Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when
Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions*
Evaluación de la disminución del impacto ambiental con el uso de material
reciclado en elementos de unión de tubería**
Avaliação da diminuição do impacto ambiental com o uso de material
reciclado em elementos de união de tubulação***
Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso ****
Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón *****
Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero******
Sandra Méndez-Fajardo*******
*
Date of submission: August 25, 2008. Date of acceptance for publication: March 9, 2009. This article is based on a research
project called Applying Product Life Cycle Management as a Support Tool in Decision Making when Selecting Materials
for Manufacturing Screw Joints for Piping, financed by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana through its 2005 internal call for
project support, registration N° 000425.
**
Fecha de recepción: 25 de agosto de 2008. Fecha de aceptación para publicación: 9 de marzo de 2009. Este artículo está
basado en el proyecto de investigación denominado Aplicación del análisis del ciclo de vida de producto como apoyo a la toma
de decisiones en la selección de materiales para la fabricación de elementos de unión roscados para tubería, financiado
por la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana a través de la convocatoria interna de apoyo a proyectos 2005 con número de
registro 000425.
***
Data de recepção: 25 de agosto de 2008. Data de aceitação para publicação: 9 de março de 2009. Este artigo baseia-se
no projeto de pesquisa denominado Aplicação da analise do ciclo de vida do produto como apoio à tomada de decisões
na seleção de materiais para a fabricação de elementos de união roscados para tubulação, financiado pela Pontificia
Universidad Javeriana através da convocatória interna de apoio a projetos 2005, com número de registro 00425 da Vicereitoria Acadêmica da Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
****
Ingeniero industrial, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Master of Environmental Management, Portland
State University, Portland, Estados Unidos. Profesor asistente, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Correo electrónico: cfuquene@javeriana.edu.co.
*****
Ingeniera industrial, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Joven investigadora, Departamento de Procesos
Productivos, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Correo electrónico: nazly.cordoba@javeriana.edu.co.
******
Ingeniero civil, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Maestría en Ingeniería y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Barcelona, España. Doctorado en Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad
Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, España. Profesor asistente, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Correo electrónico: laraj@javeriana.edu.co.
*******
Ingeniera civil, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Máster en Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de los
Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Profesora asistente, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Correo electrónico: sandra.mendez@javeriana.edu.co.
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009. ISSN 0123-2126
92 Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso, Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón, Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero, Sandra Méndez-Fajardo
Abstract
Resumen
Resumo
This research performs life cycle analysis of threaded unions manufactured
in PVC. The analysis proposes two
scenarios according to the amount of
recycled material used in the process.
One of the scenarios is based on 45%
of recycled material and the other one
is based on 100% of raw virgin material usage. The analysis was made by
means of the software tool Simapro®
version 7.0, establishing the environmental impact rating by the Ecoindicator 99 methodology. Data were
collected from databases, observation
and measurement of an industrial
process, specific prototype development under laboratory conditions
and interviews with experts. When
a composition of 100% of virgin raw
material was used for the product,
significant effects observed during
the product´s life cycle were related
to fossil fuel consumption and the
generation of inorganic materials in
suspension. For a product composition
with 45% of recycled material, the
most significant effects were related to
the generation of inorganic materials
in suspension and climate change.
Environmental impact diminution was
observed in the fossil fuel consumption, acidification / eutrophication,
inorganic materials in suspension and
climate change categories. Using recycled material in this product lowers
the contribution of fossil fuels to the
environmental impact from 56% to
5%, compared to the contribution of
the other impact categories.
La investigación analiza el ciclo de
vida de uniones roscadas fabricadas
en PVC y propone dos escenarios de
acuerdo con la cantidad de material
reciclado utilizado en el proceso: (1)
una composición de producto con
45% de material reciclado y (2) el uso
de 100% de materia prima virgen.
