Nora Munguia¹, Clara Rosalia Alvarez¹, Rafael Perez¹, Alma Flores¹, Francisco Martinez², Luis Velazquez¹

Show more
¹ Sustainability Graduate Program, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico.
² Institute of Agro-Livestock Sciences, Autonomous University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico.
Show less

Abstract: This article presents a study of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at a slaughterhouse located in north-western Mexico with the purpose of testing the premise of a low degree of institutionalization of Industrial Ecology in Mexico. The article aims at analyzing the current role played by the Mexican academia in increasing the degree of institutionalization of the concept of LCA in northwestern Mexico. There was conducted a life cycle analysis study according to the standards ISO 14040: 2006, NMX-SAA-14040-IMNC-2008NOM in a Federally Inspected Type (TIF by Spanish acronym) Slaughterhouse in the state of Sonora in Northwest Mexico. The slaughter process was characterized by observing the production tasks during several walkthroughs the production lines and by having short interviews with workers, supervisors, and the manager. The CH4 emissions were calculated using the guidelines suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2006). The present LCA case study revealed opportunities for improving the environmental performance of the slaughterhouse by taking measures such as the reduction of CH4 from enteric fermentation since methane was one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. Although, the LCA generated reliable information in terms of climate change or water eutrophication, the chances of implementing sustainable initiatives were unlikely because the benefits to reduce the impacts to climate change or to reduce the water crisis would be unnoticeable and unaffordable for companies. Findings in this study also confirmed the importance of Mexican universities for promoting and conducting more LCA studies among private and public organizations in order to guide firms towards this tool. The case study here presented gives insights to LCA stakeholders in Mexico to implement or improve the effectiveness of their potential LCA initiatives through the identification of strategies, opportunities, and barriers.

Keywords: Institutionalization, Academia, LCA, Sustainability, Slaughterhouse, Mexico

Cite this paper: Munguia, N. , Alvarez, C. , Perez, R. , Flores, A. , Martinez, F. and Velazquez, L. (2015) The Institutionalization of Life Cycle Assessment in Mexico. Journal of Environmental Protection, 6, 804-812. doi: 10.4236/jep.2015.68073.

References

[1]   Allenby, B.R. (1999) Industrial Ecology: Framework and Implementation. 1st Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.

[2]   Baas, L. (2005) Cleaner Production and Industrial Ecology: Dynamic Aspects of the Introduction and Dissemination of New Concepts in Industrial Practice. Eburon Academic Publishers, Rotterdam, Delft.

[3]   Boons, F. and W. Spekkink, W. (2012) Levels of Institutional Capacity and Actor Expectations about Industrial Symbiosis. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 16, 61-69.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00432.x

[4]   Hertwich, E.G., Hammitt, J.K. and Pease, W.S. (2000) A Theoretical Foundation for Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 4, 13-28.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/108819800569267

[5]   Hawkins, T.R. and Matthews, D.H. (2009) A Classroom Simulation to Teach Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 13, 622-637.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2009.00148.x

[6]   Valderrama, C., Granados, R., Cortina, J.L., Gasol, C.M., Guillem, M. and Josa, A. (2012) Implementation of Best Available Techniques in Cement Manufacturing: A Life-Cycle Assessment Study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 25, 60-67.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.11.055

[7]   Cambria, D. and Pierangeli, D. (2012) Application of a Life cycle Assessment to Walnut Tree (Junglans regia L.) High Quality Wood Production: A Case Study in Southern Italy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 27, 37-46.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.031

[8]   Upadhyayula, V.K., Meyer, D.E., Curran, M.A. and Gonzalez, M.A. (2012) Life Cycle Assessment as a Tool to Enhance the Environmental Performance of Carbon Nanotube Products: A Review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 26, 37-47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.018

[9]   Uihlein, A., Ehrenberger, S. and Schebek, L. (2008) Utilisation Options of Renewable Resources: A Life Cycle Assessment of Selected Products. Journal of Cleaner Production, 6, 1306-1320.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.06.009

