LCM Conference Zurich 2007 – Simplified Methods 'Slimline LCA' for use at the Swiss retailer Coop – LCA reduced to the max by Arthur Braunschweig & Marloes Caduff E2 Management Consulting Inc. Wehntalerstr. 3, CH-8057 Zürich, Tel. +41 44 368 50 20, Fax +41 44 368 50 21 www.e2mc.com, e2post@e2mc.com
Starting Point – General LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! LCA should be applicable for all project sizes – small, medium & large! Medium High Cost / Time Trsp-systems 'Nano' House PC Tissue Packaging Low Complexity Simple Medium Complex Hyper-complex of a study E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 2
Starting Point – Focus on the simple LCAs LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! LCA should be applicable for all project sizes – small, medium & large! Medium High Cost / Time NEAT 'Nano' House PC Tissue Tissue Packaging Low Simple Complexity Medium Complex Hyper-complex of a study E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 3
The Goal LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! � Coop: a major retailers in Switzerland, uses – sometimes – LCA for its packaging and product selection. � LCA for packaging is a 20 yr. old 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 slimline LCA processes reduces the cost barrier and allows LCA application in everyday business situations. E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 4
Procedure LCM 2007 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 (ecoinvent) and impact assessment methods (UBP'97 and EI'95 / EI'99) - and produces a short, standardized report 4) E2 submits the report, possibly followed by a short review by phone 5) Cost of 1500 € – 6000 € E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 5
Example: A typical result format LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! - Funct. Unit & Scope (1 – 2 p.) 5 – 6 pp. Report = - Result (1 p.) - Interpretation (1 p.) - Data annex (2 p.) E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 6
Example 1: Joghurt cover LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! Question: Which cover material? Alternatives (1000 pcs) Materials (*) Waste type PET type 1 0,38 kg incineration (PE) PET type 2 0,30 kg incineration (PE) Aluminium foil 0,43 kg incineration (Alu) (*) = data partially changed Scope and Data used: - PET foil supply chain BUWAL 250 - Aluminium foil supply chain BUWAL 250 - Waste treatment of PE / Alu BUWAL 250 E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 7
Example 1: Joghurt cover LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! Result in UBP'97 Result in Eco-indicator pts Ökobilanz Coop VIVA: Joghurtstanzlinge Ökobilanz Coop VIVA: Joghurtstanzlinge (in Eco-Indicator 95 - Punkten pro 1'000 Stanzlinge) (in UBP pro 1'000 Stanzlinge) 4'500 60 4'000 50 3'500 Umweltbelastungspunkte '97 Ecoindicatorpoint 95 3'000 40 Entsorgung Entsorgung 2'500 30 Herstellung Herstellung 2'000 20 1'500 1'000 10 500 - - PET 715.04009 PET 715.04015 Alu 115.05423 PET 715.04009 PET 715.04015 Alu 115.05423 ... from waste treatment … from production of material - PET alternatives are environmentally slightly superior - Annual use = some mio pcs.; the difference would lead to an environmental impact equivalent to 43'000 car kms. E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 8
Example 2: Bath gel packaging LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! Question: Old or new packaging? material per 1000 items (*): Old New Tube 29 kg PP 27 kg PP Cover 5 kg PE 11 kg PP Label 1,2 kg PE 0,7 kg PE Transport 4 tkm 19 tkm (*) = data partially changed Scope and Data used: - PE, PP BUWAL 250 / ecoinvent - Waste treatment material BUWAL 250 / ecoinvent - Transport BUWAL 250 / Ökoinventare für Verkehr (infrastructure, fuel precombustion, fuel use) E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 9
Example 2: Bath gel packaging LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! Result in UBP'97 Result in Eco-indicator pts Ökobilanz Coop Naturaline-Verpackungen: Ökobilanz Coop Naturaline-Verpackungen: 'Bäder-Douche'-Verpackung (in UBP '97 pro 300 Liter Inhalt) 'Bäder-Douche'-Verpackung (in EI '95 pro 300 Liter Inhalt) 160'000 1'800 1'600 140'000 Umweltbelastungspunkten (UBP '97) 1'400 120'000 Transporte Transporte Ecoindicatorpoints 1'200 100'000 Entsorgung Verpackung Entsorgung Verpackung 1'000 80'000 Herstellung Etikette Herstellung Etikette 800 60'000 Herstellung Verschluss Herstellung Verschluss 600 40'000 Herstellung Tube Herstellung Tube 400 20'000 200 - Alte Verpackung: Naturaline Neue Verpackung - Bath Alte Verpackung: Naturaline Bath Neue Verpackung ... from truck transports ... from waste treatment ... from production of tube / cover / label material - Differences are minor - Material change, weights and transport distances are almost offsetting each other. E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 10
Example 3: PE Waste Bag Improvement LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! Question: Increase recycling content? Alternatives Materials (*) Weight Virgin Recycled Existing bags 47.5 % 52,5 % 725 g / roll New bags 19 % 81 % 725 g / roll (*) = data partially changed Scope overview (yellow = included) 1: Production virgin granulate PE Gas field ..... ..... ..... New PE 4: Herstellung Kehrichtsack (in-house) Waste Kehricht- Client Extruder .... treatm't Sack 2: Production Re-Granulate PE in-house Re- Trsp. Shredd Heating ..... Granulate Mixing relation "New"/"Re" 3: Production Re-Granulate PE from recycler Trsp. Re- Trsp. Shredd Heating ..... Assumpt.: Processes 2 (in-house) Granulate and 3 (recycler) identical E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 11
Example 3: Plastic Waste Bag – the result LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! LCA-Comparison per roll of 35-l-waste bags (in Eco-points / UBP'97 ) 1'000 900 800 UBP'97 per roll 700 600 from recycled 500 granulate 400 from virgin 300 granulate 200 100 - Old Bag New Bag w/ 52,5% Regranulate w/ 81 % Regranulate - Sensitivity Analysis on recycled content - New Bag is environmentally superior here: 1 of 11 pp. (more complex than - Today, new bag is available at Coop. LCA was one the other LCAs) key argument to increase recycled content E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 12
Experience LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! - Standardized Process: Form sheets, standard calculation, standard interface between commissioner and practitioner work well. - 11 LCAs from 2002 – 2004. (After 2005, Carbotech produced LCAs based on their standardized 'BasicLCA' and 'AdvancedLCA' approaches.) - Even a very simplified form needs explanation! One person at the company should be responsible for the LCA contact. - To be applied, Slimline LCA must be integrated into internal processes - Slimline LCA prepares environmental input for decision making. - Absolute comparison of relevance helpful: The LCAs resulted in equivalences of 20'000 to a few mio car-km. - If a study does not give clear results: look further (for improvements) or accept that environmental issues are not very relevant in this decision. E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 13
Conclusions LCM 2007 Slimline LCA! - Complexity of an LCA approach should fit the complexity of the question at stake. - There is a market for 'slimline LCA', done with a budget of < 2'000 €. - In addition to detailed LCA studies, 'Slimline LCA' offers an alternative approach to strengthen life cycle thinking in decision making - Therefore, 'Slimline LCA' has its place and can be used for wider application. E2 / Braunschweig&Caduff / LCM2007 / SlimlineLCA/ 29.08.2007 / Page 14
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