S I G I T A Ž I D O N I E N Ė

S U M M A R Y O F D O C T O R A L D I S S E R T A T I O N

K a u n a s2 0 1 5

E N V I R O N M E N T A L I M P A C T A S S E S S M E N T

O F P L A N N E D I N D U S T R I A L A C T I V I T Y : D E S I G N A N D A N A L Y S I S O F I N T E G R A T E D M O D E L

W I T H L I F E C Y C L E A S S E S S M E N T

T E C H N O L O G I C A L S C I E N C E S , E N V I R O N M E N T A L

E N G I N E E R I N G ( 0 4 T )

KAUNAS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

LITHUANIAN ENERGY INSTITUTE

SIGITA ŽIDONIENĖ

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PLANNED INDUSTRIAL

ACTIVITY: DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED MODEL WITH

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

Summary of Doctoral Dissertation

Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering (04T)

2015, Kaunas

The dissertation has been prepared at the Institute of Environmental Engineering,

Kaunas University of Technology during 2006-2014.

Scientific Supervisor:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jolita KRUOPIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology,

Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T).

The Dissertation Defence Board of Environmental Engineering Sciences

Field:

Prof. Dr. Habil. Jurgis Kazimieras STANIŠKIS (Kaunas University of

Technology, Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T) –

chairman;

Dr. Nerijus BLAŽAUSKAS (Klaipėda University, Physical Sciences, Geology -

05P);

Prof. Dr. Gintaras DENAFAS (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological

Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T);

Dr. Jūratė KRIAUČIŪNIENĖ (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological

Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T);

Prof. Dr. Habil. Saulius VAIKASAS (Aleksandras Stulginskis University,

Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T).

Opponents:

Prof. Dr. Olga ANNE (Klaipėda University, Technological Sciences,

Environmental Engineering – 04T);

Prof. Dr. Arvydas POVILAITIS (Aleksandras Stulginskis University,

Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering – 04T).

The official defense of dissertation will be held at the public meeting of the

Board of Environmental Engineering Science Field at 11 a.m. on June 29, 2015

in the Dissertation Defense Hall at the Central Building of Kaunas University of

Technology.

Address: K. Donelaičio St. 73-403, 44249 Kaunas, Lithuania

Tel. (+370) 37 300042, Fax. (+370)37 324144; e-mail: doktorantura@ktu.lt

The summary of the doctoral dissertation was sent out on 29th of May, 2015.

The dissertation is available at the libraries of Kaunas University of Technology

(K. Donelaičio St. 20, 44239 Kaunas) and Lithuanian Energy Institute

(Breslaujos St. 3, 44403 Kaunas).

KAUNO TECHNOLOGIJOS UNIVERSITETAS

LIETUVOS ENERGETIKOS INSTITUTAS

SIGITA ŽIDONIENĖ

PLANUOJAMOS GAMYBINĖS VEIKLOS POVEIKIO APLINKAI

VERTINIMAS: INTEGRUOTO MODELIO SU BŪVIO CIKLO ĮVERTINIMU

SUKŪRIMAS IR ANALIZĖ

Daktaro disertacijos santrauka

Technologijos mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija (04T)

2015, Kaunas

Disertacija rengta 2006–2014 m. Kauno technologijos universiteto Aplinkos

inžinerijos institute.

Mokslinė vadovė:

Doc. dr. Jolita KRUOPIENĖ (Kauno technologijos universitetas, technologijos

mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija – 04T).

Aplinkos inžinerijos mokslo krypties disertacijos gynimo taryba:

Prof. habil. dr. Jurgis Kazimieras STANIŠKIS (Kauno technologijos

universitetas, technologijos mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija – 04T) – pirmininkas;

Dr. Nerijus BLAŽAUSKAS (Klaipėdos universitetas, fiziniai mokslai, geologija

– 05P);

Prof. dr. Gintaras DENAFAS (Kauno technologijos universitetas, technologijos

mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija – 04T);

Dr. Jūratė KRIAUČIŪNIENĖ (Lietuvos energetikos institutas, technologijos

mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija – 04T);

Prof. habil. dr. Saulius VAIKASAS (Aleksandro Stulginskio universitetas,

technologijos mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija – 04T).

Oponentai:

Prof. dr. Olga ANNE (Klaipėdos universitetas, technologijos mokslai, aplinkos

inžinerija – 04T);

Prof. dr. Arvydas POVILAITIS (Aleksandro Stulginskio universitetas,

technologijos mokslai, aplinkos inžinerija – 04T).

Disertacija bus ginama viešame aplinkos inžinerijos mokslo krypties tarybos

posėdyje 2015 m. birželio 29 d. 11 val. Kauno technologijos universiteto

centrinių rūmų disertacijų gynimo salėje.

Adresas: K. Donelaičio g. 73, 403 aud., 44249 Kaunas, Lietuva.

Tel. (+370)37 300042; faksas (+370) 37 324144; el. paštas: doktorantura@ktu.lt

Disertacijos santrauka išsiųsta 2015 m. gegužės 29 d.

Su disertacija galima susipažinti Kauno technologijos universiteto bibliotekoje

(K. Donelaičio g. 20, 44239 Kaunas) ir Lietuvos energetikos instituto

bibliotekoje (Breslaujos g. 3, 44403 Kaunas).

5

INTRODUCTION

Research relevance

Manufacturing industry that provides a lot of production materials and

products for the society at the same time is related with high-energy

consumption and serious environmental contamination. As manufacturers and

industries all over the world are facing the finally voiced demand towards the

eco -friendly produce, the environmental awareness has become a critical aspect

in product and process development and an intrinsic part of any business

planning and overall strategy. In order to develop less polluting products,

services or activities, it is necessary to evaluate the possible negative pressure on

the environment in the earliest stage of development and seek for alternative

solutions or means which can help to diminish that impact without losing the

initial purpose of the action.

As a part of the current worldwide regulatory framework the Environmental

Impact Assessment (further the EIA), often defined as an environmental

management tool the main purpose of which is to identify and evaluate the

probable environmental performance of proposed development actions is a

compulsory element in project planning. In most countries, EIA is applied during

planning or permit approval phase with a goal to determine whether the project is

acceptable, unfortunately, only the formal environmental (but not social or

economical) standards play a key role (Arts and Faith-Ell 2010, Jos 2013). A

considerable research effort has gone into the analysis of the EIA since its

formulation in 1969 and a number of implementation and effectiveness

challenges have been identified through the years of practice. While the EIA

successfully assesses both positive and negative effects and also takes the local

impact of proposed projects into consideration, the evaluation of only site-

specific impact is often named as one of its main shortcomings (Bina, 2007;

Bond et al., 2010; Kvaerner et al., 2006; Wärnbäck and Hilding-Rydevik 2009). Furthermore, Steinemann (2001) highlights that the EIA neglects the

consideration of global effect and the management of natural resources, which

may affect the future generations. Pischke nad Cashmore (2006) states that the

EIA does not reflect the cumulative impacts of projects and their global

environmental implications. EIA reports are expected to delineate the

environmental impact, but in practice they usually determine whether the

amounts of concentrations of pollutants comply with the relevant standarts (Liu

et al., 2013).

