Greater Barcelona Metropolitan Area
Scientist with main expertises in methodological development and improvement of (environmental) system analysis and sustainable development tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and comparative risk assessment as well as teaching and supervising students from undergraduate to Ph.D. level and engineers/scientists in continuing education in ecodesign, environmental systems analysis and modeling, LCA and sustainable development in general. Contributing to the establishment of global recommended practice and guidance on LCA, Ralph is member (partly chairman) of several expert groups and task forces of the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative as well as advisory groups of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).
The Research Program Sustainability in Biosystems covers a range of disciplines related to Environmental Science and Technology in the Agrifood sector, such as agronomy, engineering, chemistry, biotechnology, microbiology and soil ecology. The main purpose of the Program is to contribute to the sustainability of food production and consumption, by providing advanced R&D, innovation, decision support, policy support, knowledge and technology transfer, including consultancy and training. The activities of the Program include the in-depth characterization of emissions that threaten the environment (atmosphere, water, and soil) and the global climate, the development, validation and optimization of innovative waste management, valorisation, and (bio)treatment strategies, quantification and enhancement of soil carbon sequestration and stabilization, as well as the quantitative environmental sustainability assessment of products, companies, regions and food systems in general via Life Cycle Assessment to support decisions and policies. The team is constituted of an interdisciplinary staff of more than 30 people, including senior researchers, postdocs, PhD students and technical specialists. The Program regularly hosts visiting researchers and undergraduate/graduate students.
I started this small consultancy in order to offer my expertise as critical reviewer for LCA studies according to ISO14040/14044. Having gotten into the LCA field during my environmental engineering studies in 1997, I have more than 15 years of experience in developing, applying, and teaching LCA methodology and numerous related aspects. I am available as critical reviewer (panel member or chair) of LCA studies in English, German, Spanish, and French.
The Industrial Chair "ELSA-PACT - Environmental Life cycle and Sustainability Assessment: a PAthway to Competitiveness through social & ecological Transition" is an endowed chair, co-funded by five industrial partners, namely Suez Environment, SCP, BRL, Val d'Orbieu-Uccoar, and EVEA, as well as six public partners, being the French National Research Agency (ANR), Irstea, CIRAD/ADEME, EMA, ONEMA, and the region Languedoc-Roussillon. The research activities of the chair are focusing on the further methodological development of environmental and social life cycle assessment (LCA), carried out by a team of 8 PhD students, 3 Postdocs, and 3 senior researchers. ELSA-PACT focuses on the "natural resource management" economic sectors of a) water and waste management / treatment and b) food and agricultural production. Its main activities are 1) improving life cycle impact assessment methods with a focus on water use and biodiversity, 2) streamlining LCA in order to make its use easier in industry without compromising scientific rigour, 3) developing methods for social LCA in the same frame as environmental LCA, 4) training employees of companies, their customers, stakeholders, and students via various teaching methods (including online), and 5) wide dissemination of acquired results and knowledge, including beyond the scientific community.
As Associate Professor at the Section for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, which is part of the Management Engineering Department at the Technical University of Denmark, I focus on research and education in the areas of Life Cycle Impact Assessment of emissions and uncertainty management in Life Cycle Assessment.
My research in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) focuses on uncertainty management in LCA, development of impact characterisation methods for emissions and resource use, as well as LCA of bioproducts. My main activities are: - Development of the USEtox (UNEP/SETAC toxicity) model and definition of recommended practice in life cycle toxicity characterisation within the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. - Further development of the Canadian LCIA method LUCAS. - Further development of the IMPACT 2002 multimedia fate and exposure model with a focus on uncertainty assessment and food chain modelling. - Teaching LCA courses for undergraduate and graduate students. - Supervision and co-direction of Ph.D. and Master students.