Para el análisis se usó la herramienta
informática Simapro® versión 7 y el
grado de impacto se estableció por
medio del uso del Ecoindicador 99. Los
datos se recolectaron de bases de datos,
observación y medición de un proceso
industrial, desarrollo de un prototipo
específico en condiciones de laboratorio y entrevistas con expertos. Cuando
se utilizó una formulación de producto
con 100% de material virgen, los
mayores efectos ambientales del producto se asociaron con el consumo de
combustibles fósiles y la generación
de material inorgánico respirable en
suspensión. Para un producto con una
formulación correspondiente al 45%
de material reciclado, se asociaron
los mayores impactos ambientales a
la generación de material inorgánico
respirable en suspensión y al cambio
climático. Se observó una disminución
del impacto ambiental en las categorías
del consumo de combustibles fósiles,
lluvia ácida/eutroficación, material
inorgánico en suspensión y cambio
climático. En consecuencia, el uso de
material reciclado en este producto
disminuye la contribución del impacto
ambiental de los combustibles fósiles
de un 56% a un 5% en comparación
con la contribución de las diferentes
categorías de impacto.
A pesquisa analisa o ciclo de vida de
uniões roscadas fabricadas em PVC e
propõe dois cenários de acordo com
a quantidade de material reciclado
utilizado no processo: (1) uma composição de produto com 45% de material reciclado e (2) o uso de 100% de
matéria prima virgem. Para a análise
utilizou-se a ferramenta informática
Simapro® versão 7 e o grau de impacto estabeleceu-se por meio do uso
do Ecoindicador 99. Os dados se coletaram de bases de dados, observação
e medição de um processo industrial,
desenvolvimento de um protótipo específico em condições de laboratório e
entrevistas com especialistas. Quando
se utilizou una formulação de produto
com 100% de material virgem, os
maiores efeitos ambientais do produto
associaram-se com o consumo de
combustíveis fósseis e a geração de
material inorgânico respirável em
suspensão. Para um produto com una
formulação correspondente a 45% de
material reciclado, associaram-se os
maiores impactos ambientais à geração de material inorgânico respirável
em suspensão e a mudança climática.
Observou-se uma diminuição do
impacto ambiental nas categorias
de consumo de combustíveis fósseis,
chuva ácida/eutroficação, material
inorgânico em suspensão e mudança
climática. Como conseqüência, o uso
de material reciclado neste produto
diminui a contribuição do impacto
ambiental dos combustíveis fósseis
de 56% a 5% em comparação com a
contribuição das diferentes categorias
de impacto.
Key words
Palabras clave
Palavras chave
Environmental impact analysis, waste
utilization, joints (engineering).
Evaluación del impacto ambiental,
aprovechamiento de residuos, uniones
(ingeniería).
Avaliação do impacto ambiental,
aproveitamento de resíduos, uniões
(engenharia).
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions
93
Introduction
The city of Bogota generates approximately 5.880 Ton/day (Ministerio de
Desarrollo Económico, Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos, 2008, p. 46)
of solid residues. From this amount, around 30% of total residues, composed
by organic matter, plastics and paper, could be reincorporated into productive
cycles instead of ending up in landfills.
Traditional plastics have become a material of interest because of their long
time to decompose, their low weight/volume ratio and the very little commercial use of biopolymers. It has become a challenge the search of alternatives for
minimizing the generation of plastic residues.
According to the Commission of European Communities it was estimated
that in 1999 the total annual PVC waste quantity was about 4.1 million tons
in the Community and around one million tons of PVC is present in the construction and demolition waste stream. In addition to that it is expected that the
volume of PVC waste will increase significantly by 30% in 2010 and by 80% in
2020, in particular due to the important increase of waste quantities from long
lifespan products (Commission of European Communities, 2000).
On the other hand, “the world market potential for biopolymers in 2010 could
be between 4 million and 12.5 million tons which would be only a 1.5%-4.8%
share of the entire plastics market” (Michael, 2003, s. p.). Mentioned aspects
have motivated the development of this research project with the purpose of
evaluating in what proportion and on which impact categories an environmental
impact is minimized when using recycled materials in plastic materials.