6

As one of the possibilities to optimize the assessment of the environmental

impact of the planned activity is to extend the limits of the assessment by

including additional environmental management tools. The Society of

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) after discussion about the

relationships between environmental management tools in 1993 stated that there

was no single tool or approach to address all the problems of environmental

management and there was a need to find how different tools could complement

each other (SETAC 1997, Manuilova et al. 2009). One of such tools is life cycle

assessment (further LCA). LCA is an analytical tool that evaluates

environmental effects of a product, process or activity throughout its life cycle or

lifetime: from the extraction of resources, to production, consumption and

recycling up to the final disposal (UNEP, 2005). The LCA derived from an

understanding that each product, process, or activity generates impact on the

environment: from the extraction or collection of raw materials, throughout the

industrial transformation processes, until the moment when the materials are

delivered as residual waste (Ferrao, 2009). The LCA methodology does not

interpret the analysed object as an isolated phenomenon in the specific location

but rather as the system consisting of various components and independent of the

location. The life-cycle approach allows for assessing the impact of analysed

object by involving all stages of the processes of activity including secondary

ones. The essential result of the manufacturing is the product, thus inclusion of

the LCA to the activity EIA would extend analysed system boundaries: the LCA

methodology analyses the indirect impact of the activity and simultaneously the

result of the activity is analysed. The LCA allows for analysing the

environmental impact of the activity at the level of the product.

The literature analysis allows for detecting few efforts to analyse the

environmental impact assessment in general context together with life-cycle

assessment. Tukker (2000) in his practical experience of Dutch EIA projects

concluded that LCA could be a useful tool, when environmental comparisons of

processes and abatement alternatives were made. Manuilova et al. (2009)

concluded that LCA increased the level of detail and accuracy of environmental

assessment in EIA of CO2 capture and storage projects. Scipioni et al. (2009)

also proved that LCA was a useful and reliable tool for determining

environmental impacts relevant at all phases of the incineration process,

including the residues management. There is only those few research that the

main conclusion is that the LCA might be useful tool for environmental impact

assessment. No reasoned methodology on how the results of these two tools

should be combined, or model how the LCA and the EIA might complement

each other and act together to assess environmental impact of the production

7

activity was suggested. This dissertation thesis aims to fill the current gap and

seeks to apply a broader view to the environmental impact assessment of the

planned production activity by applying holistic life-cycle approach.

Aim and tasks of the research

The aim of the research is to create and test an integrated environmental

impact assessment and life-cycle assessment model for environmental impact

assessment of planned industrial activity.

Tasks:

1. To review the already performed research analyses on environmental

impact assessment performance and to identify the main problems in the

field.

2. To perform the analysis of EIA practice in Lithuania, to identify the

main strengths and weaknesses;

3. To analyse the coverage of significant environmental aspects in current

environmental impact assessments reports of manufacturing industry;

4. To develop an integrated environmental impact assessment and life

cycle assessment model which would allow systematically evaluate and

minimize the negative environmental impact of planned industrial

activity;

5. To investigate the possibilities of application and efficiency of the

developed model by applying it to environmental impact assessment of

the specific planned industrial activity.

Key theses

By integrating life cycle assessment elements into the environmental impact

assessment of planned industrial activity, it is possible not only more thoroughly

analyse the planned economic activity and quantitatively evaluate its

environmental impacted, but also to distinguish the planning scenario with the

least environmental impact.

Hypothesis

Negative environmental impact of manufacturing industry activity can be

mitigated by widening evaluated system boundaries while integrating the life-

cycle assessment into environmental impact assessment.

The research object is – environmental impact of the manufacturing industry.

8

Research methodology

Research covers the systematic literature review, the comparative analysis,

an expert survey providing standardized questionnaire. The survey data were

processed using SPSS software. The development of the integrated model was

based on cleaner production implementation principles, flow analysis was used

for data collection; and the assessment of life-cycle impact was carried out by

using SimaPro7 software; CML 2001 and Ecoindicator’99 methods were used

for data interpretation.

Scientific novelty

The essential scientific novelty element is the suggested integrated EIA and LCA

model for the environmental impact assessment of industrial activity.

The created integrated model extends the assessment limits by including

such aspects as environmental impact of the raw material production used during

activity or assessment of seemingly secondary, but related and also important

impacts.

The developed model allows for performing both the quantitative

assessment of environmental impact of the planned industrial activity and

planning the activity with the least environmental impact.

The scientific novelty also includes the fact that it was the first time when

the environmental impact assessment practice was evaluated in Lithuania.

Practical value

The created integrated model might be successfully implemented in

practice for the assessment of environmental impact and for the development of

more environmentally friendly manufacturing industry activity. The integrated

model allows for not only a comprehensive analysis of environmental impact of

the activity, but also helps to find out and choose the least polluting activity

scenario. By using created integrated model the negative impact of the activity

can be reduced.

The developed model was adapted for thermal insulation material plant

environmental impact assessment.

Structure and contents of the dissertation

Dissertation consists of introduction, five main chapters, conclusions and

recommendations, references and supplementary material. Dissertation text

covers 131 pages (without Appendixes); text illustrated by 45 Figures and 18

Tables. General structure of the dissertation is presented below.

9

CHAPTER I. Review of the recent relevant research

This chapter analyses the scientific research on dissertation topic: the

planning structure for industrial activity is reviewed, the development of

environmental impact assessment is presented, and structure of EIA with its

advantages and disadvantages is also discussed. The life-cycle assessment

methodology, its advantages and disadvantages, application possibilities are also

reviewed. At the end of this chapter, the work objective and tasks are formulated.

The literature review determined the need to optimize the assessment of

environmental impact of the planned industrial activity, using life-cycle

assessment as one of the optimization tools. The literature review showed that

there were discussions raised about the ‘collaboration’ of the EIA and the LCA

methodologies. Few authors claim that life-cycle assessment might compensate

many disadvantages of the EIA but there is no information on how these tools

should ‘work’ together. It is relevant to develop the model combining the EIA

with elements of the LCA methodology and find out what disadvantages of both

methodologies could be solved. The literature review also revealed that the

analysis of assessment practice of environmental impact in Lithuania has not

been performed, thus one more task is taken on, that is, the analysis of the

practice of environmental impact assessment in Lithuania and defining its

strengths and weaknesses.

