Published: 18 Oct 2024
Nine industry associations have commissioned SGS INTRON
to prepare a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
report exploring the environmental impacts of treating End-of-Life (EoL)
composites by co-processing in a cement facility.
The independent and peer-reviewed LCA report confirms the
positive environmental impact of this end-of-life solution for glass fibre
reinforced thermoset composites which are used in various applications,
including the automotive, construction, wind and recreational boating sectors.
The report reveals that each ton of EoL composite
waste treated in a cement facility saves up to 1 ton of CO2 compared
to traditional waste incineration methods.
On the one hand this process of cement co-processing avoids
emissions from waste incineration (approximately 500* kg of
CO2 per ton of EoL composites) and on the other hand it reduces
emissions from cement production by approximately 330* kg CO2 per
ton of EoL composites resulting in an average combined emission saving of 830
kg CO2.
In addition to CO2 savings, cement
co-processing of composites offers two other significant benefits that lower
the environmental footprint of the cement industry:
With the publication of this report, associations call on
the decision-makers to recognize
cement co-processing as recycling process for its mineral fraction.
This recognition would be highly beneficial, accelerating the adoption of this
existing solution to process EoL composites and fostering the development of a
sustainable waste collection system for EoL composites.
Having such a collection system in place will pave the way
for other circular technology solutions that currently lack the necessary waste
stream visibility to attract the public and private investments needed for
expansion.
(*): Above savings are weighted average for various compositions of End-of-Life composites. Depending on the End-of-Life composites material composition, the actual saving can vary from 560 up to 1130 kg CO2.
Published: 18 Oct 2024
Nine industry associations have commissioned SGS INTRON
to prepare a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
report exploring the environmental impacts of treating End-of-Life (EoL)
composites by co-processing in a cement facility.
The independent and peer-reviewed LCA report confirms the
positive environmental impact of this end-of-life solution for glass fibre
reinforced thermoset composites which are used in various applications,
including the automotive, construction, wind and recreational boating sectors.
The report reveals that each ton of EoL composite
waste treated in a cement facility saves up to 1 ton of CO2 compared
to traditional waste incineration methods.
On the one hand this process of cement co-processing avoids
emissions from waste incineration (approximately 500* kg of
CO2 per ton of EoL composites) and on the other hand it reduces
emissions from cement production by approximately 330* kg CO2 per
ton of EoL composites resulting in an average combined emission saving of 830
kg CO2.
In addition to CO2 savings, cement
co-processing of composites offers two other significant benefits that lower
the environmental footprint of the cement industry:
With the publication of this report, associations call on
the decision-makers to recognize
cement co-processing as recycling process for its mineral fraction.
This recognition would be highly beneficial, accelerating the adoption of this
existing solution to process EoL composites and fostering the development of a
sustainable waste collection system for EoL composites.
Having such a collection system in place will pave the way
for other circular technology solutions that currently lack the necessary waste
stream visibility to attract the public and private investments needed for
expansion.
(*): Above savings are weighted average for various compositions of End-of-Life composites. Depending on the End-of-Life composites material composition, the actual saving can vary from 560 up to 1130 kg CO2.
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