Sustainable Processing and Production Systems
Course content
This is a theoretical course that will give the students' knowledge about sustainability assessments of production systems.
Students will learn life cycle assessment methodology and principles of sustainability assessment and how to use it to understand and address major societal challenges in relation to processing and production systems and use the knowledge to reflect on how to redesign our production systems to respect the planetary boundaries.
The students will learn to analyze, design, and address possible
solutions for more sustainable management, processing and exchange
of resources with natural systems.
The course also addresses topics such as:
- Assessment of sustainability in relation to size and scale of production
- Local vs global resources
- Upcycling and downcycling
- Circular (zero waste) systems
- Environmental perspectives and assessments
- Applications of sidestreams
- Legislation of relevance to real-life cases
- Consumer acceptance and preferences
The students will work in groups on real-life industry cases and examples throughout the course.
Students will apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges divided in written assignment parts. They will reflect on real-world restrictions and opportunities.
MSc Programme in Biosolutions
The course aims at introducing students to assess and improve sustainability of production systems.
Knowledge:
- Identify major environmental impacts of biological production systems
- Show overview of the theory of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Outline the definition of scope, goal, inventory analysis and impact assessment
- Describe how LCA can be used for improving production systems
- Basic insight into regulation, ethics, and consumer preferences
Skills:
- Use LCA methodology and software to model real-life production systems
- Be able to perform a prospective LCA and economic viability assessment
- Analyse factors that influence the environmental and economic performance
- Assess and relate critically to exiting LCA studies
- Critically reflect upon the contribution of different technologies to a sustainable future
Competences:
- Discuss potential environmental challenges associated with different resource management and technology systems
- Suggest changes to existing production systems that improve sustainability performance
Lectures, exercises and group work. The students will work in groups on a relevant challenge documented by written assignments addressing the key aspects of the course.
See Absalon for a list of course literature
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
We recommend the students have a Windows based operating system for
the LCA calculations.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral exam on basis of previous submission, 15 minutes
- Type of assessment details
- The exam is an individual oral exam (15 minutes) without
preparation time based on both previous submitted written
assignments and the course curriculum.
The four written assignments are done in groups and consist of multiple
parts with deadlines throughout the course. Students will work on case studies and document their progress in the four written assignments, covering the four steps of an LCA.
In order to access the oral exam the four written assignments must be
submitted during the course. - Aid
- Only certain aids allowed (see description below)
Written assignments:
All aids allowed
Oral exam:
The student can bring a paper version of the written assignment parts to the oral exam. - Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
-
Same as ordinary exam.
In order to access the oral exam the student must have handed in four written assignments. If the studen has not handed in all of the four assignments during the course, the missing assignments must be handed in two weeks before the oral examination.
Any previously submitted written assignments that have not been gradet can be reused.
Previously submitted written assignments that have been graded cannot be reused. The student must then hand in new assignments two weeks prior to the oral examination.
Criteria for exam assessment
See Learning Outcome
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 54
- Preparation
- 42
- Theory exercises
- 30
- Project work
- 73
- Guidance
- 6
- Exam
- 1
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NFOK24003U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 4
- Schedulegroup
-
AThe course is taught in Kalundborg
- Capacity
- No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
- Studyboard
- Study Board for the Biological Area
Contracting department
- Department of Food Science
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Marianne Thomsen
(3-7d847850767f7f743e7b853e747b)
Main responsible - Bodil Helene Allesen-Holm (4-7379727951778080753f7c863f757c)
- Vibeke Orlien (3-867f8250767f7f743e7b853e747b)
Teacher
Co responsible Sander Bruun
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