Este trabalho utilizou a metodologia Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), desenvolvida pela Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA, 2008), para quantificar o volume de gases de efeito estufa emitido nas etapas do ciclo de vida do etanol: manejo agrícola da cana-de-açúcar, transporte da matéria-prima da lavoura até a usina, beneficiamento industrial, cogeração de energia elétrica e logística até uma base primária de armazenamento. O arcabouço metodológico foi aplicado em cinco diferentes regiões do Estado de São Paulo, o maior produtor brasileiro: Araçatuba, Assis, Ribeirão Preto, Jaú e Piracicaba. Ademais, objetivou-se examinar o impacto relativo que os seguintes tópicos têm nas emissões de gases de efeito estufa no ciclo de vida do etanol: (1) localização da produção de cana-de-açúcar; (2) utilização de diferentes combustíveis na etapa do manejo agrícola da cana-de-açúcar; (3) extinção da prática de queimar o canavial na fase da pré-colheita; e (4) utilização de uma logística intermodal para distribuir o etanol até uma base primária de armazenamento. No cenário base, considerou-se a utilização de óleo diesel no manejo agrícola da cana-de-açúcar, a prática de queimar previamente o canavial na fase da pré-colheita e a logística rodoviária para transportar o etanol das regiões produtoras até uma base primária de armazenamento localizada no porto de Santos-SP. Já para a análise de sensibilidade dos parâmetros de emissões, os demais cenários contemplam as possíveis combinações entre o uso de biodiesel no manejo agrícola (B20 ou B100), extinção da queima do canavial na fase da pré-colheita e logística rodo-ferroviária. Constatou-se que, independentemente do cenário analisado, em média, a maior parcela das emissões de gases de efeito estufa no ciclo de vida do etanol foi proveniente do manejo agrícola da cana-de-açúcar. Devido às características intrínsecas ao solo e a gestão das operações, as emissões são diferentes entre as regiões (amplitude de 60 kg de CO2e/tonelada de etanol). Ademais, essa etapa representou 51% e 62%, quando foi considerado, respectivamente, a logística rodoviária e a intermodalidade rodo-ferroviária para transportar o produto até Santos-SP. A utilização da intermodalidade de transporte rodo-ferroviária para distribuição do etanol corroborou para a minimização de gases de efeito estufa. Considerando a média dos cenários analisados, essa redução chegou a 13% no ciclo de vida e a 74% apenas na etapa da logística. Por fim, observou-se que existe minimização no volume de gases lançados na atmosfera em decorrência da sinergia entre o consumo de biodiesel B100 no manejo agrícola da cana-de-açúcar, a extinção da prática da queima do canavial na fase da pré-colheita e a utilização de logística intermodal rodo-ferroviária para se transportar o produto até uma base de armazenamento em Santos-SP. Em média, o volume de gases de efeito estufa emitidos diminuíram em 43% no ciclo de vida do etanol. / This thesis adopts the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) methodology, developed by the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA, 2008), to quantify the volume of greenhouse gases that are emitted during the following stages of the ethanol life-cycle: 1) sugarcane farm management, 2) transportation of the raw material from the field to the mill, 3) industrial processing, 4) co-generation of electricity, and 5) logistics to the primary storage base. The methodology is applied over five different regions of the State of São Paulo, the largest ethanol producing State in Brazil: Araçatuba, Assis, Ribeirão Preto, Jaú e Piracicaba. Furthermore, this thesis aims to exam the following impacts related to the greenhouse gases emitted by the stages of ethanol life-cycle: (1) sugar production location; (2) usage of different fuels at the stage of sugarcane farm management; (3) extinction of the practice of burning the sugarcane field during the pre-harvest; and (4) utilization of intermodal logistics in order to transport the end-product to a primary storage base. In the base scenario, it is assumed 1) the utilization of diesel oil in the farm management of sugarcane, 2) the practice of previously burning the sugarcane field in the pre-harvest and 3) the road logistics to transport ethanol from the producing regions to a primary storage base located in the port of Santos-SP. To analyze the sensibility of emission parameters, other scenarios comprehend the possible combinations between the usage of biodiesel in farm management (B20ou B100), as well as the extinction of the practice of burning the sugarcane field in the pre-harvest and road-rail logistics. It was verified that, on average, regardless of the analyzed scenario, the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions during the ethanol life cycle is concentrated at the sugarcane farm management stage. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the soil and the required operations management, the emissions differ between regions (amplitude of 60 kg CO2e/ton of ethanol). Moreover, when both, road logistics and road-rail intermodality to transport the product to Santos-SP are considered, this stage represents 51% and 62%, respectively. The utilization of road-rail transportation intermodality to distribute ethanol contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. By considering the average of analyzed scenarios, this reduction achieves 13% during the life cycle and 74% only during the logistics stage. Finally, it was observed that there is a reduction on the volume of gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of synergy among the use of biodiesel B100 in sugarcane farm management, the extinction of the practice of burning the sugarcane field in the pre-harvest and the utilization of intermodal logistic in order to transport the product to a primary storage base in Santos-SP. On average, the emitted volume of greenhouse gas decreases by 43% in the life cycle of ethanol.

