LCA OF CERAMIC TILE

1. LCA OF CERAMIC TILES
Department of Civil Engineering
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Presented by:
Gagan
Vinay

2. Contents
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Importance of LCA in Ceramic Industry.
 Why LCA ?
 Life cycle stages.
 Case study
 Conclusion
 References
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3. Introduction
 Ceramic tiles are decorative building materials made from
clay, feldspar, quartz, or other inorganic non-metallic raw
materials that are processed through
forming and sintering.
 All ceramic sectors are characterized as energy-intensive
industries because their energy consumption accounts for
30% of the total production cost.
 China has been the largest producer of ceramic tiles
worldwide since the 1990s. Data shows that over 45% of
the world's total ceramic tiles are manufactured in China.
 The pollutant composition of ceramic tiles is complex
solid waste & Exhaust gas including sulfur dioxide (SO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOX), and dust, is mainly generated by
preparation (drying tower) and firing processes.
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4. Objectives
Quantify the
environmental
and economic
impacts of
ceramic tile
production.
Perform an
uncertainty
analysis for
proper LCA
in decision
making.
Identify the
key
substances
and processes
for
improvement.
Provide useful
information
for decision
makers effort
to build and
transform the
ceramic tile
industry
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5. Importance of LCA in the Ceramic Tiles
Industry
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Identifying
Environmental
Hotspots
Guiding Sustainable
Decision-Making
Encouraging Eco-
Friendly Practices
in Production

6. Why LCA for Ceramic Tiles?
 Ceramic tiles as a popular building material.
 Growing concern for sustainability in construction
industry.
 Addressing environmental challenges in the industry.
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7. Life Cycle Stages of Ceramic Tiles
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Raw material
extraction
Manufacturing
Distribution
Use
End-of-life

8. Case study
Life cycle environmental and economic assessment of ceramic tile
production: A case study in China
In this study, a cost combined life cycle assessment is conducted to
quantify the environmental and economic impacts of ceramic tile
production from cradle to gate and identify the key substances and
processes to eliminate production issues
Functional Unit :
The functional unit in this study was the production of 1 square meter
ceramic tile which was the combination of a 0.4 m2 interior wall tile
and 0.6 m2 polished tile according to the production proportion in the
studied factory.
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9. 9
System boundaries:

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Inventory and Data source:
This factory, which consists of two parts- interior wall and polished
tiles, with an annual output of 3.2*107 m2 ceramic tiles.

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Life-cycle impact assessment methodology:
The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results were calculated
using the ReCiPe method at the midpoint level. Eighteen
midpoint categories were assessed.

12. LCIA Result:
Two scenarios were considered: with control and without control.
The scenario without control is the production process without air
and water control.
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13.  The scenario with control is the production process with air and
water control and it reflects this case.
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Life cycle costing:

15. The total economic cost is $2.77/m2 , and this cost mainly
originates from equipment cost, sand, and inorganic chemicals.
Application of alternative electricity generation types, such as
hydropower as a replacement for coal power, can reduce the
impacts on climate change and marine eco-toxicity by 98.4% and
96.4%, respectively, during the electricity generation stage.
An environmental and economic win-win situation can be achieved
by reducing the use of inorganic chemicals, coal, and electricity and
optimizing the transport of raw materials.
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Summary:

16. Conclusion
Holistic Insight:
LCA provides a
holistic view of
ceramic tile
production,
emphasizing the
interconnected
environmental
aspects throughout
the life cycle.
Identifying
Hotspots:
Pinpointing critical
stages, such as raw
material extraction
or manufacturing,
allows us to target
and improve areas
with the highest
environmental
impact.
Promoting
Sustainability:
By integrating eco-
friendly practices
and innovations,
the ceramic tile
industry can
contribute
significantly to
sustainability
goals, reducing its
overall
environmental
footprint.
Informed
Decision-Making:
LCA empowers
stakeholders,
including
manufacturers and
consumers, with
the knowledge
needed to make
informed choices
that align with
environmental
considerations in
the
construction sector.
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17. References
 “Life cycle environmental and economic assessment of ceramic tile
production: A case study in China” Liping Ye a , Jinglan Hong a, b, * ,
Xiaotian Ma a , Congcong Qi a , Donglu Yang a a School of
Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan,
250100, PR China b Shandong University Climate Change and Health
Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, PR China
 “Life cycle assessment of ceramic tiles. Environmental and statistical
analysis” Valeria Ibáñez-Forés & Maria-Dolores Bovea & Amelia
Simó Published online: 4 August 2011 # Springer-Verlag 2011
 https://www.google.com/
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18. THANK
YOU!
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