Title
Life cycle assessment of sisal fibre – Exploring how local practices can influence environmental performance
Author
Broeren, M.L.M.
Dellaert, S.N.C.
Cok, B.
Patel, M.K.
Worrell, E.
Shen, L.
Publication year
2017
Abstract
Sisal fibre can potentially replace glass fibre in natural fibre composites. This study focuses on the environmental performance of sisal fibre production by quantifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use of producing sisal fibre in Tanzania and Brazil using life cycle assessment (LCA), based on region-specific inventory data. The results show that sisal fibre production has much lower GHG emissions (75–95%) and non-renewable energy use (85–95%) compared to glass fibre on a kg-basis, which is in line with published LCAs on natural fibres. Sisal fibre's GHG emissions are strongly influenced by potential methane emissions arising from the wet disposal of sisal leaf residues. Furthermore, because the direct energy and material requirements of sisal fibre production are low, its environmental performance is shown to vary strongly based on local practices such as residue disposal and fertiliser use, and is also sensitive to transportation distances. Several improvement options are explored to understand potential improvements in environmental sustainability. The most attractive option is limiting inadvertent methane emissions occurring at residue disposal sites, for instance by using them for the production of biogas. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Subject
Urban Mobility & Environment
CAS - Climate, Air and Sustainability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Environment & Sustainability
Urbanisation
Greenhouse gases
Life cycle assessment
Methane
Sisal fibre
Emission control
Environmental management
Fibers
Gas emissions
Glass
Glass fibers
Greenhouse gases
Materials handling
Methane
Natural fibers
Sustainable development
Environmental performance
Environmental sustainability
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Material requirements
Natural fibre composites
Non-renewable energy use
Sisal fibre
Transportation distance
Life cycle
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.073
TNO identifier
753474
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
ISSN
0959-6526
Source
Journal of Cleaner Production, 149, 818-827
Document type
article