In line with the extra-curricular program of 'Technology for Sustainable Development', I choose to participate in this course of the faculty IE&IS to get more insight in processes of mass production and energy flows which are crucial for our daily lives, economies and production. Unfortunately those come with serious disadvantages: depletion, global warming and other environmental impacts. Industrial ecology provides a conceptual framework for understanding these issues and for working on more sustainable solutions.

The course contained a theoretical and a practical oriented part. The theoretical part was covering the above-mentioned topics, which should result in a theoretical exam. In the practical part of this assignment a topic of interest has to be studied and reviewed, through the scope of Industrial Ecology. The partical  part is related to the project Fingertip as descibed onder the page 'Fingertip'. The results should be presented in a report.

Achievements

The topics of the elective interested me and I have got a deeper understanding on how those mass and energy flows have an impact on our daily life and environment. I gained knowledge of different analysis tools (mass flow analysis, LCA, ecological footprint) and popular concepts (C2C, industrial symbiosis); knowing their characteristics and their (dis)advantages. I’m able to explain how they relate, as can be seen on the concept map I created.
I was especially charmed by how certain (environmentally responsible) goals can be pursued and achieved when a kind of symbiosis will be developed between certain cooperation partners while having their own business. 

For the practical part of this course, the Fingertip project was allowed to count, while developing, analyzing and evaluating it in the context of the circular economy. I experienced this as a nice challenge as it requires a broader view of the implementation of the Fingertip and related products. More about this project can be read on the page 'Fingertip' or in the report below. The report still needs to be complemented (by evidence-based data an calculations) why the Fingertip is a more environmentally friendly solution than the current way of processing the bathroom-waste. The rewritten report will be delivered before the summer holidays, so the final points for the certificate 'Technology for Sustainable Development' can also be obtained.