In the past decades, the world has noticed complex changes in its climate. The resources available now as well as in the future could be said to be analogous to the decreasing circumference of a funnel. The wealthy population with the means to elect what goods they wish to consume are becoming aware of their impact both on nature as well as on the less fortunate people of the planet. As a consequence environmental and human-centered factors are of higher priority than ever before in the decisions made by companies, which in turn will decide the future. This thesis aims to investigate what set of criteria can be seen as most relevant for sustainable material selection at a manufacturing company. To be relevant for the future these design criteria are decided with a base in modern research from the past decade in the field of material selection. The company chosen as a case to study and collaborate with was IKEA Components AB. The research was conducted on-site at the company’s facilities in Älmhult, Småland, as well as at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Blekinge. The company vision for the future which IKEA is striving towards is focused on lowering carbon dioxide equivalents, from which a lion share of the emissions is a result of the material they are selecting for their products. Experts within various fields of the chosen company were consulted to gain perspective and knowledge while designing and testing prototypes of a tool to facilitate a sustainable material selection. The metal alloys were analyzed for toxicity based on the percentages of all elements they contained and scored based on chosen sustainability criteria. The plastics were judged on recyclability, renewability, and degradability apart from available numbers for emission factors. After this, the materials were placed in the excel tool which was then tested by engineers and evaluated in semi-structured interviews. Updates were made to make the tool as user-friendly as was possible and new tests were conducted. Overall, the tool was appreciated by the users who tested it and more improvements were planned to finalize the prototype. Results are detailed in the latter part of the report, discussing designs the engineers preferred over others, the current scale of sustainability tools used in the company and how the testers scored the tool. In the discussion, criteria are evaluated based on their multi-criteria compliance with sustainability factors. Drawing conclusions about the subject of sustainability criteria was accomplished by conducting literature studies in material criticality, making use of the methods for sustainable product development taught in the master of science, investigating material toxicity, testing solutions for sustainable material selection at a typical furniture component manufacturing company, receiving feedback from constructors and exploring connections for the selected methods to the principles of sustainability.

A Sustentabilidade vem se sedimentando como diretriz das compras e contratações públicas, principalmente, após o surgimento da ideia, de que ao Estado cabe reduzir e eliminar padrões insustentáveis de produção e consumo nas suas tomadas de decisões. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar se o Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico pratica a sustentabilidade, por meio das compras e contratações, considerando os constructos das dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável e as diretrizes preconizadas na legislação brasileira. O método aplicado nesta pesquisa se constituiu em um estudo de caso, exploratório e descritivo, que envolveu a análise entre as variáveis: “contratações públicas” e “critérios de sustentabilidade”. Utilizou-se da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental para a coleta dos dados. Quanto aos processamentos dos dados, utilizou-se da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que, ao longo de 2011 a 2015, a variável da sustentabilidade, em suas dimensões - social, ambiental e econômica, tem sido, gradativamente, incorporada aos editais de compras e contratações. Adicionalmente, aponta-se a carência de estudos e de informações, sobre o ciclo de vida de bem ou um serviço sustentável, como barreira ainda a ser enfrentada. / Sustainability has become a solid criterion for public purchases and contracts, especially after the dawn of the concept that the responsibility of reducing and eliminating unsustainable standards for production and consumption falls on the Government. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development practices sustainability throughout its purchases and contracts, considering the construct of sustainable development and the guidelines that were preceded by the Brazilian legislation. The method used in this research consisted of an exploratory and descriptive case study, that encompassed the analysis of the variables: “public biddings” and “sustainability criteria”. The data collection used records and bibliographic research. As for the data processing, the technique used was that of content analysis. Results show that, between 2001 and 2015, the sustainability variable in all its dimensions – social, environmental, and economic, has been gradually introduced to the notices of biddings and contracts. Additionally, it points to a lack of studies and information about the life-cycle of goods or sustainable services as a barrier yet to be faced.

The risk of food insecurity in the form of higher food prices has prompted policymakers in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) to revise their approach to biofuel development. The US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and EU Directive 2009/28/EC require long term use of renewable energy in transportation, subject to sustainability. This thesis examines the implications of the US RFS and EU Directive 2009/28/EC in a trade context using a partial equilibrium/comparative static framework. The focus is on the effect of the revised biofuels policies on opportunities for developing countries to supply the US and/or EU markets. For the US, the implications when the volume produced and/or required under the RFS is technologically infeasible with imports of ethanol as a potential policy alternative are explored. For the EU, the impact of the sustainability criteria on foreign biodiesel suppliers in terms of compliance cost is examined. In general, the US policy may enhance opportunities for trade while the EU policy will likely inhibit trade. A discussion of the implications of the mandates for developing countries and WTO is included.