A questão em torno do aquecimento global vem preocupando a sociedade mundial,sendo que os governantes e ambientalistas têm intensificado estudos e aplicações de medidas para tentar minimizar os efeitos das emissões de gases de efeito estufa na atmosfera. O setor de transporte é o segundo maior consumidor de energia, pois é muito dependente de combustíveis fósseis, que emitem quantidade elevada de CO2. O setor sucroenergético é um importante gerador de divisas para o país, sendo que a receita em 2010 foi de R$ 50 bilhões e as exportações alcançaram US$ 13,8 bilhões. O açúcar é um importante produto da pauta agrícola, o país exporta aproximadamente 70% da sua produção. O etanol é um importante gerador de energia, e consegue minimizar as suas emissões durante seu ciclo produtivo em até 90%, quando comparado a gasolina, seu principal concorrente. Dada a importância do transporte nas emissões de gases de efeito estufa e a possibilidade da mudança de modalidade reduzir essas emissões, o objetivo desta tese é estimar os benefícios da redução das emissões de CO2, a partir da mudança da matriz de transporte,para o setor sucroenergético. Para tanto foi utilizada a metodologia de programação linear, utilizando a otimização para a minimização das emissões e do custo de transporte. O softwar eutilizado foi o GAMS e quatro diferentes cenários para ambos os produtos foi traçado. O primeiro e o segundo foi modelado para a safra 2010/2011 e foi considerada a atual malha de transporte, sendo que a diferença entre os dois foi que no primeiro realizou-se a imposição da quantidade máxima de carga utilizando a intermodalidade com base no que foi escoado no ano 2010 e no segundo liberou-se esse volume. O objetivo é captar qual seria a configuração ideal tanto em termos econômicos como ambiental, caso não houvesse problemas estruturais e de infraestrutura para a utilização mais intensa de mais de um modal de transporte. No terceiro e quarto cenário foi utilizada uma estimativa para a safra 2020/2021, sendo que a diferença entre as duas modelagens foi que no terceiro manteve-se a mesma infraestrutura atualmente observada e no último expandiu-se as rotas intermodais passíveis de serem utilizadas considerando todas as obras de transporte apresentadas pela iniciativa privada, governo federal e as inseridas no Plano de Aceleração do Crescimento I e II. Os resultados apontaram um trade-off entre custo e emissão quando se compara os resultados da minimização das emissões e da minimização dos custos no mesmo cenário. No entanto, quando se confronta os resultados obtidos entre os cenários propostos verifica-se que é possível reduzir tanto os custos quanto as emissões para ambos os produtos. Para a safra 2020/2021, a simples possibilidade de se utilizar mais intensamente modais de transporte diferentes do rodoviário possibilitaria atingir em apenas três anos a redução de 6,6 milhões de toneladas de CO2 e R$ 3,3 bilhões no escoamento do açúcar e etanol. A mitigação através da mudança de modal poderia inserir o setor no mercado de carbono e conquistar mercados preocupados em obter produtos sustentáveis. / Global warming is a major and growing concern around the world, with governments and environmentalists intensifying studies involving measures aimed at minimizing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Among major sectors, transportation is the second largest energy user and it remains highly dependent on fossil fuels that emit high amounts of CO2. The sugarcane industry is an important source of export revenues for Brazil: while total revenues for 2010 reached US$ 25 billion, about US$ 13.8 billion of that was generated by exports. Sugar is a key agricultural product on the Brazilian export agenda, with about 70% of production shipped to other countries. Ethanol, also produced from sugarcane, is a major ingredient of the countrys energy mix, which can also minimize emissions through its lifecycle by up to 90% compared to gasoline, its main competitor at the pump. Given the importance of transportation in greenhouse gas emissions and the possibility of diversifying transportation systems to achieve emission reductions, the goal of this thesis is to estimate the benefits the sugar-energy industry of reducing CO2 emissions through a diversification of transportation methods utilized by the industry. A methodology that relies on linear programming was used, aimed at optimization in order to minimize emissions and transportation costs. GAMS, a widely used software in linear programming, was utilized to construct four different scenarios for both products. Scenarios one and two covered the 2010/2011 harvest and considered the