Bernhard Steubing
Associate professor
- Name
- Dr. B.R.P. Steubing
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 1495
- b.r.p.steubing@cml.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-1307-6376
In 2015 Bernhard joined CML at Leiden University as a tenure-track assistant professor, however, first embarked on a year of sailing across the Atlantic. In 2022 Bernhard completed his tenure track.
Professional experience
Bernhard Steubing works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Ecology at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) at Leiden University. Bernhard specializes on the further development of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and related methods and applies these to answer sustainability-related questions in energy, electric mobility, the built environment, and other areas. Currently, he dedicates much effort to the advancement of data, methods, and open software for future-oriented, i.e. prospective (or ex-ante) LCA, to provide decision support for the transition to a more circular and sustainable economy. Bernhard has received his PhD from EPFL on the availability and optimal use of biomass for bioenergy, while working at Empa. During his PostDoc at ETH Zurich, he coordinated a project on the optimal environmental use of wood resources and was part of the ecoinvent expert group. He then also started the development of the open source LCA software Activity Browser.
In 2015 Bernhard joined CML at Leiden University as a tenure-track assistant professor, however, first embarked on a year of sailing across the Atlantic. In 2022 Bernhard completed his tenure track.
Research topic
- Prospective LCA, e.g. the development of future background scenarios
- Advanced modeling approaches for LCA, e.g. modular LCA and the inclusion of background scenarios via the Activity Browser
- Electric mobility and batteries
- Built environment
- Energy
- Carbon Capture and Use (CCU)
- Wood, biomass, bio-economy
- Life Cycle Inventory Databases
Open source software tools
- Activity Browser
- Other contributions on GitHub
A complete overview of the publications of Bernhard's work - including publications before CML - can be found here: Google Scholar and Scopus.
Associate professor
- Science
- Centrum voor Milieuwetenschappen Leiden
- CML/Industriele Ecologie
- Zhang S., Steubing B.R.P., Karlsson Potter H., Hansson P. & Nordberg Å. (2024), Future climate impacts of sodium-ion batteries, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 202: 107362.
- Arvidsson R., Svanström M., Sandén B.A., Thonemann N., Steubing B.R.P. & Cucurachi S. (2024), Terminology for future-oriented life cycle assessment: review and recommendations, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 29: 607-613.
- Wei S.J., Sacchi R., Tukker A., Suh S. & Steubing B.R.P. (2024), Future environmental impacts of global hydrogen production, Energy & Environmental Science 17(6): 2157-2172.
- Lian Z., Siebler F., Steubing B.R.P., Jesorka A., Barbarossa V., Wang R., Leo K., Sen I. & Cucurachi S (2024), Quantifying the present and future environmental sustainability of cleanrooms, Cell Reports Sustainability 1(9): 100219.
- Eltohamy H., Oers L.F.C.M. van, Lindholm J., Raugei M., Lokesh K., Baars J., Husmann J., Hill N., Istrate I.R., Jose D., Tegstedt F., Beylot A., Menegazzi P., Guinee J.B. & Steubing B.R.P. (2024), Review of current practices of life cycle assessment in electric mobility: a first step towards method harmonization, Sustainable Production and Consumption 52: 299-313.
- SpreaficoC., Thonemann N., Pizzol M., Arvidsson R., Steubing B., Cucurachi S., Cardellini G. & Spreafico M. (2024), Using patents to support prospective life cycle assessment: opportunities and limitations, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment : .
- Tsoy N., Steubing B.R.P. & Guinée J.B. (2023), Ex-ante life cycle assessment of polyols using carbon captured from industrial process gas, Green Chemistry 25(14): 5526-5538.
- Langkau S., Steubing B.R.P., Mutel C., Ajie Permana M., Erdmann L., Voglhuber-Slavinsky A. & Janssen M. (2023), A stepwise approach for Scenario-based Inventory Modelling for Prospective LCA (SIMPL), The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 28: 1168-1193.
- Steubing B.R.P., Mendoza Beltran A. & Sacchi R. (2023), Conditions for the broad application of prospective life cycle inventory databases, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 28: 1092-1103.
- Mae B., Sacchi R., Steubing B., Pizzol M., Audenaert A., Craeye B. & Buyle M. (2023), Prospective consequential life cycle assessment: identifying the future marginal suppliers using integrated assessment models, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 188: 113830.
- Saavedra del Oso M., Mauricio-Iglesias M., Hospido A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2023), Prospective LCA to provide environmental guidance for developing waste-to-PHA biorefineries, Journal of Cleaner Production 383: 135331.
- Georgiades M., Shah I.H., Steubing B.R.P., Cheeseman C. & Meyers R.J. (2023), Prospective life cycle assessment of European cement production, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 194: 106998.
