31.10.25

91st LCA Discussion Forum - LCA of Photovoltaic Power Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) electricity is a cornerstone of the global energy transition. While the environmental footprint of PV power systems has significantly decreased over the past decade, transparent and up-to-date life cycle inventory (LCI) data from…

26.09.25

Life Cycle Management Under the Sicilian Sun

From September 7th–10th, 2025, Palermo hosted the 12th International Conference on Life Cycle Management (LCM) – the world’s leading forum for life cycle experts. The event brought together 1000 of researchers, businesses, and policymakers from…

16.09.25

From Turbine to Grid: Comprehensive Life Cycle Inventories of Wind Electricity in 2025

Wind energy plays an important role in the worldwide energy transition. In this context, an accurate account of the CO2-emissions and other environmental impacts caused by wind electricity is essential for a sound comparison with other sources of…

04.06.25

EU Research Project PEATLESS Launched to Reduce Peat Use in Horticulture

The EU project PEATLESS aims to develop peat-reduced substrates for mushroom cultivation, young plant production, and ornamental horticulture. At the same time, the project addresses key barriers to their practical implementation. With the official…

15.05.25

Microalgae as sustainable source of protein for animal feed?

Protein from microalgae is considered as a sustainable alternative to soy in animal feed production. But what is the actual emission reduction potential of these innovative forms of production? A recently published study by the Life Cycle Assessment…

20.10.20

Artificial turf scores better

The comparison of the environmental impact of artificial and natural turf is heading into extra time. Filled artificial-turf sports fields have a high environmental impact, because the plastic granulate required to fill them has to be replenished on…

12.03.20

Ready-made meals: Environmentally harmful junk food?

The ready-made meal market is growing despite its negative reputation. But is this bad reputation justified? The ConviFood cooperation project has looked at this question. On the basis of life-cycle assessments, the Life-Cycle Assessment Research…

19.12.18

Youth’s purchases of mobile phones worse for the environment than their use

If young people in Switzerland were to use their phones one year longer, this would reduce the impact on the environment by 25 per cent. ZHAW researchers have calculated that the production of a mobile phone accounts for 77 per cent of the…

09.07.18

Successful launch of cooperation with Brazilian university

In late June 2018, members of the Research Group for Life Cycle Assessment and the Geography of Food Research Group visited the Universidade Federal de Grande Dourados in Brazil - a first series of collaborative projects has now been launched.

13.03.18

Transfood - a new research partnership with Brazil

What effects do Swiss agricultural imports from Brazil have on the environment and on society in the country of origin? A team of researchers from Brazil and the ZHAW are finding out in the new Transfood project.