current transportation network, the difference being that scenario one considered a fixed cargo ceiling and various transport modes while scenario two, the cargo ceiling was eliminated. The idea was to arrive at an ideal configuration in both economic and environmental terms, considering no structural or infrastructure obstacles to more intense utilization of different modes of transport. Scenarios three and four relied on a long-range estimate for the 2020/2021 sugarcane harvest, the main difference between the two models being that model three is based on the same infrastructure that currently exists while model four considers an expansion of possible routes involving various transport modes that could be used, considering all transportation-related projects launched by private contractors and the federal government, including those that are a part of the governments Accelerated Growth Plans I and II, also known as PAC. The results point to a tradeoff between costs and emissions, when the results of minimizing emissions and costs within the same scenario are compared. However, when results between the proposed scenarios are pitted against one another, it can be concluded that it is possible to cut costs as well as emissions for both sugar and ethanol. In the 2020/2021 harvest, the simple possibility of utilizing a variety of road transport modes that dont involve road transportation would allow for a 6.6 million ton reduction in CO2 emissions, with a R$3.3 billion savings in cost of shipping sugar and ethanol. Mitigation through change transportation mode changes could finally insert the industry in carbon markets, while conquering markets where a greater concern with sustainability already exists.

Uma parcela significativa da energia gasta no Brasil está relacionada ao consumo industrial (40,6%). Este trabalho propõe a mostrar um dos muitos caminhos para se obter a redução no consumo de energia elétrica na indústria e, com isso, diminuir as emissões associadas à geração, transmissão e consumo deste recurso. A busca da indústria pela eficiência energética, aliada às práticas econômicas, sociais e ambientais adequadas, pode colocá-la no caminho da sustentabilidade. A emissão de CO2/kWh foi o indicador escolhido para monitorar o comportamento do consumo de energia no desenvolvimento dos dois estudos de caso. O principal objetivo destes casos foi a redução das emissões de gases do efeito estufa por meio do uso eficiente da energia elétrica. No primeiro caso um sistema de moagem de polpa de celulose usada na fabricação de fraldas foi substituído por outro mais eficiente, obtendo-se uma redução no consumo de energia de 60%, o que gera uma redução estimada das emissões de CO2 de 80 t/ano. No segundo caso, o sistema de vácuo da formação da fralda foi trocado por outro mais eficiente, conseguindo-se uma redução de 56% no consumo de energia, com a conseqüente redução estimada de emissão de CO2 de 74 t/ano. Nestes casos observou-se que a utilização eficiente de fontes de energia, além de gerar um menor nível nas emissões de gases do efeito estufa, também contribui para a redução dos custos industriais. / A significant fraction of the energy spent in Brazil is associated with industrial consumption (40.6%). The purpose of this work is to demonstrate one of many ways to reduce electric energy consumption by the industry and, as consequence, reduce emissions associated with generation, transmission, and consumption of this resource. The search of energetic efficiency, coupled with economical, social, and environmental practices can shift the industry in the direction of a sustainability path. The emission of CO2/kWh was chosen as a sustainability indicator to monitor the energy consumption pattern during the development of this research. The main objective was to assess the reduction of the greenhouse gas emission, associated with a higher electric energy efficiency consumption strategy adopted in two cases that were analyzed. At the first case, a cellulose pulp milling system, used at a diaper manufacturing process, was replaced by another system with higher efficiency. The reduction in energy consumption reached 60%, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in an estimated 80 ton/year. At the second case, a fan of the diaper vacuum system was also replaced by a more efficient system. The energy consumption decreased 56%, resulting in a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 74 ton/year. These results demonstrate the relationship between adopting more energy efficient system, and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, that moreover, contributes to industrial cost reduction.