The risk of food insecurity in the form of higher food prices has prompted policymakers in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) to revise their approach to biofuel development. The US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and EU Directive 2009/28/EC require long term use of renewable energy in transportation, subject to sustainability. This thesis examines the implications of the US RFS and EU Directive 2009/28/EC in a trade context using a partial equilibrium/comparative static framework. The focus is on the effect of the revised biofuels policies on opportunities for developing countries to supply the US and/or EU markets. For the US, the implications when the volume produced and/or required under the RFS is technologically infeasible with imports of ethanol as a potential policy alternative are explored. For the EU, the impact of the sustainability criteria on foreign biodiesel suppliers in terms of compliance cost is examined. In general, the US policy may enhance opportunities for trade while the EU policy will likely inhibit trade. A discussion of the implications of the mandates for developing countries and WTO is included.

This thesis is a theoretical and empirical examination of the developmentof bioethanol markets since 2005 when sustainability regulations forbiofuels were introduced globally. The experiences of Brazil and Sweden,and the influence of European regulations on the development ofbioethanol markets receive special attention. The work is based onprimary and secondary data sources gathered between 2009 and 2014,including interviews, field research, data from public and private sources,as well as an extensive literature review. The thesis uses case examples ofcountries that have adopted bioethanol as a transport fuel, such as Braziland Sweden.The research is structured using a bottom-up approach, and addressesthree specific angles of the complex issue of how bioethanol marketshave developed under sustainability requirements.The first part introduces an economic sustainability view of ethanol. Thecharacteristics of bioethanol fuel are presented together with conceptsand a theoretical framework for analysing biofuel sustainability. Policytools are also discussed, particularly those used to introduce fuel ethanolin the transport sector. The discussion is centred on the competitionbetween ethanol and gasoline, considering the hypothesis that consumersare sensitive to prices and tend to choose fuels based on their cost-perenergyunit. The analysis is supported by the case examples of Brazil andSweden, with special focus on the delicate balance between fueleconomies of bioethanol and gasoline systems in the face of differentways oil products are priced in those countries. Findings show thatdrivers tend to choose between bioethanol (E85/E100) or gasoline (E5-E25) depending on the relative prices between the two fuels. Theresearch results suggest that different pricing strategies for bioethanoland gasoline affect how consumers perceive the attractiveness of eachfuel. The examples of E100 in Brazil and E85 in Sweden provide insightson the elastic consumer behaviour that new markets may experience,serving to guide strategies in different contexts.The second part of this work bridges experiences in national contextswith the recent trend for biofuel sustainability regulation in internationalmarkets. Based on the hypothesis that the ethanol industry is responsiveto sustainability regulations, an examination of the development of theiiBrazilian bioethanol industry is carried out. This provides a comparisonframework drawing patterns between the industry's reaction to nationalregulations (past) and international regulations (recent). For this purpose,a comparison between the European sustainability requirements forethanol and the industry’s status quo is explored. Findings show that theEU sustainability criteria for biofuels are likely to have three effects onthe bioethanol industry: (i) compliance through incrementalimprovements in sustainability practices and certification; (ii) riskdiversification by engaging in multi-output production models; and (iii)market leakage towards less-regulated markets.The third part of the thesis brings together the first two parts. Itexamines how in a fuel competition context, the incorporation of costsrelated to sustainability certification can change the attractiveness ofhigh-bioethanol blends for consumers. The model of sustainabilityadopted by major international markets is based on regulations enforcedby mandatory certification. As biofuel market share increased, producerswere faced with costs for sustainability certification in order to obtainmarket access. While it was expected that ‘sustainably’ produced biofuelswould be rewarded with higher prices in the EU, this work found thatprice premiums for ethanol have in general been very small or inexistent,with certified fuels becoming the new norm in the market. New costsbrought into the market through sustainability certification can make itdifficult to balance between national policies heavily reliant on consumerchoice between fuels (and associated price-elasticities), and thedeployment of high blends of ethanol, such as E100 and E85.By analysing the three aspects (consumer behaviour and marketdynamics for ethanol in Brazil and Sweden, the introduction ofsustainability criteria for biofuels, and the implications of sustainabilityfor consumer choice between fuels) this work seeks to increaseunderstanding of the highly complex issue of biofuel market formationin the face of sustainability requirements. The key finding is thatsustainability certification has a cost, which needs to be orchestrated withother sectors of the economy to achieve the desired objectives. Thisthesis suggests that crucial areas of economic and environmentalsustainability have been often dealt with separately in biofuelpolicymaking, which has created weaknesses that deserve attention infuture policy efforts in order to improve biofuel systems. / <p>QC 20150401</p>

