Chalmers Conferences, LCM 2013

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF AN ALUMINIUM PRODUCT BUSINESS MODEL USING LITHOGRAPHIC ALUMINIUM IN A CLOSED LOOP PROCESS
A. Vercalsteren, K. Boonen, V. Van Hoof, M. Vanhulsel

Last modified: 2014-09-11

Abstract


This paper describes the assessment of the environmental performance of a new cradle to cradle business model using LCA-methodology. An important issue is the trade-off between environmental credits due to the avoidance of the use of primary aluminium, and additional environmental impacts resulting from the extra transport steps needed to collect the aluminium waste, bring it to an aluminium production plant for recycling and re-use into new aluminium coils. The study shows that the additional transport steps have a very limited environmental impact compared to the manufacturing of the product. It is thus environmentally advantageous to recollect aluminium scrap even at larger distances to be able to increase the recycled content of the product.

Keywords


Life cycle assessment, business model, life cycle thinking, closed loop

References


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