LCA framework for assessing the effectsof reuse on climate impactsModelling the use- and reuse activities of the product lifecycle to compare potential emissions between linear andcircular product flows in the construction industry
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Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Industrial ecology (MPTSE), MSc
Publicerad
2021
Författare
Kultje, Eva
Löfving, Joel
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The construction industry is one of the industries in the world that contributes withthe most greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce emissions and increase the circularityof the industry, the CCBuild platform is being developed as a collaboration hub forstakeholders in the market to meet and share knowledge. The platform offers a toolfor calculating the potential reduction in emissions if products in the building arereused instead of bought new. However, the current tool does not take the entire lifecycle into account, since it excludes processes linked to the use- and reuse phases ofthe products life cycle. Effects on use phase energy consumption, as well as emis-sions connected to enabling reuse, are expected to contribute to the difference inemissions from the two options.This thesis uses an inductive method to analyze how to include processes from theuse- and reuse phase, without compromising the user-friendliness of the tool. Thishas been done through two case studies where the difference in climate impact be-tween reusing and buying a new window as well as to reuse and buy a new dishwasherhas been assessed. The findings and experiences from the case studies have thenbeen used to develop a guide for how comparative attributional life cycle assess-ments can be carried out in order to generate results facilitating decision making.The guideline consists of a conceptual flow chart, for modelling the life cycle flowof an arbitrary product; a description of calculation procedures, and a discussionon the relevance of certain processes that should be included; and suggestions onwhich parameters that can be based on assumptions and be included in the tool’sbackground data and which need to be specifically inventoried and entered into thesystem by the user. The parameters are chosen to represent the products included inthe case studies, however it is expected that the studied parameters can be used toproduce calculations for products of yet other product types. The results producedwith the model represents an estimation of the total net emissions from reusing aproduct instead of buying a new one.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Life cycle assessment , LCA , Reuse , Construction , CCBuild , EN 15978