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Life cycle assessment in the furniture industry: the case study of an office cabinet

  • PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN EMERGING ECONOMIES VIA LIFE CYCLE THINKING
  • Published:
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

In an effort to reduce the environmental impacts of the furniture sector, this study aimed to diagnose the environmental performance of an office cabinet throughout its life cycle.

Methods

An attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) was used, based on the ISO 14044 Standard and ILCD Handbook. The scope of the study considered the entire supply chain, from cradle to grave, including the steps of pre-manufacturing, manufacturing, use, and post-use of the product. The impact assessment method was the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) 2011 midpoint.

Results and discussion

The results identified that the most significant environmental impact of the furniture life cycle was due to the distances covered and production of the main raw material, wood medium-density particleboard (MDP). The evaluation of transport scenarios showed environmental tradeoffs for truck fuel switches and environmental gains for the distribution of MDP from closer suppliers by truck, as well as from current supplier by truck and ship in the major categories. Furthermore, evaluation of the office cabinet post-use options showed that reuse, recycling, or energy recovery from waste cause significant environmental gains in the major categories. Wooden furniture is a potential carbon sink if its life cycle does not emit more greenhouse gases than its materials can store. The impacts of substitution scenarios varied depending on the type of product avoided.

Conclusions

The LCA proved a powerful method to diagnose and manage environmental impacts in complex product systems. The sensitivity analysis showed that it is possible to reduce the environmental impacts and, at the same time, make the furniture industry increase its economic gains and net carbon stock in the anthroposphere.

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Acknowledgments

This research study was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for their research scholarships, Júlio César from the furniture company for supporting data collection, the company ACVBrasil on behalf of Pré Consultants for concession of the educational licence of Simapro with ecoinvent database, and the anonymous reviewers for their comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Engineering Graduate Program (PEI), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Aristides Novis Street 2 (6th floor) Federação, Salvador, BA, 40210-630, Brazil

    Diego Lima Medeiros

  2. National Service of Industrial Learning (SENAI CIMATEC), Orlando Gomes Avenue 1845 Piatã, Salvador, BA, 41650-010, Brazil

    Arilma Oliveira do Carmo Tavares

  3. Design Research Center (NPDesign), Federal Institute of Alagoas (IFAL), Odilon Vasconcelos Street 103 Jatiúca, Maceió, AL, 57035-350, Brazil

    Áurea Luiza Quixabeira Rosa e Silva Rapôso

  4. Clean Technologies Network (TECLIM), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Aristides Novis Street 2 (4th floor) Federação, Salvador, BA, 40210-630, Brazil

    Asher Kiperstok

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  1. Diego Lima Medeiros
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  2. Arilma Oliveira do Carmo Tavares
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  3. Áurea Luiza Quixabeira Rosa e Silva Rapôso
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Correspondence to Diego Lima Medeiros.

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Responsible editor: Shabbir Gheewala

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Medeiros, D.L., Tavares, A.O.d.C., Rapôso, Á.L.Q.R.e.S. et al. Life cycle assessment in the furniture industry: the case study of an office cabinet. Int J Life Cycle Assess 22, 1823–1836 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1370-3

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