Simplified Life Cycle Assessment Report RecoBin Slim Artúr Szilágyi Carbon Solutions Global Ltd.

Transcription

1 Simplified Life Cycle Assessment Report RecoBin Slim Artúr Szilágyi Carbon Solutions Global Ltd.

2 Table of Contents Executive summary... 3 Technical summary Introduction Background Methodology Goal and Scope Definition Goal definition Scope definition Inventory Analysis and Modelling Data sources and quality General assumptions Modelling of product system Impact Assessment Interpretation Recommendations Optimising the results of the LCA References Annex 1. Complete product system flowchart (openlca model) Annex 2. List of secondary data sources for flows in EDCB database Confidential Annex: Raw material composition of corrugated board... 16

3 Executive summary In this study the environmental impacts of RecoBin Slim, a corrugated board waste bin, are assessed using simplified life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, with the following results: Resource extraction Production of raw materials Corrugated board 2% 7% 5% 12% Carbon footprint: 556 g CO2e Raw materials, especially paper influence the greenhouse gas emissions the most. The rest of the lifecycle stages are responsible for only a quarter of the carbon footprint combined. End of Life treatment Transport 74% Water footprint: 7.5 litres In the case of freshwater depletion, the role of paper is even more serious, 86%. Resource extraction accounts for one tenth of the footprint, while the share of other stages is almost negligible. 1% 0% 2% 11% Resource extraction Production of raw materials Corrugated board End of Life treatment Transport 86% Resource extraction Production of raw materials Corrugated board End of Life treatment Transport 10% 82% 0% 8% 0% Ecological footprint: 2.1 m 2 year Raw materials are again associated with a very high percentage, 82 % of the total ecological footprint. Corrugated board and transport has minor effect on the results, while resource extraction and End-of-Life treatment in this sense are almost insignificant. Based on the results it is recommended to focus on the paper phase of the life cycle. In order to have a more realistic product system model and to fill missing data gaps it is also advised to collect more primary data on the most important processes and map the supply chain better. 3

4 Technical summary This report is based on simplified LCA following ISO standards, ILCD Handbook (ILCD 2010) and relevant product category rules, described in Section 1.2. Only freely available secondary data sources and open source LCA software were used. The elementary flows are characterized into three impact categories, global warming potential (GWP), water depletion potential (WDP) from ReCiPe impact assessment methodology and ecological footprint. Normalisation and weighting were not applied. 1. Introduction 1.1. Background RecoBin is an innovative Hungarian start-up company offering a range of bins made of recycled materials for selective waste collection since Apart from the bins they also provide integrated waste management services for offices and municipal buildings, educational institutions, event organizers and households. Their company-specific services include waste-flow assessment and planning, the setup and monitoring of the RecoBin system, staff trainings, and implementing recycling campaigns. The company s first and to date its best-selling product, Recobin Slim is an indoor recycle bin made of 100% recycled material (corrugated cardboard) with a 60 litre net storage capacity. It can be used to collect different waste fractions such as PET bottles, paper, organic waste, metal cans and mixed waste Methodology Life-cycle assessment (LCA) addresses the environmental aspects and potential environmental impacts throughout a product's life cycle from raw material acquisition through, use, endof-life treatment, recycling and final disposal. Normally a very detailed LCA study is very complicated, as it requires lot of working effort and data. For this reason a simplified LCA approach has been applied for this study. More information about simplified LCA can be found in EeBGuide, Section (EeBGuide 2012). This study is based on ISO standards and follows the recommendations of the ILCD Handbook (ILCD 2010). 2. Goal and Scope Definition 2.1. Goal definition The commissioner of the study is the reseller company, RecoBin. The final LCA deliverables are the footprint figures of the simplified LCA presented in this report in selected impact categories. The intended application of the LCA is to obtain information on the environmental performance of the product in selected indicators and to identify the environmentally hotspots throughout the product life-cycle. The reason for carrying out the study is to support the commissioner s marketing activities, internal and external communication and the ecodesign of future products. 4

