iten
Ateneo
iten
Ateneo

Environmental sustainability

Description

The group’s research activities are dedicated to the study and assessment of the environmental impacts of products, processes, and services throughout their entire life cycle. Analyses are based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies, in compliance with ISO 14040/14044 standards, adopting a Life Cycle Thinking approach to support more sustainable design and strategic choices.

In particular, the group focuses on:

  • LCA and Carbon Footprint Analysis: Quantifying the environmental performance of products, identifying key hotspots throughout the life cycle, and supporting environmental improvement decisions. Activities include calculating the Product Carbon Footprint in accordance with the ISO 14067 standard.
  • Eco-design Approach Development: Integrating sustainability with traditional design tools (e.g., CAD) to optimize product end-of-life. This includes calculating recyclability indices and aligning them with the requirements and indicators set by the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).
  • Simplified LCA-based Solutions: Designing streamlined tools to support the adoption of environmental sustainability strategies across various industrial sectors (apparel, footwear, furniture). Methodologies are customized based on the specific product and sector, accounting for the varying levels of detail required at different stages of the life cycle and the design process.
  • AI-based Tool Development: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence, with a specific focus on Machine Learning techniques, to front-load environmental impact assessments into the early stages of design. Approaches include predictive and supervised regression models aimed at estimating environmental indicators from preliminary design data.

The group utilizes industry-leading software and databases, including SimaPro (PRé Sustainability), openLCA (GreenDelta), and the Ecoinvent database (Ecoinvent Association).

Publications
  • Manuguerra, L., Cappelletti, F., Mundo, M., Germani, M., 2026. Sustainability-oriented conceptual design of manufacturing components based on machine learning model. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-026-02522-8 
  • Manuguerra, L., Cappelletti, F., Germani, M., 2024 A machine learning based method for parametric environmental impact model for electric vehicles. Journal of Cleaner Production.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142308
  • Manuguerra, L., Cappelletti, F., Rossi, M., Germani, M., Eco-design tool to support the design of industrial electric vehicles. The case studies of an electric shuttle and an autonomous mobile robot. Journal of Industrial Information Integration. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2024.100605
  • Manuguerra, L., Cappelletti, F., Rossi, M., Germani, M. 2024. Eco-design tool to support the design of industrial electric vehicles. The case studies of an electric shuttle and an autonomous mobile robot. Journal of Industrial Information Integration. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2024.100605
  • Cappelletti, F., Germani, M. 2024. Carbon reduction engineering through value chains intersection, product and process re-design, industrial processes’ scraps de-manufacturing. International Journal of Production Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2023.2243527
Staff

Prof. Michele Germani 
Tel. +39 071 220 4768
E-mail: m.germani@staff.univpm.it