Three-dimensional (3D) bio printing offers a wide range of applications, including the placement, design, and patterning of biological components such as living cells, nucleic acids, tissues, and many more. Bioprinting has seen great growth and breakthroughs in recent years, particularly in 3D printing. The company (which do not want to be named) produce a user- friendly and adaptable bioprinter that provides the best bioprinting experience.  This thesis examines the environmental consequences of a 3D printer, through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) over its lifetime which is anticipated to be 1 year for the study. To examine the impacts of the 3D printer over its lifetime, a comparative life cycle assessment (Comparative LCA) and attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA) was undertaken between the supply chains known as linear supply chain (LSC) and circular supply chain (CSC). Global warming (GW), terrestrial acidification (TA), freshwater eutrophication (FET), terrestrial ecotoxicity (TEC), freshwater ecotoxicity (FEC), marine ecotoxicity (MEC), land use (LU), and water consumption (WC) are the impact categories chosen for the study from ReCiPe 2016 (H) Midpoint.  According to the LCA results, the impacts generated by CSC are smaller than those contributed by LSC, and the impact categories that are most and least affected are recognized. Furthermore, from the 3D printer, potential hotspots with higher contributions were discovered. Airway transfer of 3D printer’s components from their manufacturing site to the company had a significant impact on the impact categories chosen. Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) used in 3D printers are another influential component that has a significant impact on the impact categories. When specifically looking, the manufacture of Integrated Circuits (IC) has a greater impact, which reflects on PCB production.  To identify the opportunities and improve 3D printer’s environmental performance, a sensitivity analysis is carried out, which yields results on how to improve its environmental performance. As a result, it is suggested that airway transportation be modified with seaway transportation, that virgin aluminium and copper materials be replaced with its scrap material / Tredimensionell (3D) bioprinting erbjuder en mängd olika applikationer, inklusive placering, design och mönster av biologiska komponenter, såsom levande celler, nukleinsyror, vävnader och mer. De senaste åren har bioprinting fått många genombrott och vuxit mycket, framför allt inom 3D-printing. Företaget (som inte vill bli namngivet) producerar en användarvänlig och anpassningsbar bioprinter som ger den bästa bioprinterupplevelsen.  Detta examensarbete undersöker den miljöpåverkan som en 3D-skrivare har, genom livscykelanalys (LCA) under sin livslängd, som beräknas vara 1 år för denna studie. För att undersöka 3D-skrivarens påverkan under dess livstid har en jämförande livscykelanalys (Comparative LCA) och attributionell livscykelanalys genomförts mellan försörjningskedjorna, som kallas linjär försörjningskedja (LSC) och cirkulär försörjningskedja (CSC). Global uppvärmning (GW), terrestrisk försurning (TA), sötvattenseutrofiering (FET), terrestrisk ekotoxicitet (TEC), sötvattenekotoxicitet (FEC), marin ekotoxicitet (MEC), markanvändning (LU) och vattenförbrukning (WC) är kategorier valda för studier från ReCiPe 2016 (H) Mid Point. Enligt LCA-resultat är miljöpåverkan från CSC mindre än den som LSC bidrar med. Dessutom, med 3D-skrivare, har potentiella hotspots med högre bidrag upptäckts.  . Luftburen överföring av 3D-skrivarkomponenter från deras tillverkningsplats till företaget hade en inverkan på de berörda kategorierna. Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) som används i 3D-skrivare är en annan påverkande komponent. Mer specifikt har tillverkning av integrerade kretsar (IC) en stor inverkan.  För att, identifiera utsläpp och möjligheter och förbättra 3D-skrivarens miljöprestanda, genomförs en känslighetsanalys som ger resultat om hur man kan förbättra dess miljöprestanda. Som ett resultat föreslås att flygtransporter ersätts med sjötransporter, att jungfruligt aluminium och kopparmaterial ersätts med dess ersätts material.