A Política Estadual de São Paulo de Mudanças Climática (PEMC) foi lançada em 2009. Esta política voluntária, independente de qualquer acordo nacional ou internacional, foi estabelecida para reduzir a emissão dos gases de efeito estufa em 2020 em 20%, de acordo com os níveis de 2005. Uma vez que a melhoria da eficiência energética está entre as ações de mitigação de emissões de carbono especificadas pela PEMC, este trabalho visa avaliar as emissões diretas e indiretas e o consumo energético das cadeias produtivas na economia do Estado de São Paulo. Conseqüentemente, este estudo combina dados da Matriz Insumo Produto com o Primeiro Inventário de Gases de Efeito Estufa do Estado de São Paulo (2011) e o Balanço Energético (2010). Todos os dados estão baseados nos valores do ano de 2004. O trabalho avalia três simulações. A primeira simulação compara as emissões totais e energia por unidade de demanda final, já a segunda simulação aplica o mesmo método, porém apenas contabiliza as emissões de energia. A terceira simulação é baseada na massa total de emissões diretas e indiretas e foi determinada por meio dos multiplicadores. Além disso, o efeito total de cada setor está relacionado às emissões diretas e indiretas geradas por uma unidade de demanda final. Baseado nos resultados das três simulações foi possível observar que as emissões indiretas representam quase 30% sobre as emissões totais, e que apesar deste número não ser mais representativo, a responsabilidade do setor é maior se as emissões indiretas forem consideradas. Os resultados da Simulação 1, identificam os setores que se destacam devido a altos geradores de emissões e energia: Outros da indústria extrativa e Cimento, de outro modo, se apenas os geradores das emissões fossem considerados Cimento e Pecuária teriam se destacado com aproximadamente 3,5 GgCO2e emitidos direta e indiretamente por 1 milhão de reais de demanda final. Já, de acordo com a Simulação 2, os setores que se destacam são: Cimento e Frabricação de aço e derivadoscom respectivamente 1,4 GgCO2e e 0,5GgCO2e de emissões totais emitidas por 1 milhão de reais de demanda final. Por fim, na Simulação 3, o setor de Transportes se destaca com 23% das emissões diretas, enquanto é responsável por 9% das emissões indiretas, correspondentes às emissões incorporadas pela demanda por serviços e produtos. Por outro lado, o setor Alimentos e bebidas é o que mais se destaca devido a 17% das emissões indiretas apesar de apresentar apenas 2% do total das emissões diretas. / The Sao Paulo State Climate Change Policy (CCP) was established in 2009. This voluntary policy, independent of any domestic and international accord, was established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 by 20%, according to 2005\'s emission levels. Once the energy efficiency improvements are among the carbon mitigation actions specified by CCP, this present work aims to evaluate direct and indirect carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and energy consumption of supply chains in the Sao Paulo State\'s economy. Consequently, this study combines data from the Sao Paulo input-output matrix with the First Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory of Sao Paulo State (2011) and the Sao Paulo States Energy Balance (2010). All data used are based on 2004 values. Based on the CCP goal to reduce 20% in total emissions, this work assesses three simulations. The first simulation compares total emissions and energy by each final demand unit, whereas the second simulation applies the same method, but accounts for energy related emissions only. The third simulation is based on total direct and indirect emission mass. In addition, the work presents a comparison between all sectors in terms of their direct and indirect emissions, which is conveyed by emission multipliers. In addition, the total effect of each sector which is related to the direct and indirect emissions generated to one final demand unit, was assessed. Based on the results of the 3 simulations it was possible to see that indirect emissions represent almost 30% of the total emissions, and although this number is not more representative, in some cases