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Examples
Feasibility study:
Interior and facade paints from renewable resources
In a project sponsored by the Agency of Renewable Resources (FNR), Germany, the potential for adopting renewable resources (particularly starch) in the formulation of paints was systematically examined. The feasibility study was handled by PE INTERNATIONAL in a consortium of paint and adhesive manufacturers (Sto and BASF) and another life cycle analysis specialist (LCS).
The aim of the study was to carry out a systematic examination of the potentials of renewable resources, i.e. substituting petrochemical products, with a focus on paints for interiors and facades. This is only possible when the products are competitive; technologically, qualitatively and in terms of costs. The integral approach involves the:
- technical characterisation and evaluation of promising alternatives,
- economic characterisation, i.e. consideration of production costs and market potentials,
- examination of the entire life cycle of the new product and
- simulation of new ideas at an early stage to identify strengths and weaknesses in the application
The LCAs have shown that distinct potentials for the development of paints based on renewable resources could be identified as early as with the first attempt. Environmental problem areas that require particular attention could be uncovered. For example, replacing synthetic adhesives with the natural adhesives does not always lead to positive effects. The greenhouse gas reduction is clearly given. The increase in the titandioxide pigment content of the paint based on renewable resources could be identified as a weak point.
Guideline:
Communication of environmentally relevant indicators for the wood industry
The wood industry is predestined to be involved in the environmental message since it is a so-called renewable resource as a raw material. The a priori environmental-friendliness of wood can be seen through many properties, in different respects. The specific environmental advantages of using wood instead of non-renewable materials should be stronger adressed than ever before.
The aim of the Holzabsatzfonds sponsored project was the creation of a guideline 'Communication of environmentally relevant indicators'. This guideline assists companies of the forest and wood-based industries as well as the wood-manufacturing industry to better communication their environmental advantages.
The guideline enables the wood industry to effectively prepare and profitably adopt internal established (environmental) information. Furthermore, it highlights how environmentally relevant data can be generated pragmatically, and provides most value for the company or business, its employees and customers, and finally the environment.
The guideline identifies how the basic foundations of a successful environmental communication can be set; in what way and with the help of which environmental management systems. A key factor in presenting ecological facts is supported by 'company and product-related' environmental indicators; the guideline dedicates a whole chapter to this. For the wood-manufacturing industry in particular, suitable environmental indicators were presented and, for a better understanding, practical examples were provided, where appropriate, with indicators and key standard figures. Additionally, it is illustrated how the adoption of environmental indicators in marketing can be done and which presentation opportunities and communication strategies within marketing are possible.
The guideline was planned to inform and, above all, motivate the practice of environmental communication by use of practical examples.
The "Leitfaden Kommunikation" (in German language only) can be downloaded at http://www.oekobilanzen-holz.de/Leitfaden.pdf.
LCA 'building block': Thermal use of wooden products - input dependant modelling of the End-of-Life processes of wood.
The average calorific value of dry softwood is 19 300 MJ / t. Thus, 2000 kg of pine-wood has the energy content of approx. 38 600 MJ, which equlas approx. 1060 litres of heating fuel.
This example clearly illustrates how important the recovery of used wood is, and accentuates the necessity for developing utilization concepts for waste wood.
The study "LCA - Thermal use of wooden products" contributes by appraising the 'end-of-life' processes of wood products. Consistent with the LCA of the production phase of wood products, opportunities for an LCA of wood product's end of life have been developed and edited. Until now, generally, only 'cradle-to-gate' examinations have been conducted. PE INTERNATIONAL's study considers the 'gate-to-grave' phase, allowing future LCAs to assess the entire life cycle of wood products, i.e. 'cradle-to-grave'.
Various energy recovery facilities for wooden products were examined and modelled. Ecoprofiles were developed, depending on the technical standard of the machinery and the product's relative content of actual wood. These showed which of the internal analyses and optimum realisation concepts for wood products would fulfil, or even exceed, legal requirements. Additionally, the report outlines the benefits of the various disposal routes when fossil energy sources for electricity and thermal energy are substituted.
The models, together with the results of the study, allow the life path of wood products to be described, thoroughly specific to the product. The advantages of the material, in its thermal application, can thereby be identified.
The 'ökobilanz-Baustein' (in German language only) can be downloaded at http://www.oekobilanzen-holz.de/ThermV.pdf
LCA study on the environmental performance of biodegradable plastics during end of life
The study demonstrates that incineration of biodegradable plastic is more sustainable than simply disposing it. For the presentation of the results different emissions (CO2, N2O) as well as energy consumption were selected. At the end the advantage of the incineration regarding sustainability is obvious in comparison to the land filling of biodegradable plastics.
The results of the study presented at the IUMRS - ICAM Symposia in October 2003 are recently published in: Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan Volume 29, No. 5, ISSN 1382-3469, page 1875 - 1878, August 2004.