O crescimento da consciência ecológica ocasionado por problemas ambientais evidenciados nas últimas décadas tem direcionado esforços no sentido de repensar práticas e posturas a fim de minimizar os impactos das atividades humanas no planeta. Termos como sustentabilidade, têm sido recorrentes nas definições de rumos e possibilidades que orientam a adoção de práticas produtivas em diferentes níveis da sociedade. A importância de setor primário potencializa as cobranças quanto aos impactos ambientais das suas diferentes produções, particularmente no que tange à criação de ruminantes na realidade atual das mudanças climáticas. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho buscou colaborar de diferentes formas para um maior conhecimento dos impactos dos sistemas pastoris de produção bovina característicos do Sul do Brasil sobre o meio ambiente. (1) Inicialmente foram descritas as principais ferramentas utilizadas em estudos de sustentabilidade, com vistas à determinação de sua aplicabilidade na avaliação dos ditos sistemas pecuários. São apontados conceitos e peculiaridades a serem considerados e propostas sugestões no que se refere ao uso das mesmas em avaliações de sistemas de criação em pastagens. (2) No primeiro estudo foram avaliados os impactos ambientais de dois sistemas de produção bovina típicos da Região Sul do Brasil (sistema extensivo ou cenário base e sistema melhorado), através da Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida. Mais precisamente, buscou-se: caracterizar seus impactos em termos de: aquecimento global, uso da terra, depleção das águas, de minerais e de combustíveis fósseis, acidificação terrestre e eutrofização das águas. Valores de emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) e de uso da terra, de 22,5 kg de CO2 eq. e 234,78 m2a por kg de ganho de peso vivo, caracterizam o cenário-base. (3) No segundo estudo foram avaliados os impactos da aplicação de diferentes práticas melhoradoras no cenário-base sobre o balanço de GEE e demais aspectos ambientais relacionados à problemática do aquecimento global. Essas alterações incluíram no curto prazo: a introdução de gramíneas hibernais e estivais; introdução de leguminosas em substituição ao uso de fertilizantes nitrogenados; incrementos da taxa de desmame; intensificação do uso das pastagens e; aumento da taxa de descarte anual. Também foram considerados os efeitos do pastejo sobre os estoques de carbono do solo e a estabilização dos mesmos, numa perspectiva de médio e longo prazo. A diversidade dos resultados obtidos fornece subsídios para um maior entendimento das singularidades regionais, necessário para a proposição de alternativas de mitigação. Os diferentes cenários propostos demonstram diferentes possibilidades de mitigação dos efeitos destes sistemas produtivos sobre o ambiente, observando-se reduções de mais de 20 vezes das emissões de GEE e valores sete vezes menores de uso da terra. Os resultados obtidos são discutidos em função: de características climáticas e culturais da região que facilitam a obtenção de performances ambientais favoráveis e; da importância da dinâmica do carbono na biomassa aérea e radicular das plantas como elemento definidor da contribuição de sistemas pastoris de produção para a problemática do clima, bem como, para a questão ambiental em seu sentido amplo. / The growth of ecological consciousness caused by environmental problems highlighted in recent decades has directed efforts to rethink attitudes and practices to minimize the impacts of human activities on the planet. Terms such as sustainability have been recurrent in definitions of directions and possibilities that drive the adoption of production practices at different levels of society. The importance of the primary sector potentiates the charges regarding the environmental impacts of its various productions, particularly in relation to ruminant breeding in the current reality of climate changes. In this context, the present study sought to collaborate in different ways to a better understanding of the impacts on the environment of grazing systems for cattle production, characteristic of southern Brazil. (1) Initially, the main tools used in sustainability studies were described, with a view to determining their applicability in evaluating livestock grazing systems. Concepts and peculiarities are pointed, and suggestions regarding the use of these tools in evaluation of breeding pasture systems are proposed. (2) In the first study, the environmental impacts of two cattle production systems typical of Southern Brazil were assessment. (extensified system or baseline scenario and improved system), through the Life Cycle Assessment. More precisely, it was sought to characterize their impacts in terms of: global warming, land use, depletion of waters, minerals and fossil fuels, terrestrial acidification and eutrophication. The values of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and land use, of 22.5 kg CO2 eq. and 234.78 m2a per live weight kg, characterize the baseline scenario. (3) In the second study, the impacts of the application of different improved practices in baseline scenario on the GHG balance and other environmental aspects related to the issue of global warming were assessment. In the short-term, these changes included: the introduction of winter and summer grasses, the introduction of leguminous to replace the use of nitrogen fertilizers; the increasing of weaning rates, the intensification of pasture uses and, the increasing of the annual disposal rate. Furthermore, the effects of grazing on soil carbon stocks were also considered, in a medium and long term. The diversity of the obtained results provides subsidies to a greater understanding about regional singularities, which is necessary for proposing alternatives to mitigate their effects. The different baseline scenarios present different possibilities of mitigation the effects of these production systems on the environment, observing reductions of more than 20 times the GHG emissions and seven times lower values of land use. The results are discussed with reference to: climatic and cultural characteristics of the region that facilitate the achievement of favorable environmental performances and, the importance of the dynamics of carbon in root and aerial biomass of plants as a defining element of the contribution of pastoral production systems for climate issues, as well as for environmental issues in a broader sense.

