René Itten

Position at the ZHAW

Research Associate
Research Group Life Cycle Assessment

www.zhaw.ch/iunr/lca

Professional development teaching

CAS The Science and Art of Coffee

Expertise and research interests

Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, photovoltaics, electricity production and transmission, Environmental Product Declaration, EPD

Educational background

2008-2010 MSc. in Environmental Engineering ETH Zürich with specialisation in ecological systems design & waste management and hydrology & water resources management
Master Thesis: “Modeling pharmaceutical input in the environment – distinguishing discharge from households and hospitals” at EAWAG, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
2005-2008 BSc. in Environmental Engineering ETH Zürich

Professional milestones

2012-2014 Project Manager Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at treeze Ltd.
Focus on photovoltaics, environmentally-extened input output analysis, Life Cycle Impact Assessment methodology, environmental product declarations
2010-2012 Project Manager Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at ESU-serviced Ltd.
Focus on electricity production and transmission, heating systems as well as building products and buildings

Membership of networks

• Forum for Sustainability throug Life Cycle Innovation
• Organiser of the 73rd LCA Discussion Forum
• Organising committee of the 2nd Life Cycle Innovation Conference
• Research Gate

• ShopHero / Deputy project leader / Project ongoing
• Sozial-ökologische Ratingmethode für Produkte und Dienstleistungen entlang ihrer Wertschöpfungskette / Team member / Project ongoing
• Erweiterung Methode der ökologischen Knappheit mit Ökofaktoren für marine Fischressourcen / Deputy project leader / Project ongoing
• BIOMAT (Integrated Bio-based Materials Value Chains) / Team member / Project ongoing
• Extending the lifespan of mobile devices / Team member / Project ongoing
• The Coffee Blockchain – From Field to Cup / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) / Project leader / Project completed
• Ökobilanzierung von Sportrasen der Stadt Zürich / Project leader / Project completed
• Assessment of mineral oil tax relief for synthetic fuels from biological methanation / Deputy project leader / Project completed
• Validation of crude and mineral oil life cycle inventory datasets / Deputy project leader / Project completed
• Regionalised Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment / Project leader / Project completed
• SHAREBOX – Secure Management Platform for Shared Process Resources / Team member / Project completed
• EAT-IT / Team member / Project completed
• PV2050: Sustainability, market deployment and interaction to the grid – the impacts of advanced PV solutions / Team member / Project completed
• ProPAT – Robust and affordable process control technologies for improving standards and optimising industrial operations / Team member / Project completed
• ZHAW Agri-food Database / Team member / Project completed

• Itten, René; Hischier, Roland; Andrae, Anders S. G.; Bieser, Jan C. T.; Cabernard, Livia; Falke, Annemarie; Ferreboeuf, Hugues; Hilty, Lorenz M.; Keller, Regula; Lees-Perasso, Etienne; Preist, Chris; Stucki, Matthias; et al.,

  2020.

  Digital transformation - life cycle assessment of digital services, multifunctional devices and cloud computing.

  The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment.

  25(10),

  pp.2093-2098.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01801-0

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2017.

  Highly efficient 3rd generation multi-junction solar cells using silicon heterojunction and perovskite tandem : prospective life cycle environmental impacts.

  Energies.

  10(7),

  pp.1-18.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/en10070841

• Kuroda, Keisuke; Itten, René; Kovalova, Lubomira; Ort, Christoph; Weissbrodt, David G.; McArdell, Christa S.,

  2016.

  Hospital-use pharmaceuticals in Swiss waters modeled at high spatial resolution.

  Environmental Science & Technology.

  50(9),

  pp.4742-4751.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00653

• Jattke, Marleen; Bieser, Jan; Blumer, Yann; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2020.

  Environmental implications of service life extension of mobile devices [paper].

  In:

  Otto, S. J.; Korf, N.; Mählitz, P. M.; Rotter, V. S., eds.,

  WEEE plastic characterization and recyclability assessment : a case study for household appliances.

  Electronics Goes Green 2020+, Online, 1. September 2020.

  Stuttgart:

  Fraunhoferverlag.

  pp.163-170.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20808

• Jaisli, Isabel; Bättig-Frey, Petra; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Scientainment for sustainability : the eco-confessional as new approach for awareness raising [poster].

  In:

  1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Berlin, 29-31 August 2018.

