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

LCA Discussion Forum 27, Nov. 17 th , 2005 "Quick and sound LCA": Our experience with extremely slimlined LCA by Arthur Braunschweig & Marloes Caduff 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

Starting Point – General LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! LCA should be applicable for all project sizes – small, medium & large! Time Medium High Cost / NEAT 'Nano' House PC Tissue Pack' Low Complexity Simple Medium Complex Hyper-complex of a study E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 2

Starting Point – General LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! LCA should be applicable for all project sizes – small, medium & large! Time Medium High Cost / NEAT 'Nano' House PC Tissue X Pack' Low Complexity Simple Medium Complex Hyper-complex of a study E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 3

Starting Point – Specific …. and The Goal LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! � 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 4

Procedure LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! 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 5

Example: Plastic Waste Bag LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! 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 Scope description (here: Process of Recycled Granulat) Förderband Shredder Extruder Einzug M 78 M78 Absaug- Externer anlage PE-Abfall Filter- Weiter- LKW kuchen Kühlwasser verwendung Re-Granulat PE- Feinfilter PE Abfälle Entsorgung Absaugen Hubwagen Grobshredder Förderband Shredder Extruder Silo Sack- Interner Einzug M 77 M 77 Mischer herstellung PE-Abfall E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 6

Example: Plastic Waste Bag – the result LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! Ökobilanz-Vergleich pro Rolle 35-l-Kehrichtsäcke (in UBP'97 ) 1'000 900 800 700 UBP'97 pro Rolle 600 aus dem Anteil 500 Re-Granulat 400 aus dem Anteil Neu-Granulat 300 200 100 - Standardsack Neuer Sack mit 52,5% Regranulat mit 81 % Regranulat here: 1 of 11 pp. (the most complex LCA done so far …) E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 7

Example: A typical result LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! - Funct. Unit & Scope (1 - 2 p.) Report = 5 - 6 pp. - Result (1 p.) - Interpretation (1 p.) - Data annex (2 p.) E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 8

Experience LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! - 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 9

Conclusions LCA DF 27 Slimline LCA! - Complexity of an LCA approach should fit the complexity of the question at stake - Simplified LCA should be used for wider application E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / DF27 / SlimlineLCA/ 17.11.2005 / Seite 10