CARBON FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS (CFPA) OF UPM FORMI USED IN BIOFORE CONCEPT CAR : Comparative CFPA of UPM ForMi and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Assumed to be Used in Mass produced Biofore car
Parajuli, Ramesh (2014)
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405218952
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405218952
Tiivistelmä
This thesis report is based on the cradle-to-grave carbon footprint (CFP) calculation performed on UPM ForMi GP20 that is used in ‘Biofore Concept Car’. A comparative cradle-to-gate CFP calculation was also performed on UPM ForMi GP20 and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) assuming that they would be used in the city car when it was mass produced in a factory. The ‘Biofore Concept Car’ is a product of ‘Biofore Concept Car Project’ which is a collaborative work of Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES), UPM, and other partner companies. The Biofore Concept Car represents the change and direction that automotive industry is heading for through the use of renewable, recyclable, and sustainable products.
UPM ForMi GP20 consists of approximately 20% cellulose fibers reinforcement in polypropylene matrix. These cellulose fibers are obtained from sustainably managed forests of Finland. The presence of cellulose fibers with a sustainable origin gives UPM ForMi GP20 an eco-friendlier status compared to other conventional thermoplastics. One of the main aims of this thesis project was to compare the environmental impact of UPM ForMi GP20 with a conventional plastic (ABS was included in this analysis) in terms of global warming potential when they are assumed to be used in a Mass produced Biofore car.
Concept car making is more resource consuming and heavily emitting than mass production. Accordingly, the CFP analysis of UPM ForMi GP20 used in the concept car resulted in greenhouse gases (GHG) emission of approximately 5400 kg CO2eq which was directly related to the one-time use of mold material SikaBlockTM M650. When assumed to be used in mass produced car, the carbon footprint of UPM ForMi GP20 and ABS were calculated to be approximately 655 kg CO2eq and 725 kg CO2eq, respectively. Thus, the use of UPM ForMi GP20 in mass produced car instead of ABS could prevent approximately 70 kg CO2eq of GHG emissions. A sensitivity analysis was also performed on the CFP of UPM ForMi GP20 assumed to be used in mass produced car comparing base scenario with other four scenarios.
UPM ForMi GP20 consists of approximately 20% cellulose fibers reinforcement in polypropylene matrix. These cellulose fibers are obtained from sustainably managed forests of Finland. The presence of cellulose fibers with a sustainable origin gives UPM ForMi GP20 an eco-friendlier status compared to other conventional thermoplastics. One of the main aims of this thesis project was to compare the environmental impact of UPM ForMi GP20 with a conventional plastic (ABS was included in this analysis) in terms of global warming potential when they are assumed to be used in a Mass produced Biofore car.
Concept car making is more resource consuming and heavily emitting than mass production. Accordingly, the CFP analysis of UPM ForMi GP20 used in the concept car resulted in greenhouse gases (GHG) emission of approximately 5400 kg CO2eq which was directly related to the one-time use of mold material SikaBlockTM M650. When assumed to be used in mass produced car, the carbon footprint of UPM ForMi GP20 and ABS were calculated to be approximately 655 kg CO2eq and 725 kg CO2eq, respectively. Thus, the use of UPM ForMi GP20 in mass produced car instead of ABS could prevent approximately 70 kg CO2eq of GHG emissions. A sensitivity analysis was also performed on the CFP of UPM ForMi GP20 assumed to be used in mass produced car comparing base scenario with other four scenarios.