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LCA has been applied to the pulp and paper industry to evaluate the sustainability of Portuguese printing and writing paper activity. It includes production of raw materials, production of paper, distribution of paper and final disposal of wastepaper. Printing and writing paper represents 60% of the total production of paper in Portugal and is expected to increase in near future.
Raw Materials
Eucalyptus globulus pulp (which is a chemical pulp produced by Kraft or sulfate process). Minor raw materials consist of pine market Kraft pulp produced in Scandinavia and Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) used as filler.
Nearly 90% of the printing and writing paper produced in Portugal is exported mainly to European countries. German market is selected to perform this study, because data concerning the distribution and final disposal of paper in Germany were available from IFEU (Insitut fur Energie and Umweltforschung Heidelberg GmbH)
METHODOLOGY
E. globulus forest
FORESTRY
Pine Forest
E globulus pulp
PULP PRODUCTION
Pine pulp
PAPER DISTRIBUTION
Forestry (includes the production of E. globulus wood in Portugal and pine wood in Scandinavia) Pulp production (E. globulus pulp produced and pine pulp produced) Paper production (includes printing and paper production) Paper distribution ( transport of printing and writing paper from the paper mill to the place of consumption) Paper final disposal( landfilling, incineration and recycling )
Main stages of printing and writing paper life cycle and their corresponding process
Forestry
E. globulus Forest Pine Forest
Pulp Production
E. globulus pulp production Pine Pulp production Chemical production (NaOH, CaCO3, H2SO4, NaCLO3, S2, NaCl, H2O2) Fuel production (heavy fuel oil) Energy production in the gird Transport of wood to the pulp mills Transport of chemicals
Landfilling Incineration Graphic paper production (from wastepaper) Packaging paper production Tissue production Chemical production Fuel production (heavy oil, natural gas, lignite) Transport of wastepaper from user to several disposal alternatives
Inventory Analysis
Data Collection
The inventory data used in this study are of period 1995 to 2000. Average or typical process specific data are collected. Remaining data were obtained froM literature and specialized databases.
75% Recycling o 85% tissue paper production o 5% graphic paper production o 15% packaging paper production
Allocation Procedures
Partitioning of input and output flows of a unit process to the product Multifunctional Processes (multi output and input processes and open loop recycling). Allocation procedures apply ISO 1998.
Impact Assessment
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Impact Assessment for 5 impact categories Global warming over 100 years Acidification Eutrofication Non-renewable resource depletion Photochemical oxidant formation
Conclusion
Paper production stage is major of air emissions( non-renewable CO2, NOX & SO2) and non-renewable energy consumption and therefore leads to global warming, acidification and NRRD. Energy requirements by fuel oil burning and electricity consumption. Pulp production leads to water emissions (COD & AOX) And to eutrofication. Paper distribution leads to NOX emissions Final disposal stage leads to photochemical oxidant formation due to CH4 emissions from wastepaper landfilling.
Reference
Ana Cludia Dias, Luis Arroja and Isabel Capela Life Cycle Assessment of Printing and Writing Paper Produced in Portugal, Case Study of the Portuguese Industry, Appita J 55,521 528.