Jul 27, 2023·edited Jul 27, 2023Liked by Tony Maiorana
Nice post Tony and glad to see you back online.
It seems to me that a big component of the issues you describe center on life-cycle assessment (and its cousin, techno-economic assessment).
LCA is not trivial -- it's very sensitive to inputs. There aren't many people who know how to "do it right", and people often ignore or don't believe the results of LCA even when it is done right, because of preconceived notions, availability of funding in "sexy" areas, wishful thinking, the hammer / nail phenomenon, etc.
I think that if we got better at LCA and TEA (or started listening more to people who are good at it) we'd see that the impact of solutions based on new materials is negligible compared to what could be achieved with policy alone (e.g., mandating a certain standard for packaging to facilitate reuse, prohibiting the sale of certain kinds of intractable single-use plastics, etc.)
I agree with your assessment on LCA and TEA and as you say they are very sensitive to inputs. I also agree mostly with your concept on policy, but I think we need to go a step further back and standardize LCAs and TEAs so that the inputs/outputs are more reliable and widely accepted, especially if someone wants to claim, "carbon negative" or "carbon neutral." I think USDA is already doing some of this, but I think it needs to go further.
Laughing as a gen-Z that the acronym is TEA 🫖 but serious question, how would you suggest teaching people like me learn the skill? Are there industry specific principles or any good books?
this is sooooooo cool tony. been following you since the time u reposted the nuclear article in like 2020 and look where I am now! writing my own content and giving back! I followed you on twitter :) if you have a moment to answer the pinned tweet do so for me. Thanks.
Another first class post! Thanks for doing this -- you're providing a valuable service!
Nice post Tony and glad to see you back online.
It seems to me that a big component of the issues you describe center on life-cycle assessment (and its cousin, techno-economic assessment).
LCA is not trivial -- it's very sensitive to inputs. There aren't many people who know how to "do it right", and people often ignore or don't believe the results of LCA even when it is done right, because of preconceived notions, availability of funding in "sexy" areas, wishful thinking, the hammer / nail phenomenon, etc.
I think that if we got better at LCA and TEA (or started listening more to people who are good at it) we'd see that the impact of solutions based on new materials is negligible compared to what could be achieved with policy alone (e.g., mandating a certain standard for packaging to facilitate reuse, prohibiting the sale of certain kinds of intractable single-use plastics, etc.)
What do you think?
I agree with your assessment on LCA and TEA and as you say they are very sensitive to inputs. I also agree mostly with your concept on policy, but I think we need to go a step further back and standardize LCAs and TEAs so that the inputs/outputs are more reliable and widely accepted, especially if someone wants to claim, "carbon negative" or "carbon neutral." I think USDA is already doing some of this, but I think it needs to go further.
Laughing as a gen-Z that the acronym is TEA 🫖 but serious question, how would you suggest teaching people like me learn the skill? Are there industry specific principles or any good books?
I wish I knew what TEA meant for Gen Z (I honestly haven't a clue -- I'm Gen X and also not American)
Unfortunately I don't know where one learns it per se. I don't know it. But I'm fortunate to be able to work with people (chemical engineers) who do.
this is sooooooo cool tony. been following you since the time u reposted the nuclear article in like 2020 and look where I am now! writing my own content and giving back! I followed you on twitter :) if you have a moment to answer the pinned tweet do so for me. Thanks.
what's your twitter name?
'tis @Aneka Mulgund I think. I like Medium too though. Currently writing up deep thoughts on the Barbie movie + its implications on society.
also, are you based closed to SF? trying to familiarize myself with US geography lol.
Glad to have you posting again!