Ucomposites A/S has carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to document the carbon footprint as well as other environmental impacts of Ucomposites recycled materials
The findings of this LCA show that the production 1 tonne of recycled glass fiber product affects the environment by about 60 kg CO2 equivalents (climate change indicator), where 49 % of these emissions origins from transport of the raw materials from the suppliers to Ucomposites’ production plant. Furthermore, the SO2 and NOx emissions from production of 1 tonne of recycled fiber constitute about 0,02 and 0,25 kg, respectively. The power usage is 60 kWh per tonne recycled glass fiber.
Ucomposites’ production of recycled glass fibers affects the environment in the following way:
- 59,8 kg CO2 equivalent emissions per 1 ton recycled glass product
Road and sea transport of the raw materials from the suppliers in Denmark and Europe constitute about 49 % of these emissions, followed by heating of the production plant using fuel oil (23 %). - 0,022 kg SO2 emissions per 1 ton recycled glass product
The largest contribution comes from the estimated emissions from waste management (63 %). - 0,253 kg NOX emissions per 1 ton recycled glass product
Road and sea transport of the raw materials from the suppliers in Denmark and Europe constitute about 91 % of these emissions. - The particulate emission per 1 ton cycled glass product is 26 ppm
About 59 % comes from road and sea transport of the raw materials from the suppliers in Denmark and Europe. - 1 ton of recycled glass fibers requires 60,0 kWh to produce.
This energy is mainly used for running the production lines and other equipment.