Doctoral thesis
SONIA MARTÍNEZ SANDEZ
Assessment of product lifetime
extension strategies through repair in
the circular economy framework.
Application to electrical and
electronic equipment.
Supervisors: MD Bovea, V Pérez-Belis
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2024
Summary: This PhD thesis explores the role of self-repair in promoting circular economy strategies for small household electrical appliances, specifically electric kettles. It examines consumer perceptions against self-repair, consumer abilities and behaviors regarding self-repair, as well as regulatory and life cycle variables influencing product lifetime extension through self-repair. The research includes a survey on user repair perceptions, a hands-on workshop to assess user repair skills, and a model incorporating life cycle analysis to determine the life cycle variables that affect the environmental performance of self-repair.
ANDREA JORGE ORTIZ
Indicators for sustainability assessment of the sustainability of the residential building stock in Colombia. Case study: Mosquera.
Supervisors: M Braulio-Gonzalo, MD Bovea
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2024
Summary: The aim of this thesis is to propose a system of indicators to assess the sustainability of the residential building stock in Colombia, and to apply them in Mosquera as a case study, a representative municipality of the temperate and cold climates of the country. The main result of the research is the design and development of a tool for the environmental and socioeconomic assessment of the residential building stock, which integrates the urban and building scales, includes specific information of the region under study, and which is aligned with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methodologies.
CLARISA ALEJANDRINO
Methodological proposal for the selection of circular economy strategies in industrial organisations according to sustainability and circularity criteria.
Supervisors: I Mercante, MD Bovea
University: University of Cuyo (Argentina)
Defense date: 2023
Summary: The main objective of this thesis was to contribute to the incorporation of the circular economy (CE) in industrial organisations (IOs) by identifying and selecting CE strategies, and evaluating and prioritising them through contributions to circularity and environmental, economic and social impacts. In order to meet the objective, a proposal of techniques, procedures and tools was made to develop the methodology for the selection and prioritisation of CE strategies in IOs, applying it to a case study of an IO.
KAREN VALLS VAL
Proposal and communication of circular economy indicators in organisations.
Directors: MD Bovea, V Ibáñez-Forés
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2023
Summary: This thesis focuses on the evaluation, improvement and communication of the level of implementation of circular economy in organisations, proposing a series of circularity indicators and developing a communication tool oriented towards universities.
This thesis is developed in the framework of a pre-doctoral contract funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU18/02816).
MARTA BRAULIO GONZALO
Methodological proposal for the characterization of the passive energy performance of the existing building stock considering its urban context.
Supervisors: MD Bovea, MJ Rúa
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2016
Summary: This thesis proposed a methodology to characterise the passive energy performance of the existing residential building stock considering its urban context, making it possible to perform an energy diagnosis of consolidated urban areas and identify those with a higher degree of energy vulnerability. The methodology was implemented in the city of Castelló de la Plana and constitutes a support tool for local administrations for decision-making in urban regeneration processes.
VICTORIA PÉREZ BELIS
Incorporation of the environmental requirement in the life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment. Application to category 7 (toys)
Supervisor: MD Bovea
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2014
Summary: The objective of this thesis was to analyse the end of life of waste electrical and electronic equipment, in its category 7 (toys). For this purpose, a campaign focused on raising awareness and collecting unused toys was designed and implemented in order to obtain a representative sample of products belonging to this category, which were disassembled and characterised in the laboratory. From the information obtained, it was possible to make a proposals for ecodesign improvements and to design a communication tool based on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology, capable of making Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).
This thesis is developed in the framework of a pre-doctoral contract funded by the Universitat Jaume I.
IRMA MERCANTE
Development of an Inventory Model Applied to Construction and Demolition Waste Management. Evaluation of the environmental performance of management alternatives during their life cycle.
Supervisors: PA Arena, MD Bovea
University: Universidad de Cuyo (Argentina)
Defense date: 2014
Summary: The general objective of this thesis was to develop methodologies and tools that enabled an analysis, from a life cycle perspective, of the environmental performance of integrated management systems for Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) by applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. To this end, a procedure for obtaining CDW generation data was developed and the necessary elements for planning and evaluating an integrated CDW management system were identified and characterised.
VALERIA IBÁÑEZ FORÉS
Environmental Product Communication in the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive. Application to the ceramic sector.
Supervisor: MD Bovea
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2013
Summary: The thesis focused on the evaluation, improvement and communication of the sustainability of organisations, developing an environmental communication tool that enables the environmental profile of organisations in the ceramic sector to be obtained, as well as promoting the acquisition of environmental certifications and the incorporation of Best Available Techniques. In addition, a complete inventory of the life cycle of ceramic tiles was drawn up, based on primary data from companies from the ceramic cluster in the province of Castellón.
This thesis is developed in the framework of a pre-doctoral contract funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (BES-2009-014608).
SAMANTHA EUGENIA CRUZ SOTELO
Life Cycle Analysis and Artificial Intelligence tools in cell phone management
Supervisors: S Ojeda Benítez S, MD Bovea
University: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Mexico)
Date of defense: 2013
Summary: The general objective of this thesis was to apply Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques in the analysis of the product category “mobile phone”, taking into account the acquisition practices by users, and their use and end-of-life habits.
DAVID BERNAD BELTRÁN
Integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Application to the environmental assessment of household waste
Supervisor: MD Bovea
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Defense date: 2013
Summary: The objective of this thesis was the design of a methodology that enables the environmental assessment of multiple waste management scenarios in a structured way, using primary inventory data, capable of modelling complex scenarios and taking into account aspects that are dependent on the location of the waste management facilities. To this end, a software tool called GIS-LCA-WASTE was designed by integrating the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology within the functionalities offered by Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition, a method was defined to evaluate the impact category land use.
In progress
LAURA TORCA ADELL
Circularity and sustainability of electrical and electronic products: indicators, assessment scales and their communication.
Director: MD Bovea
University: Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Expected date of defence:: 2025
Summary: This thesis focuses on the product category of household hairdryers, as they are present in almost all Spanish households. It aims to identify the current attitude/aptitude of consumers to demand and satisfy the circularity requirements proposed by the circular economy framework and to identify the optimal way to communicate them. Through surveys and workshops, consumer views will be obtained and alternative design scenarios will be proposed and analysed from a circularity and sustainability perspective.
This thesis is developed in the framework of a pre-doctoral contract funded by the Generalitat Valenciana (CIACIF/2021/106).
EDUARDO BLANCO ESPELETA
Right to repair and its implementation from the early stages of product design. Application to small electrical and electronic equipment.
Directors: MD Bovea, V Pérez-Belis
University: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Spain)
Expected date of defence: 2026
Summary: This thesis focuses on electrical and electronic devices. From the review of the various existing methods of their reparability and the study of repairability criteria, a methodology is developed that makes it possible to consider and evaluate the reparability of these devices from the early stages of design.
This thesis is developed in the framework of a pre-doctoral contract funded by the Generalitat Valenciana (CIACIF/2021/141).