Material resources efficiency in engineering

Production covers a wide range of industrial activities, generally focused on making products. This includes not only the manufacturing of automobiles, airplanes, buildings, electronics, clothing, and other goods, but also the production of input materials such as steel, aluminium, concrete, timber, coal, oil, and silicon, as well as the energy resources required to produce them. In particular, the way we will extract, process, use, and reintegrate materials into the material cycle in the future will have a significant impact on ecological sustainability.

Based on this, the module presents methods and tools to evaluate materials along the life cycle with respect to environmental sustainability. In addition, students will learn about various mitigation strategies and the related challenges involved in improving the use of materials in products and services. We will discuss future opportunities for enhancing energy efficiency in the production of these materials, such as producing steel with green hydrogen. We will also explore material efficiency strategies aimed at delivering the same material services with less material, and examine how reducing demand could transform the environmental impacts of manufacturing. The lecture will use case studies from different sectors.

The module is aimed at all students in the master’s degree programs in mechanical and industrial engineering and management.

Lecture Contents

• Understanding the role of materials in relation to environmental sustainability (, material-energy-carbon Nexus, global greenhouse gas emissions through materials and the 5 most important engineering materials)
• Understanding the sustainability challenge (e.g. using IPAT identity, climate protection goals)
• Using an extended Kaya identity to understand the sustainability challenge in relation to the use of materials and to derive mitigations options
• Learn how to use material flow analyses (MFA) and Sankey diagrams to analyse and evaluate As-Is and Future Scenarios
• Learn method to systematically analyse and evaluate the use of materials with respect to sustainability
• Learn about mitigation options in more detail:
  • Waste heat utilisation in production
  • Circular Economy and Material Recycling after end-of-use and end-of-life of products
  • Lightweight design
  • Material substitution
  • Production process optimization
  • Consumer behaviour change
• Learn about what critical resources, conflict minerals and sustainable supply chains are

Stud.IP

All further information and materials can be found in the learning management system Stud.IP. For an introduction to Stud.IP, please contact the Stud.IP support team.

Module Manual

Only the information in the module manual applies. In addition, only the information in the examination regulations of the respective course of study is legally binding.