One way for evaluating if recycling has positive impact on the environment
and quantifying its benefits can be done by means of product Life Cycle Analysis
(LCA). Results from this kind of analysis have concluded that the less a product
is recycled the more the environmental load related to it (Choi et al., 2006). On
the other hand, “when comparing risks regarding dumping and incineration,
recycling becomes the strategy for solid residue management” (Lund, 2006,
p. 1.10).
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
94 Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso, Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón, Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero, Sandra Méndez-Fajardo
In order to reincorporate recycled materials into the supply chain, it is imperative to take into account some essential variables such as identification, materials processability, recovering technology to be used, conditions of recycled
materials, generated environmental effects and ways for disposing, during the
design process. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) constitutes as well as an objective,
an effective way to determine which existing or under development materials
favors the environment, allowing products to become a green alternative.
This article is focused on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of threaded union
for pipes, manufactured in PVC. The analysis proposes two scenarios according
to the amount of recycled material used in the process. One of the scenarios is
based on a 45% of recycled material and the other one is based on a raw virgin
material usage.
The reason for the selection of this material is related to the high dynamism,
of plastic sector, for the past three decades in Colombia, with an annual growth of
7% for this industrial sector (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo
Territorial, 2004) and the fact that it is possible to recycle it.
For evaluating environmental impact, it was used a methodology for product
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), which among others, allows the determination of
environmental aspects and potential impacts associated to a specific product
by means of: compilation of the inventory of the system´s inputs and outputs,
the evaluation of the potential environmental impacts related to these inputs
and outputs, and the interpretation of the results coming from the impact and
inventory phases related to the objectives of the study (Norma Técnica Colombiana ISO 14040, 2003). Inputs and outputs of each phase of the product
life cycle were identified and documented, including those related to the raw
material extraction, production, usage and final disposal.
According to UNEP, there are some barriers, in developing countries, to LCA
implementation: “absence of a perceived need, lack of LCA expertise and knowhow, lack of funding for LCA and lack of appropriate data and methodologies”.
In general, industry in developing countries has to reinforce preventive actions
for avoiding pollution taking into account that “typically neither recycling nor
end-of-pipe measures are employed” (Arena, 2000, s. p.).
Furthermore, “during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg in September 2002, opposition emerged from delegates from
developing countries against the concept of life-cycle management and in particular also against the use of LCA” mainly because of perception as technical
barriers to trade (Udo de Haes, 2004, p. 8).
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions
95
Protection to environment cannot be seen as opposite to protection to trade.
It is required to optimize processes, improve product design and control of
operations to be more competitive and environmentally responsible at the same
time. Being a developing country is not an excuse for enhancing responsibility
to nature.
Furthermore, “Despite higher manpower input and despite higher (informal) recycling, the environmental burdens in developing countries are… per
functional unit, higher than those in industrialized countries” (Udo de Haes,
2004, p. 9). Related to the importance of evaluating product environmental
impacts in developing countries, Ortiz states that:
… although financial supports, technology and technical assistance play a significant role when applying LCA throughout industrial activities in developing
countries, in developed countries LCA is the cornerstone for most industrial
activities. It is, therefore important to apply the nascent LCA methodology in
both developed and developing countries to allow sustainable development.
(Ortiz, 2009, p. 35)
This study contributes to perform an environmental evaluation to a specific
case in Colombia. From this perspective information collected and resulting
analysis will support future research related to recycling materials composition
in final products and its impacts along life cycle.
1. Methodology
For study case, analysis was made by means of Ecoindicator 99 methodology
and the software tool Simapro® version 7.0. Ecoindicator 99 corresponds to a
methodology developed in Europe and according to previous studies there are some
differences between assignation rules for European model and the Colombian
specific environmental problems.
For the ecoindicators calculation it is taking into account three different
variables: Specific value for the impact (inventory), contribution factor (characterization) and priorities among the environmental problems (evaluation).
Specific impact value for the impact, which is measured for specific processes,
varies according to process under study. Contribution factor and priorization are
defined under the assignation rules (Ministry of Housing, 2000).
