Johan Berg Pettersen
+4793809682
E4-138 Realfagbygget Gløshaugen, Trondheim
Research
Sustainable consumption and production is to "provide more and better with less. It is to increase utility and at the same time reduce environmental impacts, improve resource effectiveness, and promote more sustainable ways of living".
My research activity aims to evaluate and guide measures towards sustainable production and consumption. We make use of life cycle-based assessment methods to evaluate solutions for technology and society. This can be called circular and life cycle engineering.
Within consumption we investigate household consumption of durable goods and possible ways to extend their lifetime, and how the waste management system for municipal solid waste needs to develop in a circular economy. This research is a collaboration with Sintef Energy, and Consumption research Norway (SIFO). I have a particular interest in textiles as examples of consumption. Our practices of buying and using clothes show the complexity in lifetime extension and material efficiency measures. I co-lead Team Plastic, one of the strategic initiatives under NTNU Health and Life Sciences, where we investigate the use of plastic in society and how plastic pollution impacts people, animals, plants, and the environment.
Within production we work with particularly with sustainable metallurgy. We evaluate alternative metal process options for silicon, and waste valorization routes connected with metal and mineral wastes. A grand challenge for sustainable production of metals is to link industrial transformation with the required energy and climate transition. This activity is a collaboration with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and international partners. The research is conducted within FME ZeMe, a collaborative interdisciplinary research center for zero emission metal production where I lead the research area environmental and sustainability framework.
Indigenous perspectives and a fair and equitable development is critical to sustainable transition. I am very proud to be co-leading Team Saepmie, where we build an inclusive and interdisciplinary network for research and education activity toward Sámi topics. Team Saepmie is a strategic initiative under NTNU Community.
I am part of the Industrial Ecology Programme, a large interdisciplinary research programme specialized in environmental sustainability analysis.
FME ZemMe
FME ZeMe - Zero Emissions Metal Production, develops fundamental knowledge and technologies needed by the Norwegian metallurgical industry to become climate neutral (2025-2032).
CircWtE
Waste-to-Energy and Municipal Solid Waste management systems in Circular Economy (Forskningsrådet 2021-2024)
SisAl Pilot
Innovative pilot for Silicon production with low environmental impact using secondary Aluminium and silicon raw material (H2020 2020-2024)
LASTING
Sustainable prosperity through product durability. How can the lifespans of consumer goods be increased? (Forskningsrådet 2020-2023)
SisAl slag valorization
Replacing carbon with secondary Al for Si production, and in parallel making a slag being a perfect precursor for HPA (EiT Raw Materials, 2021-2023)
RemovAl
Removing the waste streams from the primary Aluminum production in Europe. The RemovAL project will combine, optimize and scale-up developed processing technologies for extracting base and critical metals from such industrial residues (H2020 2018-2022)
Publications
Toward Low-Consumable Anodes: Process Simulation and Prospective LCA
Benchmarks study for aluminium production with inert anodes for multiple impacts for years 2025, 2030 and 2050 in Norway and Germany considering possible climate mitigation scenarios.
The Journey of a Norwegian T-shirt: ACase Study of Fibre Material in the Clothing System
We map the fiber flow for a t-shirt sold and used in Norway, considering potential fiber recovery over two lifetimes and find that almost half (44%) of fiber is lost in manufacturing stages.
Environmental performance of bovine leather and alternatives: a hybrid approach combining life cycle screening and assessment
Should we make shoes from leather, or plastic leather substitutes? Or rather from natural fiber-based alternatives like pineapple leaves (PALF), mycelium, bacterial cellulose, or cactus leaves? We compare with screening LCA, and semi-quantitative rubrics.
Life cycle assessment of metallurgical grade silicon comparing charge mixtures and yields
Parametric LCA for Si production, comparing traditional (fossil) reductant with a biobased carbon mix. Carefully sourcing biocarbon raw materials (of sustainable origin), and off-gas treatment, are main option to decrease the environmental impact of Si.
The “nature” and “nurture” of product lifetimes in dynamic stock modeling
We introduce a Python-based tool for lifetime changes in dMFA, to include three dimensions of lifetime: age, period (time), and cohort, and thereby scenarios for repair and user-oriented measures.