CHAPTER II. Methodology

This chapter presents the methods and research methodology used in this work.

The study uses data collection methods: literature review, analysis of the EIA

reports and experts survey using questionnaire. The collected data was processed

using mathematical analysis. Integrated model was developed using principles of

cleaner production implementation. Life-cycle impact assessment was done

using SimaPro7 software; CML2001 and Ecoindicator‘99 methods were applied.

The created model was applied for the assessment of environmental impact of

thermal insulation material production activity. Work structure is presented in

Figure 1.

10

Fig. 1. The structure of the dissertation research

CHAPTER III. The results of the analysis of EIA practice in Lithuania and

of the analysis of significant environmental aspects coverage in current EIA

reports

This chapter presents the analysis of the EIA practice in Lithuania and the

results of the investigation of the coverage of significant environmental aspects

in current manufacturing industry EIA reports.

The EIA has existed in Lithuania since 1996, and till nowadays there are

900 EIA procedures (screening and full EIA studies) completed per year.

According to the data of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of

Lithuania, most EIA procedures are carried out in the regions of major towns,

especially in the capital Vilnius and the port Klaipeda, where economic growth is

quite prominent.

Interviews with EIA experts and practitioners, also the analysis of EIA

studies, programmes and reports allowed identifying the main strengths and

shortcomings of EIA practice in Lithuania.

The analysis showed that the main two strengths of the Lithuanian EIA

practice are:

factual and active public participation in the process;

good legal regulation.

Literature

review

Indentification of

significant

environmental

aspects related to

manufacturing

industry

Analysis of

EIA practice

in Lithuania

Formulation of

the dissertation

problem and

tasks

Model

application

example

Creation of

the

integrated

model Conclusions and

recommendations

Planning Data collection Data analysis

Analysis of coverage

of significant

environmental aspects

in EIA reports

11

The research has also revealed a list of main shortcomings such as:

subjectivity in forecasting environmental effects;

politicization of EIA processes;

poor competence of involved authorities.

The analysis of EIA practice in Lithuania by interviewing experts was held

in 2007. Since the dissertation text was prepared no information about new or

other Lithuanian EIA evaluation system analysis have been found or

published/accessed in public sources. Since then, the EIA law in Lithuania has

changed several times, but the essential disadvantages were not solved. There is

still much subjectivity in the process; the interested parties still have many

possibilities to influence the decisions. One of the essential changes is a new

requirement for EIA documents and report compilers – to have a suitable

qualification. Another one change is that after the final decision no changes on

planned economic activity project can be done. If the changes occur, the whole

EIA procedure should be repeated. The participation of the society also raises

more controversial feelings. Although people actively participate in the EIA

process, usually it is caused by the factor “only not in my back yard” and no real

attention to the proposed activity and no analysis of its negative or positive

environmental or economic impact are displayed.

Prior the analysis of coverage of significant environmental aspects in

current EIA reports of manufacturing industry, an investigation of the significant

environmental aspects related with manufacturing industry was held. By

analysing environmental laws, initiatives and sets of environmental indicators it

was identified that significant manufacturing industry environmental aspects are:

resource consumption (as water and energy);

emissions to air, water and greenhouse gas emissions;

waste generation.

Eight manufacturing industry EIA reports (or more than 50% of total

manufacturing reports from period 2008-2013 in Lithuania) was analysed in

order to identify the significant environmental aspects coverage in reports. The

analysis showed that current manufacturing industry EIA practise has limitations

in:

evaluating planned activity impact on greenhouse gas emissions;

evaluation of negative impact of the consumption of natural

resources;

evaluation of indirect energy consumption;

evaluation of cumulative environmental impact;

evaluation of global environmental impact.

12

The research also revealed that the analysis of alternatives in EIA reports

can be stated as poor, since there are no efforts to seek for any different or more

effective solutions.

The performed analysis showed that the comprehensiveness and

assessment scope largely depended on the organizers of a EIA report. The

reports of the large consulting companies are more detailed and more additional

information is provided. But at the same time it can be stated that the reports are

prepared according to the same template as even some of the sentences coincide.

CHAPTER IV. The development of integrated environmental impact

assessment and life cycle assessment model

This chapter presents the principles of model development, model main

characteristics and application possibilities.

The main background of the integrated model is LCA and EIA

methodologies; some other additional methodological tools and techniques were

also used.

Firstly, there is a need to discuss practical application of LCA. There are

three levels of its study: standardized LCA according to the guidelines of ISO

14040, simplified LCA and Life cycle thinking. The latter is conceptual LCA

and refers to a general idea of the analyzed object in life cycle perspective.

Standardized LCA is a time and money consuming method; therefore it is rarely

applied in practice. The most popular LCA application is simplified LCA, that

provides a generic view of the whole system life cycle using general information,

normalized models, simplified evaluation covering the most important

environmental impacts and most important stages of life cycle. Development of

the LCA based software programs (like SimaPro or GaBi) helps researchers to

conduct simplified LCA and to avoid time and money waste. In order to

maintain data and assessment reliability the simplified LCA needs to be carried

out according to the commonly agreed rules, such as Product Category Rules

(PCR) used for Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). PCR is a set of rules

where the system boundary and main impact categories are defined in order to

conduct LCA for a specific category of products.

One of the additional methods suggested to use in the integrated model is

Material Flow Analysis (MFA) used for the inventory of all relevant data. MFA

is a widely applied analytical method that quantifies flows and stocks of

materials or substances in a well-defined system during a defined time period

(Brunner and Rechberger, 2004).

13

The created integrated model (Fig. 2) consists of four major steps, where

assessment of primary scenario, designing and screening the alternatives, and

selecting alternative steps evaluate site – generic or global environmental impact

of industrial activity that classical EIA methodology does not do. Step the

compatibility of the alternative and local conditions adds a site-specific or local

impact assessment perspective.

The object of the integrated model is an industrial activity that still is in the

planning process and requires full EIA procedure.

Project initiation is the background of primary information that will be used for

further assessment. The information about the aim, scope, processes and

materials of the project is provided by project developer.

The application of the integrated model starts with assessment of primary

scenario, where in the first place the data analysis is carried out and MFA is

conducted. After the data inventory the primary scenario is assessed by the

simplified Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). The outcome of the primary

scenario assessment is identification of “hot spots” of the activity that points out

the areas for major improvement and is followed by formulating a problem. At

this step the reasons of detected “hot spots” are analyzed.

Designing and screening the alternatives step is dedicated to designing and

screening of scenarios for solving the detected problem(s). Several tools and

techniques could be used for a scenario design: adaptation of existing solutions,

benchmarking, analysis of the best available or emerging techniques and

materials, conducting a search or using innovation (Nutt 2000). It is essential that

the designed scenarios would be economically and technically feasible. Each

scenario must undergo an economic evaluation consisting of the analysis of

material and technology availability on the market, its affordability and

compatibility with the project aims, its maintenance cost and other important

issues.