• Keller, Regula; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Environmental benefits of a circular economy : connecting waste type and geographic proximity [poster].

  In:

  SETAC Europe 28th annual meeting, Rome, Italy, 13-17 May 2018.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-5015

• Stucki, Matthias; Keller, Regula; Itten, René; Eymann, Lea,

  2018.

  Filling the Gap of Overfishing in LCIA: Eco-factors for Global Fish Resources [poster].

  In:

  SETAC Europe 28th annual meeting, Rome, Italy, 13-17 May 2018.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-5017

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Bauer, Christian; Bucher, Christof; Ager-Wick Ellingsen, Linda; Gutzwiller, Lukas; Heimbach, Britta; Itten, René; Liao, Xun; Panos, Evangelos; Pfister, Stephan; Schmidt, Tobias; Stahel, Valentin; Stolz, Philippe; Toggweiler, Peter; Treyer, Karin; Villeneuve, Jacques; Wade, Andreas; Weil, Marcel,

  2018.

  LCA of key technologies for future electricity supply : 68th LCA forum, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 16 April, 2018 [paper].

  In:

  68th LCA Discussion Forum on Life Cycle Assessment, Zürich, 16. April 2018.

  Heidelberg:

  Springer.

  pp.1716-1721.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-1496-y

• Stucki, Matthias; Itten, René,

  2017.

  High efficient 3rd generation multi-junction solar cells using silicon heterojunction and perovskite technology : life cycle based environmental impacts [poster].

  In:

  Life Cycle Management (LCM) 2017, Luxembourg, 3.-6. September 2017.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4833

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias; Steinegger, Tobias,

  2017.

  Wooden mounting systems : how to reduce environmental impacts of building integrated photovoltaic power plants [poster].

  In:

  Life Cycle Management (LCM) 2017, Luxembourg, 3.-6. September 2017.

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Bauer, Christian; Froemelt, Andreas; Hellweg, Stefanie; Biemann, Kirsten; Buetler, Thomas; Cox, Brian; de Haan, Peter; Hoerl, Sebastian; Itten, René; Jungbluth, Niels; Ligen, Yorick; Mathys, Nicole A.; Schiess, Samuel; Schori, Salome; van Loon, Patricia; Wang, Jing; Wettstein, Sarah,

  2017.

  LCA of mobility solutions: approaches and findings : 66th LCA forum, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 30 August, 2017 [paper].

  In:

  66th LCA Discussion Forum: LCA of Mobility Solutions: Approaches and Findings, Zürich, 30. August 2017.

  Heidelberg:

  Springer.

  pp.381-386.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1429-1

• Koller, Christoph; Stucki, Matthias; Mathez, Stephan A.; Itten, René; Frei, Sabine,

  2016.

  Carbon footprint of a PV/T liquid collector [paper].

  In:

  26. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie : 20. bis 22. April 2016, Kloster Banz, Bad Staffelstein.

  26. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie, Bad Staffelstein, Deutschland, 20.-22. April 2016.

  Bad Staffelstein:

  Ostbayerisches Technologie-Transfer-Institut.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias; Glauser, Lukas,

  2021.

  Life cycle assessment of artificial and natural turf sports fields : executive summary.

  Wädenswil:

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-21510

• Itten, René; Glauser, Lukas; Stucki, Matthias,

  2020.

  Ökobilanzierung von Rasensportfeldern : Natur-, Kunststoff- und Hybridrasen der Stadt Zürich im Vergleich.

  Wädenswil:

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20774

• Stucki, Matthias; Itten, René,

  2018.

  Power-to-Gas für den Klimaschutz : wie umweltfreundlich ist synthetisches Methan?.

  Aqua & Gas.

  9,

  pp.15-19.

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Itten, René; Wyss, Franziska; Blanc, Isabelle; Heath, Garvin; Raugei, Marco; Sinha, Parikhit; Wade, Andreas,

  2015.

  Life cycle assessment of future photovoltaic electricity production from residential-scale systems operated in Europe.

  St.Ursen:

  International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS).

  ISBN 978-3-906042-30-5.

  Available from: http://iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=314&eID=dam_frontend_push&docID=2391

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Itten, René; Sinha, Parikhit; de Wild-Scholten, Mariska; Zhang, Jia; Fthenakis, Vasilis; Kim, Hyung Chul; Raugei, Marco; Stucki, Matthias,

  2015.