- Ding T., Steubing B.R.P. & Achter W.M.J. (2023), Coupling optimization with territorial LCA to support agricultural land-use planning, Journal of Environmental Management 328: 116946.
- Li C., Coolen J.W.P., Scherer L., Mogollón J.M., Braeckman U., Vanaverbeke J., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2023), Offshore wind energy and marine biodiversity in the North Sea: life cycle impact assessment for benthic communities, Environmental Science and Technology 57(16): 6455-6464.
- Harpprecht C.I., Miranda Xicotencatl B., Nielen S.S. van, Meide M.T. van der, Li C., Li Z. & Steubing B.R.P. (2023), Future environmental impacts of metals: a review of impact trends, modelling approaches and challenges. [conference poster].
- Xu C., Behrens P.A., Gasper P., Smith K., Hu M., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2023), Electric vehicle batteries alone could satisfy short-term grid storage demand by as early as 2030, Nature Communications 14: 119.
- Cucurachi S., Blanco Rocha C.F., Steubing B.R.P. & Heijungs R. (2022), Implementation of uncertainty analysis and moment‐independent global sensitivity analysis for full‐scale life cycle assessment models, Journal of Industrial Ecology 26(2): 374-391.
- Yang X., Hu M., Tukker A., Zhang C., Huo T.F. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), A bottom-up dynamic building stock model for residential energy transition: a case study for the Netherlands, Applied Energy 306(Part A): 118060.
- Yang X., Hu M., Zhang C. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Key strategies for decarbonizing the residential building stock: results from a spatiotemporal model for Leiden, the Netherlands, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 184: 106388.
- Yang X., Hu M., Zhang C. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Urban mining potential to reduce primary material use and carbon emissions in the Dutch residential building sector, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 180: 106215.
- Dong D., Tukker A., Steubing B.R.P., Oers L.F.C.M. van, Rechberger H., Aguilar Hernandez G.A., Li H. & Voet E. van der (2022), Assessing China’s potential for reducing primary copper demand and associated environmental impacts in the context of energy transition and “Zero waste” policies, Waste Management 144: 454-467.
- Xu C., Steubing B.R.P., Hu M., Harpprecht C.I., Meide M.T. van der & Tukker A. (2022), Future greenhouse gas emissions of automotive lithium-ion battery cell production, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 187: 106606.
- Meide M.T. van der, Harpprecht C.I., Northey S., Yang Y.X. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Effects of the energy transition on environmental impacts of cobalt supply: a prospective life cycle assessment study on future supply of cobalt, Journal of Industrial Ecology 26(5): 1631-1645.
- Li C., Mogollón J.M., Tukker A., Dong J., Terzi D. von, Zhang C. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Future material requirements for global sustainable offshore wind energy development, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 164: 112603.
- Steubing B.R.P., Koning A. de, Merciai S. & Tukker A. (2022), How do carbon footprints from LCA and EEIOA databases compare?: A comparison of ecoinvent and EXIOBASE, Journal of Industrial Ecology 26(4): 1406-1422.
- Xu C., Dai Q., Gaines L., Hu M., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Reply to: concerns about global phosphorus demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries in the light electric vehicle sector, Communications Materials 3(1): 15 (15).
- Xu C., Dai Q., Gaines L., Hu M., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Author correction: reply to: concerns about global phosphorus demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries in the light electric vehicle sector, Communications Materials 3(1): 36 (36).
- Harpprecht C.I., Naegler T., Steubing B.R.P., Tukker A. & Simon S. (2022), Decarbonization scenarios for the iron and steel industry in context of a sectoral carbon budget: Germany as a case study, Journal of Cleaner Production 380(2): 134846.
- Li C., Mogollón J.M., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2022), Environmental impacts of global offshore wind energy development until 2040, Environmental Science and Technology 56(16): 11567-11577.
- Harpprecht C.I., Naegler T., Steubing B.R.P. & Sacchi R. (2022), Prospective life cycle assessment of the electricity-based primary steel production technology of electrowinning. SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting, Copenhagen. 15 May 2022 - 19 May 2022. [conference poster].
- Siguenza Sanchez C.P., Steubing B.R.P., Tukker A. & Aguilar Hernandez G.A. (2021), The environmental and material implications of circular transitions: a diffusion and product-life-cycle-based modeling framework, Journal of Industrial Ecology 25(3): 563-579.
- Collis J., Strunge T., Steubing B.R.P., Zimmermann A. & Schomacker R. (2021), Deriving economic potential and GHG emissions of steel mill gas for chemical industry, Frontiers in Energy Research 9: 642162.
