PW06 Life-Cycle Assessment
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Wednesday
(PW070) What is the problem? Lack of knowledge of the whole life cycle for metals.
Dubreuil, A,.1, Young, S.2, 1 Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada2 SB Young Consulting, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- Inter alia, from an environmental perspective, which solution an architect should prefer for a metallic door: a) to have a minimum level of the recycled metal content or b) to select a design by which the metal will be efficiently recycled? Several distinct challenges face metals as they are included (or excluded) in the scope and inventory of life-cycle assessment studies. First is inclusion of the whole life cycle. Metals, in general, provide properties that enhance the durability and long-life of end-products. Thus, in order to make good decisions regarding the stewardship of metal-containing product systems, the full life-cycle needs to be included: from cradle to gate PLUS product use, product discard and potential material recycling . Second, is the issue of using good data on the recyclability and recycling rates of specific materials and products. Rich databases exist for life cycle inventories on the production of metal and fabricated products, but LCA practitioners have had difficulties obtaining adequate and appropriate data on relevant recovery and recycling practices of metal materials. Third is the methodological treatment of recycling in life-cycle inventory studies. Recycling aspects are important for metals-particularly with respect to avoided impacts of primary production. However, this benefit of recycling needs to be properly and fairly modeled in LCA practice, in a manner that is compliant with ISO 14040 and is globally applicable to all materials and situations. Without these three areas of consideration properly included, there is concern that product declarations may unfairly represent metals in relation to other materials. In order to promote the consistency among life cycle inventory methodologies for recycling, a task force comprising the base metal, aluminum, iron and steel sectors, plus and government and practitioner experts has been formed. Results of this task force shall be reported.
Key words: metal product, recycling, allocation, life cycle inventory