Researcher's Profile

Identifying future technologies through life cycle assessment to transform consumption and production patterns

Preparation for Establishment of UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy
We are preparing to establish " UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy", to promote effective collaboration and to contribute to the future of humanity and the planet as one of the UTokyo Future Society Initiative SDGs Projects. The organization will develop a new scientific principle, " Pre-emptive Life Cycle Assessment(LCA). " Pre-emptive LCA evaluates the impacts of advanced technologies in the future and contributes to developing future strategies at present. The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology will play a central role in establishing, implementing, and deploying Pre-emptive LCA in collaboration with LCA-related researchers and research groups on advanced technology inside and outside of UTokyo, companies, governments, and NPOs. We will support the evaluation of technologies, the development of effective strategies for implementing future technologies, and science and technology policy-making. We also aim to develop human resources who can contribute to the development of advanced technology by practicing Pre-emptive LCA.

Evaluation of the social value of new technologies and new materials
In order to realize a sustainable society where the environmental burden is contained to one planet, and the wellbeing of people and society is achieved, it is necessary to change the consumption and production patterns as a social system. To this end, many technologies are being studied and developed to solve problems. The social value of new technologies and new materials will be clarified through life cycle assessment.

Sustainable social systems design
While assessing the social value of new technology, we design a social system in which the technology can be implemented and demonstrate its value. For example, in the case of plastic recycling, in addition to the implementation of recycling technology, it is necessary to design a system integrating hardware and software aspects. Sub-systems for collecting and transporting used products, supporting producers and consumers, and an economically viable system must be included. In particular, we believe that strengthening the linkage between consumption and production will be of utmost importance. We will build a framework that integrates diverse perspectives such as the provision of information from production to consumption, pro-environmental behavior of consumers, new business models such as sharing, understanding of local needs, utilization of traditional wisdom, and the construction of social infrastructure to support these efforts.

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• Fig.1. Product and process design by Integration of product life cycle and process life cycle
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• Fig.2. Social transition toward sustainable consumption and production patterns
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• Fig.3. Five Collaborative Approaches to Transition to Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns