An Analysis of the Environmental Load Reduction Effect Applying Life Cycle Assessment Methodology : Environmental Impact Comparison between General Wooden Deck and Coffee Waste Wooden Deck

초록

In this study, we compare the environmental loads of the coffee waste wooden deck and the general wooden deck using the life cycle assessment (LCA). We estimate the coffee waste wooden deck’s environmental advantages by LCA methodology. According to our findings, a coffee waste wooden deck reduces environmental load by 13.2% when compared to a general wooden deck. The reduction ratio for eutrophication potential was 20.4%, acidification potential was 19.4%, and global warming potential was 15.9%. Among the six environmental impact categories, abiotic depletion had the least reduction. In particular, while CO2 emission reduction may seem insignificant numerically from the functional unit's perspective, it can be considered a significant reduction effect given the characteristics of building materials. Assuming the trail construction, which has 3.6 m of width and 360 m of length (1,320 m2), the reduction effect of the environmental load is approximately 11.6 ton CO2-eq. Moreover, it reduces environmental load by 11.6 tons of CO2 equivalent per year and absorbs as much GHGs as 4,936 pine trees or 3,277 oak trees. This study helps management and policymakers visualize the impact of recycling coffee waste on the environment. © 2022, Korea Society of Waste Management. All rights reserved.

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