Handouts case studies

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Handouts SimaPro: Life Cycle Assessment software

(Exercise 1 and 6.1 are for beginners)

Case 1: plastic water bottle

1. Model water bottle using processes

1.1 Model a material: water bottle, cap

The production of a water bottle consists of a bottle, a cap and bottling process

20gr of plastic bottle Input/Output Input in SimaPro

1. Materials/fuels

22gr of PET Polyethylene terephthalate, granulate, bottle grade, at plant/RER S

Blow molding of the plastic Blow moulding/RER S

Outputs. Treatment 2g waste during the production

Disposal, polyethylene terephtalate, 0.2% water, to municipal incineration/CH S

3gr of plastic cap Input/Output Input in SimaPro

2. Materials/fuels 3.75 ABS Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer,

ABS, at plant/RER S

Outputs. Treatment 0.75gr of waste during production

Disposal, plastics, mixture, 15.3% water, to municipal incineration/CH S

1.2 Combine your materials: water bottle plus cap

1p of plastic bottle Input/Output Input in SimaPro

3. Materials/fuels/electricity

20gr of bottle See section 1.1

3gr of cap See section 1.1

Pumping, purifying, and filling

0.02 kWh Electricity, medium voltage, production UCTE, at grid/UCTE S

1.3 Model the life cycle

1p life cycle Input/Output Input in SimaPro

4. Materials/fuels Water bottle plus cap See section 1.2

100km of transport Transport, lorry 20-28t, fleet average/CH S

Outputs. Treatment Disposal of the bottle to incineration

Disposal, plastics, mixture, 15.3% water, to municipal incineration/CH S

2. Model water bottle using product stages

Model the same water bottle as above, but use this time product stages. In case you skip section 1, model both bottle and plastic cap as described in section 1.1.

Handouts case studies

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Assembly bottle+cap Input/Output Input in SimaPro

Materials/assemblies 20gr of bottle See section 1.1

3gr of cap See section 1.1

Processes Pumping, purifying, and filling

Electricity, medium voltage, production UCTE, at grid/UCTE S

LC bottle+cap Input/Output Input in SimaPro

Assembly 1p of bottle+cap See section 2

Processes 100km of transport Transport, lorry 20-28t, fleet average/CH S

Waste/disposal scenario

Disposal of the bottle to incineration

Incineration/CH S

Case 2: glass water bottle

Model consistent with the plastic bottle, so that both life cycles can be compared!

3. Model the materials: glas bottle, aluminium cap

200gr of glass bottle Input/Output Input in SimaPro

5. Information

200gr primary glass Packaging glass, white, at plant/CH U

Glass blowing: 0.01kWh electricity

Search for the best process

10 gr waste during production goes to incineration

Search for the best process

5gr of aluminum cap Input/Output Input in SimaPro

6. Information 5gr primary aluminum Search for the best process

Production process Search for the best process

4. Model the assembly and life cycle, using product stages

Assembly and life cycle

Input/Output Input in SimaPro

7. Information

0.02 kWh for bottling process Search for the best process

Model the life cycle consistent with the water bottle so that both can be compared

Material, transport, waste Search for the best processes

5. Compare plastic bottle and glass bottle

Run a comparison and analyse where the difference comes from.

Handouts case studies

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6. Model with parameters (apply to plastic bottle)

6.1 Model bottling with parameters

Parameter name Input value Comment

Input parameter pumping&cleaning 0.015 Fill in

Input parameter filling 0.005 Fill in

Calculated parameter bottling Pumping&cleaning+filling Fill in

6.2 Model transport with parameters

Parameter name Input value Comment

Input parameter distance Fill in Fill in

Input parameter weight_water Fill in Fill in

Input parameter weight_bottle Fill in Fill in

Calculated parameter transport Fill in Fill in

6.3 Different distances-different transport

Set up 3 scenarios: local, regional, abroad

Scenario Distance Transport mode

Local Smaller or equal than 50km van < 3,5t/RER S Regional Between 50 and 150km Lorry of 16t, fleet average/RER Abroad Bigger or equal than 150km Lorry of 20-28t, fleet average/RER

Compare the effect of different types of transport by making a calculation setup and defining different scenarios!!