Water footprint

Question 1

How can we define a plastic footprint?

Answer 1

How much plastic is consumed per capita/per sector? (LCI)
How much plastic is leaked to the environment? (LCI)

What are the impacts of plastic leaked to the environment (LCIA)

Question 1

What are examples of macroplastics?

Answer 1

Plastic packaging
Plastic products
Other sources

Question 1

What are examples of microplastics

Answer 1

Tires
Synthetic clothes
Plastic pellets

Question 2

What are the plastic midpoint and endpoint impacts in LCA?

Answer 2

Plastics -> Physical impact on biota, human toxicity, ecotoxicity -> Ecosystem quality, resources, human health

Question 3

Explain the “physical effects on biota” impact category

Answer 3

Physical impacts (external and internal) of plastic litter

External: entanglement
Internal: Ingestion

Question 4

What does the CF equation look like in terms of plastic?

Answer 4

CF = Fate factor * Exposure factor * Effect factor

Fate factor: Distribution and longevity of microplastics
Exposure factor: Ingestion of microplastics
Effect factor: Animal health issues, reproductive impairment

Question 5

What are the preliminary fate modelling mechanisms?

Answer 5

The fate of plastic:

Fragmentation (inventory)
Degradation (integrated in CF)
Sedimentation (integrated in CF)

Other: aggregation, biofouling, advection…

Question 6

What is needed for preliminary fate and CFs?

Answer 6

Detailed modelling of different types of microplastics needed to reduce uncertainty

(ex. tire and road wear particles < expanded polystyrene in CF

TRWP &laquo_space;EPS in impact)

Question 7

What are the takeaways from the plastic case study?

Answer 7

A compostable alternative may not always have lower environmental impacts

Question 8

Future works for MarILCA?

Answer 8

• More detailed analysis in scales of plastics modelled, human toxicity, and additives
• Integrating the potential impacts of plastic litter into LCA methods
• Submitting recommendations to GLAM

Question 9

Define blue, green, and grey water under the volumetric approach?

Answer 9

Blue: river, lakes, groundwater
Green: rainwater used by plants
Grey: hypothetical dilution volume (wastewater?)

Question 10

Compare the Water footprint assessment (WFN) and LCA frameworks?

Answer 10

Quantitative indicators are done during Phase 2 (water footprint and accounting) in WFN and in Phase 3 (impact assessment) of LCA

Question 11

How do LCA and water footprint differ?

Answer 11

A water footprint is an LCA which includes only water related impacts

Question 12

What are the important concepts behind water footprints from the ISO?

Answer 12

high quality impact regarding water

• Should be life cycle based
• Could be stand alone or part of a LCA
• Results should include impact assessment and address regional issues
• Both quantity and quality should be considered
• Comprehensive impact assessment related to water (all impacts related to water)
• Can result in one or several indicators

Question 13

What are water availability midpoints and endpoints?

Answer 13

Midpoint: water scarcity or water availability (i.e., water use)

Endpoint HH: Malnutrition and/or water related diseases
Endpoint E: Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Question 14

What are water degradation midpoints and endpoints?

Answer 14

Midpoints: Human toxicity, eco toxicity, eutrophication, acidification

Endpoint HH: Human toxicity
Endpoint E: Ecotoxicity, Eutrophication, Acidification

Question 15

Define the entire water footprint?

Answer 15

Consists of water degradation and availability footprints.

Reduced water availability from consumption + degradation + direct pollution impacts

Question 16

What question does the water scarcity footprint indicator aim to answer?

Answer 16

What is the potential of depriving another user of water (human or ecosystem) when consuming water in this area?

Question 17

Define the user depravation potential/water scarcity footprint eqn

Answer 17

User depravation potential = water consumption * 1/available water remaining

CF = 1/available water remaining

Question 18

Interpretation of m^3 world-eq

Answer 18

CF: how many times less water than avg
Impact: how much water in avg

• A CF of 10 in region X means that there is 10 times less water in this region than in the world average region
• an impact of 50 m^3 world eq means that this consumption of 5 m^3 in region X is equivalent to 50 m^3 consumed in the worlds average location

Question 19

What are factors to consider when regarding aggregated values at country/annual levels based on consumption?

Answer 19

• Does not represent the average situation of the country/year
• Is strongly influenced by agricultural water use (in unknown and agri)
• Represents where/when water is most consumed

Question 20

What are factors regarding the interpretation and world average?

Answer 20

• CF = 1 represents region where the average water is consumed in the world in terms of AMD (amount of water remaining)
• CF = 1 does not equal to the factor for the average water consumption in the world

Question 21

How is direct consumed water defined in inventory?

Answer 21

Water balance: inflows - outflows = water consumed
OR
Water consumed = evaporated + product integration + discharged into sea or other watershed

Question 22

What are examples of indirect water consumption in inventory?

Answer 22

• water use due to energy consumption
• water in products
• water consumption and release from raw material (i.e., cow)