The Volumetric Method Describing the Life Cycle of Power Tools during Their Production with Different Ends of Life

Richard Sovják,Eva Fridrichová,Marie Tichá

doi:10.3390/su14031498

Abstract

The amount of power consumption of the product life cycle has a significant impact on global warming. To determine these negative impacts, life cycle assessment (LCA) is used. These methods are time-consuming and expensive training costs that require the characteristics of the mass and material characteristics of the products. The aim of the present study was to develop a method that uses only product typology and volumetric product properties without knowing the structural and material composition. To achieve the objective, 134 pieces of power tools were used, divided into 10 groups according to their type. The volume of the product was determined by 3D scanning with subsequent material and the LCA method based on the Oil Point Method (OPM). The end of life (EoL) of the product was evaluated in landfilling, combustion, and 90% recycling variants. Equations were obtained from Monte Carlo Simulation with 95% reliability and allowed the determination of the energy requirements for the production of power tools and CO2 emissions, including data for packaging and transport of goods. The Volumetric Evaluating Method of Ecodesign (VEME) can quickly evaluate impact in three EoL procedures and optimise the volume of power tools and the location of production of products without LCA knowledge.

Highlights

By its actions, human society creates negative environmental impacts on the planet.The environmental behaviour of society is limited by conventions, directives, and standards.The Paris Protocol is one of the major international treaties and has already been ratified by 197 countries
The research was carried out with handheld power tools, which were obtained in cooperation with the recycling centre ENVIROPOL s. r. o. (Jihlava, Czech Republic)
Manufacturing operations were assigned to the given materials and parts

Summary

Introduction

Human society creates negative environmental impacts on the planet.The environmental behaviour of society is limited by conventions, directives, and standards.The Paris Protocol is one of the major international treaties and has already been ratified by 197 countries. Human society creates negative environmental impacts on the planet. The environmental behaviour of society is limited by conventions, directives, and standards. The Paris Protocol is one of the major international treaties and has already been ratified by 197 countries. The aim of the agreement is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so that the temperature rise does not exceed an average temperature of 1.5 ◦ C, compared to pre-industrial levels [1]. Product regulation efforts are made using ISO 14000 (environmental management) life cycle assessment standards. Standards ISO 14044 (Environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Principles and framework) and ISO 14040 (Environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Requirements and guidelines) serve as a guide for the assessment of the individual life stages of a product [2]

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Discussion

Conclusion