Applying Life Cycle Assessments to the Wooden Barrel Industry

Join ACIA for an introduction into Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and how it can be leveraged for our members in the barrel industry. John Beath Environmental (JBE) will review what an LCA is, its uses specific to our industry, and an overview of the proposed project exclusively for ACIA members. 

JBE will provide an introduction to an LCA, including its fundamental principles, common applications, market uses and the role of industry-wide LCA studies. An overview of the proposed industry-average LCA for Wood Barrels project will be given, along with a discussion on how the data generated can be leveraged by both the ACIA and individual manufacturers. The specific data needs for LCA will then be addressed, with a focus on the types of data required, collection procedures, and the presentation of industry average data. Additionally, data privacy concerns and the importance of NDAs will be discussed. The session will conclude with a Q&A segment, where any questions will be answered.

***Note that this is a MEMBER-ONLY event.***

PRESENTERS:

Sevda Alanya Rosenbaum, Senior Sustainability Consultant, John Beath Environmental

Sevda has a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources both earned at the Villanova University. Her academic focus centered on optimizing biological processes, specifically in sludge handling, anaerobic processes, and biofuel production from waste, with the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to these systems. As an ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow, Sevda spent five years conducting research and developing LCAs for various wood products, including industry-average LCAs for engineered wood products and forest residue utilization systems. Sevda was also involved in the development of industry-average EPDs and PCRs for wooden pallets.

With over 7 years of dedicated research in life cycle assessment and approximately 3 years of hands-on consulting experience in LCA analysis and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) development, Sevda also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Sevda's expertise spans various supply chains, encompassing forest-based products, biosolids management systems, flooring products, and consumer goods.

Brandie Sebastian, Technical Director/Senior LCA Strategist, John Beath Environmental

Brandie is JBE’s Technical Director and Senior LCA Strategist where she supports the technical execution of LCA projects in accordance with ISO standards, LCA thought leadership, training, and mentoring across the company. She has over 17 years of technical sustainability experience in both industry and consulting with expertise in conducting, managing, and serving as a critical reviewer for LCA, carbon footprint, and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) projects. Her sector experience includes materials manufacturing, packaging, construction, transport, consumer products, and healthcare. She also has experience serving on ISO and ASTM sustainability standards development committees.

Brandie is an LCA Certified Professional (LCACP) through the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA). She served as the Vice Chair/Secretary of the ACLCA Board from 2014-2022 and is now the co-chair of ACLCA’s Policy Committee. She previously served on the Board of the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute from 2014-2019. She holds a Master’s degree in Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from Penn State University.

ABOUT JBE

John Beath Environmental LLC (JBE) was founded in early 2015 based on John Beath’s thirty-plus years of environmental and sustainability experience in industry and consulting. Their broad sector experience includes: upstream and downstream oil and gas, manufacturing, waste management, alternative energy, financial services, food and beverage, pulp and paper, healthcare, specialty chemicals, transportation, petrochemical, aviation, technology, utility/power, pharmaceuticals, dairy, and agriculture. Learn more at https://www.beath.us.