A Sustentabilidade vem se sedimentando como diretriz das compras e contratações públicas, principalmente, após o surgimento da ideia, de que ao Estado cabe reduzir e eliminar padrões insustentáveis de produção e consumo nas suas tomadas de decisões. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar se o Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico pratica a sustentabilidade, por meio das compras e contratações, considerando os constructos das dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável e as diretrizes preconizadas na legislação brasileira. O método aplicado nesta pesquisa se constituiu em um estudo de caso, exploratório e descritivo, que envolveu a análise entre as variáveis: “contratações públicas” e “critérios de sustentabilidade”. Utilizou-se da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental para a coleta dos dados. Quanto aos processamentos dos dados, utilizou-se da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que, ao longo de 2011 a 2015, a variável da sustentabilidade, em suas dimensões - social, ambiental e econômica, tem sido, gradativamente, incorporada aos editais de compras e contratações. Adicionalmente, aponta-se a carência de estudos e de informações, sobre o ciclo de vida de bem ou um serviço sustentável, como barreira ainda a ser enfrentada. / Sustainability has become a solid criterion for public purchases and contracts, especially after the dawn of the concept that the responsibility of reducing and eliminating unsustainable standards for production and consumption falls on the Government. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development practices sustainability throughout its purchases and contracts, considering the construct of sustainable development and the guidelines that were preceded by the Brazilian legislation. The method used in this research consisted of an exploratory and descriptive case study, that encompassed the analysis of the variables: “public biddings” and “sustainability criteria”. The data collection used records and bibliographic research. As for the data processing, the technique used was that of content analysis. Results show that, between 2001 and 2015, the sustainability variable in all its dimensions – social, environmental, and economic, has been gradually introduced to the notices of biddings and contracts. Additionally, it points to a lack of studies and information about the life-cycle of goods or sustainable services as a barrier yet to be faced.

A Sustentabilidade vem se sedimentando como diretriz das compras e contratações públicas, principalmente, após o surgimento da ideia, de que ao Estado cabe reduzir e eliminar padrões insustentáveis de produção e consumo nas suas tomadas de decisões. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar se o Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico pratica a sustentabilidade, por meio das compras e contratações, considerando os constructos das dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável e as diretrizes preconizadas na legislação brasileira. O método aplicado nesta pesquisa se constituiu em um estudo de caso, exploratório e descritivo, que envolveu a análise entre as variáveis: “contratações públicas” e “critérios de sustentabilidade”. Utilizou-se da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental para a coleta dos dados. Quanto aos processamentos dos dados, utilizou-se da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que, ao longo de 2011 a 2015, a variável da sustentabilidade, em suas dimensões - social, ambiental e econômica, tem sido, gradativamente, incorporada aos editais de compras e contratações. Adicionalmente, aponta-se a carência de estudos e de informações, sobre o ciclo de vida de bem ou um serviço sustentável, como barreira ainda a ser enfrentada. / Sustainability has become a solid criterion for public purchases and contracts, especially after the dawn of the concept that the responsibility of reducing and eliminating unsustainable standards for production and consumption falls on the Government. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development practices sustainability throughout its purchases and contracts, considering the construct of sustainable development and the guidelines that were preceded by the Brazilian legislation. The method used in this research consisted of an exploratory and descriptive case study, that encompassed the analysis of the variables: “public biddings” and “sustainability criteria”. The data collection used records and bibliographic research. As for the data processing, the technique used was that of content analysis. Results show that, between 2001 and 2015, the sustainability variable in all its dimensions – social, environmental, and economic, has been gradually introduced to the notices of biddings and contracts. Additionally, it points to a lack of studies and information about the life-cycle of goods or sustainable services as a barrier yet to be faced.

