LCA OF WRITING AND PRINTING

PAPER

Introduction LCA has been applied to the pulp and paper

industry to evaluate the sustainability of Portuguese printing and writing paper activity.

It includes o production of raw materials, o production of paper, o distribution of paper and o final disposal of wastepaper. Printing and writing paper represents 60% of the

total production of paper in Portugal and is expected to increase in near future.

Raw Materials

Eucalyptus globulus pulp (which is a chemical pulp produced by Kraft or sulfate process).

Minor raw materials consist of pine market Kraft pulp produced in Scandinavia and

Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) used as filler.

Nearly 90% of the printing and writing paper produced in Portugal is exported mainly to European countries.

German market is selected to perform this study, because data concerning the distribution and final disposal of paper in Germany were available from IFEU (Insitut fur Energie and Umweltforschung Heidelberg GmbH)

METHODOLOGY

GOAL AND SCOPE

The goal of this study wereo To assess the potential environment

impacts throughout the life cycleo To identify the process with the largest

environmental impactso To evaluate the effect on the potential

environmental impacts of changing the market: German Market vs. Portuguese Market

E. globulus forest FORESTRY Pine Forest

E globulus pulp PULP PRODUCTION Pine pulp

PAPER PRODUCTIONPrinting and writing paper

PAPER DISTRIBUTION

PAPER FINAL DISPOSAL

SYSTEM DEFINITION AND BOUNDARIES Forestry (includes the production of E. globulus

wood in Portugal and pine wood in Scandinavia) Pulp production (E. globulus pulp produced

and pine pulp produced) Paper production (includes printing and paper

production) Paper distribution ( transport of printing and

writing paper from the paper mill to the place of consumption)

Paper final disposal( landfilling, incineration and recycling )

Each stage also includes additionally Transport Chemical Production Energy Production (Heat And Electricity) Fuel Production Process Added To The System

Main stages of printing and writing paper life cycle and their corresponding process

Forestry

E. globulus Forest Pine Forest

Pulp Production

E. globulus pulp production Pine Pulp production Chemical production (NaOH, CaCO3,

H2SO4, NaCLO3, S2, NaCl, H2O2) Fuel production (heavy fuel oil) Energy production in the gird Transport of wood to the pulp mills Transport of chemicals

Paper Distribution in Germany

Transport of paper to Germany Paper distribution in Germany

Paper Distribution in Portugal

Paper distribution in Portugal

Final disposal in Germany and Portugal Landfilling Incineration Graphic paper production (from wastepaper) Packaging paper production Tissue production Chemical production Fuel production (heavy oil, natural gas,

lignite) Transport of wastepaper from user to several

disposal alternatives

Inventory Analysis

Data Collection

The inventory data used in this study are of period 1995 to 2000.

Average or typical process specific data are collected.

Remaining data were obtained froM literature and specialized databases.

Data for final paper disposal in Germany 17% Landfilling 8% incineration

75% Recyclingo 85% tissue paper productiono 5% graphic paper productiono 15% packaging paper production

Data for final paper disposal in Portugal 53% landfilling 18% incineration 4% composting 25% recyclingo 52% tissue productiono 39% packaging paperso 9% printing and writing paper

Allocation Procedures

Partitioning of input and output flows of a unit process to the product

Multifunctional Processes (multi output and input processes and open loop recycling).

Allocation procedures apply ISO 1998.

Impact Assessment

Impact Assessment for 5 impact categories

1. Global warming over 100 years

2. Acidification

3. Eutrofication

4. Non-renewable resource depletion

5. Photochemical oxidant formation

Inventory analysis results (G=Germany market & P=Portugal market)

Results and discussion

The analysis of the results at the inventory level is limited to a few key parameters:

Renewable and non-renewable CO2, NOX, SO2, COD and AOX (adsorbable organic halogens)

Renewable CO2 emissions

Impact Assessment Results In German Market

Global warming potential due to methane generation during landfilling.

Eutrofication potential due to COD AND NOX emissions

Non-renewable resource depletion potential due to consumption of heavy fuel oil

Photochemical oxidant formation potential due to methane emissions from landfilling.

Impact Assessment Results In Portugal Market

Global warming and photochemical oxidant formation is the main impact categories due to methane generation during landfilling.

In contrast, the acidification, eutrofication and non-renewable resource depletion potentials are smaller (between 2 to 15%)

Conclusion Paper production stage is major of air

emissions( non-renewable CO2, NOX & SO2) and non-renewable energy consumption and therefore leads to global warming, acidification and NRRD. Energy requirements by fuel oil burning and electricity consumption.

Pulp production leads to water emissions (COD & AOX) And to eutrofication.

Paper distribution leads to NOX emissions Final disposal stage leads to photochemical oxidant

formation due to CH4 emissions from wastepaper landfilling.

Recommendations and Perspectives This study provides an useful

information to increase in its sustainability.

It allows industry to improve its environmental performance by making changes in production process and also by treatment of flue gases and effluents.

Issues like energy consumption can also be dealt with.

Reference

Ana Cláudia Dias, Luis Arroja and Isabel Capela “Life Cycle Assessment of Printing and Writing Paper Produced in Portugal”, Case Study of the Portuguese Industry, Appita J 55,521–528.

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