sector\'s responsibility is greater if indirect emissions are accounted for. Results from Simulation 1 identify the sectors that stand out because of high energy and emission total effects: Other extractive industry and Cement. In comparision, if only total emissions effect are considered Cement and Livestock sectors stand out with approximately 3.5 GgCO2e emitted direct and indirectly for each 1 mi BRL of final demand, for each sector. Then, according to Simulation 2, the sectors that stand out are: Cement and Steel manufacture and products with respectvely 1.4 GgCO2e and 0.5 GgCO2e of total emissions emitted by each 1 mi BRL consumed by sector. Lastly, on Simulation 3, Transport is the sector that stands out with 23% of direct emissions, and 9% of the sum of indirect emissions, due to embodied emissions on services and products demand. Regarding indirect emissions, Food and beverage stands out, encompassing 17% of the indirect emissions and only 2% of total direct emissions.

La fabrication de pièces automobiles en aluminium des formes complexes telles que les culasses de moteur par le procédé de fonderie est effectuée par l'insertion de noyaux en sable durci par des résines (liants) organiques dans un moule métallique et la coulée d'un métal en fusion dans ce moule. Sous l'effet de la température élevée du métal, les résines organiques se décomposent et produisent des dégagements gazeux qui altèrent la qualité des pièces à fabriquer. Jusque tout récemment, la maîtrise des dégagements gazeux survenant pendant le procédé du moulage était basée sur des essais expérimentaux. L'objet du présent travail est d'étudier les dégagements gazeux par simulation numérique. Pour ce faire, nous avons proposé plusieurs modèles numériques. Nous avons introduit un modèle cinétique pour la décomposition thermique des résines organiques. Nous avons développé un modèle général d'écoulements multiphasiques en milieux poreux en utilisant la méthode de prise de moyenne volumique. Quatre modèles de dégagements gazeux, représentant l'écoulement et le transport de gaz dans le noyau sous différents scénarios, sont donnés à partir du modèle général. Des modèles sont également développés pour décrire le couplage de transferts thermiques dans le moule et la pièce à fabriquer avec les dégagements gazeux dans le noyau. L'implémentation des différents modèles dans le logiciel libre OpenFOAM a permis d'obtenir un outil de simulation capable de simuler les dégagements gazeux sous différents scénarios et d'étudier l'impact de plusieurs facteurs tels que le type des résines, la forme de noyau, la perméabilité de sable sur l'évolution de la pression du gaz dans le noyau. / The manufacture of automotive aluminum parts with complex shapes such as cylinder heads of the engine by the casting process is carried out by the insertion of cores made with sand hardened using organic resins (binders) in a metal mold and pouring of molten metal in this mold. As a result of the high temperature of poured metal, organic resins undergo thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) and produce gases which impair the quality of the parts to be manufactured. Until recently, the study of gas emissions occurring during the casting process was based on experimental tests. The purpose of this work is to study the gas emissions by numerical simulation. To do this, we proposed several numerical models. We introduced a kinetic model for the thermal decomposition of organic resins. We have developed a general model of multiphase flow in porous media using the method of volume averaging. Four models of gas emissions representing flow and transport of gas in the core under different scenarios are given from the general model. Models are also developed to describe the coupling of the heat transfer in the mold and the casting with gas emissions in the sand core. The implementation of the various models in the free software OpenFOAM provides a simulation tool that allows to simulate gas emissions under different scenarios and to study the impact of several factors such as the type of resins, core shape, the permeability of the sand on the evolution of the pressure of gas in the core.