5 The target audience includes the decision makers and the costumers of the company in the first place, but it may be interesting for other parties like the employees, suppliers, existing and future partners and the general public as well. The scope of this study is limited to provide screening-level data on a specific product, and shall not be used for comparative assertions. This is due to the main limitations of the study, namely the limited impact coverage, simplified product system model, lack of critical revision and the extensive usage of industry-average data in place of primary data Scope definition The primary function of the product is to provide storage for collected waste fractions, and to make separate collection of different waste fractions possible. A secondary function is to provide a surface for customized decoration (e.g. company- or event-specific logo and text). The functional unit is providing storage for 60 litres of municipal waste fraction. This is somewhat contradicting with the mass unit (e.g. 1 ton of product) recommended by industry specific PCRs, but the storage volume seemed more appropriate considering the specific function of this type of product. Key parameters are the weight, material composition and the storage capacity (volume), because these directly influence all related environmental impacts. The product system modelling framework follows the International EPD System s Cartons, boxes, cases, record sleeves and other packing containers (except bags) of paper product category rules (EPD 2010) except where data collection was not possible or could not be carried out with reasonable efforts. Throughout the product system there are some processes where other valuable by-products are made (multifunctional processes) for example thermal energy during testliner. Due to the negligible quantities and minor importance of these by-products, the avoided is not taken into account neither by allocation nor via system extension. By the simplified nature of the assessment a less strict cut-off criteria is applied. All processes assumed negligible that contribute to the total environmental impacts by less than 1% and all the excluded materials, products or emissions combined cannot represent more than 20% of the total mass balance or the total environmental impacts. 3. Inventory Analysis and Modelling 3.1. Data sources and quality Only freely available secondary data sources have been used for this assessment for the following reasons: cost reduction; transparent reporting without privacy issues; free databases provide sufficient data that satisfy the needs of this assessment. The second consideration during the selection of data sources was the easy implementation in openlca software. For the listed reasons the three main data sources are the following: 5

6 European Life Cycle Database version 2.0 (ELCD 2.0), New Energy Externalities Developments for Sustainability (NEEDS); European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studies (EDCB 2012) The overall technological representativeness of the data sources is medium. Only the material composition of the product originates from the enterprise under study, all other information comes from industry averages of identical or similar technology. The geographical origin of the data, that is Europe in most cases, correlates well with the assumed site locations. Corrugated board and end of life stage takes place in Hungary, but no site-specific or country average data were collected, except the material usage for the corrugated board sheet. Location of the rest of the s sites are not known exactly. The temporal representation of the secondary data is relatively good. The main data source, EDCB is less than 3 years old to the date of data collection. ELCD and NEEDS databases contain processes with various ages between 5 and 20 years General assumptions Since the Commissioner does not own the assembly facility, it has limited access even to basic -related data. This led to many assumptions applied to the product system model. The list of the process-specific assumptions can be found in the next session. For the calculations of fuel quantities, the following calorific values were used: Fuel Net calorific value (NCV) MJ/kg Natural gas 40 Heavy fuel oil 41 Light fuel oil 42.7 Diesel oil 42.7 Coal 29.7 Lignite 8.5 Source: (UM, 2010) 3.3. Modelling of product system Following (EPD 2010), distribution and use phase were excluded, because the mentioned processes contribute little to the final impacts. The same applied to machinery and buildings in the facilities throughout the life-cycle. The most important upstream processes for the product system (that is corrugated board, testliner and wellenstoff ) are modelled based on the database EDCB This publication also describes the process of corrugated board in detail. Although many additives that are used during the process are left out from the analysis due to missing data, the most relevant materials, such as testliner, wellenstoff and water, as well as the energy carriers like electricity, fossil fuels, heat and steam are all included. For the complete list of product and elementary flows and the subsequent secondary database processes that are used, see Annex 2. An important assumption is made regarding Schrenz paper. It is counted as Testliner in the product model, because specific data on Schrenz liner was not found. 6

7 Resource extraction End of life Raw materials Use Corrugated board Distribution Product assembly Outline of life cycle stages (arrows represent transport, and dashed line indicate the processes that are excluded from the analysis In the case of product assembly, the bill of materials was received from the actual producer company, and it included data on the amount of raw materials like wellenstoff, schrenz, testliner and glue. Since fuel and electricity usage of the cutter machinery was not supplied it is left out of the assessment. The transport distance from the storehouse to distribution is assumed 10.4 km and the transporting process is substituted by transport, lorry 16t, RER from NEEDS database. Regarding end of life treatment, a waste diversion rate 33% is assumed based on the expected future waste management strategies in the Hungarian context (EEA 2013). The rest of the waste generated is assumed to be sent to landfill and incineration in equal portions. 7