Incineration economy: Waste management policy failing the circular economy transition in Norway
How has recycling rate and life cycle environmental performance of household solid waste management in Norway changed from 2009 to 2019?
Long-term lifetime trends of large appliances since the introduction in Norwegian households
Proof that there has been a shift in lifetime for some household appliances in the last few decades, and that some have stayed the same.
LCA of recycling aluminium in bottom ash, dross and shavings
Life cycle assessment of recovering hard-to-recycle aluminium waste/side-streams and two salt-slag management routes: valorisation or landfill.
Evaluating the current Norwegian clothing system and a circular alternative
Considering Norwegian households in 2018, we find that realizing in full consumer willingness to rent various garment types or buy them secondhand may reduce water, climate and energy demand by about 47-62%.
Life cycle assessment of pig iron production from bauxite residue
Simulation-based LCA shows that from bauxite residue (red mud) may in renewable energy scenarios reduce impacts on climate change, human health and ecosystem damages, at the cost of increased energy use compared to conventional production of pig iron.
Electronic Waste Treatment Flows in Norway: Investigating recycling rates and embodied emissions
We find that 68% of sorted WEEE sent to recycling treatments is recycled into reusable material, reduced to 58% if we include loss from the system. The recycling rate for precious metals is significant for the total CO2-eq footprint of WEEE EOL.
Examples of publications from recent years.
Outreach
Ekko i P2
Mandag 6 oktober var jeg gjest i Ekko i P2, der vi svarte lytterspørsmål om brukte klær, hva vi kaster, og om vi har en kleskrise (P2 radio, 06/10/2025).
KI eller Sokrates
Ytring i Universitetsavisa om bruk av KI i undervisning, og på eksamen. Jeg mener vi burde bruke dialog og prating mer aktivt når vi underviser, og la studentene lære bruk av skriveverktøy i studiesituasjon og på eksamen. 4. nov 2025.
Áigu loktet sámi dutkama (Ávvir nyhetssak)
Team Saepmie lea okta fágaidgaskasaš joavkkuin NTNU searvevuođaáŋgiruššamis. Team Saepmie er en tverrfaglig forskergruppe innenfor NTNUs strategiske satsingsområde (30/9/2025).
Kleskrisa (nrk.no)
Med stappa klesskap må noe ut. Men hva er det vi kaster? Bildesak på nrk.no basert på sommersprosjekt der 23 studenter sorterte 6 tonn med klær fra norske husholdninger. (nrk.no 29/9/2025).
Slik kan universitetene løse den samiske lærerkrisa
Vi trenger flere og mer fleksible tilbud enn det vi har i dag, vi trenger lærere over hele landet, og vi trenger institusjoner som er dette ansvaret bevisst, Her er fem forslag til løsninger (Khrono 29/8/2025).
Kinasamarbeid, bærekraft og badevann
Jeg håper at de retningslinjene som fremtvinges av nasjonale sikkerhetshensyn ikke blir mer firkantet enn de faktisk må være. Det er ingen grunn til at vi skal være mindre tilgjengelige for Kinasamarbeid enn de vi ønsker å sammenligne oss med.
Om økonomi og arbeidslyst
NTNU burde jobbe mer effektivt. Det burde også gjelde administrative oppgaver. I dag kaster vi bort tid og arbeidslyst på hypotetiske dokumentasjonsplikter.
Rektor beklager overfor det sørsamiske folket. Men hva er veien videre?
Vi oppfordrer rektor til å starte et konkret utredningsprosjekt for å besvare hvordan NTNU gjennom et bredt spekter av tiltak og aktiviteter best kan styrke nasjonale minoriteters posisjon i Norge.
NTNU vet ikke selv hvor mange studenter det har
Ytring i Universitetsavisa. For å vite hvordan det går med «gjennomføring på normert tid» må en studieprogramleder forholde seg til et kaos av mangelfulle kilder og plattformer.
Sidemålet og eventyret om da Askeladden møtte døden
Ytring i Universitetsavisa. Samiske språk er den oversette lillebror i den såkalte "store språkdebatten" mellom bokmål og nynorsk.