Academic institutions have recently organized to address their campus' greenhouse gas emissions. Along those lines, the University of North Texas (UNT) pledged to minimize the campus' environmental impact, and conducted a transportation survey in May 2009. The analyses confirm that commuting to campus was the second highest source (29%) of UNT's greenhouse gas emissions, following purchased electricity (48%). Students, faculty and staff drive over 89 million miles per year, 84% of which comes from students. Forty‐two percent of student driving trips originate in the primary and secondary core areas surrounding Denton, which are partially served by buses. However, because these core areas are in close proximity to the campus, they contribute only 8% of the total student driving distance. Beyond the Denton core, the inner periphery of Denton County contributes another 22% of driving mileage. Students living in the outer periphery (outside Denton County) contribute the remaining 70% of total driving distance, and carpooling is currently their only alternative.

Increasing food, feed, fiber, biofuel production on decreasing amounts of arable land while simultaneously enhancing ecosystem services is challenging. Strategic inclusion of winter rye (<i>Secale cereale</i>) for biomass, silage, grain and Kura clover (<i>Trifolium ambiguum</i>) living mulch into existing Midwestern cropping systems may offer alternative economic income for farmers without displacing or reducing yields of primary crops. Research was conducted at the Purdue Water Quality Field Station (WQFS) where net balances of water, carbon, nitrogen, and radiation can be measured, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are monitored. The agronomic performance of a corn-soybean rotation and continuous corn (controls) were compared to novel systems that included the use of rye cover cropping and Kura clover co-cropping. Rye was harvested for biomass/silage at heading immediately followed by corn or soybean planting. Continuous corn receiving 69 kg N ha^-1was planted into an establishment of Kura clover sod. Controls included these same systems without the rye or clover. GHG samples were taken via the static chamber method and tile-drained water sub-samples were collected, analyzed for nitrate, and load losses calculated. Biomass composition was determined and used to calculate herbage theoretical ethanol (EtOH) yields. Cereal rye did not significantly decrease corn or soybean grain yield. Averaged across years, Kura clover significantly depressed corn grain yields by nearly 70%. Kura clover significantly reduced flow-weighted tile drainage nitrate (NO₃^-) concentrations, however cereal rye did not. Reductions in flow-weighted tile drainage nitrate (NO₃^-) concentrations were found to largely occur during Quarter two (April, May, June). Cover crops did not significantly reduce annual tile drained NO₃^- load losses in most cases, however, they did significantly reduce annual N₂O emissions. Cumulative annual CH₄ emissions were not significantly altered. Annual CO₂emissions were higher after the introduction of Kura clover and not significantly altered following the introduction of cereal rye. Averaged across years, theoretical ethanol yields in the Kura clover system produced 2,752 L EtOH ha^-1, whereas EtOH production in cereal rye systems ranged from 3,245 to 4,210 L EtOH ha^-1. Theoretical ethanol yields of continuous corn and rotational controls ranged from 2,982 to 3505 L EtOH ha^-1 for these same systems without the cereal rye of Kura clover. These data suggest that a multipurpose approach to cover crop inclusion can provide both environmental and economic advantages worthy of consideration.

Examensarbetet behandlar redovisning av klimatpåverkan från indirekta utsläppskällor hos Teracom AB. Fokus ligger på transporter, som innefattar godstransporter, tjänsteresor och personalens pendling till och från jobbet. Metoden som utvecklats är till för att samla in och behandla data som sedan presenteras i ton koldioxidekvivalenter. Varje del av de ingående områdena har beräknats var för sig med hjälp av i mestadels schabloner. Dessa schabloner har baserats på statistik från Teracoms leverantörer för att de ska stämma överens med verksamhetsområdet och de geografiska förutsättningarna. Resultatet från 2009 års beräkningar av transporterna blev 847 ton koldioxidekvivalenter att jämföra med 2173 ton från bränsleförbrukning och energianvändning. För att snabbt minska klimatpåverkan från transporterna bör följande förbättringsförslag ligga i fokus: rensa bland godstransportleverantörer och deras kundnummer, se över tekniken för resfira möten, främja tjänsteresor med tåg och lokaltrafik samt införa en koncerngemensam miljöbonus. De andra förbättringsförslagen bör också införas så snart som möjligt för att få en ökad effekt. / This master thesis deals with greenhouse gas reporting from indirect emission sources at Teracom AB. The focus is on transports which includes transportation of goods, business travel and commuting. The method that has been developed describes a way to collect and calculate data from transports and the result is presented in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Each of the parts has been calculated individually and the calculations are mostly made by templates. These templates are based on information provided by Teracoms suppliers. This because it gives a good accuracy in regard to the current scope of practice and geographical location. The result from transports during 2009 was 847 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in comparison with the emissions generated by fuel combustion and energy generation which was 2173 tons. To immediately reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from transports the following improvements should be in focus; gather goods transports at fewer freight companies, ease the use of travel free meetings, promote the use of trains and public transports for business travels, and instate a general environment bonus for the whole Teracom group. The other suggested improvements should also be instated as soon as possible to get an increased effect.

