Implementation of recycling systems: The delusive role of LCA

Transcription

1 Implementation of recycling systems: The delusive role of LCA Event 25th SETAC Europe Annual Meeting in Barcelona, Authors Thomas Kägi, Fredy Dinkel Carbotech AG, Basel Page 1

2 Overview 1. About Carbotech 2. Primary vs. secondary production 3. Point of view 4. Which allocation approach to choose 5. Influence of credits 6. Discussing the role of LCA 7. Conclusions Page 2

3 About CarbotechAG 25 years of experience in environmental consulting 30 specialists in the field of environmental science, chemistry, physics, toxicology, biology and economics Our clients are from the private industry, public authorities and NGOs Advisory activity all over the world, but with focus on Switzerland independent, neutral and objective Quality management: ISO 9001:2000 certified Page 3

4 About Carbotech AG Business units Environmental consulting Environmental consulting LCA Sytem modelling: Fuzzy Sets, Monte Carlo, Environmental audits Cleaner Production Teaching and coaching LCA Pollutants/Contaminants Pollutants in buildings, like Asbestos, PCB/CP, organics, Diagnostics and project planning management Air pollution consultation (VOC, PM10 etc.) International cooperation Page 4

5 To recycle or not to recycle? In the last years, we had many questions from the government and companies about the environmental impact and benefit of existing and planned recycling systems. LCA played a crucial role in answering them. Page 5

6 Production of primary vs secondary materials Ecological scarcity method 2013: ecopoints / t tin plate Ecological scarcity method 2013: ecopoints / t graphic paper Tin plate Aluminium Glass 1t primary tin plate 1t secondary tin plate Ecological scarcity method 2013: ecopoints / t aluminium Ecological scarcity method 2013: ecopoints / t graphic paper t primary alu 1t graphic paper, fresh fibre 1t secondary alu, from old scrap production of production of 1t secondary alu, from new scrap 1t graphic paper, recycled Ecological scarcity method 2013: ecopoints / t glass 900' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '000-1t primary glass production of Polyethylene Paper Textiles 1t primary PE granulate 1t secondary PE granulate Ecological scarcity method 2013: ecopoints / t textiles 35'000'000 30'000'000 25'000'000 20'000'000 15'000'000 10'000'000 5'000'000-1t primary textiles 1t secondary glass 1t secondhand textiles Page 6

7 Benefit of Recycling what about thermal utilisation? For materials that have a heating value, the answer is not that simple. Plastics, paper etc. can be thermally utilised in an incineration plant producing electricity and heat which replaces fossil fuels indirectly or in the cement industry replacing directly fossil fuels. If we recycle, the benefit of thermal utilisation is reduced - or maybe not? Page 7

8 It depends on the point of view Resource point of view: how to use a certain amount of raw material as efficiently as possible (e.g. 1 ton of PE or 1 ton of paper)? -> it appears that to recycle the material as often as possible is the best solution. In the end, it can be thermally utilised anyway. Demand point of view: how to fulfil the different demands in terms of material and energy? -> If we recycle as much as possible, we need other energy carriers to meet our energy demand. If we do not recycle, we need less energy carriers but more materials to fulfil our material demands. -> the answer is now less clear. Page 8

9 From the demand point of view the question arises: Which allocation approach to choose? Recycled content? Substitutional approach? 50/50? Party responsible should pay? Page 9

10 Relevance of recycling allocation approach for PET bottles in CH % secondary PET in bottle, 80% recyclingrate Ecological scarcity 2013: ecopopints / kg PET bottle recycled content substitutional approach party resonsible should pay 50/50 Page 10

11 For the substitutionalapproach, the following question arises: What is really replaced? Substitutional approach means for recycling path: credits for replacing primary materials If the secondary materials do not have the same quality as primary materials: How much primary materials are really replaced? incineration path: credits for replacing otherwise produced electricity and heat Which electricity and heat will be replaced: country mix, marginal mix, future mix (green electricity)? usage in cement production: credits for replacing fossil fuels Which fossil fuels will be replaced: most expensive ones (gas, oil), most often used / cheapest ones (coal), marginal mix, future mix? Page 11

12 Influence of replaced energies and material quality Relative environmental footprint, ecological scarcity % 250% 200% 150% 100% 50% 0% -50% -100% -150% -200% -250% -23% -46% 61% Detail Total Detail Total Detail Total Detail Total Detail Total Detail Total Detail Total Detail Total marginal electricity mix CH-electricitymix green energy coal replacement 35% oil replacement -18% natural gas replacement 1% credit adjusted by factor % credit adjusted by factor 0.9 Incineration Cement production Recycling Primary PE production Secondary PE production Emissions of incineration Credit for heat replacement Total Page 12 Collecting an sorting Credit for primary PE replacement Credit for electricity replacement Credit for fuel replacement Difference to incineration marginal electricity mix

13 300% 250% 200% 150% 100% 50% 0% -50% -100% -150% -200% -250% 61% Detail Total Detail Total 100% in cement production, coal replacement 100% collection rate, 86% recycling rate, credit adjusted by factor 0.5 Page 13 48% recycling rate, credit adjusted by factor 0.5 What to do with PE bottles: Shall we now recycle or not? 300% 250% 200% 150% 100% 50% 0% Relative environmental footprint, ecological scarcity % -100% -150% -200% -250% Detail Total Detail Total 100% Incineration, marginal electricity mix 100% collection rate, 86% recycling rate, credit adjusted by factor 0.9 1% Relative environmental footprint, ecological scarcity % Relative environmental footprint, ecological scarcity % 200% 150% 100% 50% 0% -50% -100% -150% -200% -250% Detail Total Detail Total 100% Incineration, marginal electricity mix 100% collection rate, 86%

14 The delusive certainty of LCA LCA results seem to be true, especially if the LCA fulfils ISO conformity and transparent reporting. But LCA results, however scientific they may be, are very delusive, because they never tell the truth! They simply answer certain questions. And the answered questions can be slightly different, even if the same goal and scope is considered (see previous slide). Page 14

15 Conclusion Often the chosen energy strategies are decisive for the results. And in this case the discussion is about energy mixes and not about recycling. The better the energy mix being replaced, the more favourable the recycling system. It has to be taken into account, that LCA only answers a certain question. And the trick is to ask the right question. There are no simple answers for complex systems (e. g. circular economies). Although LCA is nowadays the most comprehensive method to evaluate environmental impacts and consequences, it is important to be careful interpreting the results. In this context transparency is crucial. LCA is very helpful to better understand the origins of the environmental impacts and the consequences of decisions. But the more complex a system becomes, the more reasonable it is not only to rely on LCA results but to go a step further and to combine it with e. g. dynamic system modelling. Page 15

16 Thank you for your attention! Page 16

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