how to calculate carbon footprints: a wood pallet...
TRANSCRIPT
2013 MHI™ Copyright claimed as to audiovisual works of seminar sessions and sound
recordings of seminar sessions. All rights reserved.
Andres Carrano
Brian Thorn
Rochester Institute of
Technology
How to Calculate Carbon Footprints:
A Wood Pallet Example
Sponsored by:
Presented by:
Agenda
Background
Pallets and pallet logistics
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
LCA stages
Materials and manufacturing
Use and transportation
Repair and recycling
End of life disposal
Design tool screenshots
Industry sponsors Research team
Faculty Brian Thorn
Andres Carrano
Mike Hewitt
Graduate Students Abbey Burns
Andres Morales
Darinee Niramarnkarn
Ricki Pavia
Shwei Sin Win
Henry Woltag
Alexander Turner
The Product Life Cycle
Used with permission from Dr.
Mike Ashby (Cambridge Univ)
Pallet Life Cycle
New Pallet Manufacturer
Goods Manufacturer DC Retail 1
Retail 2
Retail n
Pallet Recycler
Legend:
: EOL
: Shipping
: Inventory
: Facility
Raw Materials Source
Pallet Life Cycle
New Pallet Manufacturer
Goods Manufacturer DC Retail 1
Retail 2
Retail n
Pallet Recycler
Raw Materials Source
Materials and
Manufacturing stage
Use and transportation stage
Repair,
Recycling
and
End-of-life
stage
Objective
To develop a model that would support decision making
related to pallet logistics and that is based on total life
cycle environmental impacts.
Methods
Carbon emissions as proxy for environmental impact
Emphasis on CO2 (and “equivalent” emissions)
SimaPro process-based LCA
Pallet Design Software (PDS-NWPCA)
Databases
IPCC 2007 Method
Eco-invent
Cambridge CES (materials)
Data from pallet manufacturers, recyclers and third
party pool management from upstate New York
Scope
32 x 40 in 36 x 48 in 40 x 48 in
42 x 42 in 48 x 40 in 48 x 48 in
24 x 32 in 32 x 48 in 36 x 36 in
36 x 42 in 48 x 60 in 48 x 72 in
Popular ANSI sizes
Stringer Pallet Block Pallet
Raw Materials
Lumber
Timber extraction
Logs transported to the lumber mill
Logs debarked and rip sawn
Nails
Steel production
Manufacture from steel
Transportation
Embodied Energy of Materials
Framework adapted from Dr. Mike
Ashby (Cambridge University)
Pallet Design & Manufacturing
Raw Materials
Assembly of pallets (nailers)
Treatments
Kiln drying (19% EMC)
Phytosanitation
Heat treatment (HT - 133ºF, 30 min)
Fumigation (MB - methyl bromide)
Mold dipping
PQ80, USDA approved,
Approximately 3 months.
Hellically
Threaded nail
Annularly
Threaded nail
Screenshots and images from various hardware
supplies websites and PDS software®
Bill of Materials - examples
48’ x 40” Stringer 48’ x 40” Block
High density eastern
hardwoods
60%
Medium density eastern
hardwoods
10%
Eastern oaks 30%
Helically threaded nails 84
High density eastern
hardwoods
39%
Southern yellow pine 61%
Annularly threaded nails
(2 different lengths)
102
13.5 board feet 20.1 board feet
Use and Transportation
Emissions based on:
Mode
Type of pallet
Kiln treatment
Weight (as a function of EMC)
Repair and Recycling
Dock sweeping and pallet recovery
Transportation
Pallet sortation No touch
Leased pool (CHEP, Peco, etc)
Repair (core) pallets
Donor (tear down) pallets
EOL disposal pallets
Repair and Recycling
Characterization of pallet damage
NWPCA Uniform standard for wood pallets (2011)
Class 1(A): plate repairs OK but no companion stringers
Class II (B): 1-2 repaired stringers with long companions
Class III (C): otherwise
Images from NWPCA standard
Repair and Recycling
Characterization of the repair process (New and “A”)
CO2 includes emissions from transportation, repair processes, and materials (nails and plates).
End of Life
End of life disposal
Transportation
Scenarios
Application
by region NE SW
Landscaping 60% -
Animal Bedding 4% 10%
Biofuel 35% 80%
Municipal Waste 1% 10%
Screenshot from SimaPro® LCA Software
Estimator tool: Inputs and outputs
Estimator tool: Dashboard
2013 MHI™ Copyright claimed as to audiovisual works of seminar sessions and sound
recordings of seminar sessions. All rights reserved.
For More Information:
Mike Ogle, MHI Managing Executive [email protected]
www.MHI.org/CICMHE