O crescimento da consciência ecológica ocasionado por problemas ambientais evidenciados nas últimas décadas tem direcionado esforços no sentido de repensar práticas e posturas a fim de minimizar os impactos das atividades humanas no planeta. Termos como sustentabilidade, têm sido recorrentes nas definições de rumos e possibilidades que orientam a adoção de práticas produtivas em diferentes níveis da sociedade. A importância de setor primário potencializa as cobranças quanto aos impactos ambientais das suas diferentes produções, particularmente no que tange à criação de ruminantes na realidade atual das mudanças climáticas. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho buscou colaborar de diferentes formas para um maior conhecimento dos impactos dos sistemas pastoris de produção bovina característicos do Sul do Brasil sobre o meio ambiente. (1) Inicialmente foram descritas as principais ferramentas utilizadas em estudos de sustentabilidade, com vistas à determinação de sua aplicabilidade na avaliação dos ditos sistemas pecuários. São apontados conceitos e peculiaridades a serem considerados e propostas sugestões no que se refere ao uso das mesmas em avaliações de sistemas de criação em pastagens. (2) No primeiro estudo foram avaliados os impactos ambientais de dois sistemas de produção bovina típicos da Região Sul do Brasil (sistema extensivo ou cenário base e sistema melhorado), através da Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida. Mais precisamente, buscou-se: caracterizar seus impactos em termos de: aquecimento global, uso da terra, depleção das águas, de minerais e de combustíveis fósseis, acidificação terrestre e eutrofização das águas. Valores de emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) e de uso da terra, de 22,5 kg de CO2 eq. e 234,78 m2a por kg de ganho de peso vivo, caracterizam o cenário-base. (3) No segundo estudo foram avaliados os impactos da aplicação de diferentes práticas melhoradoras no cenário-base sobre o balanço de GEE e demais aspectos ambientais relacionados à problemática do aquecimento global. Essas alterações incluíram no curto prazo: a introdução de gramíneas hibernais e estivais; introdução de leguminosas em substituição ao uso de fertilizantes nitrogenados; incrementos da taxa de desmame; intensificação do uso das pastagens e; aumento da taxa de descarte anual. Também foram considerados os efeitos do pastejo sobre os estoques de carbono do solo e a estabilização dos mesmos, numa perspectiva de médio e longo prazo. A diversidade dos resultados obtidos fornece subsídios para um maior entendimento das singularidades regionais, necessário para a proposição de alternativas de mitigação. Os diferentes cenários propostos demonstram diferentes possibilidades de mitigação dos efeitos destes sistemas produtivos sobre o ambiente, observando-se reduções de mais de 20 vezes das emissões de GEE e valores sete vezes menores de uso da terra. Os resultados obtidos são discutidos em função: de características climáticas e culturais da região que facilitam a obtenção de performances ambientais favoráveis e; da importância da dinâmica do carbono na biomassa aérea e radicular das plantas como elemento definidor da contribuição de sistemas pastoris de produção para a problemática do clima, bem como, para a questão ambiental em seu sentido amplo. / The growth of ecological consciousness caused by environmental problems highlighted in recent decades has directed efforts to rethink attitudes and practices to minimize the impacts of human activities on the planet. Terms such as sustainability have been recurrent in definitions of directions and possibilities that drive the adoption of production practices at different levels of society. The importance of the primary sector potentiates the charges regarding the environmental impacts of its various productions, particularly in relation to ruminant breeding in the current reality of climate changes. In this context, the present study sought to collaborate in different ways to a better understanding of the impacts on the environment of grazing systems for cattle production, characteristic of southern Brazil. (1) Initially, the main tools used in sustainability studies were described, with a view to determining their applicability in evaluating livestock grazing systems. Concepts and peculiarities are pointed, and suggestions regarding the use of these tools in evaluation of breeding pasture systems are proposed. (2) In the first study, the environmental impacts of two cattle production systems typical of Southern Brazil were assessment. (extensified system or baseline scenario and improved system), through the Life Cycle Assessment. More precisely, it was sought to characterize their impacts in terms of: global warming, land use, depletion of waters, minerals and fossil fuels, terrestrial acidification and eutrophication. The values of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and land use, of 22.5 kg CO2 eq. and 234.78 m2a per live weight kg, characterize the baseline scenario. (3) In the second study, the impacts of the application of different improved practices in baseline scenario on the GHG balance and other environmental aspects related to the issue of global warming were assessment. In the short-term, these changes included: the introduction of winter and summer grasses, the introduction of leguminous to replace the use of nitrogen fertilizers; the increasing of weaning rates, the intensification of pasture uses and, the increasing of the annual disposal rate. Furthermore, the effects of grazing on soil carbon stocks were also considered, in a medium and long term. The diversity of the obtained results provides subsidies to a greater understanding about regional singularities, which is necessary for proposing alternatives to mitigate their effects. The different baseline scenarios present different possibilities of mitigation the effects of these production systems on the environment, observing reductions of more than 20 times the GHG emissions and seven times lower values of land use. The results are discussed with reference to: climatic and cultural characteristics of the region that facilitate the achievement of favorable environmental performances and, the importance of the dynamics of carbon in root and aerial biomass of plants as a defining element of the contribution of pastoral production systems for climate issues, as well as for environmental issues in a broader sense.

O crescimento da consciência ecológica ocasionado por problemas ambientais evidenciados nas últimas décadas tem direcionado esforços no sentido de repensar práticas e posturas a fim de minimizar os impactos das atividades humanas no planeta. Termos como sustentabilidade, têm sido recorrentes nas definições de rumos e possibilidades que orientam a adoção de práticas produtivas em diferentes níveis da sociedade. A importância de setor primário potencializa as cobranças quanto aos impactos ambientais das suas diferentes produções, particularmente no que tange à criação de ruminantes na realidade atual das mudanças climáticas. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho buscou colaborar de diferentes formas para um maior conhecimento dos impactos dos sistemas pastoris de produção bovina característicos do Sul do Brasil sobre o meio ambiente. (1) Inicialmente foram descritas as principais ferramentas utilizadas em estudos de sustentabilidade, com vistas à determinação de sua aplicabilidade na avaliação dos ditos sistemas pecuários. São apontados conceitos e peculiaridades a serem considerados e propostas sugestões no que se refere ao uso das mesmas em avaliações de sistemas de criação em pastagens. (2) No primeiro estudo foram avaliados os impactos ambientais de dois sistemas de produção bovina típicos da Região Sul do Brasil (sistema extensivo ou cenário base e sistema melhorado), através da Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida. Mais precisamente, buscou-se: caracterizar seus impactos em termos de: aquecimento global, uso da terra, depleção das águas, de minerais e de combustíveis fósseis, acidificação terrestre e eutrofização das águas. Valores de emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) e de uso da terra, de 22,5 kg de CO2 eq. e 234,78 m2a por kg de ganho de peso vivo, caracterizam o cenário-base. (3) No segundo estudo foram avaliados os impactos da aplicação de diferentes práticas melhoradoras no cenário-base sobre o balanço de GEE e demais aspectos ambientais relacionados à problemática do aquecimento global. Essas alterações incluíram no curto prazo: a introdução de gramíneas hibernais e estivais; introdução de leguminosas em substituição ao uso de fertilizantes nitrogenados; incrementos da taxa de desmame; intensificação do uso das pastagens e; aumento da taxa de descarte anual. Também foram considerados os efeitos do pastejo sobre os estoques de carbono do solo e a estabilização dos mesmos, numa perspectiva de médio e longo prazo. A diversidade dos resultados obtidos fornece subsídios para um maior entendimento das singularidades regionais, necessário para a proposição de alternativas de mitigação. Os diferentes cenários propostos demonstram diferentes possibilidades de mitigação dos efeitos destes sistemas produtivos sobre o ambiente, observando-se reduções de mais de 20 vezes das emissões de GEE e valores sete vezes menores de uso da terra. Os resultados obtidos são discutidos em função: de características climáticas e culturais da região que facilitam a obtenção de performances ambientais favoráveis e; da importância da dinâmica do carbono na biomassa aérea e radicular das plantas como elemento definidor da contribuição de sistemas pastoris de produção para a problemática do clima, bem como, para a questão ambiental em seu sentido amplo. / The growth of ecological consciousness caused by environmental problems highlighted in recent decades has directed efforts to rethink attitudes and practices to minimize the impacts of human activities on the planet. Terms such as sustainability have been recurrent in definitions of directions and possibilities that drive the adoption of production practices at different levels of society. The importance of the primary sector potentiates the charges regarding the environmental impacts of its various productions, particularly in relation to ruminant breeding in the current reality of climate changes. In this context, the present study sought to collaborate in different ways to a better understanding of the impacts on the environment of grazing systems for cattle production, characteristic of southern Brazil. (1) Initially, the main tools used in sustainability studies were described, with a view to determining their applicability in evaluating livestock grazing systems. Concepts and peculiarities are pointed, and suggestions regarding the use of these tools in evaluation of breeding pasture systems are proposed. (2) In the first study, the environmental impacts of two cattle production systems typical of Southern Brazil were assessment. (extensified system or baseline scenario and improved system), through the Life Cycle Assessment. More precisely, it was sought to characterize their impacts in terms of: global warming, land use, depletion of waters, minerals and fossil fuels, terrestrial acidification and eutrophication. The values of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and land use, of 22.5 kg CO2 eq. and 234.78 m2a per live weight kg, characterize the baseline scenario. (3) In the second study, the impacts of the application of different improved practices in baseline scenario on the GHG balance and other environmental aspects related to the issue of global warming were assessment. In the short-term, these changes included: the introduction of winter and summer grasses, the introduction of leguminous to replace the use of nitrogen fertilizers; the increasing of weaning rates, the intensification of pasture uses and, the increasing of the annual disposal rate. Furthermore, the effects of grazing on soil carbon stocks were also considered, in a medium and long term. The diversity of the obtained results provides subsidies to a greater understanding about regional singularities, which is necessary for proposing alternatives to mitigate their effects. The different baseline scenarios present different possibilities of mitigation the effects of these production systems on the environment, observing reductions of more than 20 times the GHG emissions and seven times lower values of land use. The results are discussed with reference to: climatic and cultural characteristics of the region that facilitate the achievement of favorable environmental performances and, the importance of the dynamics of carbon in root and aerial biomass of plants as a defining element of the contribution of pastoral production systems for climate issues, as well as for environmental issues in a broader sense.