Ecoindicator methodology could be a restriction for not European studies
if there have not been developed local indicators at the specific region where
study is developed because of the possible differences with the assignation rules
that are in use.
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
96 Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso, Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón, Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero, Sandra Méndez-Fajardo
In Colombia, there have been developed some ecoindicators like those mentioned by Van Hoof in his research. For achieving them there were conducted a
survey with people from different environmental sectors in Colombia. It is good
to take into account, though, that threaded unions´ study do not pretend to
specify only the specific impact load of a product but how a recycling strategy
can affect in a positive way the environmental impacts of a product by having
different scenarios with recycled material composition. Under this premise, what
is under analysis is the evaluation of environmental impact diminishment when
recycled material is used for threaded unions and not the single impact by itself.
Even if the assignation rules could affect the specific value of the indicator, the
percentage comparison between different recycle composition scenarios impact
categories could have a similar approach for different regions under study.
Ecoindicator 99 is based on the evaluation of three main categories related
to resources consumption, human health and ecosystem quality. Human Health
includes the number and duration of diseases and life of years lost, due to premature death from environmental causes. These years are expressed as Disability
Adjusted Life Years (DALY´s) which corresponds to an index that is also used
by the World Bank and the World Health Organization. This category includes
impacts associated with climatic change, ozone layer depletion, carcinogenic
elements and nuclear radiation, among others. Damage to ecosystem quality
is expressed as the loss of species over a certain area over a certain time. This
category includes impacts associated with ecotoxicity, eutrophication and acid
rain ant it is expressed as potentially disappeared fraction (PDF) of species over
a certain area during a certain time. Finally, resources category includes surplus
energy needed for future generations to extract lower quality mineral and fossil
resources (Ministry of Housing, 2000).
1.1 Product Description and Functional Unit
The selected product corresponded to threaded unions for PVC pipes of ½ inches
used for junctions of sewage piping systems, weighting 46.44 g, composed
of a female and a male element. In most cases, these products are manufactured with polymers or non corrosive metals. For this case polymer unions
were analyzed.
1.2 System Boundaries
For the analysis, the stages of extraction and transformation of raw material,
bars extrusion, preparation, machining, use of the union and disposal were all
taken into account (see Figure 1).
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Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions
97
Figure 1. Stages Studied for Each Material
Energy
PVC resin
Chlorine
Transport
Energy
Ethylene
Lubricant oil
Transport
Energy,
Water
Road transport
Transport
Transport
Lubricant oil
Raw material
Extraction and polymerization
Bars Extrusion
Threaded union
Machining
Pruduct usage
Landfill
Information
source
Ecoinvent ®
Database
Measured at a
company
contracted to
manufacture
PVC bars
Measured at
Javeriana
University labs
Local
characteristics
Ecoinvent®
Database
Source: Authors’ elaboration.
The inventory of the extraction stage was acquired by one that was predefined
in the Ecoinvent® database, through the informatics tool SIMAPRO® version 7.
To study this first stage, it was included the analysis of the extraction of oil and
chlorine, their transformation into a monomer and finally its polymerization by
means of a suspension process. In Colombia, PVC monomer is imported and
arrives at Cartagena´s port where a company makes the polymerization process.
In this stage, facts such as inputs and outputs inherent to the manufacturing
process as well as impacts caused by transportation of the monomer to the port
and its subsequent transport to Bogotá were all considered. Ecoinvent® database
is based on research and cooperation between The Swiss Federal Offices and
research institutes of the ETH (Frischknecht et al., 2005), containing 2,500,000
datasets of products and services from the energy, transport, building materials,
chemicals, pulp and paper, waste treatment and agricultural sector from different
continents (Frischknecht et al., 2005).
Data from the extrusion stage was acquired from a small company, contracted to manufacture the PVC bars based on the requirements of this project and
the two scenarios of material composition. At this company, it was possible to
obtain information about supplies and energy consumption, as well as residues
generated from the extrusion process. In terms of water usage, it is important
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
98 Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso, Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón, Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero, Sandra Méndez-Fajardo
to indicate that because of the cyclic cooling systems, water dumping was
assumed negligible.