[10]   Pere, F.P., Puig, R., Bala, A., Baquero, G., Riba, J. and Raugei, M. (2011) From Life Cycle Assessment to Life Cycle Management: A Case Study on Industrial Waste Management Policy Making. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 15, 458-475.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00338.x

[11]   Ziegler, F., Emanuelsson, A., Eichelsheim, J.L., Flysjö, A., Ndiaye, V. and Thrane, M. (2011) Extended Life Cycle Assessment of Southern Pinl Shrimp Products Originating in Senegalese Artisanal and Industrial Fisheries for Export. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 15, 527-538.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00344.x

[12]   Blengini, G.A. (2008) Applying LCA to Organic Waste Management in Piedmont, Italy. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 19, 533-549.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777830810894229

[13]   Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2006) CO4 Emissions from Enteric Fermentation.
http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gp/bgp/4_1_CH4_Enteric_Fermentation.pdf

[14]   Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2012) Emission Factors for Criteria Pollutants and Greenhouse Gases from Natural Gas combustion.
http://www.epa.gov/ttnchie1/ap42/ch01/final/c01s04.pdf

[15]   Mexican Calculator of CO2 (2012).
http://www.calculatusemisiones.com/resultado.php

[16]   Chacón, D., Giner, M.E., Vázquez, M., Maldonado, J.A., Roe, S.M. and Anderson, R. (2010) Emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en Sonora y proyecciones de casos de referencia. [Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in Sonora and Reference Case Projections]
http://www.cocef.org/uploads/files/inventario_emisiones_gei_sonora_junio_2010.pdf

[17]   Quevauviller, P. (2011) Adapting to Climate Change: Reducing Water-Related Risks in Europe-EU Policy and Research Considerations. Environmental Science & Policy, 14, 722-729.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2011.02.008

[18]   Molden, D., Oweis, T., Steduto, P., Bindraban, P., Hanjra, M.A. and Kijne, J. (2010) Improving Agricultural Water Productivity: Between Optimism and Caution. Agricultural Water Management, 97, 528-535.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.03.023

[19]   Ridoutt, B.G., Sanguansri, P., Nolan, M. and Marks, N. (2011) Meat Consumption and Water Scarcity: Beware of Generalizations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 28, 127-133.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.027

[20]   Makki, A.A., Stewart, R.A., Panuwatwanich, K. and Beal, C. (2011) Revealing the Determinants of Shower Water End Use Consumption: Enabling Better Targeted Urban Water Conservation Strategies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 60, 129-146.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.08.007

[21]   Heiskanen, E. (2001) Institutionalization of Life Cycle Thinking in the Everyday Discourse of Market Actors. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 4, 31-45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/10881980052541936

[22]   Suh, S., Weidema, B., Schmidt, J.H. and Heijungs, R. (2010) Generalized Make and Use Framework for Allocation in Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 14, 335-353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2010.00235.x

[23]   Altintas, M.M., Vontris, D., Kaufmann, H.R. and Alon, I. (2011) Internationalization Market Forces and Domestic Sectorial Institutionalization. European Business Review, 23, 215-235.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09555341111111228

[24]   Cohen, M.J. and Howard, J. (2006) Success and Its Price: The Institutionalization and Political Relevance of Industrial Ecology. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 10, 79-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/108819806775545394

[25]   Morrison, A. (2000) Entrepreneurship: What Triggers It? International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 6, 59-71.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13552550010335976

[26]   Gibb, A.A. (1996) Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Can We Afford to Neglect Them in the Twenty-First Century Business School? British Journal Management, 7, 309-321.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.1996.tb00121.x

[27]   Velazquez, L.E., Munguia, N., Navarrete, M.A. and Zavala, A. (2006) An Overview of Sustainability Practices at the Maquiladora Industry in Mexico. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 17, 478-489.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777830610670535