An Integrated Approach to the Assessment of an Ecological Impact of Industrial Products and Processes

Since almost any waste recycling requires non-zero resources, almost any technology exerts non-zero impact on the biosphere. Therefore, there is an objective of finding technological configuration providing a minimal harmful effect on the biosphere. Correct assessment of the harmful effect requires as broad a framework of consideration as possible. A comparison of ecological impacts of gasoline and electric vehicles was conducted as an example of applying this approach. The contribution of technological processes involved into production, usage, and disposal of vehicles was taken into account. Comparison of the total environmental impact of the vehicles has led to a result that differs radically from widely distributed points of view about the environmental benefits of electric vehicles. It indicates that the use of the proposed approach can significantly change perceptions about the environmental and economic efficiency of various industrial products and processes.