Example environment dissertation topic 10:

Increasing the environmental life cycle: The repair, recycling and reuse of student desks and beds and its environmental impact. A University of Northampton case-study.

The short life cycle of many products has helped lead to a throw-away society. Focusing on the HE sector and two products (desks and beds, including mattresses) this dissertation firstly carries out a cost analysis and life cycle assessment with regard to the present replacement costs experienced by the University of Northampton. Though much research has been carried out relating to waste management, less has been carried out with regard to the environmental and cost benefits of repair and reuse – and it is this gap in the existing literature that this dissertation addresses.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Asiedu, Y. and Gu, P. (1998). ‘Product life cycle cost analysis: State of the art review’, International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 36(4), pp. 883-908.
• Bromhead, A. (2010). A report on designing office furniture to aid remanufacture. Aylesbury: Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse.
• Spitzley, D.V., Dietz, B.A. and Keoleian, G.A. (2006). Life-cycle assessment of office furniture products. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.