An explanatory presentation about Life Cycle Assessment for the composites industry. Supporting the expert panel discussion at METSTRADE 2018 on 14th November. Entitled: 'How Green is Green in the Leisure Marine World.'

1. Life Cycle Assement for the composites industry
EuCIA Eco Calculator:
Metstrade
Amsterdam, November 14, 2018
Jaap van der Woude

2. Defining LCI and LCA
Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)
Collection and quantification of inputs / outputs for a process or material
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Scientific method for estimating the environmental footprint of a product
Includes one or more LCI/LCA’s
manufacturing
user phase
end of life info
Cradle to Gate
All inputs and outputs from extraction/harvest of raw materials & energy up to the point it leaves the
manufacturing site.
Cradle to Grave
All inputs and outputs from extraction/harvest to the end of the useful life of the product, including the
use and maintenance of the product, and end-of-life disposition.

3. FRP - Characteristics
Performance & Diversity
1. Reinforcing Fibers provide to composites:
• Strength
• Stiffness
• Toughness
• Heat Resistance
2. Applicable in a host of polymers for plastics with unique properties :
• Thermosets: Epoxy, Polyester, Vinyl Ester, Phenolic, PU, etc.
• Thermoplastics: Polypropylene, Nylon, Polyester, HT, etc.
3. Processed in many different tailored processes:
• Thermosets: Filament winding, Pultrusion, Spray up, Open molding, Compression molding (SMC, BMC), RTM, etc.
• Thermoplastics: Extrusion compounding, Injection molding, Compression, molding, long and short fiber, etc.
4. Capable to live a very long, good life with a happy end
3“A G re e n e r Wo r l d w i t h C o m p o s i t e s ”

4. Economical & Performance
• Low weight
• Installation costs
• Chemical & heat resistance
• Durability / Longevity
• Maintenance
• Freedom of design
• Mechanical properties
Environmental & Societal
• Climate change
• Energy efficiency
• Emissions
• Sustainability
– Reuse, Recycle, Renew
• REACH
• Food & Water Contact
Material Replacement & Enabling
Understanding the Eco Footprint for full life use is critical !!!
Trends/Drivers for Fiber Reinforced Composites

5. Composite manufacturing loop
“Days”
Input
Reinforcement
Matrix
Additives, etc.
Packaging
Transport Conversion
Process
Utilities
Waste
Emissions
Hardware
Service life
“10 – 50+ years”
Transportation
Infrastructure
Marine
Energy
Anti-Corrosion
End of Use
Co-Processing
Cement
Energy recovery
Material recovery
Eco Calculator
Very Diverse Very, Very Diverse
Eco Impact gain by replacing
other materials, longevity, etc.
Processes in Place
Guidance document on the
interpretation of Waste Framework
Directive WFD 2008/98/EC
Eco Calculator only for cradle to gate manufacturing: can be used as input for full life cycle calculations
FRP Life Cycle
“Innovative Concepts: Many Different Products in Many, Many Different Applications”

6. • EuCIA (www.eucia.eu) has developed the Eco Calculator in cooperation with EY Cleantech and Sustainability Services and Biinc.
• The Eco Calculator allows composite manufacturers to calculate the environmental impact of their products, without the
need of a deep know-how of Life Cycle Assessment processes.
• The tool generates an Eco Report, a Summary Report and SimaPro 8.2 Export
– Using a transparent and uniform sector methodology for processes following ISO 14.040/044
– Based on Industry generated, peer reviewed, quality data as well as material data from eco inventories* i.e. EU average energy mix is used
– Conversion processes based on industrial averages as well possibility to modify/own input
– Output can be used as input: manufacturing of product input for full life cycle calculations
– The Eco Factsheet is based on EU industry average figures for the conversion processes. Third party verification on the processes has not been
performed and this is therefore not an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
• The Eco and Summary reports are to be shared with clients and other stakeholders, to fulfill the need for accurate and
specific environmental information.
• The tool is web-based, easy to use
• The tool is free http://ecocalculator.eucia.eu/
• The tool is launched http://bit.ly/29pRJDn
6
Initiative EuCIA: Eco Calculator for Composite Parts
* GFE (http://www.glassfibreeurope.eu); Plastics Europe (www.plasticseurope.org); AVK (www.avk-tv.de); Ecoinvent 3.1

7. System Boundary: Cradle to Gate
Production process
moulded composite
product
Moulded
composite
product
CoreFillerResinFiber
Transport
Use and maintenance
End of life
Extraction of resources
AuxiliariesAdditives
Transport
Coating
Energy
Emissions
Water
Production
intermediates
Waste
Transport
Necessary process
Optional process
System boundary

8. Main Industry Processes Covered
(A questionnaire on NDA basis is used)
In model
Pultrusion
Resin infusion
Resin transfer moulding
SMC Pressing
SMC Compounding
*TP compounding
*TP Injection molding process
*LFT/UD tape
* modelled
8
SELECTED PROCESSES
Adaptation processes for “own situation” possible
Missing
Centrifugal casting/Filament winding
Hand lamination
Spray-up
Pre-forming
Prepreg autoclaving
BMC Compounding
BMC Pressing

9. 1: Choose
conversion
process
2:Create recipe
3: Enter
company data
(optional)
4: View Eco
Report
Input Output
SimaPro/(Gabi)
Home
Account
creation
Sign in
Intermediate
product
Company
Profile
Get to work: Workflow of Eco Calculator
http://ecocalculator.eucia.eu/

10. Thank you!
For more information, please contact:
julie.leroy@eucia.eu or liliane.maginet@eucia.eu
10