I takt med att mänskliga aktiviteter har en allt större negativ påverkan på miljön, ökar behovet av ett mer omfattande hållbarhetsarbete i samhället. Här har företagen som en viktig aktör en stor roll att spela och att upprätta och redovisa en hållbarhetsrapport är ett sätt att bevisa för samhället hur de bidrar till en hållbar utveckling. Genom att hållbarhetsredovisa kan företagen öka sin trovärdighet kopplad till hållbarhetsrelaterade frågor och får en chans att bevisa hur de jobbar med CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), det vill säga vilket samhällsansvar de väljer att ta. I dagens samhälle ställs inte längre frågan huruvida företagen ska jobba med hållbarhetsfrågor, utan hur och i vilken utsträckning det ska ske. Hållbarhetsredovisningen har därmed ökat drastiskt de senaste decennierna. I den här studien undersöks därför hur svenska företag jobbar med miljömässiga hållbarhetsrelaterade frågor enligt sina hållbarhetsrapporter och vilka förändringar som skett över tid. Den jämför även skillnaden i förändring över tid för identifierade väsentliga miljömässiga kategorier mellan privatägda och statligt ägda företag.Studien har utförts med hjälp av en blandad kvalitativ metod där innehållsanalyser har genomförts av sex företags hållbarhetsrapporter från åren 2014, 2017 och 2020. För att kunna göra en jämförelse mellan privatägda och statligt ägda företag, valdes tre privata och tre statliga företag ut att ingå i studien. Samtliga sex företag ska enligt lag upprätta en hållbarhetsredovisning. De mest väsentliga miljömässiga kategorierna i de analyserade rapporterna identifierades som avfall och cirkulära flöden, utsläpp av växthusgaser och energiförbrukning.Baserat på insamlade data från de analyserade hållbarhetsrapporterna samt företagens hemsidor, redovisas sammanfattat hur de sex företagen jobbar med hållbarhet. Detta sker i form av en inledande text och tabeller som inkluderar företagens åtgärder och framsteg, mål och policys, miljöbelastning i siffror samt finansiella nyckeltal.Studien har visat på varierande utveckling inom de identifierade väsentliga kategorierna, och mellan 2014–2020 har det gått att se en lika stor andel ökat som minskat hållbarhetsarbete i de analyserade hållbarhetsrapporterna. Vidare har de privatägda företagen visat sig i större utsträckning jobba med frågor kopplade till de kategorier som inkluderas i studien än de statligt ägda företagen. Hållbarhetsrapporterna från de privatägda företagen har även visat sig ha en högre jämförbarhet. / As human activities affect the environment more and more negatively the need for more extensive sustainability work in the society has become urgent. In this context companies as actors play a key role and by drawing up a sustainability report these companies can prove the society in how far they contribute to sustainable development. Through sustainability reporting companies may achieve higher credibility in respect to their sustainability work and get a chance to prove how they work with CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), e.g. which responsibility they choose to take for the society. In today´s society it is no longer a question of if companies should work with sustainability but how and on which scale they should do it. Thus, sustainability reports have grown in number over the last decades. The aim of this study is to investigate how Swedish companies work with environmental sustainability according to their sustainability reports and which changes happened over the years. The study also compares differences over time between private limited and state-owned companies in respect to identified essential environmental categories.A mixed qualitative method is used by analyzing the sustainability reports of six companies of the years 2014, 2017 and 2020. In order to compare private limited and state-owned companies, this study contains the sustainability reports of three private limited companies as well as three sustainability reports of state-owned companies. All six of the companies are legally obligated to draw up a sustainability report each year. The most essential environmental categories identified in the reports are waste and circular flows, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.This study has shown varying development within the identified most essential categories, and between 2014-2020 the sustainability reports show the same amount of increased as decreased sustainability work in the studied companies. The private limited companies have been found to work with questions connected to the categories included in this study to a greater extent than the state-owned companies. The sustainability reports from the private limited companies have also shown a greater comparability mostly because of the larger amount of data that is reported. / <p>2022-01-28</p>

