Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Life–Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Plastic–Wood Composites

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Wood Polymer Composites

Part of the book series: Composites Science and Technology ((CST))

  • 559 Accesses

Abstract

Widespread environmental awareness to achieve product sustainability has triggered great efforts to use more environmentally friendly materials in product design. One of the most promising solutions to meet these needs is the use of wood and plastic composite fibers to reduce reliance on synthetic fibers as reinforcement and fillers for polymer composite construction. Much effort has gone into fully quantifying the benefits of Plastic Wood Composites (PWC) for various applications such as automobiles, building materials, and household appliances. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the efforts of personal watercraft whose main objective is to determine the potential environmental impact of the use of these materials on the environment as a whole. One of the main benefits of conducting life cycle analysis is the ability to provide a more holistic view of environmental impacts, covering the entire life cycle of the product, from the extraction of raw materials to the end. life, allowing justified decisions on the suitability of the use of PWC for specific applications that must be scientifically made. This chapter provides an overview of the LCA method, followed by a description of its uses with PWC in various applications. The advantages and disadvantages of the LCA method compared to personal watercraft are discussed, as well as a final conclusion on the future directions of the LCA application for personal watercraft.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abe K, Ozaki Y (1998) Comparison of useful terrestrial and aquatic plant species for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from domestic wastewater. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 44(4):599–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aji IS, Sapuan SM, Zainudin ES, Abdan K (2009) Kenaf fibres as reinforcement for polymeric composites: a review. Int J Mech Mater Eng 4(3):239–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhshik M, Panthapulakkal S, Tjong J, Sain M (2017) Life cycle assessment and cost analysis of hybri11111d fiber-reinforced engine beauty cover in comparison with glass fiber-reinforced counterpart. Environ Impact Assess Rev 65:111–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves C, Ferr~ao PMC, Silva AJ, Reis LG, Freitas M, Rodrigues LB, Alves DE (2010) Ecodesign of automotive components making use of natural jute fiber composites. J Clean Prod 18(4):313–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Broeren MLM, Dellaert SNC, Cok B, Patel MK, Worrell E, Shen L (2017) Life cycle assessment of sisal fibre e exploring how local practices can influence environmental performance. J Clean Prod 149:818–827

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burchart-Korol D (2013) Life cycle assessment of steel production in Poland: a case study. J Clean Prod 54(March):235–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Business Wire. Biocomposites market by fiber, polymer, product, end-use industry and region - global forecast to 2022-research and markets [Internet]. San Francisco: Research and Markets; October 12, 2017

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu MC, Chu CH (2012) Review of sustainable product design from life cycle perspectives. Int J Precis Eng Manuf 13(7):1259–1272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corbiere-Nicollier T, Laban BG, Lundquist L, Leterrier Y, Manson JAE, Jolliet O (2001) Life Cycle assessment of biofibres replacing glass fibres as reinforcement in plastics. Resour Conserv Recycl 33:267–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curran MA (2017) Overview of goal and scope definition in life cycle assessment. In: Curran M, editor. Goal and scope definition in life cycle assessment. LCA Compendium - the complete world of life cycle assessment. Dordrecht: Springer, p 162

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng Y, Paraskevas D, Tian Y, Van Acker K, Dewulf W, Duflou JR (2016) Life cycle assessment of flax-fibre reinforced epoxidized linseed oil composite with a flame retardant for electronic applications. J Clean Prod 133:427–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dissanayake NJ, Summerscales J, Grove SM, Singh MM (2009) Life cycle impact assessment of flax fibre for the reinforcement of composites. J Biobased Mater Bioenergy 3(3):245–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finkbeiner M, Inaba A, Tan R, Christiansen K, Kluppel HJ (2006) The new international standards for life cycle assessment: ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Int J Life Cycle Assess 11(2):80–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen A, Flake M, Heilmann J, Fleißner T, Fischhaber G (2001) Life cycle studies of renewable raw materials e natural fibre reinforced component and a varnish. In: Kyritsis S, Beenackers AACM, Helm P, Grassi A, Chiaramonti D, editors. Proceedings of 1st World Conference on Biomass for Energy and Industry. 2000 September 13e16; Seville. Lon- don: James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd. p 1036–1039

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartemink AE, Van Kekem AJ (1994) Nutrient depletion in Ferralsols under hybrid sisal cultivation in Tanzania. Soil Use Manag 10(3):103–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauschild MZ, Bonou A, Olsen SI (2018) Life cycle interpretation. In: Hauschild MZ, Rosenbaum RK, Olsen SI, (eds) Life cycle assessment. Cham: Springer, p. 323e34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins TR, Singh B, Majeau-Bettez G, Strømman AH (2013) Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of conventional and electric vehicles. J Ind Ecol 17(1):53–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ISO 14040:2006eEnvironmental managementd life cycle assessment - principles and framework. (2006). https://www.iso.org/standard/37456.html. Accessed 14 March 2018

  • ISO 14042:2000eEnvironmental management - life cycle assessment - life cycle impact assessment (2000). https://www.iso.org/standard/23153.html. Accessed 14 March 2018