Antalet övervakningskameror i samhället ökar, samtidigt som deras miljöpåverkan är relativt okänd. För en produkt som tidigare bara utvärderats gällande prestanda, börjar kunderna nu efterfråga en kartläggning av miljöpåverkan. Kamerans miljöpåverkan studeras ur ett livscykelperspektiv: energi- och materialtillförsel samt utsläpp och avfall som berör allt ifrån råmaterialutvinning till slutåtervinning. Projektet är genomfört på begäran av, och för, Axis Communications AB (härmed refererade till som Axis) med huvudsyfte att öka Axis kunskap om deras produkters miljöpåverkan och utveckla en metod för genomförande av förenklade livscykelanalyser på Axis produkter. Livscykelanalysen, LCA, genomförs på en nätverkskamera utvecklad av Axis Communications AB; modell AXIS Q6032-E PTZ. Samtidigt togs metoden för förenklade livscykelanalyser fram för att möjliggöra jämförelse med andra kameramodeller i företagets produktportfolio. Även en plattform har skapats för att kunna användas i produktutvecklingens tidigare skede, för att redan där göra ett aktivt miljöval. Den metod som används för bedömning av miljöpåverkan är Eco-indicator 99. Simulering och beräkningar sker i LCA-programmet SimaPro 7.1.Resultatet visar att den största miljöpåverkan kommer ifrån användningsfasen och behovet av elektricitet. För scenariot där kameran används i Europa har tillverkningen näst störst påverkan, därefter materialanvändningen och sist transporterna. Återvinningen påverkar med ett negativt värde, d.v.s. den påverkar miljön på ett positivt sätt. Det alternativa scenariot (där kameran flygs till USA och installeras där) ger en totalt större miljöpåverkan och har transporterna som andra värsta kategorin. Vid beräkningar för Europa släpper kameran ut 663 kg CO2 under sin livstid. Den utvecklade modellen överensstämmer till 0,24% med resultatet ifrån simuleringsprogrammet. Modellen kan enligt den genomförda känslighetsanalysen anses stabil / The number of surveillance cameras installed for various purposes have increased substantially in society over the past decade. The environmental impacts from network cameras are relatively unknown and their rapid increase in number calls for studying the impacts from a life cycle perspective; from raw material extraction to decommissioning. The project is performed on request by Axis Communications AB (hereby referred to as Axis) with the main purposes to increase Axis's knowledge of the environmental impact from their products and establish a method for conducting simplified life cycle assessments (LCA) on Axis products. A case study LCA is conducted on a network camera developed by Axis; model AXIS Q6032-E PTZ. Concurrently a method for conducting simplified LCAs on other Axis cameras is developed as well as a platform to be used in product development processes to enhance life cycle thinking (LCT). The Eco-indicator 99 Method is used for the environmental impact assessment and for simulations and calculations the software program SimaPro 7.1 is used.The results emphasize the life stages and their particular activities having the largest potential environmental impacts; primarily utilization and the production of electricity. For the scenario where the camera is installed in Europe the manufacturing comes as second, then raw material extraction and processing, followed by transportations. Decommissioning impacts with a negative value, i.e. impacts the environment in a positive way. The alternative scenario (where the camera is transported by air to U.S. and installed there) gives a total higher score and has the transportation category as the second highest regarding the total environmental impact. During the whole lifetime the camera emits 663 kg CO2.The results from using the developed model to conduct simplified LCAs only differ by 0.24% from the results of the case study LCA. The LCA is considered stable based on the performed sensitivity analysis.

