Call for abstracts
Theme and scope
The conference theme of EcoBalance 2014 is "Creating Benefit through Life Cycle Thinking," which indicates that we hope to create benefit for diverse stakeholders through research and the implementation of life cycle thinking and that we aim to discuss relevant ideas, challenges, and results at the conference. Because industry seems to be the stakeholder whose LCA practices are most desired to be beneficial, we are going to focus on industry from among the diverse stakeholders that exist. Participation and contributions from industry are thus particularly encouraged and welcome. Please see also the special sessions below.
Besides the special focus mentioned above, the scope of EcoBalance 2014 includes socio-economic metabolism, industrial symbiosis, sustainable resource management, life cycle management, and socio-economic approaches to sustainability as well as life cycle assessment. Please see also the list of general keywords below.
Session formats
We are calling for abstracts for oral and poster presentations.
Special sessions
The following special sessions will be organized, consisting of submitted contributions as well as invited lectures. Contributions concerning industry case studies are particularly welcome.
The Practical Challenge for Sustainable Industry
Organized by Masaharu Motoshita (AIST), Michiyasu Nakajima (Kansai University), and Matthias Finkbeiner (Technical University of Berlin)
Scope | Environmental/Life Cycle Management has been widely recognized by industries as being effective for their own sustainability. Many companies have implemented EMA, LCM, MFCA for managing environmental pollution, material efficiency, energy use, and carbon emissions resulting from their activities. Many successful experiences and findings regarding difficulties, obtained from various perspectives in practical challenges, will be useful for promoting further efforts. The aim of this session is to acquire a common understanding of the experiences and findings from practical challenges in various industries and discuss breakthroughs to promote activities for sustainability. In this context, application case studies are very meaningful and most welcome. |
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Keywords | Carbon footprinting (CFP); environmental footprint (EF); environmental management accounting (EMA); green contribution; green portfolio; life cycle management (LCM); product/organization LCA; material flow cost accounting (MFCA); supply chain management |
Global Food Security and Corporate Practices from Life Cycle Perspectives
Organized by Kiyotada Hayashi (NARO) and Kazuyo Matsubae (Tohoku University)
Scope | Global food demand under current environmental degradation necessitates an increase in food production without expanding agricultural area through reconciling development and conservation. Life cycle approaches are expected to realize the reconciliation. To this end, this session discusses the following topics: (1) the establishment of sustainable food production and distribution systems through life cycle thinking in corporate management, (2) sustainable management of resources, including nutrients and land, and (3) development and assessment of innovative technologies for sustainable agriculture and food. |
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Keywords | LCA of agriculture and food; nutrient management; global food demand and supply; sustainable land use; innovative agricultural practices and technologies |
Sustainability of Materials and Industries
Organized by Hideki Kakisawa and Yasunari Matsuno (The University of Tokyo)
Scope | Demand for materials has dramatically increased in the world in the last century and will continue to grow. The way towards sustainable use of materials for the future must therefore be explored promptly, as mineral resources are nonrenewable. The construction of a “sound material cycle” in the anthroposphere has become an important theme. This session offers an opportunity to discuss technologies and evaluation methods for such a cycle. Topics concerning recycling technologies for urban mining, ecomaterials, material flow analysis and stock accounting, and other related fields are welcome. |
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Keywords | Ecomaterials; urban mining; recycling technology; low-carbon society; material flow analysis |
Selected topics
Sessions related to the following selected topics will also be organized. Contributors are encouraged to indicate on abstract submission if their abstracts are related to these topics. The list of topics is subject to change; other topics may be added later. Please visit the conference website to check the latest list of topics.
Green ICT
Keywords | Information communication technology (ICT); green of/by ICT; sustainability index for ICT; LCA of ICT products/networks/services |
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Sustainability in the Chemical Industry
Keywords | Environment, health and safety; product and process design for environment; catalyst and material development; petrochemicals; biorefinery; fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals; decision support |
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Sustainable Resource Management
Keywords | Minerals; metals; mining responsibility; resource productivity/resource efficiency; material flow and supply chain management; advanced technology for metal recycling and waste management |
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General keywords
The following lists of keywords represent the scope of EcoBalance 2014.
Contributors are asked to select a few keywords from the list on abstract submission. However, if you would like to present something important that is not on the list, please submit it. We will be very happy to extend our scope by including additional important keywords.
Methodologies for Life Cycle Thinking
Life cycle inventory analysis; life cycle impact assessment; life cycle interpretation; uncertainty analysis; risk assessment; life cycle sustainability assessment; material/substance flow analysis; material stock accounts; input-output analysis; life cycle costing; cost-benefit analysis; material flow cost accounting; environmental accounting; environmental management accounting; external cost; eco-efficiency; environmental index; eco-label; environmental footprint; life cycle management; design for environment; eco-design; environmental education; environmental psychology; environmental sociology; international and national standards; carbon footprint and offset; water footprint; database; software
Implementation of Eco-innovation
Information and communication technologies; city planning and building; transport; biomass resources; energy technology; agriculture and food; manufacturing; resources and mining; urban mining; materials; chemicals; recycling and waste management; services; green job; green servicizing; industrial symbiosis; eco-industrial development; supply chain and logistics; lifestyle; consumption; policy and regulation; emission trading; biodiversity; system resilience
The EcoBalance Poster Award
The EcoBalance Poster Award will be offered to the most outstanding posters.
The abstracts submitted by 25 March 2014, 18:00 (JST, UTC+9), are peer-reviewed to shortlist posters nominated for on-site evaluation. During the poster sessions, a scientific jury will evaluate the shortlisted posters on the basis of scientific excellence, including the presentations by the authors.
The winners will be announced at the closing session of EcoBalance 2014, on 30 October, 2014.