Språkpolitiske klipp fra Sannhets- og forsoningskommisjonen
Ytring i Universitetesavisa. Forsoning skjer gjennom anerkjennelse og gjensidig respekt. I dag er samer og samisk kultur behandlet på en måte som grenser til orientalisme.
Ny studie: Ikke send brukbare klær ut av landet
nrk.no: Gjenbruk har blitt mer og mer trendy de siste åra. Det kan gi store miljøgevinster, mener forskere – så lenge det gjøres rett.
Brukte klær er bra, men færre best
Gemini.no: Det er store miljøgevinster for Norge om vi slutter å sende brukbare klær ut av landet. Dette går fram av en ny studie av klesforbruket til norske husholdninger.
2026
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Conference lecture(2026) LCA as a tool for assessing the environmental impact of ferroalloy production - past and future. SAIMM PYROMETALLURGY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026
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Interview
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Reader opinion
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Conference poster(2026) Sustainable High-Purity Silicon from Waste: Process Simulation and Life Cycle Assessment of an Aluminothermic Reduction - Refining - Crystal Pulling Route. Maurits Van Camp Symposium 2026
2025
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Interview
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Reader opinion
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Reader opinion
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Reader opinion
2024
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Conference lecture
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Conference lecture(2024) Incineration Economy: Waste Management Policy Failing the Circular Economy Transition. 4th Conference on Life Cycle Assessment of Waste
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Conference poster(2024) Tough is not enough: product lifetime policy needs more than durability. Industrial Ecology (GRC) Gordon Research Conference
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Conference poster(2024) Harmonizing beach litter data: A cornerstone for impact assessment. SETAC EUROPE 34TH ANNUAL MEETING
2023
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Conference poster(2023) Spatially explicit LCA of Si production: the importance of system levels in environmental assessments. 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE2023)
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Feature article
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Interview
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Interview
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Lecture(2023) Material and embedded GHG emission flows of electronic waste treatment in Norway. 19TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON WASTE MANAGEMENT, RESOURCE RECOVERY AND SUSTAINABLE LANDFILLING (Sardinia 2023)
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Feature article
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Lecture(2023) Experiences with sustainable engineering and student centered learning for 1 000+ students. NORDTEK 2023 – 51st annual meeting and conference
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Lecture
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Lecture(2023) Back to the future: fra kollokvium til medstudentevaluering i masteroppgaver. Læringsfestivalen
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Feature article
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Lecture(2023) Development of an Effect factor for marine plastics’ impact on cultural ecosystem service. 11th International conference on industrial ecology
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Conference lecture(2023) Development of an Effect factor for marine plastics’ impact on cultural ecosystem service. ISIE 2023 Conference “Transitions in a world in turmoil"
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Lecture(2023) Overproduction and product longevity (panel discussion). Lost in the masses: is product longevity the solution? Lasting final seminar
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Interview
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Conference lecture(2023) Development of an effect factor for marine plastics’ impact on cultural ecosystem service. 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE2023)
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Conference lecture(2023) The full picture: Life cycle assessment of Norwegian household MSW generation - Impacts and potential environmental benefits of the complete waste management system. 11th International Conference on Industry Ecology
2022
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Conference poster(2022) Suffocating the ocean: modeling the impacts of plastic debris on carbon sequestration. SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting
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Lecture(2022) Student-centered teaching practices. Examples and experience from online teaching of 1 000 bachelor students at NTNU. Friday Talk at Faculty of Engineering
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Lecture
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Conference lecture(2022) Final results of LCA and exergy analysis of RemovAL technologies. FINAL CROSS-FERTILISATION WORKSHOP UNDER REMOVAL H2020 PROJECT
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Lecture(2022) Development of an effect factor for marine plastics’ impact on marine carbon sequestration. 82nd LCA Discussion Forum Addressing the issue of plastic pollution: status quo and the way forward
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Lecture
2021
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Conference lecture
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Lecture
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Conference lecture
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Lecture
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Conference poster(2021) Life Cycle Assessment of the modified Pedersen method – challenges of an alternative alumina production route. 10th International Conference on Life Cycle Management
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Conference lecture(2021) Circular economy and Life Cycle impacts of valorisation pathways for Bauxite Residue. Cross-fertilization workshop – towards a more sustainable AALina production in Europe
