LCA Mari Nissinen

8/13/2019 LCA Mari Nissinen

1/25

Comparative LCA of Flooring

materials: Ceramic vs. Marble Tiles

Mari Nissinen


2/25

Background

Italy is the most important producer of

ceramic and marble tiles for buildings

Italy covers 23% of the world output of

ceramic tiles

18% of the world output of marble tiles

Growing interest in environmentalconcerns in the building sector


3/25

The Goal and Scope (1/2)

To compare environmental profiles of the

ceramic and marble tilewhich one has

the best environmental profile? What are

the hot-spots of the systems?

Single-fired ceramic vs. marble tile

Functional unit: 1m2and period: 40 years

Few operations have been excluded


4/25

The Goal and Scope (2/2)

No allocation procedure was done

Impact assessment methodology is problem-oriented

Impact categories: abiotic resources, globalwarming,ozone layer depletion, human toxicity,aquatic toxicity, acidification, nutrification andphotochemical oxidant creation

Normalisation factors by Directoraat-GeneraalRijkswaterstaat

Weighting factors by NOGEPA


5/25

Assumptions

Emissions of the electric energyproduction are relative to the Italian energysystem

The distance of the transport of thepackaging materials is 10km from thecollection point to the municipal solidwaste incinerator

The distance of the tilling demolition to thelandfill is 20km


6/25

Ceramic Tile

Average weight: 18kg/m2

Manufacturing in North Italy

The main countries from which raw material are

imported, are identified using the Italian TradeStatistics

Flue gas amounts are averages of different

plants Manufacturing waste is recycled into the system

Average life of the tiles: 20 years


7/25

Marble Tile

Average weight 48,6kg/m2, thickness 1,8cm

Manufactured in the centre of Italy

Manufacturing waste is recycled out of thesystem after the required treatments

Distance from the sedimentation tank to thelandfill for sludge is 10km

Filter-press solid waste (marmettola)disposal in landfill, distance 10km

Average life 40 years


8/25

Ceramic tile inventory analysis (1/6)

Two stages of productive cycle: 1) Body &glaze manufacturing and 2) Laying of theglaze to the body and the firing of the

glazed body The process starts with the wet grinding of

raw materials, after the forming it is driedin kilns

1,15-1,2t raw materials is needed to obtain1t of finished product


9/25


Raw materials:

- Argillaceous materials (45%)

- Degreasing materials (15%)- Soldering materials (40%: feldspars (25%)

and limestone (15%))

- Recovered materials


10/25


Mix preparation consists of grinding, mixing-

soaking and regulation of the water content

The main emissions in to the atmosphere are

related to the movement and grinding of rawmaterials (dust & burning of natural gas)

Aim of forming is to mould the tile in the spesific

green format. Pressing process is used in

forming

The water content of a dried tile is


11/25


Glazes can be transparent, opaque or

coloured

1kg/m2of glaze is required for the enamelling

Fuel for firing kilns is methane

Water required is 12 l/m2

Packaging: cardboard boxes with polythene

sheets

No emissions during the use phase

Disposal: landfill


12/25



13/25



14/25

Marble tile inventory analysis (1/2)

Productive cycle consists of

- Quarry operations

- Raw blocks cutting

- Cutting of the standard size blocks

- Polishing, buffing

Packaging: wooden boxes Disposal: landfill


15/25

Marble tile inventory analysis (2/2)


16/25

Impact Assessment (1/8)

Electric and thermal energy needed tomanufacture of 1m2ceramic tile is161,67MJ

Marble tile 161,83MJ Ceramic tile process requires lots of

thermal energy and marble electric energy

Most important categories in eco-indicators are global warming, humantoxicity and acidification


17/25



18/25



19/25


20/25



21/25



22/25



23/25



24/25

Results

Marble tile (1,90e-12) scores about two timesbetter than ceramic tile (4,21e-12)

Emissions to air for both over 90% of emissions

The highest environmental burden for marble tilesystem is preproduction

For ceramic system: preparation of the body,fusion of the frit and the firing of the glazed body

Marble tile process requires much electric

energy, ceramic process thermal energy Improvements suggested be done: more

efficient technology for marble energy costs

Ceramic: thermal energy


25/25

THANK YOU!!

Documents

LCA Mari Nissinen