Denna avhandling syftar till att undersöka vilka miljöfaktorer som bör beaktas vid val av material och tillverkningsprocesser samt att utforma ett föreslaget ramverk för att underlätta val av material och tillverkningsprocesser. För att uppnå syftet formulerades två forskningsfrågor. En litteraturöversikt genomfördes för att ge en teoretisk grund för avhandlingen och underlätta möjligheten att besvara forskningsfrågorna. Dessutom genomfördes strukturerade litteraturstudier för att besvara forskningsfrågorna om vilka miljöfaktorer som bör beaktas och hur ett ramverk kan utvecklas för att välja material och tillverkningsprocesser baserat på miljöfaktorer. De valda områdena för dessa studier inkluderade val av tillverkningsprocess, materialval och hållbara utvecklingsmål. För att underlätta utformningen av ramverket genomfördes en fallstudie och intervjuer på ett lokalt belysningsföretag. Dessa insatser gjordes för att ge insikter i de praktiska överväganden som ingår i att implementera ett miljömedvetet ramverk för val av material och tillverkningsprocesser. Studien innefattade en jämförelse av två olika tillvägagångssätt, nämligen livscykelanalys och "Multi-Criteria Decision-Making", för att avgöra deras effektivitet i att uppnå forskningssyftet. Detta resulterade i inkluderingen av livscykelanalys i det föreslagna ramverket. Dessutom analyserades intervjuerna för att få användbara insikter som kunde bidra till ramverkets utveckling. Ett ramverk utformades med hjälp av analysen av intervjuerna och den identifierade litteraturen. De miljöfaktorer som beaktades i ramverket var "Impact Categories". Dessutom validerades ramverket i en fallstudie. Diskussionen och slutsatsen inkluderar metoderna, resultaten och analysen, ramverksdesignen, ramverkets bidrag till FN:s hållbarhetsmål, forskningsfrågorna och etiska aspekter som behövde beaktas i denna studie. Det dras slutsatsen att Impact Categories är rimliga att beakta som miljöfaktorer och att det föreslagna ramverket fungerar i en verklig fallstudie. / This thesis aims to investigate what environmental factors to consider when selecting materials and manufacturing processes and designing a proposed framework to aid the material and manufacturing process selection. To facilitate the accomplishment of the purpose, two research questions were formulated.  A literature review was conducted to provide a theoretical foundation for the thesis and facilitate the ability to address the research questions. Furthermore, to address the research questions concerning which environmental factors to consider and how a framework can be developed for selecting materials and manufacturing processes based on environmental factors, structured literature studies were conducted. The selected topics of these studies included manufacturing process selection, material selection, and sustainable development goals. To aid in the design of the framework, a Case Study and Interviews were conducted at a local luminaire company. These efforts were undertaken to provide insights into the practical considerations involved in implementing an environmentally conscious framework for material and manufacturing process selection.  The study involved a comparison of two distinct approaches, namely, Life Cycle Assessment and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making, to determine their efficiency in achieving the research purpose. This resulted in the inclusion of Life Cycle Assessment in the proposed framework. Additionally, the Interviews conducted were analyzed to gain useful insights that could inform the development of the framework.  A framework was designed, using the analysis of the Interviews and the identified literature. The environmental factors considered in the framework were the Impact Categories. Moreover, the framework was then validated in a Case Study.  The Discussion and Conclusion chapter include the Methods, Results & Analysis, Framework Design, Framework Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals, the Research Questions, and the Ethical Aspects needed to be considered in this study. It is concluded that Impact Categories are reasonable to consider as environmental factors and that the proposed framework works in a real-life case.

This research study focused on measuring the impact of structures that support community-university research partnerships. The broad research question asked: How can we determine the impact of community-university research partnership support structures such as the Office of Community Based Research at the University of Victoria, within the university and within local, regional, national and international communities? Methods of inquiry included: participatory research, institutional ethnography and case study. These are among an increasing number of research approaches consistent with what is called engaged scholarship. Congruent with the methods of inquiry, methods of investigation included: in-context immersion, participant-observer-listener, use of available documents and information, use of an impact assessment framework prototype designed pre-data collection, key informant interviews, field notes, research journaling and the writing process. Data contributing to this study were drawn from key informant interviews. Interview participants were situated within local, regional, national and international communities. Methods of analysis included: a two-pronged approach to organising data, deductive and inductive approaches, the lens of praxis, and the prototype as an analytical framework. Assessment as praxis is proposed as broad analytic framework. Theory was constructed through data analysis. This study’s data and analysis point to impact assessment as a cycle of inquiry and eight elements that inform impact on and through community life and impact on and through the university. The proposed Impact Assessment and Measurement Framework (IAMF) includes eight elements: coupling intention with impact, spheres of impact, categories of impact, conditions of impact, points of impact, impact-focused documentation, multiple perspectives of impact, and impact assessment and measurement statements. Contributions of this study include: recognition of staff who support community-university research partnerships through their varied work spaces, research councils as a type of support structure, impact assessment as a cycle of inquiry, explicating impact through elements of impact assessment, and a literature consolidation of impact assessment in the context of support structures. Future research may include revision and refinement of the IAMF across different types of community-university research partnership support structures. / Graduate