-economico-sostenibilidad-medio-ambiente/