Main goal of the dissertation is pointing out the different aspects of biofuels market, focus on forms of regulation, their use and analysis of their pros and cons.

Although they lead to several potential sustainability benefits, product-service systems are not intrinsically sustainable. Therefore, this thesis investigates the factors designers should consider in order to ensure sustainable results. A systematic literature review on product-service system and sustainability is combined with three interviews with product-service system providers. The results are analysed through the application of the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. The results of the systematic literature review show that there is no unified definition of sustainable product-service system and multiple approaches to address sustainability in product-service system design. By adopting the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, a definition of sustainable product-service system and a list of design criteria are developed. This thesis suggests which overarching aspects product-service system designers should consider to integrate a strategic sustainability perspective. The outcome of this thesis supports designers in understanding what a sustainable product-service system could be and what elements it should embed. By combining the definition and the list of criteria, designers can apply a systematic and strategic approach to integrate sustainability in product-service system offerings.

Submitted by Alison Vanceto (alison-vanceto@hotmail.com) on 2017-01-19T12:25:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJAA.pdf: 1201087 bytes, checksum: 855ea228f47fd8287758e10d1aec079c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Camila Passos (camilapassos@ufscar.br) on 2017-01-20T10:29:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJAA.pdf: 1201087 bytes, checksum: 855ea228f47fd8287758e10d1aec079c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Camila Passos (camilapassos@ufscar.br) on 2017-01-20T10:31:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJAA.pdf: 1201087 bytes, checksum: 855ea228f47fd8287758e10d1aec079c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-20T10:36:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJAA.pdf: 1201087 bytes, checksum: 855ea228f47fd8287758e10d1aec079c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-23 / Não recebi financiamento / Issues of environmental concern and changes in the interaction between society and the environment gained prominence in recent years. In this context public educational institutions, among them the Federal Universities should assume a position of spread of initiatives that promote consumption patterns and more sustainable production and serve as a mirror to society, as a vital role in social and professional training of individuals, can significantly influence the aspects of culture, ethics and citizenship. Universities are driving new standards, whether as a result of the provision of social services to them is charged or leading by example by exercising the employer function and consumers on a large scale. Before relevant scenario the general aim of this study was to analyze the barriers and facilitators to implementation of sustainable procurement at the Federal University of São Carlos. The survey was conducted as to its purpose and exploratory and descriptive of its overall objectives. Having a qualitative approach which included multiple forms of research and used as a method action research, in order to understand and intervene in the situation. Through this method were three bidding processes with sustainability criteria in UFSCar. The main results revealed that even though a team of experienced bidding the institution should overcome barriers as a market incipient supplier, products and services with higher costs, lack of involvement of the participating units of the process, low degree of planning and the need for policy institutional sustainable procurement, for effective implementation of this type of acquisition. / Questões de interesse ambiental e mudanças na interação entre sociedade e meio ambiente ganharam destaque nos últimos anos. Neste contexto as instituições públicas de ensino, dentre elas as universidades federais, devem assumir uma postura de propagação das iniciativas que promovam padrões de consumo e produção mais sustentáveis e sirvam de espelho para a sociedade, visto que desempenham papel fundamental na formação social e profissional dos indivíduos, podendo influenciar significativamente os aspectos relacionados à cultura, ética e cidadania. As universidades são propulsoras de novos padrões, seja em virtude da prestação do serviço social que lhes é incumbido ou liderando pelo exemplo ao exercer a função de empregador e consumidor em grande escala. Diante de relevante cenário o objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi analisar as barreiras e facilitadores para implementação das compras públicas sustentáveis na Universidade Federal de São Carlos. A pesquisa foi aplicada quanto à sua finalidade e exploratória e descritiva quanto aos seus objetivos gerais. Tendo uma abordagem qualitativa que contemplou formas múltiplas de investigação e utilizou como método a pesquisa-ação, com objetivo de compreender e interferir na situação. Por meio deste método foram realizados três processos de licitações com critérios de sustentabilidade na UFSCar. Os principais resultados revelaram que mesmo tendo uma equipe de licitação experiente a instituição deverá superar barreiras como um mercado fornecedor incipiente, produtos e serviços com custos mais elevados, falta de envolvimento das unidades participantes do processo, baixo grau de planejamento e a necessidade de uma politica institucional de compras sustentáveis, para implementação efetiva deste tipo de aquisição.