Continuing with the productive process, for the stages of preparation and
machining, it was developed a prototype product at the Technological Center of
Industrial Automation, part of the School of Engineering at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Blueprints of the female and male part of the union were made
on CAD (Computer Aided Design) software and machining process was made on
a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) lathe. Data, at this stage, were collected
from the operation conducted at the labs.
During the analysis of the product usage, two variables were included:
the distance that a client needs to accomplish for buying a threaded union
and the transportation of the union to the site where it is going to be used
(10 km in total).
Finally, once the union has accomplished its life cycle and needs to be replaced, the union is transported along with other residues and debris to the city
landfill, the inventory of this stage was acquired by one that was predefined in
the Ecoinvent® data base.
2. Results
2.1 Scenario. PVC (100% virgin raw material)
The greater effects were related to fossil fuels consumption and the generation
of inorganic materials in suspension (Figure 2). The fossil fuel consumption is
associated to the PVC production (polymerization by suspension) and fuel used
in vehicles for the polymer transportation (Figure 3). As far as the inorganic
material generation, this is due to nitrogen oxides (55%), sulfur oxides (25%)
and particles (9%); all of them generated by raw material transportation and
PVC production (polymerization by suspension) (Fuquene, 2007). Raw material
manufacturing and polymer transportation constitute a product impact key
point, taking into account that the monomer is based on ethylene extraction
coming from fossil fuels and the transportation of monomer from the US to the
port in Colombia and the final transportation of the polymer across the country
from the port to Bogotá. These environmental impact matters represent a logistic problem to be solved by the supply chain management. Distances among
distributions and/or buying centers, types of means of transportation and fuels
used by those transport systems compromise the environmental performance
of the product as well.
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions
99
Figure 2. Scenario 1. PVC (100% Virgin Raw Material) – Contribution of Each
Environmental impact Category
7%
1% 1%
4%
Fossil f.
30%
57%
R. inorga
C. change
Acid/Eutro
Carci.
Eco/ity
Source: Simapro® Software and authors´ calculations.
Figure 3. Extrusion of 100% Virgin Raw PVC (Characterization)
Source: Simapro® Software and authors’calculations.
2.2 Scenario 2. PVC (45% recycled material)
The biggest effects were related to the generation of inorganic materials in
suspension and climate change (Figure 4). The biggest contribution to the
inorganic material generation was made by sulfur oxides (39.4%), followed by
nitrogen oxides (34.6%) and nitrogen dioxides (11.6%). The firs two caused
by PVC production and the extrusion process. Nitrogen oxides are caused by
the use of energy through the processes within union life cycle. The highest
contribution to the climate change corresponded to the CO2 (92.7%) and CH4
(5.5%). The fist one is affected by polymerization, extrusion, transportation of
the monomer to the plant and transportation of the polymer to the extrusion
company (Figure 5).
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
100 Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso, Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón, Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero, Sandra Méndez-Fajardo
Figure 4. Scenario 2. PVC (45% Recycled Material) - Contribution of Each
Environmental Impact Category
4% 1%
5%
4%
R. Inorga
C. change
7%
18%
Acid/Eutro
60%
Carci.
Fossil f.
Eco/ity
L. use
Source: Simapro® Software and authors’calculations.
Figure 5. Extrusion of 45% Recycled PVC (Characterization)
Source: Simapro® Software and authors’calculations.
2.3 Comparison of the Two Scenarios
Using recycled material lowers the contribution of fossil fuels to the environmental impact from 56% to 4.69% comparing to the contribution of the other
impact categories (see figures 2 and 4). Therefore, oil consumption in shifted
from the first to the fifth place in the scale of contributors to environmental
and global impact.