- Rajaeifar A.M., Raugei M., Steubing B.R.P., Hartwell A., Anderson A.P. & Heidrich O. (2021), Life cycle assessment of lithium‐ion battery recycling using pyrometallurgical technologies, Journal of Industrial Ecology 25(6): 1560-1571.
- Ottelin J., Amiri A., Steubing B.R.P. & Junnila S. (2021), Comparative carbon footprint analysis of residents of wooden and non-wooden houses in Finland, Environmental Research Letters 16(7): 074006.
- Adrianto L.R., Hulst M.K. van der, Tokaya J.P., Arvidsson R., Blanco Rocha C.F., Caldeira C., Guillén-Gonsálbez G., Sala S., Steubing B.R.P., Buyle M., Kaddoura M., Navarre N.H., Pedneault J., Pizzol M., Salieri B., Harmelen T. van & Hauck M. (2021), How can LCA include prospective elements to assess emerging technologies and system transitions? : The 76th LCA discussion forum on life cycle assessment, 19 November 2020, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 26(8): 1541-1544.
- Steubing B.R.P. & Koning D.G. de (2021), Making the use of scenarios in LCA easier: the superstructure approach, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 26: 2248-2262.
- Harpprecht C.I., Oers L.F.C.M. van, Northey S.A., Yang Y. & Steubing B.R.P. (2021), Environmental impacts of key metals' supply and low‐carbon technologies are likely to decrease in the future, Journal of Industrial Ecology 25(6): 1543-1559.
- Zhong X., Hu M., Deetman S.P., Steubing B.R.P., Lin H., Aguilar Hernandez G.A., Harpprecht C.I., Zhang C., Tukker A. & Behrens P.A. (2021), Global greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial building materials and mitigation strategies to 2060, Nature Communications 12: 6126.
- Tallentire C.W. & Steubing B.R.P. (2020), The environmental benefits of improving packaging waste collection in Europe, Waste Management 103: 426-436.
- Steubing B.R.P., Koning D.G. de, Haas A. & Mutel C.L. (2020), The Activity Browser — An open source LCA software building on top of the brightway framework, Software Impacts 3: 100012.
- Tsoy N., Steubing B.R.P., Giesen C.C. van der & Guinée J.B. (2020), Upscaling methods used in ex ante life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: a review, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 25(9): 1680-1692.
- Xu C., Dai Q., Gaines L., Hu M., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2020), Future material demand for automotive lithium-based batteries, Communications Materials 1: 99.
- Yang X., Hu M., Heeren N., Zhang C., Verhagen T.J., Tukker A. & Steubing B.R.P. (2020), A combined GIS-archetype approach to model residential space heating energy: a case study for the Netherlands including validation, Applied Energy 280: 115953.
- Amatuni L., Ottelin J., Steubing B. & Mogollon J.M. (2020), Does car sharing reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Assessing the modal shift and lifetime shift rebound effects from a life cycle perspective, Journal of Cleaner Production 266: 121869.
- Steubing B.R.P., Koning D.G. de, Haas A. & Mutel C.L. (2020), The Activity Browser : an open source LCA software building on top of the brightway framework, Software Impacts 3: 100012.
- Mehr J., Vadenbo C., Steubing B. & Hellweg S. (2018), Environmentally optimal wood use in Switzerland-Investigating the relevance of material cascades, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 131: 181-191.
- Froemelt A., Mauchle M., Steubing B. & Hellweg S. (2018), Greenhouse Gas Emissions Quantification and Reduction Efforts in a Rural Municipality, Journal of Industrial Ecology 22(1): 92-105.
- Mehr J., Vadenbo C., Steubing B.R.P. & Hellweg S. (2018), Environmentally optimal wood use in Switzerland—Investigating the relevance of material cascades, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 131: 181-191.
- Steubing B.R.P., Mutel C., Suter F. & Hellweg S. (2016), Streamlining scenario analysis and optimization of key choices in value chains using a modular LCA approach, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 21(4): 510-522.
- Steubing B.R.P., Wernet G., Reinhard J., Bauer C. & Moreno-Ruiz E. (2016), The ecoinvent database version 3 (part II): analyzing LCA results and comparison to version 2, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 21(9): 1269-1281.
- Wernet G., Bauer C., Steubing B., Reinhard J., Moreno-Ruiz E. & Weidema B. (2016), The ecoinvent database version 3 (part I): overview and methodology, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 21(9): 1218-1230.
- Suter F., Steubing B.R.P. & Hellweg S. (2016), Life Cycle Impacts and Benefits of Wood along the Value Chain: The Case of Switzerland, Journal of Industrial Ecology 21(4): 874-886.