At this step environmental evaluation of the alternatives is made by using

LCIA methodology, at this point LCA is rather a tool for comparison of

alternatives than for analysis.

14

Fig. 2 The developed integrated LCA and EIA model

Project initiation

Proposal identification: aim, scope,

processes and etc.

Further EIA procedure

Further planning

Alternative

acceptabilit

y

Yes

No

Additional

information

Formulating

a problem

Assessment of primary scenario

LCIA of

the

activity

Hot spots

identification

Analysis of

current

information,

MFA

Local impact (Xloc)

The compatibility of local conditions and the

alternative

Global impact (Xglob)

Selecting alternative

Xglob→min

Designing and screening the alternatives

Environmental

evaluation of

alternative

(LCIA), A

Designing the alternatives, Z

Comparing and ranking

alternatives

Economic

evaluation of

the alternatives,

E

min z = f(X)

15

The selection of alternative depends on the two aspects: economical and

environmental evaluation. One of the ways to make the selection and decision is

to rank the alternatives by economical and environmental performance results.

The alternative, that has the best economical performance is awarded one

point, the less perfect – two points, while the least acceptable - n points (n – the

number of analyzed alternatives). The same ranking method should be used for

alternatives environmental performance that was designated by conducting

LCIA. Alternative ranking may be illustrated as follows:

Rr = Er + Ar → min, (1),

Where: R - rank of alternative r; Er –economical performance (rank) of

alternative r;

Ar – environmental performance (rank) of alternative r.

After selection of the most suitable scenario, the compatibility of local

conditions with the selected alternative is applied. Its main purpose is to

determine if a selected scenario can be implemented in the selected location and

to evaluate the site-dependant (or local) impact of the proposed project. The

acceptance (or rejection) of the project in a specific location depends greatly on

the local environmental and social conditions, legal regulations, protected areas,

e.g. Natura 2000 sites or local permitted pollution concentrations. Thus, at this

step the selected alternative is assessed by estimated air emissions of activity and

its contribution to local air pollution, possible water/soil contamination and its

effect on the local water/soil quality. This step also includes evaluation of how

the implemented alternative will affect the local socio-economical situation and

what impact it will have on the landscape or cultural values near the selected

area.

In case the alternative is not acceptable at the selected location, the other

opportunities for location are examined and compatibility with the selected

alternative is checked. If there is no alternative location, the procedure goes back

to the designing and screening of the alternatives phase, where the last substep,

i.e. comparison and ranking of the alternatives are analyzed, and a new most

relevant alternative is selected and tested. If an alternative is acceptable in

selected location, the further planning procedure follows, such as EIA report

arrangement by adding the missing information about the measures of negative

impact mitigation and preparation of monitoring plans.

16

The aim of the model use is to find the best of all possible (according to

criteria) alternatives of investigated system functioning. The most important

criteria are the least negative environmental impact. Therefore, the function of

the integrated model is to find planned activity implementing scenario

(alternative) that has the least negative impact on the environment and at the

same time is economically and technologically feasible. This would include the

impact on the environment both locally (business site) and globally. The

function of the model is described by the following formula:

min z = f(X), (2),

when X = (Xglob + Xlok), while Xglob = fglob(E,Z,A, t) and Xlok = flok(L,N)

and 0 < A ≤ A min., 0 < t ≤ T, 0 < N ≤ Nmax

Where z – optimality indicator; min – optimality criteria; X – environmetal

impact; Xlok – local environmental impact; Xglob – global environmental impact;

E – economic evaluation; Z – technological feasibility; A – environmental

impact assessment; t – time (LCA system boundary); T – time interval treshold

value; L – compliance with legal requirements; N – concentration of pollutants;

Nmax – Limit / maximum levels of pollutants.

The fourth chapter ends by providing the main characteristics of the created

model, its application possibilities, by describing novelty of the model and

integration possibilities.

CHAPTER V. Results – application of the model

This chapter presents results of the created integrated model application for

evaluating the performance of a new industrial project i.e. the establishment of

insulation materials manufacture in Lithuania.

The initiated project is the establishment of the manufacture of Extruded

Polystyrene (XPS) insulation boards in Lithuania, which by nature of its activity

falls under the EIA legislation and must follow a full EIA procedure. XPS

boards are produced from melted polystyrene derived from crude oil by adding

expansion gas, where the extrusion of polystyrene mass occurs through a nozzle

with a pressure release causing the mass to expand. Then the board edges are

trimmed and the product is cut into dimensions. At the end of the production line

the XPS boards are packed in plastic films and piled up on pallets.

Polystyrene granules compose about 90-95 % of a XPS board. Blowing

agents (up to 8 %) are the main compound needed for extrusion and foam

17

forming. Other additives, such as colorants, flame retardants and nucleants

constitute about 2% to contribution. Electricity is the main power source of the

extrusion process. Extrusion process uses some water in the enclosed system,

which is needed for cooling processes.

The integrated model application starts with an assessment of a primary

scenario and an analysis of the information about the planned activity. MFA is

performed to enhance the understanding of both planned activity and subsequent

environmental pressure and to ensure that all inputs and outputs are traced. A

simplified LCA analysis is carried out to evaluate environmental performance of

the primary scenario and to identify “hot spots” over its life cycle (cradle-to-gate

approach). Simplified LCA is conducted using one of the most popular LCA

software SimaPro (7.1), and two methods Ecoindicator’99 and CML2000 are

used for data analysis. Ecoindicator’99 is a damage-oriented method that allows

estimating environmental impact on human health, ecosystem quality and use of

resources, while CML2000 is a problem – oriented method analyzing the results

of individual impact categories, such as acidification, euthrophication, global

warming, ozone layer depletion and photochemical oxidation.

The environmental impact of different XPS production stages on human

health, ecosystem quality and use of resources is shown in Figure 3.

Fig.3 Environmental impact assessment of XPS production stages

(Ecoindicator’99 method)

18

The Raw materials stage and The Manufacturing stage contribute the most

to resources usage as well as to human health. The same results are obtained by

using the CML2000 method; all impact categories (see Fig. 4) display a

dominant influence (from 65 % on eutrophication up to 80 % for ozone layer

depletion) of the raw materials stage that encompasses the upstream production

of polystyrene resin, blowing agents and other additives.

Fig. 4. Environmental impact assessment of XPS production stages (CML2000

method)

The second largest impact, being similar on all impact categories (from 20

to 28 %), is caused by the manufacturing stage. Transportation has quite low

impact on all impact categories, except its major contribution to the

eutrophication potential due to emissions of nitrogen compounds during diesel

combustion. The environmental impacts associated with packaging operations

are low.