8 Resource and fuel extraction Raw materials Corrugated board Product assembly End of life Petroleumbased plastics Fluting (wellenstoff) Corrugating Trimming Recycling Energy carriers extraction Liner (testliner) Conditioning Folding and glueing Landfill Metals Starch, glue and additives Cutting Printing / paint Incineration Agricultural products (wood fibre, starch) Electricity, heat and steam generation Machinery and buildings Outline of the product system (dashed line indicate the processes that are excluded from the analysis). For a more detailed flowchart see Annex Impact Assessment For characterisation only midpoint impact categories have been selected. At first only global warming potential (GWP) has been selected for a carbon footprint assessment, but later it has been decided to include ecological footprint as well as water depletion potential (WDP) midpoint categories to the analysis mainly because these indicators are also very informative for the target audience. Normalization and weighting were not applied. For GWP and WDP ReCiPe midpoint (egalitarian) impact assessment method (ReCiPe 1.10) was selected, because it has both impact categories implemented and it is also works well with openlca software. In the case of ecological footprint, openlca built-in method is used that is defined as the sum of time integrated direct land occupation and indirect land occupation, related to nuclear energy use and to CO2 emissions from fossil energy use and cement burning. Life-cycle stage Carbon footprint Water depletion Ecological footprint g CO 2 e % litres % m 2 a % Resource extraction Raw materials Corrugated board Product assembly End of life treatment Transport TOTAL

9 5. Interpretation The most relevant stage of the life-cycle is the of raw materials for the corrugated board. Transport influences ecological footprint and GHG emissions, but has negligible impact on water depletion. Product assembly represents an insignificant contribution in this level of precision. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Carbon footprint Water footprint Ecological footprint Transport End of Life treatment Product assembly Corrugated board Raw materials Resource extraction By further breaking down raw materials, it is clear that paper (wellenstoff and testliner) has the biggest share: 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Carbon footprint Water footprint Ecological footprint Wellenstoff Testliner Corrugated board packaging Electricity Steel Polypropylene fibres (PP) Polyethylene low density 9

10 5.1. Recommendations Based on the results it is recommended to focus on raw materials, especially on paper Optimising the results of the LCA For a more precise product system model it is recommended to update the background data with primary information from the actual producers by further mapping the supply chain at least in the case of the most important processes, such as wellenstoff, testliner, schrenz and starch. It is also desirable for the purpose of filling in data gaps in the case of assembly and additives like glue and paint. The inclusion of distribution phase would make sense in a future revision of this study. Regarding impact assessment, more impact categories would be needed to surely avoid narrow outlook on environmental impacts. Lastly, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis could provide answers regarding the reliability of the data and the assumptions used in the study, while a critical review would assure the commissioner about the scientific quality of the assessment. For further information please contact: Artur Szilágyi Carbon Solutions Global Ltd. artur.szilagyi@carbonsolutionsglobal.com Telephone:

11 6. References EDCB European Corrugated Packaging Association (FEFCO), Cepi ContainerBoard, European Database for Corrugated Board Life Cycle Studie,s EEA European Environmental Agency, Municipal waste management in Hungary, EeBGuide Operational Guidance for Life Cycle Assessment Studies of the Energy Efficient Buildings Initiative ( ), Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics Sustainable Construction Group, 2012 ELCD 2.0. European Life Cycle Database (ELCD) version 2.0, accessed through openlca Nexus EPD EPD International. Cartons, boxes, cases, record sleeves and other packing containers (except bags) of paper product category rules (Version 1.0) ILCD European Commission - Joint Research Centre - Institute for Environment and Sustainability: International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. First edition March EUR EN. Luxembourg. Publications Office of the European Union; 2010 link: GUIDANCE-12March2010-ISBN-fin-v1.0-EN.pdf NEEDS. New Energy Externalities Developments for Sustainability (NEEDS accessed through openlca Nexus ReCiPe ReCiPe midpoint method, egalitarian perspective. Version 1.10 of May Goedkoop M.J., Heijungs R, Huijbregts M., De Schryver A.;Struijs J., Van Zelm R. ReCiPe 2008, A life cycle impact assessment method which comprises harmonised category indicators at the midpoint and the endpoint level; First edition Report I: Characterisation; 6 January 2009, Vercalsteren et al Vercalsteren An, Dils Evelien, Boonen Katrien. Life Cycle Assessment study of starch products for the European starch industry association (AAF): sector study. European Starch Industry association (AAF). August UM Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Institut für Strömungstechnik und Thermodynamik. Energy Conversion,