The environmental impact analysis of the product for each one of the categories, in terms of human health effects, ecosystems quality and natural resources
exhaustion measured in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DAYS), Potentially
Disappeared fraction (PDF) and MJ for the two scenarios considered; found an
improvement for each one of the above categories when the formulation included
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Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions
101
recycled materials over the raw virgin material formulation. Specifically speaking,
the level impact caused by fuels improved by 99%, breathable inorganic particles
improved by 68% and climate change improved by 60% (see Table 1).
Table 1. Impact Categories
Impact Categories
Fossil fuels
Ecotoxicity
Acidification / Eutrophication
Minerals
Resp. Inorganics
Climate change
Carcinogens
Resp. Organics
Ozone layer
Units
Environmental Impact Diminishing (%)
MJ surplus
PDF* m2yr
PDF* m2yr
MJ surplus
DALY
DALY
DALY
DALY
DALY
99
14
72
34
68
60
17
60
58
Source: Simapro® Software and authors’calculations.
On the other hand, this significant improvement was possible by lowering fossil
fuel consumption, which in most part is related to materials extraction and use in
production of the monomer (Ethylene) and transporting of the monomer.
3. Conclusions
When comparing the two scenarios, raw virgin material and recycled material
(scenarios 1 and 2) for the PVC product, it was found that there is an 84%
improvement in the product environmental performance, in terms of Pt indicator, when recycled material is used. Recycling plastics is a valid alternative not
only for minimizing the impact of a product at the end of its life cycle but also
for reducing consumption of a scarce resource such as oil. The usage of recycled
materials in productive processes contributes to the environmental improvement
of products in two different perspectives. One of them has to do with lowering the
amount of natural resources needed to be used as raw materials and the second
one is focused on the diminishing of final disposal of the finished product, by
incorporating it into the productive cycle again. On the other hand, the usage
of recycled material, according to the organization of the supply chain, could
contribute to lower material costs. This must be a variable to be considered at
the moment of selecting materials composition for the productive process.
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
102 Carlos Eduardo Fúquene-Retamoso, Nazly Bibiana Córdoba-Pinzón, Jaime Andrés Lara-Borrero, Sandra Méndez-Fajardo
Additionally, when using recycled material it is required to adequate process variables in order to maintain product quality and to guarantee customer
protection and satisfaction.
What is the importance of this project? The main objective of this project is
to illustrate that a low impact production performance can be achieved, trough
recycling, trying to tame the rule that still prevails in some sectors in which
the market survival overrules the environmental culture and to highlight the
importance of carrying out conclusive actions in developing countries towards
sustainability that include a complete diagnostic trough LCA and the review of
the design phase of products.
What are the limitations of the study? It is recommended to continue working
on the construction of processes databases according to the Latin American
current situation. The lack of this information puts some burdens on studies
study based on the LCA methodology. On the other hand, it is imperative to
involve the private companies into the LCA studies, with the purpose of developing and promote projects focused on sustainable production, taking into
account not only costs and material properties, but also this kind of variables, and
with the same amount of importance and relevance.
For specific study case, limitations were related to companies’ information
access, use of international databases and environmental evaluation trough
application of international ecoindicators which can differ from local evaluation
perspectives.
It is imperative for Colombia to develop a joint strategy among the government, universities and manufactures of PVC pipes and accessories, to explore
new alternatives in the development of new products with less environmental
impacts including recycled material into the productive processes. Here it would
be important to take into account legislation related to human health in order
to fulfill all the product and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, it would be
important to review the usage of recycled materials for specific products such
as the sewer systems case.
What are the recommendations for future research? Future research work
could continue in complementary directions related to the optimization of reverse
logistics in order to take back products, quality measurements on laboratory for
identifying resistance performance for different recycled composition formulation
and evaluation of economic benefits for industries and consumers as a result of
using recycled materials formulation.
Ing. Univ. Bogotá (Colombia), 13 (1): 91-104, enero-junio de 2009
Evaluation of Environmental Impact Diminution when Recycled Material is Used for Threaded Unions
103
In addition to that it should be developed an industries market research
in order to identify likeliness of managers to perform studies towards classification of life cycle environmental impacts and life cycle costs due to processes
inefficiencies.
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