PCvsGlass Final

Life Cycle Analysis of Glass vs. Polycarbonate Sidelights: 

Life Cycle Analysis of Glass vs. Polycarbonate Sidelights Natalie Henry Jaymie Meliker Mike Turnbull Melissa Vernon April 14, 1999

Agenda: 

Agenda Goals System Overview Life Cycle Costs Impacts - Energy, Solid Waste, Air, Water Drivers Summary Recommendations

Goal: 

Goal Evaluate two automobile sidelight systems Sidelight = all windows except windshield Polycarbonate: 40% lighter than glass 200 times more resistant to shatter Glass: scratch resistant

System Overview: 

System Overview Data Sources: Eco-profiles of the European Plastics Industry: polycarbonate Life Cycle Inventories for Packaging: packaging glass

Assumptions: 

Assumptions Packaging glass data equivalent to flat glass PC does not need scratch resistant coating Equivalent mfg, recycling practices in Europe & US Identical mechanisms for window function during use phase

Polycarbonate Flow Diagram: 

Polycarbonate Flow Diagram

Glass Flow Diagram: 

Glass Flow Diagram

Vehicle of Study: 

Vehicle of Study Vehicle: Chevy Express G Van Total surface area of sidelights = 51 sq ft Useful life of van = 110,000 miles Fuel Economy = 16.4 mpg

Life Cycle Costs: 

Life Cycle Costs

Energy, Solid Waste, Water Emissions Summary: 

Energy, Solid Waste, Water Emissions Summary

Air Emissions Summary: 

Air Emissions Summary

Key Drivers: 

Key Drivers PC Glass

Summary of Results: 

Summary of Results Glass Lower environmental impact in Mfg phase Lower total: Particulate matter SO2 Lower total cost Polycarbonate Lower environmental impact in Use phase Lower total: NOx & HC Solid waste CO Lead in air emissions Overall: Neither product system is more environmentally friendly

Recommendations: 

Recommendations PC Manufacturers Reduce manufacturing costs Improve scratch resistant coating Develop single unit for sidelight & encapsulation Glass Manufacturers Reduce/recover energy used in manufacturing Increase recycled content from 15% to 50% Overall: Improve mpg of automobile End of life material recovery and recycling

Questions & Answers: 

Questions & Answers