LCA Discussion Forum 27, Nov. 17 th , 2005 "Quick and sound - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

E2 Management Consulting Inc.

• Wehntalerstr. 3, CH-8057 Zürich, Tel. +41 1 362 85 72, Fax +41 1 361 86 01

www.e2mc.com, e2post@e2mc.com

LCA Discussion Forum 27, Nov. 17th, 2005 "Quick and sound LCA": Our experience with extremely slimlined LCA

by Arthur Braunschweig & Marloes Caduff

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 2

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Starting Point – General

LCA should be applicable for all project sizes – small, medium & large! Simple Medium Complex Hyper-complex Complexity

• f a study

Low Medium High Cost / Time

Pack' NEAT Tissue 'Nano' House PC

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 3

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

X

Starting Point – General

LCA should be applicable for all project sizes – small, medium & large! Simple Medium Complex Hyper-complex Complexity

• f a study

Low Medium High Cost / Time

Pack' NEAT Tissue 'Nano' House PC

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 4

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Starting Point – Specific …. and The Goal

Coop: a major retailers in Switzerland, using – sometimes – LCA for its packaging and product selection. LCA for packaging is no new issue – LCA-wise often a straightforward analysis. But packaging keeps changing, and the environmental assessment should be easily available when necessary. Coop and E2 developed a slimline LCA process, using all standard elements available for inventory and impact assessment including interpretation. This allows LCA for standard comparisons of packaging and similar products at low cost, of less than € 2000 per analysis. Such standardised LCA processes will help to reduce the cost barrier and should allow LCA application in everyday business situations.

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 5

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Procedure

1) Coop decides to order an LCA 2) Coop fills in form sheets

• functional unit,
• type and amount of material,
• transport information,
• waste treatment

3) E2 calculates the LCA, using standardized inventory data and impact assessment methods (UBP'97 and EI'99) & produces a short, standardized report 4) E2 submits the report, possibly followed by a short review by phone 5) Cost of ca. 1500 – 6000 €

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 6

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Example: Plastic Waste Bag

Question: Increase recycling content?

Varianten Material-Anteile Gewicht Neu Granulat Re-Granulat Bisherige Säcke 47,5 % 52,5 % 725 g / Rolle Neue Säcke 19 % 81 % 725 g / Rolle

Re-Granulat PE

Shredder M 78 Extruder M78 Förderband Einzug Absaug- anlage

Externer PE-Abfall

Kühlwasser Feinfilter Shredder M 77 Extruder M 77 Förderband Einzug Silo Mischer Sack- herstellung LKW

Interner PE-Abfall

Absaugen Hubwagen Grobshredder

PE- Abfälle

Entsorgung Weiter- verwendung Filter- kuchen

Scope description (here: Process of Recycled Granulat)

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 7

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Example: Plastic Waste Bag – the result

Ökobilanz-Vergleich pro Rolle 35-l-Kehrichtsäcke (in UBP'97 )

• 100

200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1'000

Standardsack mit 52,5% Regranulat

UBP'97 pro Rolle

aus dem Anteil Re-Granulat aus dem Anteil Neu-Granulat Neuer Sack mit 81 % Regranulat

here: 1 of 11 pp. (the most complex LCA done so far …)

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 8

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Example: A typical result

• Funct. Unit & Scope (1 - 2 p.)
• Result (1 p.)
• Interpretation (1 p.)
• Data annex (2 p.)

Report = 5 - 6 pp.

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 9

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Experience

• Standardized Process: Form sheets, standard calculation, standard

interface between commissioner and practitioner

• Eleven LCAs from 2002 to 2004
• Use takes place only if integrated into client's internal processes

E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 10

LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA!

Conclusions

• Complexity of an LCA approach should fit the complexity of the

question at stake

• Simplified LCA should be used for wider application