The evaluation of primary scenario has revealed that the “hot spot” of XPS

board production is raw materials. The identified areas of concern are

optimization of the use of the raw materials and availability of the raw materials

alternatives. The main raw materials of XPS production are polystyrene granules

19

and blowing agents (mixture of HFC-134a/HFC-152a and carbon dioxide).

Polystyrene granules are the background of the insulation material and cannot be

substituted, thus the central focus shall be concentrated on the choice of blowing

agents.

The four alternatives of blowing agents were highlighted after investigating

the existing solutions (blowing agents that are available on the market) and by

benchmarking. All alternatives are technologically feasible and warrant high

production quality. The scenarios designed are listed in Table 2.

Table 2 The Proposed alternatives for XPS production with different blowing

agents.

Alternatives Blowing agent

Alternative 1 HFC134a/HFC152a blend

Alternative 2 100 % CO2

Alternative 3 CO2 + ethanol

Alternative 4 Isobutane/DME blend

Direct and indirect costs were estimated to evaluate economic feasibility of

the scenarios. A direct cost includes blowing agent purchase cost, while the

indirect one includes any additional costs that derive from the use of blowing

agent (like additional energy and supplementary materials costs). These costs

have been accounted for 1kg XPS board.

With the help of the life cycle assessment, the alternatives were

environmentally assessed and compared.

In order to decide which alternative is the most acceptable, the results of

economical and environmental evaluation are summed up. Each alternative,

according to Equation 1, is ranked (R) from 1 to 4 points after the evaluation of

environmental (A) and economic performance (E), where 1 is for the best

performance and 4 for the worst. The alternative evaluation is presented in Table

3.

20

Table 3 Matrix of alternative ranking

Alternative Blowing

agent E

(Economical

performance)

A

(Environmental

performance)

R

(Alternative

ranking*)

Alternative 1 HFC134a/HF

C152a blend

3 4 7

Alternative 2 100 % CO2 2 1 3

Alternative 3 CO2 + ethanol 1 2 3

Alternative 4 Isobutane/

DME blend

4 3 7

* The lower R means the better alternative

Alternative 2 and 3 have the same R value, thus, the decision has been made

on the basis of other parameters, such as production quality and blowing agent

performance. Both alternatives of blowing agents are of high quality in XPS

production, but the mixture with ethanol (alternative 3) allows a faster extrusion

process.

The last step of the proposed model was the investigation of the

compatibility of the selected scenario and local conditions at the implementation

site. The location of the planed insulation materials production plant was in an

industrial zone, the main purpose of which is to create an industrial cluster.

Therefore, the Strategic Regional Planning Program had previously investigated

the pressure to the environment delivered from this cluster. The site-specific

evaluation of social-economic issues and cultural heritage showed that there was

no negative impact, while new manufacture had potential to create new job

opportunities in the region. The pressure on site-specific air and water qualities

did not exceed the allowed limit values.

The integrated model application example reveals a number of advantages

of integrating EIA and LCA. If EIA for the planned production of XPS boards

were performed in a traditional way, the primary scenario proposed by the

project developer could be acknowledged as acceptable by responsible

authorities without any search and analysis of alternatives (raw materials or

production technologies), as it would neither break the existing legal

requirements, nor be related to exceedance of maximum allowable emission

concentrations. The use of the LCA – EIA model for environmental assessment

of a new project makes it possible to identify the life cycle stage, which makes

the biggest environmental impact on various environmental categories, and, thus

21

urges to search for more environmentally friendly alternatives. The overall result

– the chosen alternative had 29 mPt or 40 % lower impact on human health

compared to the primary scenario and saved 100 mPt or 20 % of primary

resources (see Fig. 5).

Fig.6 Comparison of the selected alternative (scenario 3) with primary

scenario

The application of the integrated LCA-EIA framework introduces an LCA

perspective and in this way it extends the focus of assessment from the

regulatory compliance of the environmental impact to the assessment of the type

and degree of the damage that development of the project can cause. By applying

integrated model some of the EIA shortcomings can be solved as neglecting of

the global effect and management of natural resources has been solved in this

way. Revealing of the most environmentally problematic point of the planned

project and finding of a suitable alternative have allowed solving another

shortcoming of EIA - poor analysis of alternatives. The analysis based

information on the planned activity makes it easier for responsible authorities to

make decisions on development consent.

The case study was an example of the application of created methodology

for chemical industry. The LCA-EIA model enabled selection and comparison of

the new raw materials for XPS board production. Thus the suggestion for model

22

application consists of manufacturing industry that results in concrete products

that have clear raw materials and production technologies. Besides, the model

has the potential to be useful not only for enhancement of environmental

characteristics of the planned activity product and production technologies, but

also to help to choose the most acceptable in economic and environmental aspect

activity.

23

MAIN CONCLUSIONS

1. Analysis of the relevant research on environmental impact assessment

identified the following shortcomings of the current worldwide EIA system:

- the lack of overall consideration of cumulative, long term and global

impact analysis;

- the failure to identify and analyze alternatives of the proposed

projects;

- the excessive overflow of irrelevant data;

- the lack of clear, scientifically-based environmental impact

assessment methodology.

2. The analysis of Lithuanian EIA system revealed its main strengths:

- good legal regulation;

- good public participation in the process.

And its fundamental weaknesses:

- subjectivity of the process;

- process politicization;

- low competence of involved groups.

3. The review of EIA reports of planned industrial activities pointed out the

following environmental impact assessment flaws:

- the lack of evaluation of cumulative and indirect negative impact;

- disregard of the climate change assessment;

- insufficient analysis of alternatives.

4. The suggested integrated model with life cycle assessment enables:

- systematic evaluation of cumulative environmental impact of the

planned activities;

- identification and examination of significant and indirect activity’s

impact on the environment;

- identification, elimination or mitigation of activity’s hot spots;

- analysis and comparison of operational alternatives.

5. The application of an integrated model to the environmental impact

assessment of heat insulation materials manufacturing plant allowed finding

an operational alternative that is 40 percent more favourable to human health

and uses of 20 percent less resource than the primary scenario.

24

REFERENCE

1. Arts, J. and Faith-Ell, C., 2010. EIA and green procurement - EIA in Green

Procurement and Partnering Contracts, in 30th Annual Meeting of teh

International Association for Impact Assessment. Geneva (Switzerland).

Access via internet: www.iaia.org/iaia10/documents

2. Bina, O. 2007. A critical review of the dominant lines of argumentation on

the need for strategic environmental assessment. Environmental Impact

Assessesment Review 27: 585-606.