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Conference poster(2021) Life Cycle Assessment of silicon metal by aluminothermic reduction. 10th International Conference on Life Cycle Management
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Lecture
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Conference lecture(2021) Life cycle of propellants: Environmental benchmark of current "green" propellants. ESA Clean Space Industry Days
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Conference lecture(2021) Circular economy in metals processing and mineral waste valorization. NTNU Sustainability - Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency live & online event
2019
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Lecture
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Lecture(2019) Potensialet i sirkulærøkonomisk taknegang. NCE Aquatech fagforum: avfallsbehandling og sirkulærøkonomi
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Conference lecture
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Conference lecture
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Conference lecture
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Conference lecture(2019) Alloys and life cycle design. Workshop of the Aluminium Innovation Hub: Digitalisation for smart processes and product design
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Conference lecture
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Conference lecture
2018
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Conference lecture
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Lecture(2018) Life cycle assessment of lightweight materials. Workshop: Sustainable materials for the ocean industries
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Lecture(2018) Industrial ecology and environmental sustainability for marine resources. TMR4137 - Sustainable Utilization of Marine Resources
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Conference lecture(2018) Miljøvurdering av slam fra RAS: livsløpsvurdering av slambehandlingsløsinger i midt-Norge. Bruk av fiskegjødsel/slam fra settefiskanlegg
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Lecture(2018) Sustainability, environment & products. PK8202 - Analysis and Modelling for Sustainable Manufacturing and Logistics
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Lecture
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Conference lecture
2017
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Lecture
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Conference lecture(2017) Environmental assessment of aquaculture systems using life cycle assessment (LCA). 2017 International symposium on engineering of healthy aquaculture
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Conference poster
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Conference lecture(2017) RAS waste treatment: challenges and opportunities within the circular economy paradigm. 4th NordicRAS Workshop on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
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Conference lecture
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Lecture(2017) LCA in RAS: environmental aspects of RAS technology. VM6010 Resirkulerende akvakultursystemer - RAS
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Lecture(2017) LCA in practice - cases and project experience. TEP4220 - Forståelse og kvantifisering av miljøpåvirkninger på økosystemer
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Lecture(2017) Aluminium products seen from a sustainability perspective. NTNU aluminium product innovation centre (NAPIC) kick-off
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Lecture
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Conference poster
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Conference poster
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Lecture(2017) Hva er bærekraftig vekst for oppdrettsnæringen?. «Framtid i havets hender» - Brohodekonferansen 2017
2015
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Conference lecture(2015) Ecodesign for Space and Aerospace: What happens when we make ecodesign relevant for demanding applications?. Challenges in European Aerospace (5th CEAS Air & Space Conference)
2011
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Feature article
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Feature article(2011) ”Biogass tar ikke av”.
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Conference lecture(2011) ”A manure-based eco-park: how society and technology affect the environmental performance of biogas from manure”. (presented by C. Hung). The 6th International Conference on Industrial Ecology, Berkeley, USA, 7-10 June
2008
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Conference lecture
2007
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Conference poster
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Conference lecture(2007) Uncertainty as decision support in life-cycle interpretation. International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE) Conference 2007
2006
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Conference poster
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Conference lecture(2006) Overall evaluation of the environmental benefits of the zero-discharge requirement in the Barents Sea - Life-cycle ecotoxic contributions from drilling operations in the Arctic. 5th International Conference on Contaminants in Freezing Ground
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Conference lecture(2006) A Management Technique That Integrates And Glues Cost And Environmental Performance Targets In E&P Drilling. SPE/IADC Indian Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition
2005
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Conference poster(2005) Comparative hybrid life cycle assessment of natural gas based fuel chains for transportation. SETAC Europe 15th annual meeting
2004
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Conference poster(2004) Lagrangian fate and exposure assessment for marine aquatic ecotoxic impacts in LCIA. SETAC-Europe 2004
2003
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Conference lecture(2003) CO2 refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technology. X Technologica Innovations in Refrigeration adn Air Conditioning, Milan, June 27-28 2003