- Wernet G., Bauer C., Steubing B.R.P., Reinhard J., Moreno-Ruiz E. & Weidema B. (2016), The ecoinvent database version 3 (part I): overview and methodology, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 21(9): 1218-1230.
- Heeren N., Mutel C.L., Steubing B.R.P., Ostermeyer Y., Wallbaum H. & Hellweg S. (2015), Environmental impact of buildings: what matters?, Environmental Science and Technology 49(16): 9832-9841.
- Höglmeier K., Steubing B.R.P., Weber-Blaschke G. & Richter K. (2015), LCA-based optimization of wood utilization under special consideration of a cascading use of wood, Journal of Environmental Management 152: 158-170.
- Pauliuk S., Majeau-Bettez G., Mutel C.L., Steubing B.R.P. & Stadler K. (2015), Lifting industrial ecology modeling to a new level of quality and transparency: a call for more transparent publications and a collaborative open source software framework, Journal of Industrial Ecology 19(6): 937-949.
- Steubing B.R.P., Suter F., Heeren N., Chaudhary A., Ostermeyer Y. & Hellweg S. (2015), Welches sind die ökologischsten Holzverwendungen?, Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 166(5): 335-338.
- Steubing B.R.P., Suter F., Heeren N., Chaudhary A., Ostermeyer Y. & Hellweg S. (2015), Welches sind die ökologischsten Holzverwendungen?, Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 166(5): 335-338.
- Steubing B.R.P., Ballmer I., Gassner M., Gerber L., Pampuri L., Bischof S., Thees O. & Zah R. (2014), Identifying environmentally and economically optimal bioenergy plant sizes and locations: a spatial model of wood-based SNG value chains, Renewable Energy 61: 57-68.
- Saner D., Vadenbo C., Steubing B.R.P. & Hellweg S. (2014), Regionalized LCA-based optimization of building energy supply: method and case study for a Swiss municipality, Environmental Science and Technology 48(13): 7651-7659.
- Kostadinov F., Holm S., Steubing B.R.P., Thees O. & Lemm R. (2014), Simulation of a Swiss wood fuel and roundwood market: an explorative study in agent-based modeling, Forest Policy and Economics 38: 105-118.
- Steubing B.R.P. (2013), Die Ökobilanz der energetischen Holzverwertung: Faktoren für einen hohen ökologischen Nutzen, Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 164(12): 408-419.
- Steubing B.R.P. (2013), Die Ökobilanz der energetischen Holzverwertung: Faktoren für einen hohen ökologischen Nutzen = Life cycle assessment of wood energy: Factors for high ecological benefits, Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 164(12): 408-419.
- Steubing B.R.P., Zah R. & Ludwig C. (2012), Heat, electricity, or transportation? The optimal use of residual and waste biomass in Europe from an environmental eerspective, Environmental Science and Technology 46(1): 164-171.
- Kostadinov F., Steubing B.R.P. & Holm S. (2012), Vorgehen zur agentenbasierten Modellierung eines schweizerischen Waldenergieholzmarktes, Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 163(10): 422-431.
- Kostadinov F., Steubing B.R.P. & Holm S. (2012), Vorgehen zur agentenbasierten Modellierung eines schweizerischen Waldenergieholzmarktes = Procedure to develop an agent-based model of a Swiss forest wood fuel market, Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 163(10): 422-431.
- Steubing B.R.P., Zah R. & Ludwig C. (2011), Life cycle assessment of SNG from wood for heating, electricity, and transportation, Biomass and Bioenergy 35(7): 2950-2960.
- Steubing B.R.P., Zah R., Waeger P. & Ludwig C. (2010), Bioenergy in Switzerland: assessing the domestic sustainable biomass potential, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14(8): 2256-2265.
- Steubing B.R.P., Böni H., Schluep M., Silva U. & Ludwig C. (2010), Assessing computer waste generation in Chile using material flow analysis, Waste Management 30(3): 473-482.
- Arkhangelsky E., Steubing B.R.P., Ben-Dov E., Kushmaro A. & Gitis V. (2008), Influence of pH and ionic strength on transmission of plasmid DNA through ultrafiltration membranes, Desalination 227(1-3): 111-119.
- Steubing B.R.P., Ludwig C., Böni H. & Silva U. (2008), E-waste generation in Chile: Analysis of the generation of computer waste using material flow analysis. Mishra B. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2008 Global Symposium on Recycling, Waste Treatment and Clean Technology, REWAS 2008. 2008 Global Symposium on Recycling, Waste Treatment and Clean Technology, REWAS 2008 12 October 2008 - 15 October 2008: TMS - Minerals Metals and Materials Society. 639-645.
- Consultancy and software services around environmental sustainability assessment