3. Bond, A.J., Viegas, C.V., Coelho de Souza Reinisch Coelho, C. and Selig,

P.M., 2010. Informal knowledge processes: the underpinning for

sustainability outcomes in EIA? Journal of Cleaner Production 18: 6-13.

4. Wärnbäck, A. and Hilding-Rydevik, T., 2009. Cumulative effects in

Swedish EIA practice — difficulties and obstacles. Environmental Impact

Assessesment Review 29: 107-115.

5. Kværner, J., G. Swensen, and L. Erikstad, 2006, Assessing environmental

vulnerability in EIA—The content and context of the vulnerability concept

in an alternative approach to standard EIA procedure. Environmental

Impact Assessment Review 26: 511–527.

6. Ferrão, P. 2007. Industrial Ecology: A Step Towards Sustainable

Development, in: Pereira, M. (ed.), A Portrait of State-of-the-Art Research

at the Technical University of Lisbon. Springer, Netherlands, pp. 357-383.

7. Manuilova, A., Suebsiri, J. and Wilson, M., 2009. Should Life Cycle

Assessment be part of the Environmental Impact Assessment? Case study:

EIA of CO2 Capture and Storage in Canada. Energy Procedia 1: 4511-

4518.

8. Scipioni, A., Mazzi, A., Niero, M. and Boatto, T., 2009. LCA to choose

among alternative design solutions: The case study of a new Italian

incineration line. Waste Management 29: 2462-2474.

9. SETAC, 1997. Life cycle assessment and conceptually related programmes,

Europe Working Group on Conceptually Related Programmes. SEATC-

Europe, Brussels. Access via internet:

http://www.setac.org/?page=Publications

10. Pischke, F., and M. Cashmore, 2006, Decision-oriented environmental

assessment: An empirical study of its theory and methods: Environmental

Impact Assessment Review 26: 643–662.

11. Liu, K.R., C.Y. Ko, C. Fan, and C.W. Chen, 2013, Incorporating the LCIA

concept into fuzzy risk assessment as a tool for environmental impact

25

assessment. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment

27: 849–866.

12. Steinemann, A., 2001. Improving alternatives for environmental impact

assessment. Environmental Impact Assessessment Review 21: 3-21.

13. Tukker, A., 2000. Life cycle assessment as a tool in environmental impact

assessment. Environmental Impact Assessessment Review 20: 435-456.

14. UNEP, 2005. UNEP/ SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. Life Cycle Approaches:

The road from analysis to practice. Access via internet:

http://www.unep.fr/shared /publications/pdf/DTIx0594xPA-Road.pdf

26

LIST OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS ON THE

TOPIC OF THE DISSERTATION

Publications in journals included in Institute of Science Information (ISI)

database:

1. Židonienė S., Kruopienė J. Life Cycle Assessment in Environmental

Impact Assessments of Industrial Projects: Towards the Improvement.

Journal of Cleaner production. DOI information:

10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.081

2. Kruopienė J., Židonienė S., Dvarionienė J. Current practice and

shortcomings of EIA in Lithuania. Environmental Impact Assessment

Review (2009), Nr. 5 (29), p. 305–309. ISSN 0195-9255.

3. Stasiškienė Ž., Gaižiūnienė J., Židonienė S. Assessing the sustainability

of the Lithuanian hazardous waste management system. Journal of

Industrial Ecology (2011), Nr. 15 (2), p. 268–283. Online ISSN: 1530-

9290.

Publications referred in other International databases:

1. Kruopienė J., Židonienė S., Dvarionienė J. Mikalauskas A. Evaluation of

environmental impact assessment effectiveness in Lithuania. Aplinkos

tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba (2008), Nr. 2 (44), p. 28–33. ISSN 1392-

1649.

2. Arbačiauskas V., Gaižiūnienė J., Laurinkevičiūtė A., Židonienė S.

Sustainable production through innovation in small and medium sized

enterprises in the Baltic Sea Region. Environmental Research,

Engineering and Management (2010), Nr. 1 (51), p. 57–65. ISSN 1392-

1649.

Publications in proceedins of international and Lithuanian scientific

conferences:

1. Kruopienė J., Židonienė S., Dvarionienė J. Mikalauskas A. The

effectiveness of Lithuanian environmental impact assessment system

2nd International Young Scientist Conference the Vital Nature Sign,

proceedings. Kaunas (2008) p. 116–118. ISBN 978-9955-25-518-5.

27

2. Ulinskaitė J., Židonienė S. Sustainability indicators for hazardous

waste management. 3rd International Young Scientist Conference the

Vital Nature Sign, proceedings. Kaunas (2009) p. 1–5.

28

INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Name, surname:

Sigita Židonienė (Mrs.)

Date of birth: 4 December, 1981

Place of birth: Lithuania, Kaunas

Academic background: In 2000 graduated Kaunas “Rasos”

gymnasium;

2000 – 2004 studies at Vytautas

Magnus University, Faculty of

Environmental Sciences: Bachelor of

Environmental Sciences;

2004 – 2006 studies at Vytautas

Magnus University, Faculty of

Environmental Sciences: Master of

Environmental Sciences;

2006 – 2013 Doctoral studies at

Kaunas University of Technology,

Institute of Environmental Engineering

Research interest: environmental impact assessment, life

cycle assessment, sustainable energy

and resource consumption

For contacts: sigitazi@gmail.com

29

REZIUMĖ

Darbo aktualumas ir temos problematika

Sparti šiuolaikinės pramonės plėtra lemia didėjančias apkrovas mūsų

gyvenamajai aplinkai. Visuomenė vis daugiau dėmesio skiria aplinkos kokybei ir

vis dažniau išsako reikalavimus išsaugoti gamtą kitoms kartoms, tai tikras iššūkis

intensyvios plėtros srityje – pramonei reikia ne tik kurti produktus, kurie būtų

palankūs aplinkai, bet ir orientuoti savo veiklą į kuo mažiau taršią gamybą. Su

šiuo iššūkiu gamintojai susiduria visame pasaulyje. Norint sukurti mažiau taršius

produktus ar paslaugas, vykdyti mažiau taršią veiklą, reikia kuo ankstesniame jų

kūrimo etape įvertinti galimą neigiamą poveikį aplinkai ir ieškoti alternatyvių

sprendimų ar priemonių, galinčių sumažinti tą poveikį neprarandant pirminio

veiklos tikslo.

