COURSE OBJECTIVES The course aims to provide the knowledge necessary to understand the aspects that govern the circular economy and the actions that promote sustainable development. The course aims to provide students with the knowledge to critically address the various aspects related to the circular economy and material and energy recovery, as well as the tools to quantify the sustainability of a process or process chain.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: • Recognize Circular Economy (CE) actions according to the action plans proposed by national and supranational bodies. • Identify contexts in which CE can be introduced and the related advantages and disadvantages. • Understand the technologies for implementing the principles of the circular economy in the waste and water treatment sectors. • Knowledge of the Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) approach and economic (LCC) and social (S-LCA) life cycle analysis • Quantify the environmental sustainability (according to the LCA - Life Cycle Assessment approach) of a process or process chain and be able to critically compare it to determine intervention priorities • Know and understand the connection between climate change and circular economy
Course Prerequisites
Essential concepts of Environmental Engineering.
Teaching Methods
The course is based on frontal lessons (theory and exercise parts).
Assessment Methods
The exam will consist of an oral interview covering the entire course programme.
Questions will focus on both theoretical concepts and practical exercises. Evaluation will be based on the completeness and conciseness of the answers, as well as the effective use of diagrams and charts.
All topics covered during the course will be subject to examination. Only students who are officially registered online for the session will be admitted; they must present a valid university ID card.
Contents
The course contents are listed below. All topics are essentially equivalent in terms of importance and weight within the course. The topics are: - Main definitions in the field of the circular economy. - Regulations and action plans proposed by national and supranational bodies. - Circular economy in the waste sector - Circular economy in wastewater treatment plants - Circular economy in the industrial sector - Sustainability and Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) - Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - Material flow analysis (MFA), multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) - Climate change and the circular economy
The course consists of a theoretical part (36 hours), while the exercise part will last 18 hours.
Course Language
italian
More information
Students can meet with the professor before or after the lessons and in his office or online by previous email appointment (marco.carnevalemiino@uninsubria.it).
