Chalmers Conferences, LCM 2013

GWP BENEFITS FROM PAPER AND BOARD RECYCLING WITH CONSEQUENTIAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: SPANISH CASE STUDY CONSIDERING THE INTERACTION WITH GLOBAL MARKETS
Eva Sevigne, Carles M. Gasol, Joan Rieradevall, Xavier Gabarrell

Last modified: 2014-09-11

Abstract


There is a lack of data of greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) of paper recycling for Spain but they are necessary in order to guide waste management policies. The aim of this work is to calculate the environmental consequences of paper recycling in Spain. We have applied a consequential life cycle assessment (cLCA). Different scenarios were evaluated and results vary per ton of paper collected from -3 kg to -579 kg CO2 eq., depending on the economic competitiveness of the virgin pulp producer, or if the avoided wood is used to produce bioenergy. These results show that the benefits of recycling could depend on market conditions, as markets are highly interrelated and results of one country could affect other markets.

Keywords


kraft pulp; environmental impact; local market; global market

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