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Can LCA tell whether flame retardancy is environment-friendly?

Olivier TalonMons, 17/03/2016

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Can LCA tell whether flame retardancy is environment-friendly?

… LCA? What is LCA?

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ovaLCA means Life Cycle Assessment

LCA is a tool for quantifying the potential environmental impacts of a system

LCA can be used for comparison of the environmental impacts of two systems

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OK. But what’s the point of talking LCA today?

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halogen-freebio-based

eco-friendlysustainable

renewablegreen

emissions

Does green keyword mean green technology?LCA could help giving an answer…

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How does it work?

LCA in a nutshell

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LCA is meant for identifying / solving environmental issues without inducing impact switches (towards other LC steps or impact types)

initial situation

impa

ct

after modification

impa

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LCA quantifies exchanges between a product system and the environment

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LCA makes links between these exchanges and impact categories

ozone depletion

acidification

water depletionecotoxicity

land use

eutrophication

toxicity

climate change

;;;;;;;;;

;;;;;;;;;

;;;;

CO2

CH4

HCl

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LCA translates these flows into environmental impacts

Results from InnoREX projectThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's

Seventh Framework Programme (FP7; NMP.2012.3.0-1) under grant agreement number 309802.

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LCA and flame retardancy

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…before going any further… quick reminder…

LCA is based on (very) simple mathematics

EI(A+B) = EI(A) + EI(B)

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LC step 1emission of 1 kg X

IC1(X) = x1

IC2(X) = x2

IC3(X) = 0

Overall Life Cycle Impacts

Imp Cat 1

impa

ct

Imp Cat 2 Imp Cat 3

LC step 2emission of 1 kg Y

IC1(Y) = y1

IC2(Y) = 0 IC3(Y) = y3

EI(Life Cycle) = ∑(EIsteps)

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Impact of a system

EI(system) = EI(production) + EI(use) + EI(end of life)

Any system

Non-fire retarded system

EI(FR) = EI(prodFR) + EI(useFR) + EI(eolFR)

Fire retarded system

EI(FR) = EI(prodFR) + EI(useFR) + EI(eolFR)

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FR vs. FRWhat do we compare?

In LCA, everything is related to the function of the system

What is the common function of FR and FR?

Not to burn? No.To be used.

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FR vs. FR

Therefore, if FR = FR + fr

EI(FR) = EI(FR) + EI(fr)

EI(FR) > EI (FR)

because, obviously: EI(prodfr) + EI(usefr) + EI(eolfr) > 0

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ovaSo what? That’s it?

Fire retardants are not green, just because they are?

No, of course…

Such systems should not be considered by LCA as if they would never burn. Because they may

burn. Each of them.

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But how?

In LCA, usually, systems are described under “normal” operation conditions. With

no accident, therefore no burning.

SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute proposed the so-called “Fire-LCA”

model.

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Principle of Fire-LCA

Include fire statistics and environmental consequences of fire events in the

comparative LCA study

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Source: Simonson, 2000

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What if FR burns?

Consequences of the fire event

System has to be replaced. Even partly.People may have to be healed.Room may have to be cleaned.Walls may have to be painted.

Building may have to be rebuilt.Burnt system has to be discarded / treated.

CO2, particles, dioxins etc. are emitted.…

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What if FR burns?

Consequences of the fire event

Similar consequences. Maybe even worse consequences in terms of emissions.

Marzi, 2006Toxic combustion products

green: FR; orange & red: FR

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Impacts of the two systems

p(fire)*EI(consequences)+

(1-p(fire))*normal EI(FR)

FR

p’(fire)*EI’(consequences)+

(1-p’(fire))*normal EI(FR)

FR

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Appropriate end-of-life treatment has to be considered, also…

Source: Jonkers, 2015LCA comparison of brominated and halogen-free

retardant, laptop application

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Therefore…

In order to know whether one flame retardant is greener than another one…

… it is definitely not enough to say renewable or halogen-free…

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Data are needed about:

- impacts of fr production- impacts of FR system production- impacts of “normal” use phase

- impacts of disposal / treatment after “normal” use- probability of fire events

- emissions directly linked to fr in case of fire- other fire consequences

- impacts of disposal / treatment of burnt system …

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contact:

olivier.talon@materianova.beylca@materianova.be

Thanks for your attention