The life cycle approach sets the
foundation for Braskem’s
purpose & belief.
01 LIFE CYCLE APPROACH
LCA
Life
Cycle Assessment
LCA
is a complete analysis of the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS of a product ´ s
life cycle , from extraction of raw materials
to its final disposal
With
this knowledge , Braskem can make
better decisions towards more sustainable
actions
+120
Studies
completed
01 LIFE CYCLE APPROACH
WHY LCA?
LCA is the most recommended tool to analyze the environmental impacts along the
WHOLE VALUE CHAIN , considering the life cycle
Allows for
DATA DRIVEN & SCIENCE
BASED decisions
Leva em conta um conjunto amplo de IMPACTOS AMBIENTAIS.
Reinforces
TRANSPARENCY by disclosing our environmental impacts,
following international standards and stakeholder demand
Is a key driver for
new solutions and strategies to leverage
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
01 LIFE CYCLE THINKING AT BRASKEM
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Braskem’s
Sustainable
Development Strategy must
be fully integrated into the
strategy of its business and
implemented through it,
aiming at continuously
strengthening its purpose of
“improving people’s lives by
creating sustainable
solutions through chemicals
and plastics plastics
01 LIFE CYCLE THINKING AT BRASKEM
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MACRO OBJECTIVES
01 LIFE CYCLE THINKING AT BRASKEM
LIFE CYCLE
OUR EVOLUTION
01 LIFE CYCLE THINKING AT BRASKEM
LCT EMPOWEREMENT STRATEGY
02
METHODOLOGY
LCA studies follow the ISO
14040/44 standards and consider
the environmental impacts of 16
categories.
02 METHODOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS EVALUATED
Climate Change
Ozone Depletion
Respiratory Inorganics
Photochemical Oxidation
Acidification
Water Use
Land use
Mineral Depletion
Freshwater Eutrophication
Fossil Fuel Depletion
Toxicity - humans and ecossystems
Freshwater Ecotoxicity
Marine Eutrophication
*
Result from broad assessment with interested parts
16 Impact
categories
evaluated
Translated
into a
SINGLE SCORE*
to
facilitate interpretation and
decision making based on LCA
results
02 METHODOLOGY
SINGLE SCORE WEIGHTING FACTOR
Result
from broad assessment with interested parts
Weighting factors used across all
Braskem’s
studies. Considered input from clients,
suppliers, academia and shareholders
Climate
change is
1,7x
More
important than water
use, Land use, Eutrophication ,
resource depletion , Ozone layer
dletion and Acidification
Climate
change is
1,6x
More
important than
Photochemical Ozone Formation
& Respiratory Inorganics
03
LCA RESULTS:
MATTRESS
Following Braskem´ssustainability approach, this is the Life Cycle Assessment study for the environmental profile for mattress.
The project compares the performaceof expanded Polyethylene (PE) to replace Polyurethane (PU).
The study was revised by KPMG.
03 MATTRESS
CONTEXT
Innovak
uses a unique and inovative solution that allows for the expanison of
polyethylene (PE) to be used in matress filling
This
is an alternative to partially substitute expanded polyurethane (PU) currently used
in matresses
ZeeFlex
ZeeFlex
solution
Mass reduction around 8% of total mattress •
Substitution of 60% of the PU foam with expanded PE
• Allows for recycling of the PE foam in end of life
03 MATTRESS
SCOPE OF THE LCA STUDY
Objective
Compare
the use of expanded polyethylene (PE) in matress
filling to the conventional alternative with expanded
polyurethane (
Product
analysed
Double mattress with pocket
springs (1.88m x
1.38m); foam (PE/PU and PU); fabric
8 year usage
Alternatives
compared
ZeeFlex matress : expanded polyethylene and polyurethane ( ZeeFlex )
Conventional matress : polyurethane (PUR_
Reference
flow
1m
2 of mattress
Data
Primary
/ Ecoinvent
Boundary
Cradle to gate*
End of life
Landfill
03 MATTRESS
RESULTS
MAIN FINDINGS
The environmental impact of the ZeeFlex mattress is lower than the conventional mattress analyzed
Total mattress mass reduced in 2,1 kg
Environmental impacts can be reduced by implementing recycling of PE foam and steel springs ) at end of life
12%
Reduction
in overall
environmental impacts
36%
Reduction
in water use
19%
Reduction
in carbon footprint
52%
Increase
in Photochemical
Oxidation impacts due to
the use of buthane in the
PE expansion process
03 MATTRESS
RESULTS
Comparative for 1m 2 of mattress
03 MATTRESS
RESULTS
MATERIAL CONTRIBUTION
03 MATTRESS
RESULTS
Comparative for 1m 2 of mattress
03 MATTRESS
RESULTS
Comparative for 1m 2 of mattress
03 MATTRESS
RESULTS
Foam
substitution : PU by PE/PU mix
(for 1m 2 of mattress
04
SENSITIVITY
ANALYSIS
Faced with various insights that emerged throughout the process, some scenarios of sensitivity were made about the mattress life cycle.
04 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
The
sensitivity analysis performed were:
End of life scenarios, considering landfill and recycling of the mattress’ components
Reuse of the springs
Substitution of the fossil PE by the renewable alternative (I’m Green™ PE from Braskem)
Durability of the mattress (usage years lifespan)
04 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
END OF LIFE: RECYCLING X LANDFILL
results for 1m 2 of mattress
04 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
END OF LIFE: RECYCLING X LANDFILL
results for 1m 2 of mattress
Analyzing the possible recycling scenarios, we learned that:
The best scenario is achieved when 100% of the steel (springs) and 100% of the PE foam are recycled , resulting in a 36% reduction when compared to the conventional mattress
If steel (springs) and PE foam are recycled , the environmental impact from the ZeeFlex mattress can be reduced in additional 25%
The PU foam has a lower recovery potential , usually used in downcycling processes (used as pillow filling or carpets after recycling
For the conventional mattress , if steel (springs) are recycled , the environmental impact can be reduced in 18%
04 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SPRINGS REUSE
(results for 1m 2 of mattress
In addition to the
recycling of expanded
PE and steel, some of
the springs can be
reused , resulting in
greater environmental
gains.
04 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SUBSTITUTION OF PE: FOSSIL X GREEN
04 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
MATTRESS USAGE AND DURABILITY
By increasing the durability in 2 years , impacts can be reduced in 20
By reducing the durability in 2 years, impacts can increase 25%
05
CONCLUSIONS
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF THE MATTRESS
After comparing the environmental performance of
ZeeFlex mattress with conventional mattresses,
we can conclude that:
ZeeFlex mattress has 12% less environmental impacts than the conventional ones, achieved mainly from the mass reduction and from the partial substitution of the PU foam by expanded PE foam
Lower impacts from logistics and transportation
Lower impacts from the production of PE foam
The main alternatives for reducing the environmental impacts of the ZeeFlex mattress are: •
Recycling of PE foam when mattress is discarded
Final destination with reuse of springs and/or recycling of residual steel (that can not be reused)
Increase in the use of expanded PE in the mattress composition, replacing a larger amount of PU
Substitution of fossil PE by Braskem’s I'm green™ Polyethylene
Capture of buthane gas in the PE expansion process