Environmental Sustainability Applications of Wood Plastic Composite Materials: Life Cycle Assessment

Year 2024, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 437 - 450, 29.11.2024

Gözde Çolak Bayram , Burçin Atılgan Türkmen , Gamzenur Özsin

https://doi.org/10.35193/bseufbd.1326097

Abstract

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) materials have been developed as a versatile and sustainable solution for industries looking for environmentally friendly alternatives. Life cycle assessment (LCA), which is applied to analyze the environmental impact of functional materials, has become the focus of many scientific studies as the concept of sustainability is becoming increasingly important. However, while there are studies that summarize environmental sustainability and LCA research specific to different material groups in an integrated manner, there is no compilation study specific to WPC in the literature. In this context, the LCA studies prepared for WPCs have been comprehensively reviewed and the current literature findings on this subject have been compiled for the first time. For this purpose, firstly, the basics of LCA are explained and then the results of composites obtained from different lignocellulosic biomass samples and polymer composites are evaluated in various environmental impact categories. Thus, the parameters that can influence the environmental sustainability of WPC materials are discussed. As a result, more sustainable materials and methods have been identified in the production processes of WPCs that can be used as an alternative to traditional materials. Furthermore, the necessity of more widespread application of LCA for different material compositions is emphasized. As supported by the current literature, it is concluded that these materials are more environmentally friendly than similar materials with the same function, and the article is concluded with suggestions for WPC materials for a more sustainable approach.

Keywords

Wood, composite, polymer, sustainability, life cycle assessment

Project Number

01.BŞEÜ.03-07

Ahşap Plastik Kompozit Malzemelerin Çevresel Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamaları: Yaşam Döngüsü Değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Ahşap-plastik kompozit (APK) malzemeler, çevre dostu alternatifler arayan endüstriler için çok yönlü ve sürdürülebilir bir çözüm sunan malzemeler olarak geliştirilmiştir. Fonksiyonel malzemelerin çevreye olan etkilerini analiz etmek amacıyla uygulanan yaşam döngüsü değerlendirmesi (YDD) ise, sürdürülebilirlik kavramının gitgide önem kazandığı günümüzde birçok bilimsel çalışmanın odak noktası haline gelmiştir. Ancak, farklı malzeme gruplarına özgü çevresel sürdürülebilirlik ve yaşam döngüsü değerlendirmesi araştırmalarını bütünleşik bir biçimde özetleyen çalışmalar bulunmakla birlikte, APK özelinde bir derleme çalışmasına literatürde rastlanmamaktadır. Bu kapsamda, APK için hazırlanan YDD çalışmaları kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmiş ve bu konudaki güncel literatür bulguları ilk kez derlenmiştir. Bu amaçla, öncelikle YDD’nin temelleri açıklanmış; ardından farklı lignoselülozik biyokütle örnekleri ve polimer birleşimlerinden elde edilen kompozitlerin çeşitli çevresel etki kategorilerindeki sonuçları değerlendirilmiştir. Böylece, APK malzemelerin çevresel sürdürülebilirliğine etki edebilecek parametreler tartışılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, geleneksel malzemelere alternatif olarak kullanılabilecek APK'lerin üretim süreçlerinde daha sürdürülebilir malzeme ve yöntemler belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, farklı malzeme kompozisyonları için YDD’nin daha yaygın bir şekilde uygulanmasının gerekliliği vurgulanmıştır. Güncel literatür verilerinin de desteklediği üzere, bu malzemelerin aynı işleve sahip benzer malzemelere göre daha çevre dostu olduğu sonucuna varılmış; daha sürdürülebilir bir yaklaşım için APK malzemelere yönelik önerilerle makale sonlandırılmıştır.

Keywords

Ahşap, kompozit, polimer, sürdürülebilirlik, yaşam döngüsü değerlendirmesi

Supporting Institution

Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinatörlüğü

Project Number

01.BŞEÜ.03-07

Thanks

Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinatörlüğü’ne 2022-01.BŞEÜ.03-07 numaralı ve “Ahşap-Plastik Kompozitlerin Endüstriyel Üretim Sürecine İlişkin Yaşam Döngüsü Çevresel Sürdürülebilirlik Analizi” başlıklı proje desteğinden dolayı teşekkür ederiz. Sunulan çalışmanın 1. kısmı “Ahşap Plastik Kompozit Malzemelerin Çevresel Sürdürülebilirlik Uygulamaları: I. Ahşap Plastik Kompozitlerin Yapısal Özellikleri ve Üretimi” başlığı ile yayınlanacaktır ve her iki makalede yayımlanan bilgi ve veriler Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü’nde Gözde Çolak tarafından yürütülen yüksek lisans çalışmalarını içermektedir.

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