LAPSE:2025.0238
Published Article
LAPSE:2025.0238
Superstructure as a Communication Tool in Pre-Emptive Life Cycle Design Engaging Society: Findings from Case Studies on Battery Chemicals, Plastics, and Regional Resources
June 27, 2025
Abstract
Emerging technologies require sophisticated design and optimization due to their rapid advancement and potential to alter material flows and life cycles. However, their future development remains uncertain due to sociotechnical factors such as regulations, infrastructure, and market dynamics. Multiple technologies are often considered simultaneously, but their interactions and synergies are not systematically evaluated. This study addresses pre-emptive life cycle design in social challenges by integrating emerging technologies into superstructures, which help visualize alternative candidates for design problems. Case studies on battery chemistry, plastics, and regional resource circulation demonstrate this approach. For battery technology, nickel-manganese-cobalt lithium batteries have dominated over lithium iron phosphate alternatives. Superstructures were developed to assess recycling technologies and were refined through communication with managers of Japanese national battery projects. In plastics, system designs integrating biomass-derived and recycled carbon sources were explored, and scenario planning with life cycle assessment (LCA) was shared with stakeholders. Regional resource circulation was studied through technological integration and local stakeholder engagement, leading to demonstration tests. Findings suggest that superstructures and technology assessments enhance understanding of applicable technologies and their trade-offs. Given the critical role of social acceptance in technology implementation, computer-aided process engineering (CAPE) tools should facilitate discussions on socio-technical and socio-economic aspects of process systems engineering.
Emerging technologies require sophisticated design and optimization due to their rapid advancement and potential to alter material flows and life cycles. However, their future development remains uncertain due to sociotechnical factors such as regulations, infrastructure, and market dynamics. Multiple technologies are often considered simultaneously, but their interactions and synergies are not systematically evaluated. This study addresses pre-emptive life cycle design in social challenges by integrating emerging technologies into superstructures, which help visualize alternative candidates for design problems. Case studies on battery chemistry, plastics, and regional resource circulation demonstrate this approach. For battery technology, nickel-manganese-cobalt lithium batteries have dominated over lithium iron phosphate alternatives. Superstructures were developed to assess recycling technologies and were refined through communication with managers of Japanese national battery projects. In plastics, system designs integrating biomass-derived and recycled carbon sources were explored, and scenario planning with life cycle assessment (LCA) was shared with stakeholders. Regional resource circulation was studied through technological integration and local stakeholder engagement, leading to demonstration tests. Findings suggest that superstructures and technology assessments enhance understanding of applicable technologies and their trade-offs. Given the critical role of social acceptance in technology implementation, computer-aided process engineering (CAPE) tools should facilitate discussions on socio-technical and socio-economic aspects of process systems engineering.
Record ID
Keywords
Co-creation, Life Cycle Assessment, Policy making, Scenario planning, Social engagement
Subject
Suggested Citation
Kikuchi Y, Yamaki A, Heiho A, Nakatani J, Fujii S, Daigo I, Tokoro C, Murakami S, Ohara S. Superstructure as a Communication Tool in Pre-Emptive Life Cycle Design Engaging Society: Findings from Case Studies on Battery Chemicals, Plastics, and Regional Resources. Systems and Control Transactions 4:540-545 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.110456
Author Affiliations
Kikuchi Y: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Chemical System Engineering, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for Platinum Society,
Yamaki A: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Heiho A: the University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for Platinum Society, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Tokyo City University, Department of Environmental Management and Sustainability, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nakatani J: the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Civil Engineering, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Fujii S: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Daigo I: the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Tokoro C: Waseda University, Department of Creative Science and Engineering, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Systems Innovation, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Murakami S: the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Technology Management for Innovation, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Ohara S: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for Platinum Society, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Megu
Yamaki A: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Heiho A: the University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for Platinum Society, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Tokyo City University, Department of Environmental Management and Sustainability, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nakatani J: the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Civil Engineering, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Fujii S: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Daigo I: the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Tokoro C: Waseda University, Department of Creative Science and Engineering, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Systems Innovation, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Murakami S: the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Department of Technology Management for Innovation, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Ohara S: the University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for Platinum Society, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; the University of Tokyo, UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, Megu
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
540
Last Page
545
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 0540-0545-1470-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2025.0238
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https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.110456
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Jun 27, 2025
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References Cited
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