PARENT SESSION
MP1 Lifecycle inventory after 14041; new developments in modelling
3:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Monday, 07 May 2001
Session Chair: B. Weidema
Room 1

(076) Technical progress in production and recycling of aluminium packaging - a scenario approach -.

Zapp, Petra¹, Rombach, Georg², Kuckshinrichs, Wilhelm¹, ^{1 2}

ABSTRACT- Technical progress can be seen as one potential of sustainable development. To measure benefits but also disadvantages effects have to be quantified for all distinguished dimensions. Using a process chain model impacts of technical progress on resource use and emissions can be evaluated based on information that cover processes and locations on different levels. The integration of market mechanisms is also necessary. Therefore, reliable projections of technical progress differentiate between the technical potential of full capacity replacement by newest technology and the smaller potential of reduced replacement in 2010 which can be realistically implemented under consideration of financial and market aspects using a scenario approach. The scenarios are applied for the analysis of aluminium in the German packaging system. It describes methodologically the concept of technical progress for the production and recycling of aluminium packaging, giving detailed description of expected technical progress on the process level within the next decade. For energy consumption as a major issue of public concern the results show a big difference between the maximum technical potential and its predicted application in 2010. The entire primary energy savings in the case of newest technology (NT) is 26% (50 GJ/t packaging material) and in 10 years 16% (30 GJ/t) can be realised. For the isolated technology aspects improvements of 15 respective 6% can be expected. The material related effect will be 5 and 3% and the energy related one 6 and 7%, taking the dominating effect of a changed energy carrier mix in 2010 into account. Further results concerning resource use and emissions are available and provided for subsequent impact assessment to support the discussion towards a sustainable development of metallic material flows.

Key words: aluminium packaging, inventory