IChemE metrics

IChemE metrics of sustainability consist of 49 indicators classified into three main categories economic, environmental and social. The environmental indicators within the IChemE metrics are similar to those in the CWRT metrics. However, there are some differences. The IChemE metrics include the area of land as an environmental indicator. The actual indicators are (i) the sum of directly occupied and affected land per value added and (ii) the rate of land restoration. Other differences relate to the assessment of the relative impacts of pollutants on the environment and human health. The IChemE indicators do not take into account the life-time of chemicals in various media of the environment. The human health indicator is limited to carcinogenic effects and is normalized to benzene. 

From Fig. 11.11 it is possible to verify the improvement in terms of carbon emission from the base case design to the retrofit design proposed (black bars lower than gray bars). Flowever, this retrofit design involved the recovery of water, so metrics related to water impact should be also assessed. The IChemE metrics have been selected to assess the water impact of the new retrofit design [63]. For the social assessment the health and safety issues were considered, through the appHcation of the Inherent Safety Index defined by Fleikldla [60]. The results obtained for the environmental and social assessments are summarized in Table 11.4. 

IChemE (2003) The Sustainahility Metrics, The Institution of Chemical Engineers, Rugby, UK. http //www. 

Land use is not shown among the basic metrics in Table 6.2 and represents a category that is less developed and may not fit into the impact-per-unit-output format of the other eco-efficiency metrics. IChemE (2002) proposes a land use metric expressed in terms of total area of land occupied and affected per annual revenue. However, heuristics and decision-rules for the land use metric, especially in relation to impacts on biodiversity and the ecosystem, require further development. 

While eco-efficiency is certainly an important element of sustainability, it is by no means a representation of the whole picture. Although not as well developed as eco-efficiency metrics, separate sets of social and economic metrics of sustainability have been developed, such as by IChemE (2002). Table 6.4 lists examples of social metrics developed by IChemE, which capture a variety of workplace... 

Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), The Sustainability Metrics Sustainable Development Progress Metrics Recommended for Use in the Process Industries, IChemE, Rugby, UK, 2002. 

IChemE. 2006. Sustainable development progress metrics Recoitunended for use in the process industries, pp. 1-28. Rugby, U.K. Institution of Chemical Engineers. http //www. icheme.oig/sustainabihty/metrics.pdf... 

IChemE. Sustainable development progress metrics. UK IChemE Sustainable Development Working Group, IChemE Rugby 2002. 

Dodsworth, M., Connelly, K.E., Ellett, C.J. Sharratt, P. 2007. Organizational climate metrics as safety, health and environment performance indicators and an aid to relative risk ranking within industry. Trans IChemE, Part B, Process Safety and Environmental Protection 85(B1) 59-69. 

Azapagic, A. (2002). Sustainable Development Pmgress Metric. IChemE Sustainable Development Working Group, Rugby. 

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