Viena iš šiuo metu egzistuojančių ir teisiškai reglamentuotų bei privalomų

priemonių, padedančių įvertinti planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikį aplinkai

ir numatyti neigiamo poveikio sumažinimo priemones, yra poveikio aplinkai

vertinimas (PAV). PAV apibrėžiamas kaip prevencinis aplinkos apsaugos

instrumentas, kurio tikslas yra nustatyti, apibūdinti ir įvertinti planuojamos

ūkinės veiklos galimą poveikį aplinkai. Šiame kontekste aplinka yra ne tik

gamta, medžiai, ekosistemos, bet ir socialinė bei ekonominė aplinka. PAV

pradėtas plėtoti XX a. antrojoje pusėje, tai buvo vis didėjančio dėmesio aplinkos

apsaugai rezultatas. Poveikio aplinkai vertinimo procesas buvo nauja priemonė,

leidžianti, prieš priimant galutinį sprendimą, įvertinti ir interpretuoti net

menkiausią projekto neigiamą poveikį aplinkai.

Iš pradžių PAV buvo procedūrinė priemonė su projektu susijusiam

poveikiui vertinti, tačiau pastaraisiais metais PAV yra pripažįstama ir kaip

priemonė, galinti padėti siekti darnios plėtros. Per pastaruosius dvidešimt metų

išplito ir PAV taikymo geografinės ribos, o iš pačios metodikos išsivystė plačiai

žinomos priemonės, pavyzdžiui, Strateginis poveikio aplinkai vertinimas

(SPAV), Rizikos vertinimas, Poveikio sveikatai vertinimas.

PAV koncepcijos ištakos yra mokslinės, susijusios su įvairių mokslinių

analizės metodų praktiniu pritaikymu. Atliekant PAV svarbu identifikuoti

sprendžiamą problemą, išmanyti duomenų rinkimo, duomenų analizės ir tyrimų

metodus, atlikti duomenų modeliavimą, vadovautis sprendimų priėmimo teorija.

Tačiau po daugelio praktikos ir mokslinių tyrimų bei diskusijų metų yra aišku,

kad atotrūkis tarp PAV keliamų aukštų reikalavimų ir praktinio įgyvendinimo

yra labai didelis. Atsakingoms institucijoms laikantis verslui palankios politikos,

o verslui nesuprantant PAV esmės, ši prevencinė aplinkos apsaugos priemonė

30

funkcionuoja tik kaip dar vienas biurokratinis mechanizmas, lėtinantis projekto

įgyvendinimą.

Nenuostabu, kad mokslinėje literatūroje vis plačiau diskutuojama, kaip

reikėtų eliminuoti iškilusius PAV trūkumus ir didinti jo naudingumą, grąžinti į

vertinimą mokslinį pagrindą. Be fundamentalių trūkumų, PAV taip pat

kritikuojamas už tai, kad vertina tik lokalų veiklos poveikį aplinkai, nevertina

ilgalaikio ar sudėtinio poveikio, nėra aiškios poveikio vertinimo metodikos ar

skiriamas per mažas dėmesys alternatyvų analizei. Darnios pramonės plėtros

kontekste PAV turi būti ne tik priemonė poveikiui aplinkai identifikuoti, bet ir

priemonė, padedanti mažinti veiklos sukeliamą poveikį.

Kaip viena iš galimybių optimizuoti planuojamos gamybinės veiklos

poveikio aplinkai vertinimą yra išplėsti vertinimo ribas – įtraukiant papildomas

aplinkosaugines ar vadybines priemones. Viena iš tokių priemonių yra būvio

ciklo įvertinimas (BCĮ). Tai analitinė aplinkosauginė priemonė, skirta įvertinti

poveikį aplinkai viso produkto, proceso ar paslaugos būvio ciklo metu. BCĮ

metodika analizuojamą objektą interpretuoja ne kaip izoliuotą reiškinį tam

tikroje vietoje, o kaip įvairių sudėtinių dalių sistemą, kuri nepriklauso nuo vietos.

Taikant būvio ciklo požiūrį analizuojamo objekto poveikio vertinimas apima

visas veiklos procesų grandis, tarp jų ir šalutinius procesus. Planuojamos

gamybinės veiklos esminis rezultatas yra produktas, tad BCĮ įtraukimas leistų

išanalizuoti veiklos poveikį aplinkai ir produkto lygmenyje.

Literatūroje yra keletas bandymų bendrame kontekste analizuoti poveikio

aplinkai vertinimą ir būvio ciklo įvertinimą, tačiau dažniausiai apsiribojama

išvada, kad BCĮ gali būti naudinga priemonė PAV. Jokios pagrįstos metodikos

(pavyzdžiui, kaip šių dviejų priemonių rezultatus susieti) ar modelio (pavyzdžiui,

kaip BCĮ ir PAV gali papildyti vienas kitą ir veikti kartu), vertinant planuojamos

gamybinės veiklos poveikį aplinkai, nebuvo pasiūlyta. Šiuo disertaciniu darbu

siekiama užpildyti esančią spragą ir į planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikio

aplinkai vertinimą žiūrėti plačiau – taikant holistinį būvio ciklo požiūrį.

Darbo tikslas – sukurti ir praktikoje išbandyti integruotą planuojamos

gamybinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimo ir būvio ciklo įvertinimo modelį,

skirtą gamybinės veiklos poveikiui aplinkai įvertinti ir mažinti.

Uždaviniai:

1. planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimo srityje

atlikti tyrimų analizę ir identifikuoti aktualias problemas, susijusias su

gamybinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimu;

31

2. atlikti poveikio aplinkai vertinimo praktikos analizę Lietuvoje,

identifikuoti pagrindines stiprybes ir trūkumus;

3. atlikti gamybinių veiklų poveikio aplinkai vertinimo analizę, nustatyti

vertinimo privalumus ir trūkumus;

4. sukurti integruotą planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai

vertinimo ir būvio ciklo įvertinimo modelį, kuris leistų sistemiškai

įvertinti ir sumažinti planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikį aplinkai;

5. pritaikyti sukurtą integruotą modelį konkrečios planuojamos gamybinės

veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinime, įvertinti jo efektyvumą.

Ginamasis disertacijos teiginys

Integruojant būvio ciklo elementus į planuojamos gamybinės veiklos

poveikio aplinkai vertinimą, galima ne tik sistemiškai išanalizuoti planuojamą

ūkinę veiklą ir kiekybiškai įvertinti jos poveikį aplinkai, bet ir išskirti planavimo

scenarijų, darantį mažiausią poveikį aplinkai.

Darbo hipotezė

Gamybinės veiklos neigiamas poveikis aplinkai gali būti sumažintas

išplečiant vertinimo ribas, tai yra integruojant būvio ciklo įvertinimą į

planuojamos veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimą.

Tyrimų objektas – planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikis aplinkai.

Darbe naudota tyrimų metodika: integruoto modelio sudarymas remiasi

švaresnės gamybos diegimo principais, duomenims rinkti naudota medžiagų

srautų analizė, būvio ciklo poveikio įvertinimas atliekamas naudojant

programinę įrangą „SimaPro7“, duomenų interpretavimui pasirenkant CML 2001

ir Ecoindicator’99 metodus. Darbe taip pat naudota sisteminė literatūros analizė,

lyginamoji analizė, ekspertų apklausa, pateikiant standartizuotą klausimyną.

Apklausos duomenys apdoroti SPSS programine įranga.

Darbo mokslinis naujumas

Esminis mokslinio naujumo elementas – pasiūlytas planuojamos gamybinės

veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimo konceptualus modelis, integruojant būvio

ciklo įvertinimą.

Sukurtas naujas integruotas planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikio

aplinkai vertinimo modelis neturi analogų pasaulyje. Jis išplečia vertinimo ribas,

į jas įtraukiami tokie svarbūs aspektai kaip veiklos metu naudojamų žaliavų

32

išgavimo, jų transportavimo iki gamyklos, ar kitų, net šalutinių procesų, būtinų

veiklai vykti, poveikis aplinkai.

Sukurtas integruotas modelis leidžia ne tik kiekybiškai įvertinti

planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikį aplinkai, bet ir veiklą planuoti taip, kad

ji darytų kuo mažesnį neigiamą poveikį aplinkai.

Darbo naujumas apima ir tą faktą, kad pirmąkart Lietuvoje buvo įvertinta

planuojamos ūkinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimo praktika, bei atlikta

gamybinių veiklų poveikio aplinkai vertinimo analizė.

Praktinė darbo vertė

Sukurtas integruotas planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai

vertinimo ir būvio ciklo įvertinimo modelis gali būti pritaikytas praktikoje

planuojant gamybinę veiklą ir vertinant jos poveikį aplinkai. Vertinant

gamybinės veiklos poveikį aplinkai ir taikant sukurtą integruotą modelį galima

ne tik sistemiškai įvertinti veiklos poveikį aplinkai ir priimti su tuo susijusius

sprendimus, bet ir veiklos vykdytojui padėti surasti bei pasirinkti mažiausiai

taršų veiklos vykdymo scenarijų. Sukurtas modelis pritaikytas vertinant šilumos

izoliacinių medžiagų gamyklos poveikį aplinkai.

Darbo rezultatų aprobavimas

Disertacijos tema publikuoti 7 moksliniai straipsniai: 3 – mokslo

žurnaluose, įtrauktuose į Thomson ISI sąrašą; 2 – mokslo žurnaluose,

cituojamuose tarptautinėje duomenų bazėje, 2 – recenzuojamoje tarptautinių

konferencijų medžiagoje. Disertacijoje atliktų tyrimų rezultatai pristatyti

dviejose mokslinėse konferencijose Lietuvoje ir užsienyje.

Darbo apimtis ir struktūra

Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, penki pagrindiniai skyriai, išvados,

rekomendacijos ir trys priedai. Darbo apimtis – 131 puslapiai (be priedų), tekstas

iliustruotas 45 paveikslais ir 18 lentelių. Disertacijoje cituojami 152 literatūros

šaltinis ir 10 teisinių dokumentų.

Pirmajame skyriuje aptariami moksliniai tyrimai, atlikti disertacijos tema:

apžvelgiama gamybinės veiklos planavimo struktūra, poveikio aplinkai

vertinimo raida, PAV struktūra, privalumai ir trūkumai. Taip pat apžvelgiama

būvio ciklo įvertinimo metodika, jos privalumai ir trūkumai, taikymo galimybės.

Antrajame skyriuje pristatomi darbe taikyti metodai ir tyrimų metodologijos.

Trečiajame skyriuje pristatomi PAV praktikos Lietuvoje analizės ir PAV tyrimų

rezultatai. Ketvirtajame skyriuje aprašyti planuojamos gamybinės veiklos

integruoto poveikio aplinkai vertinimo modelio sudarymo principai ir jo

33

charakteristikos. Penktajame skyriuje pateikiami sukurto integruoto modelio

eksperimentinio tyrimo šilumos izoliacinių medžiagų gamybai pritaikymo

rezultatai. Darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos išvados ir rekomendacijos.

Išvados

1. Apžvelgus jau atliktų mokslinių tyrimų rezultatus nustatyta, kad šiuo metu

egzistuojanti planuojamos ūkinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinimo sistema

turi trūkumų, susijusių su:

- suminio, ilgalaikio ir globalaus veiklos sukeliamo poveikio

vertinimu;

- veiklos vykdymo alternatyvų analize;

- nepakankamu tikslingos informacijos kiekiu;

- aiškios, moksliškai pagrįstos, poveikio vertinimo

metodologijos nebuvimu.

2. Atlikus Lietuvos PAV sistemos analizę buvo nustatytos tokios sistemos

stiprybės:

- geras teisinis reglamentavimas;

- visuomenės dalyvavimas procese.

Esminiai trūkumai:

- subjektyvumas numatant poveikius;

- proceso politizacija;

- procese dalyvaujančių grupių žema kompetencija.

3. Atlikus gamybinių veiklų poveikio aplinkai vertinimo tyrimą buvo

nustatyta, kad esama PAV sistema neužtikrina:

- su gamybine veikla susijusio netiesioginio ir suminio

neigiamo poveikio įvertinimo;

- gamybinės veiklos poveikio klimato kaitai įvertinimo;

- tinkamos alternatyvų analizės.

4. Sukurtas integruotas planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikio aplinkai

vertinimo ir būvio ciklo įvertinimo modelis leidžia:

- sistemiškai įvertinti planuojamos gamybinės veiklos poveikį

aplinkai;

- išplečiant vertinimo ribas identifikuoti ir įvertinti su

gamybine veikla susijusį reikšmingą bei netiesioginį poveikį

aplinkai;

- identifikuoti veiklos „karštuosius taškus“, surasti ir įvertinti

jų eliminavimo ar sumažinimo galimybes;

- išanalizuoti ir palyginti veiklos vykdymo alternatyvas.

34

5. Pritaikius integruotą modelį šilumos izoliacinių medžiagų gamybinės

veiklos poveikio aplinkai vertinime buvo identifikuota gamybinės veiklos

alternatyva, 40 proc. palankesnė žmonių sveikatai, leidžianti sunaudoti 20 proc.

mažiau išteklių, nei veiklos alternatyva, identifikuota pasitelkus įprastinę PAV

procedūrą.

UDK 502.175+502.131.1](043.3)

SL344. 2015-05-21, 1,75 leidyb. apsk. l. Tiražas 70 egz. Užsakymas 178.

Išleido leidykla „Technologija“, Studentų g. 54, 51424 Kaunas

Spausdino leidyklos „Technologija“ spaustuvė, Studentų g. 54, 51424 Kaunas