Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of a Novel Bio-Based Multilayer Panel for Construction Applications
Author/s
Barrio, Aitor; Francisco, Fernando Burgoa; Leoncini, Andrea; Wietschel, Lars; Thorenz, AndreaDate
2021-09-29Keywords
bark-based biorefinery
bio-based material
construction material
insulation
polyurethane
biophenolic resin
Abstract
The bioeconomy can be integral to transforming the current economic system into one
with reduced environmental and social impacts of material consumption. This work describes a
bio-based multi-layer panel that is based on residual coniferous bark. To ensure that the presented
bio-based panel positively contributes to environmental protection while remaining competitive
with conventional products and meeting high social standards, the development of the panel is
accompanied by a life cycle sustainability assessment. This study performs a comparative LCA
and LCC of the developed panel to conventional benchmark panels, as well as a qualitative social
life cycle assessment. While the panel performs only economically marginally weaker than the
benchmarks, the results are more heterogeneous for the environmental dimension with benefits
of the bio-based panel in categories such as climate change, acidification, and ozone formation
and detriments in categories including eutrophication. ...
Type
journal article