Teaching

• BK-120-EN Environmental Physics
• BK-110-EN Fundamentals of LCA

Topics for Theses

Avoided Environmental Impacts in Environmental Accounting: A Literature Review and Case Study Analysis

Environmental impacts must be reduced substantially to meet climate and sustainability goals. Environmental accounting methods are increasingly used to quantify so-called avoided impacts and to identify mitigation options. However, the term “avoided impacts” is used inconsistently across policy reports, corporate assessments, and scientific literature. This thesis examines how avoided impacts are defined, typologized, and interpreted. Based on a structured literature review of accounting standards, scenario studies, and selected case studies, it analyzes the conceptual and methodological assumptions underlying avoided-impact accounting and identifies the conditions under which reported potentials can translate into real environmental savings.

Life Cycle Assessment of Seed Inoculation with Plant Growth-Promoting Root Bacteria in Winter Wheat Cultivation

Increasing plant growth and improving quality-related parameter, such as protein content, can make an important contribution to sustainability in the agricultural and food system. Recent research on the plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium Hartmannibacter diazotrophicus has shown that it positively influences the protein content of winter wheat. Against this background, this study aims to conduct an environmental assessment based on field trial and laboratory data regarding the production, application, and effects of the aforementioned root bacterium. The objective is to quantify the environmental impacts of the efforts involved in producing and applying the bacterium and to compare these with the potentially avoided environmental impacts resulting from the reduction in fertilizer use. Additionally, the improved baking quality of winter wheat achieved by the bacterium and the higher revenue from the sale of the crop yield must be taken into account. The analysis is conducted based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The study thus combines experimental research on plant-soil interactions with a systems-based environmental assessment. 

Life Cycle Assessment of Wooden Barrels as an Alternative to Fiber-Reinforced Plastics in Shrimp Aquaculture

The sustainable design of aquaculture systems is becoming increasingly important against the backdrop of rising demand for aquatic foods and the well-known environmental challenges facing aquaculture. In particular, the selection of suitable materials and system components plays a central role in the overall environmental assessment of such production systems. Against this background, a pilot facility at JLU is investigating the extent to which wooden barrels (e.g., made of Douglas fir) can be used as an alternative to fiber-reinforced plastics in white shrimp aquaculture. The use of wood can have various positive effects on the sustainability of the system—ranging from a reduction in the environmental impacts of material procurement to potential advantages in the energy balance and increased system resilience. The aim of this study is to systematically quantify these effects and analyze them within the framework of a comparative environmental assessment. Methodologically, the study is based on conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA). This includes collecting data from experimental trials at the pilot facility, compiling material balances (inventory), and evaluating the results using established environmental impact models.

Material Flow Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Various Biomass Utilization Concepts in the Waldeck-Frankenberg District

The sustainable use of biomass is a central component of regional climate protection strategies. Different utilization methods, such as composting or energy production in biogas plants, each have specific environmental impacts and potential. Against this background, this study aims to conduct a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of various biomass utilization concepts in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district. The goal is to systematically quantify and compare the environmental impacts of selected utilization options. The analysis is based on the collection and evaluation of regional data on material flows, process chains, and plant technologies. In addition to material flow analysis, appropriate environmental impact indicators are used to evaluate and classify the different utilization pathways. The work is being carried out in cooperation with the Climate Protection Management department of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district and offers practical insight into the application of life cycle assessment to regional material flow systems.