  Life cycle inventories and life cycle assessment of photovoltaic systems.

  International Energy Agency (IEA) PVPS Task 12.

  ISBN 978-3-906042-28-2.

  Available from: http://www.iea-pvps.org/fileadmin/dam/public/report/technical/IEA-PVPS_Task_12_LCI_LCA.pdf

• Itten, René; Sabina, Manatschal; Stucki, Matthias; Brottier, Laetitia,

  2020.

  Merging photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors : how photovoltaic thermal (PVT) hybrid collectors boost environmental performance.

  In:

  37th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), Online, 7-11 September 2020.

• Itten, René; Jattke, Marleen; Stucki, Matthias; Lütolf, Patrick; Gassmann, Roland; et al.,

  2020.

  Blockchain in agro-food business : boosting transparency and trust in the coffee value chain with distributed ledgers.

  In:

  2nd Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Online, 26-28 August 2020.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias; Clua Longas, Angela; Cattaneo, Gianluca,

  2019.

  Active façades : life cycle environmental impacts and savings of photovoltaic power plants integrated into the building envelope.

  In:

  36th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), Marseille, France, 9-13 September 2019.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias; Clua Longas, Angela; Cattaneo, Gianluca,

  2019.

  Active façades : life cycle environmental impacts and savings of photovoltaic power plants integrated into the building envelope.

  In:

  9th International Conference on Life Cycle Management, Poznan, Poland, 1-4 September 2019.

• Stahel, Valentin; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Integration of photovoltaic power plants into the grid : life cycle environmental impacts of infrastructure adaptations for photovoltaic electricity.

  In:

  35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), Brussels, Belgium, 24-27 September 2018.

  Available from: https://www.eupvsec-proceedings.com/proceedings/dvd.html

• Itten, René; Keller, Regula; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  The Generation Z and the environmental impact of their digital media behaviour.

  In:

  1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Berlin, 29-31 August 2018.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Transformation of waste to resources : life cycle based benefits of the circular economy.

  In:

  1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Berlin, 29-31 August 2018.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Highly efficient multi-junction solar cells using silicon heterojunction and perovskite tandem : prospective life cycle environmental impacts.

  In:

  68th LCA Discussion Forum on Life Cycle Assessment, Zürich, 16. April 2018.

  Available from: http://www.lcaforum.ch/portals/0/df68/DF68-12_Itten.pdf

• Wettstein, Sarah; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2017.

  Environmental impacts of the CO2 methanation value chain : implications on mobility with passenger cars.

  In:

  66th LCA Discussion Forum: LCA of Mobility Solutions: Approaches and Findings, Zürich, 30. August 2017.

  Available from: http://www.lcaforum.ch/portals/0/df66/DF66-13_Itten.pdf

• Itten, René,

  2016.

  Industrial symbiosis and LCA.

  In:

  63rd LCA Discussion Forum: How can LCA support the Circular Economy?, Zurich, 30 November 2016.

PUBLIKATIONEN (non peer-reviewed) / BERICHTE

Frischknecht R., Nathani C., Stolz P., Wyss F. and Itten R. (2015) Extension of a Disaggregated Input-Output Table with Environmental Data for the Year 2008. treeze Ltd / Rütter Soceco AG, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Uster / Rüschlikon.

Frischknecht R., Nathani C., Büsser Knöpfel S., Itten R., Wyss F. and Hellmüller P. (2014) Entwicklung der weltweiten Umweltauswirkungen der Schweiz; Umweltauswirkungen von Konsum und Produktion von 1996 bis 2011. treeze Ltd / Rütter Soceco AG, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Uster / Rüschlikon.

Frischknecht R., Nathani C., Büsser Knöpfel S., Itten R., Wyss F. and Hellmüller P. (2014) Technischer Bericht Gesamtumweltbelastung Schweiz. treeze Ltd / Rütter Soceco AG, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Uster / Rüschlikon.

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2014) PEFCR photovoltaic electricity generation. treeze Ltd. commissioned by Technical Secretariat PEF Pilot "Photovoltaic Electricity Generation", Uster, Switzerland.

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2014) Comparison of different guidelines and PCRs related to photovoltaic electricity production. treeze Ltd. commissioned by Technical Secretariat PEF Pilot "Photovoltaic Electricity Generation", Uster, Switzerland.