12 Annex 1. Complete product system flowchart (openlca model) 12

13 Annex 2. List of secondary data sources for flows in EDCB database PRODUCT Data source Electricity (avoided ) Excluded Thermal energy (avoided ) Excluded Cores Steel sections (ILCD), mix, at plant, blast furnace route / electric arc furnace route, 1 kg (ELCD 2.0) Core plugs Steel sections (ILCD), mix, at plant, blast furnace route / electric arc furnace route, 1 kg (ELCD 2.0) Recovered paper Excluded Transport of recovered paper with truck transport, lorry 32t (NEEDS) Transport of recovered paper with rail Rail transport, technology mix, electricity driven, cargo (ELCD 2.0) 1 Transport of recovered paper with boat Excluded Testliner Testliner (EDCB 2012) 4 Wellenstoff Wellenstoff (EDCB 2012) 4 Schrenz Testliner (EDCB 2012) 4 Electricity bought Electricity Mix, consumption mix, at consumer, AC, < 1kV (ELCD 2.0) 1 Steam bought process steam (NEEDS) Natural gas Natural Gas, consumption mix, at consumer, from onshore and offshore incl. pipeline and LNG transport, desulphurised (ELCD 2.0) 1 Heavy fuel oil Heavy fuel oil, consumption mix, at refinery, from crude oil (ELCD 2.0) 1 Light fuel oil Steel sections, including recycling, mix, at plant, blast furnace route / electric arc furnace route, 1kg (ELCD 2.0) Diesel oil Diesel, consumption mix, at refinery, from crude oil, 200 ppm sulphur (ELCD 2.0) 1 LPG Coal Lignite Biofuel (bark, scrap wood, tall oil) Total renewable fuel Refuse Derived Fuel Network water drinkable m3/ton nsp 0,40 Natural Gas, consumption mix, at consumer, from onshore and offshore incl. pipeline and LNG transport, desulphurised (ELCD 2.0) 1 Light fuel oil, consumption mix, at refinery, from crude oil, 2000 ppm sulphur (ELCD 2.0) 1 Lignite, consumption mix, at power plant, from open pit mining (ELCD 2.0) 1 Excluded Excluded secondary fuel (NEEDS) Drinking water, mix, at plant, water purification treatment, from surface water (ELCD 2.0) 1 13

14 Alum (Al2(SO4) Excluded CaO Excluded Fillers Kaolin coarse filler, at plant, Production (ELCD 2.0) 2 Glue, cold + hot melts Excluded H2SO4 Excluded Water based ink for flexo printing Excluded NaOH Sodium hydroxide, mix for PVC, at plant, 100% NaOH (ELCD 2.0) 3 Starch, all types Starch (Vercalsteren et al. 2012) Paper, board Corrugated board boxes, mix, at plant, technology mix, 16,6 % primary fibre, 83,4 % recycled fibre (ELCD 2.0) 4 PE Polyethylene low density granulate (PE-LD), mix, at plant (ELCD 2.0) 3 Steel Steel sections (ILCD), mix, at plant, blast furnace route / electric arc furnace route, 1 kg (ELCD 2.0) Strapping Steel sections (ILCD), mix, at plant, blast furnace route / electric arc furnace route, 1 kg (ELCD 2.0) bark, wood Waste incineration of untreated wood (10,7% water content), at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment untreated wood [50%], 50% landfill) (ELCD 2.0) 1 calcium carbonate Landfill of glass/inert waste, at landfill site, landfill including leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1, Waste incineration of glass/inert material, at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 Ink residues Waste incineration of biodegradable waste fraction in municipal solid waste (MSW), at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 ; Landfill of biodegradable waste, at landfill site, landfill including landfill gas utilisation and leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1 inorganic ashes Landfill of glass/inert waste, at landfill site, landfill including leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1, Waste incineration of glass/inert material, at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 inorganic sludges Landfill of glass/inert waste, at landfill site, landfill including leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1, Waste 14

15 organic sludges rejects starch, glue Lubricants and oil Zinc 1 Data owner: PE INTERNATIONAL GmbH incineration of glass/inert material, at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 Waste incineration of biodegradable waste fraction in municipal solid waste (MSW), at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 ; Landfill of biodegradable waste, at landfill site, landfill including landfill gas utilisation and leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1 Waste incineration of paper fraction in municipal solid waste (MSW), at plant, average European waste-toenergy plant, without collection, transport and pretreatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 ; Landfill of paper waste, at landfill site, landfill including landfill gas utilisation and leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment (ELCD 2.0) 1 Waste incineration of biodegradable waste fraction in municipal solid waste (MSW), at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 ; Landfill of biodegradable waste, at landfill site, landfill including landfill gas utilisation and leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1 Waste incineration of biodegradable waste fraction in municipal solid waste (MSW), at plant, average European waste-to-energy plant, without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%](ELCD 2.0) 5 ; Landfill of biodegradable waste, at landfill site, landfill including landfill gas utilisation and leachate treatment and without collection, transport and pre-treatment [50%] (ELCD 2.0) 1 Special high grade zinc, mix, at plant, primary (ELCD 2.0) 6 2 Data owner: Industrial Minerals Association Europe 3 Data owner: Plastics Europe Association of Plastics Manufacturers 4 Data owner: European Corrugated Board Manufacturers 5 Data owner: Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants e.v. 6 Data owner: International Zinc Association 15

16 Confidential Annex: Raw material composition of corrugated board Raw material Mass (g) 16