Environmental performance of a cement composite reinforced with vegetable fibers cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

The technical viability of using of the vegetable fibers as a reinforcement for building materials has been attested in several previous studies. However, there was a gap in the scientific literature regarding its environmental viability. Thus, this study was developed in order to fill this gap. This work presents a life cycle assessment (LCA), from cradle to gate, for jute and malva fibers grown in the Brazilian Amazon, as well as for a composite produced with these fibers, which has applications in the construction industry. In addition, the environmental burden of one ton of jute and malva fibers grown in this region was compared to that of one ton of sisal fibers grown in northeastern Brazil. The jute and malva fibers were evaluated as the reinforcement of the composite from two perspectives: one without processing and the other in the form of fabric. Primary data regarding the production of fibers, from its cultivation to its transformation into fabric, were collected via interviews. Using the ReCiPe 2016 methods (Endpoint and Midpoint) and EN 15804, it was observed that most of the environmental burden of the composite is due to the production of the raw materials of the cement and the superplasticizer. If the fibers were used without any processing, being only transported from a city near Manaus, the reduction of the impacts related to the reinforcement of the composite would be greater than 95%. These results confirmed the importance of using local raw materials. This composite reinforced with vegetable fibers has a low environmental impact and its commercial production could contribute to a bioeconomy based on the generation of green employment in local fiber-producing communities.