Itten R., Wyss F. and Frischknecht R. (2014) LCI of the global crystalline photovoltaics supply chain and of future photovoltaics electricity production. treeze Ltd., Uster, Switzerland.

Itten R., Frischknecht R. and Stucki M. (2014) Life Cycle Inventories of Electricity Mixes and Grid, Version 1.3. treeze Ltd., Uster, Switzerland, retrieved from: www.treeze.ch.

Itten R. and Frischknecht R. (2014) Primärenergiefaktoren von Energiesystemen, Version 2.2+, Stand April 2014. Im Auftrag des Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU und der Koordinationskonferenz der Bau- und Liegenschaftsorgane der öffentlichen Bauherren KBOB, Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.treeze.ch.

Wyss F., Frischknecht R., Itten R., Pfäffli K. and John V. (2014) Richtwert Gesamtumweltbelastung Gebäude - Entwurf. Bundesamt für Energie, BfE Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU Amt für Hochbauten Stadt Zürich AHB.

Wyss F., Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2014) Hintergrundbericht zur Aktualisierung der Materialdaten der KBOB-Liste, v2.2+ Stand 2014. Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU, Koordinationskonferenz der Bau- und Liegenschaftsorgane der öffentlichen Bauherren KBOB

Frischknecht R., Büsser Knöpfel S. and Itten R. (2013) Indicators on Global Environmental Impacts Related to Domestic Consumption. treeze Ltd., Uster, CH.

Frischknecht R., Stucki M., Flury K. and Itten R. (2013) Life cycle assessment of amorphous and micromorphous PV modules. In proceedings from: EU PVSEC, Paris, retrieved from: www.photovoltaic-conference.com.

Itten R. and Frischknecht R. (2013) Externe Kosten von Energiesystemen gemäss ECOPLAN. treeze Ltd., Uster, CH

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2012) Book, trade and claim systems in LCA: how to model certificates delinked from physical flows. In: SETAC Europe 22nd Annual Meeting, May 20-24, 2012. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry SETAC, Berlin, Germany.

Itten R., Frischknecht R. and Stucki M. (2012) Life Cycle Inventories of Electricity Mixes and Grid. ESU-services Ltd., Uster, Switzerland, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch.

Jungbluth N. and Itten R. (2012) Umweltbelastungen des Konsums in der Schweiz und in der Stadt Zürich: Grundlagendaten und Reduktionspotenziale, . Energieforschung der Stadt Zürich, Bericht Nr. 8, Forschungsprojekt FP-1.1, Zürich.

Jungbluth N., Itten R. and Stucki M. (2012) Umweltbelastungen des privaten Konsums und Reduktionspotenziale. ESU-services Ltd. im Auftrag des BAFU, Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/projects/lifestyle/.

Jungbluth N., Itten R. and Schori S. (2012) Environmental impacts of food consumption and its reduction potentials. In proceedings from: 8th International Conference on LCA in the Agri-Food Sector, Rennes, France, 2-4 October 2012, retrieved from: colloque4.inra.fr/lcafood2012.

Flury K., Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2012) Life cycle assessment of Oerlikon Solar mC-Si solar modules. treeze Ltd., Uster.

Stucki M., Schori S., Itten R. and Jungbluth N. (2012) Aus Umweltsicht prioritäre Produkte in der Schweiz. ESU-services GmbH, Uster, im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Umwelt (BAFU) (unpublished), Uster, CH.

Frischknecht R., Stucki M. and Itten R. (2011) Primärenergiefaktoren von Transportsystemen, Version 2.2. im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie BfE, ESU-services Ltd., Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/publications/energy/.

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2011) Primärenergiefaktoren von Energiesystemen, Version 2.2. im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie BfE, ESU-services Ltd., Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/publications/energy/.

Itten R., Jungbluth N. and Stucki M. (2011) Life Cycle Assessment of Burning Different Solid Biomass Substrates. im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie BfE, ESU-services Ltd., Uster, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/publications/energy/.

Stucki M., Büsser S., Itten R., Frischknecht R. and Wallbaum H. (2011) Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Geosynthetics versus Conventional Construction Material. ESU-services Ltd. commissioned by European Association for Geosynthetic Manufacturers (EAGM), Uster and Zürich, CH.

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