För att säkerställa tillgången på resurser för framtida generationer måste vi införa ett cirkulärt förhållningssätt. Därav måste vi se till att använda rätt material som kan utvinnas och återvinnas med minsta möjliga miljöpåverkan och högsta möjliga effektivitet. Studien syftar till att undersöka om ett företag kan minska sin klimatpåverkan och sitt fotavtryck genom val av material. De material som studien omfattar är primärt framställt aluminium och plast samt sekundärt framställt aluminium och plast som i denna studie kan fylla samma syfte. Vi undersöker materialens miljöpåverkan ur ett vagga-till-port-perspektiv baserat på (1) energiförbrukning och utsläpp av växthusgaser under produktionen samt (2) återvinningsgrad och effektivitet. Dessutom undersöker vi (3) om kvaliteten mellan primärt och sekundärt material är likvärdigt. Studien undersöker vilket material som är bäst lämpat för minskad miljöpåverkan utifrån ovan nämnda bedömningsaspekter i samarbete med HMS Industrial Networks AB. Resultatet visar att när det gäller energiförbrukning och utsläpp av växthusgaser är sekundärt aluminium det bästa valet. Aluminium som material är att föredra framför plast när det gäller återvinningseffektivitet och återvinningsgrad. Dessutom försämras inte kvaliteten vid återanvändning och den kan återvinnas oändligt. Vidare visar studien att en övergång från primärt till sekundärt producerat material är fullt genomförbart ur kvalitetssynpunkt. Ett aktivt materialval är väsentligt för ett företags hållbarhetsarbete där beslutet bidrar till ett effektivt utnyttjande av befintliga resurser ur ett globalt perspektiv. Givet det kan denna studie bidra med stöd och vägledning för ett företag att minska sitt klimatavtryck och stärka sitt samhällsansvar och motståndskraft på marknaden. / To ensure the availability of resources for future generations, we need to introduce a circular approach. Therefore, we must make sure to use the right materials that can be extracted and recycled with the least possible environmental harm and the highest possible efficiency. The study aims to investigate whether a company can reduce its climate impact and footprint by the choice of material. The materials that the study includes are primarily produced aluminium and plastic as well as secondary produced aluminium and plastic which in this study can fulfil the same purpose and thus be a suitable substitute. We examine the environmental impact of the materials from a cradle-to-gate perspective based on (1) energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during production as well as (2) recycling rate and efficiency. In addition, we examine (3) if the quality between primary and secondary material is equivalent. The study investigates which material is best suited for reduced environmental impact based on the above-mentioned assessment aspects in cooperation with HMS Industrial Networks AB. The result shows that regarding energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, secondary aluminium is the best choice. Aluminium as a material is preferable to plastic in terms of recycling efficiency and recycling rate. Additionally, the quality does not deteriorate with reuse, and it can be recycled infinitely. Furthermore, the study shows that a shift from primary to secondary produced material is completely feasible from a quality point of view. An active choice of materials is essential for a company's sustainability work where the decision contributes to the effective use of existing resources from a global perspective. Given that, this study can contribute with support and guidance for a company to reduce its climate footprint and strengthen its social responsibility and resilience on the market.