  • Joshi SV, Drzal LT, Mohanty AK, Arora S (2004) Are natural fiber composites environmentally superior to glass fiber reinforced composites? Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 35(3):371–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar KP, Sekaran ASJ (2014) Some natural fibers used in polymer composites and their extraction processes: a review. J Reinforced Plast Compos 33(20):1879–1892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Rosa AD, Cozzo G, Latteri A, Recca A, Bjorklund A, Parrinello E, Cicala G (2013) Life cycle assessment of a novel hybrid glass-hemp/thermoset composite. J Clean Prod 44:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Duigou A, Davies P, Baley C (2011) Environmental impact analysis of the production of flax fibres to be used as composite material reinforcement. J Biobased Mater Bioenergy 5(1):153–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luglietti R, Rosa P, Terzi S, Taisch M (2016) Life cycle assessment tool in product development: environmental requirements in decision making process. Procedia CIRP 40:202–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luz SM, Caldeira-pires A, Ferr~ao PMC (2010) Environmental benefits of substituting talc by sugarcane bagasse fibers as reinforcement in polypropylene composites: ecodesign and LCA as strategy for automotive components. Resour Conserv Recycl 54(12):1135–1144

    Google Scholar 

  • Mani M, Madan J, Lee JH, Lyons KW, Gupta SK (2014) Sustainability characterisation for manufacturing processes. Int J Prod Res 52(20):5895e912

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansor MR, Salit MS, Zainudin ES, Aziz NA, Ariff H (2015) Life cycle assessment of natural fiber polymer composites. In: Hakeem K, Jawaid MY, Alothman O (eds) Agricultural biomass based potential materials. Springer, Cham, pp 121–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Liikanen M, Grönman K, Deviatkin I, Havukainen J, Hyvärinen M, Kärki T, Varis J, Soukka R, Horttanainen M (2019) Construction and demolition waste as a raw material for wood polymer composites: assessment of environmental impacts. J Clean Prod 225(10):716–727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Natural fiber composites market by type (wood fiber and non-wood fiber), manufacturing process (compression molding, injection molding, and others), application (building & construction, automotive, and electrical & electronics), and region - global forecasts to 2021 [Internet]. Pune: Markets and Market Research Private Ltd.; April 2016. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/natural-fiber-composites-market-90779629. Accessed 14 March 2018

  • Pegoretti TDS, Mathieux F, Evrard D, Brissaud D, Arruda JRDF (2014) Use of recycled natural fibres in industrial products: a comparative LCA case study on acoustic components in the Brazilian automotive sector. Resour Conserv Recycl 84:1e14

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommerhuber PF, Wenker JL, Rüter S, Krause A (2016) Life cycle assessment of wood-plastic composites: Analysing alternative materials and identifying an environmental sound end-of-life option. Resour Conserv Recy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.10.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum RK (2017) Goal and scope definition in life cycle assessment. In: Curran M (ed.) Goal and scope definition in life cycle assessment. LCA Compendium - the complete world of life cycle assessment. Dordrecht: Springer, p 63e120

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapuan SM (2014) Tropical natural fibre composites: properties, manufacture and applications, 1st edn. Springer, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Summerscales J, Dissanayake N, Virk A, Hall W (2010) A review of bast fibres and their composites: part 2-Composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 41:1336e44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi P, Yadav K (2017) Biodegradation of natural fiber & glass fiber polymer composite-a review. Int J Eng Technol 4(4):1224e8

    Google Scholar 

  • Trusty W (2010) An overview of life cycle assessments: part one of three. Build Saf J https://www.icc-es.org/Education/BSJ_overview_life_cycle_assessment_oct2010.pdf. Accessed 01 Mar 2018

  • Tudora AC (2014) Life cycle assessment. Methodology and instrument. The Bulletin of the Polytechnic Institute of Jassy-Constr Archit Section. Tomme LX (LXIV), Fascicle 2, p 83e92

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner JA (1987) Linseed Law: a handbook for growers and advisers. Hadleigh, Suffolk: BASF (UK) Limited

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal R, Martínez P, Garraín D (2009) Life cycle assessment of composite materials made of recycled thermoplastics combined with rice husks and cotton linters. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(1):73–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walden DD, Roedler GJ, Forsberg KJ, Hamelin RD, Shortell TM (2015) INCOSE systems engineering handbook: a guide for system life cycle processes and activities, 4th edn. Wiley, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Jayaraman K, Morin C, Pecqueux N (2008) Life cycle assessment of wood-fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites. J Mater Process Technol 198(1–3):168–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Younesi M, Roghanian E (2015) A framework for sustainable product design: a hybrid fuzzy approach based on quality function deployment for environment. J Clean Prod 108:385–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zah R, Hischier R, Le AL, Braun I (2007) Curaua fibers in the automobile industry: a sustain- ability assessment. J Clean Prod 15:1032–1040

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rabindranath Tagore University, Bhopal, 462022, MP, India

    Rupesh Kumar Malviya & Rahul Kumar Singh

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, MANIT, Bhopal, 462003, MP, India

    Rajesh Purohit

Authors
  1. Rupesh Kumar Malviya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rajesh Purohit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rahul Kumar Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical and Process Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand

    Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa

  2. Center of Innovation in Design and Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

    Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai

  3. Mechanical and Process Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

    Mohit Hemanth Kumar

  4. Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Bangsue, Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand

    Suchart Siengchin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Malviya, R.K., Purohit, R., Singh, R.K. (2021). Life–Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Plastic–Wood Composites. In: Mavinkere Rangappa, S., Parameswaranpillai, J., Kumar, M.H., Siengchin, S. (eds) Wood Polymer Composites. Composites Science and Technology . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1606-8_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation