Materials, Environment and Sustainability
| Keywords |
| Classification |
Keyword |
| OFICIAL |
Science and Technology of Materials |
Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S 
Cycles of Study/Courses
| Acronym |
No. of Students |
Study Plan |
Curricular Years |
Credits UCN |
Credits ECTS |
Contact hours |
Total Time |
| M.EMAT |
21 |
Syllabus |
2 |
- |
6 |
52 |
162 |
Teaching Staff - Responsibilities
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
During the theoretical-practical component of the course, the student becomes able to combine the process of selecting a material for a specific application, such as environmental and cost consequences, using an Ashby methodology for the assessment of the environmental profile of materials through of materials from the consideration of their life cycle perspective (taking into account their end-of-life materials). In the laboratory practical component of the u.c. students put into practice the concept of circular economy through the acquisition of materials from different materials.
SDG related to u.c. #4Quality Education; #9Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and #12Sustainable Production and Consumption
Learning outcomes and competences
The competences and learning outcomes can be summarized in the following: - environmental and sustainability analysis associated with various materials; - quantification of the environmental profile of materials throughout their life cycle (from raw material extraction to the end of the product's life); - assessment of the environmental consequences and costs resulting from the selection of different materials for a specific application; - Evaluation of waste recovery potential (of different materials) through laboratory tests with characterization of the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the material produced.
Working method
Presencial
Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)
Knowledge of using the ANSYS GRANTA EDU PACK computer program.
Program
1 Materials and the Environment
Basic concepts about the environment. Consumption of resources and definition of critical materials. Definition of sustainable development. Concept of circular economy and implications for the sustainability of materials.
2. The life cycle of materials
Materials, manufacturing, transport, use and end of life: analysing resource consumption, emissions and environmental impacts.
Environmental profile for different classes of materials (embodied energy in materials, carbon footprint and fraction of recycled material). Realisation of work: environmental profiles of materials using GRANTA EDU PACK software.
3. Environmental properties and production processes (primary and secondary). Material costs
Eco-properties of materials: Embodied energy. Carbon footprint and water footprint. Overview of renewable materials, metals and alloys, polymers, ceramics, glass and composites. Exercises in calculating properties: in the extraction of materials, in the production of products, transport and end of life. Exercises on primary energy consumption and the carbon footprint resulting from electricity consumption. Environmental assessment of transport and end-of-life. The energy mix associated with electricity production. Comparative environmental assessment of materials/products.
4. Auditing methods.Life cycle assessment of materials and sustainability.Environmental assessment throughout its life cycle
Environmental quantification of material production, product manufacture, transport and distribution, utilisation and end-of-life.
end of life of the product.Carrying out product environmental assessment exercises. Environmental assessment case studies (Eco-audit) carried out in class.
5.Material selection strategies
Working on the response to the results obtained in the eco-audit.Defining restrictions and objectives for material selection.Basic principles of LCA. Life Cycle Assessment methodology (NP EN ISO 14040).Case studies for different materials.Inclusion of Social Life Cycle Assessment according to the methodology of Ashby, Michael F. (2022).Materials and Sustainable Development (2nd ed.).Chapter 6: Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA).
6.Waste Recovery Laboratory Practices (metals, polymers, rubbers, ceramics, etc.)
Includes environmental assessment of solutions for mitigating environmental impacts through strategies for selecting materials, processes, uses or end-of-life options.
Circular Economy. Introduction to the Circular Economy: exercise and discussion. Main concepts. Sustainability and Sustainable Development. Circular Economy and SDGs. Materials, Energy, Emissions, Ecosystem. Linearities and Circularities. Fundamental definitions. Discussion on strategies. The role of design and recycling. Critical analysis. Circular Economy Strategies, Principles and Actions. Analysis and various examples. Group exercise. Business models and their relationship with strategies, principles and actions. Group activity. The role of Materials Engineers.
Mandatory literature
Michael F. Ashby;
Materials and the environment. ISBN: 978-1-85617-608-8
Michael F. Ashby;
Materials and sustainable development. ISBN: 9780323983617
Teaching methods and learning activities
Theoretical-Practical classes (TP) are based on the exposition of the syllabus, whenever possible aided by the identification of practical cases. When exposing the syllabus, the perspective of the life cycle of the various materials is considered (including the extraction of the raw materials that give rise to it until the end of its life). By carrying out, as a group, the environmental/sustainability profile assessment of materials supported by the GRANTA EDU PACK software, the process of selecting a material for a specific application is combined with the environmental and cost consequences associated with different materials.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation without final exam
Assessment Components
| Designation |
Weight (%) |
| Teste |
40,00 |
| Trabalho laboratorial |
20,00 |
| Trabalho prático ou de projeto |
20,00 |
| Trabalho escrito |
20,00 |
| Total: |
100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
| Designation |
Time (hours) |
| Estudo autónomo |
30,00 |
| Frequência das aulas |
52,00 |
| Trabalho escrito |
10,00 |
| Trabalho laboratorial |
16,00 |
| Total: |
108,00 |
Eligibility for exams
Mandatory conditions for obtaining frequency are a minimum rating of 10 out of 20 for component C2.
It is mandatory a positive mark for the part of the test (C2 component) corresponding to the use of the GRANTA EDU PACK eco Audit Tool Module.
Calculation formula of final grade
CF = C1+ C2+C3
C1 (20%): Group work on the assessment of the environmental + social profile of materials (GRANTA EDUPACK)
C2 (40%): Assessment test (included part carried out at the software GRANTA EDUPACK)
C3 (40%): Report of the laboratory tests (30%) including the environmental assessment of the whole recycling process laboratorial steps, by using the Eco Audit tool Module from GRANTA EDU PACK (10%)
Examinations or Special Assignments
Written exam with a weight of 70% and two practical assignments (1 CES EDU PACK project and 1 laboratory assignment). The assignments are carried out before the written exam, and have a weight of 30% in the final classification.
A minimum grade of 10 points in the practical work and 8 points in the written exam is a mandatory condition.
Internship work/project
not aplicable
Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)
Written exam with a weight of 70% and two practical assignments (1 GRANTA EDU PACK project) and 1 laboratory assignment. The assignments are carried out before the written exam, and have a weight of 30% in the final classification.
A minimum grade of 10 points in the practical work and 8 points in the written exam is a mandatory condition.
Classification improvement
It is only possible to improve the classification of component C2 (Assessment test) and the improvement is carried out during the appeal period.
The final mark (after appeal) is calculated based on the marks obtained in components C1 and C3.