The course is designed to equip students with the necessary tools to reflect upon and quantify sustainability performance, a crucial component in research, policymaking, corporate decision making, and reporting. It focuses on introducing the fundamental principles of quantitative sustainability assessment of various production systems, including dynamic carbon modelling and utilizing unexplored side streams along value chains.

Key methodological approaches such as material flow analysis, input-output modelling, life cycle assessment, and carbon dynamics will be covered, with an emphasis on defining functional units, time scales, and system boundaries. Participants will have the freedom to select from these methods to apply to their own data sets, which they are encouraged to bring. This practical application will be facilitated through individual or group problem-oriented projects, employing a variety of analytical tools and methods chosen by the students.

Throughout the course, critical topics such as resource and emission capture, zero waste strategies, and cascade utilization within circular business ecosystems will be explored through interactive lectures and practical applications. This approach fosters an environment of active learning, allowing participants to directly engage with the material and apply what they learn to real-world scenarios.

Participants should have a Master’s degree or equivalent. Proficiency in data analysis with tools such as R, Python, MATLAB, SAS, or Excel is beneficial. A foundational understanding of life cycle thinking or knowledge of LCA is crucial. This background will enable effective engagement with the course’s focus on sustainable resource management and environmental evaluations.

Students who have completed the course will be able to:

Knowledge:

• Understand the principles, requirements, and limitations behind quantitative sustainability assessment methods such as material flow analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), input-output modeling, and dynamic carbon modeling.
• Grasp the importance of selecting meaningful parameters when defining system boundaries, functional units, and allocation methods.
• Recognize the role of unexplored sidestreams in enhancing sustainability within circular business ecosystems.
  

Skills:

• Apply various quantitative sustainability assessment tools and methods to their own data sets, enhancing their ability to analyze and predict environmental impacts.
• Select appropriate tools and methodologies freely, including selected software or Excel, to address specific research questions in process optimisation, business or policy implications.
• Based on the aim of the assessment, discuss, identify and rank which factors should be included in a sustainability assessment.
• Be able to engage in the public debate about the sustainability of transitions.
  

Competences:

• Describe and discuss quantitative sustainability assessment methods.
• Be able to reflect on how findings of a given sustainability assessment is influenced by the choice of critical parameters such as functional unit, allocation methods, and system boundaries.
• Critically assess and enhance the sustainability of different bioeconomic processes through evaluation techniques.
• Engage effectively in interdisciplinary settings, utilizing their knowledge to contribute to sustainable development goals and circular economy initiatives.
• Implement resource management and systems design strategies to optimize sustainability and efficiency in various bioeconomic contexts.

This course is designed for PhD students engaged in various sectors of the bioeconomy, particularly those from forestry, food science, agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental science. It is ideal for individuals interested in sustainable innovation in resource management and technologies within circular economy implementations across these critical areas. Emphasizing resource and emission capture and utilization, zero waste practices, and cascade utilization strategies, the course prepares students to develop and implement circular business models that optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact.

The course aims to attract a diverse group of students, including those in continuing education programs, who are eager to apply circular economy principles to enhance sustainability in the forest and food sectors, as well as other related bioeconomic fields. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants from different backgrounds can contribute to and benefit from the course, fostering a comprehensive understanding of circular bioeconomy and promoting practices that lead to more sustainable and resilient bioeconomic sectors.

The course is conducted through various teaching and learning methods:

Lectures:

To present the fundamentals and applications of quantitative sustainability methods, such as dynamic carbon modeling and life cycle assessment, within the context of circular economy principles.

Exercises:

To train students in applying these methods using a variety of tools, enhancing their practical skills in sustainability analysis.

Case Work:

Students are encouraged to bring their own data sets for problem-oriented projects, applying the learned concepts to real-world scenarios either individually or in collaborative groups.

Discussions and Reflections:

Regular sessions are held to discuss the opportunities and limitations of sustainability assessment, fostering a critical understanding of resource management and systems design within various bioeconomic sectors.

Assessment:

Course participation is assessed based on an individually prepared essay/report outlining the role of sustainability assessment in their own PhD project and how it could be assessed, including pros and cons of the chosen method(s).

Course organisers:

• Professor Lisbeth G. Thygesen, Department for Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
• Professor Marianne Thomsen, Department of Food Science
• Associate Professor Niclas Scott Bentsen, Department for Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

The course will include guest lecture/-s from academia and/or industry, will share practical insights into sustainability and circular bioeconomy, enhancing the applicability of course concepts in real-world settings.