The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis

Growing awareness worldwide toward sustainability has spurred many initiatives to search and apply more environmentally friendly solutions in daily activities. One of the solutions highly investigated currently is for the application of natural fiber composites (NFCs) as a substitution material espe...

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Main Authors: Salit, Mohd Sapuan, Mansor, Muhd Ridzuan, Mohammad Taha, Mastura, Zainuddin, Ainur Zaireen
Format: Book Section
Language:English
Published: Woodhead Publishing 2019
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/1/The%20environmental%20impact%20of%20natural%20fiber%20composites%20through%20life%20cycle%20assessment%20analysis.pdf
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author Salit, Mohd Sapuan
Mansor, Muhd Ridzuan
Mohammad Taha, Mastura
Zainuddin, Ainur Zaireen
author_facet Salit, Mohd Sapuan
Mansor, Muhd Ridzuan
Mohammad Taha, Mastura
Zainuddin, Ainur Zaireen
author_sort Salit, Mohd Sapuan
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Growing awareness worldwide toward sustainability has spurred many initiatives to search and apply more environmentally friendly solutions in daily activities. One of the solutions highly investigated currently is for the application of natural fiber composites (NFCs) as a substitution material especially to synthetic composites and other traditional engineering materials. NFC offers many advantages in terms of environmental performance such as renewability, recyclability, and biodegradability, in addition to lower raw material costs and lightweight property. In this chapter, the sustainability performance of natural fiber composites is explained based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis, a methodology formulated to assess the potential environmental impact of products throughout all of their life cycle stages. Among the discussions included are the LCA analysis methodology and collection of research on LCA analysis conducted for natural fiber composites. In addition, a case study on the application of LCA analysis to evaluate the potential environmental impact of automotive products made from natural fiber composites is also included. Eco-indicator 99 method was applied as an impact assessment method in the simplified LCA analysis, based on cradle-to-grave approach. The case study showed that the use of NFCs in hybrid form to produce automotive anti-roll bar components resulted in a lower eco-indicator score, compared to current use of spring steel material. The case study also showcased how the LCA methodology is able to help product designers in performing simplified LCA analysis to assess products' environmental impact holistically throughout their life cycle stages.
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format Book Section
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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language English
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publishDate 2019
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spelling upm-789792020-09-17T03:37:12Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/ The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis Salit, Mohd Sapuan Mansor, Muhd Ridzuan Mohammad Taha, Mastura Zainuddin, Ainur Zaireen Growing awareness worldwide toward sustainability has spurred many initiatives to search and apply more environmentally friendly solutions in daily activities. One of the solutions highly investigated currently is for the application of natural fiber composites (NFCs) as a substitution material especially to synthetic composites and other traditional engineering materials. NFC offers many advantages in terms of environmental performance such as renewability, recyclability, and biodegradability, in addition to lower raw material costs and lightweight property. In this chapter, the sustainability performance of natural fiber composites is explained based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis, a methodology formulated to assess the potential environmental impact of products throughout all of their life cycle stages. Among the discussions included are the LCA analysis methodology and collection of research on LCA analysis conducted for natural fiber composites. In addition, a case study on the application of LCA analysis to evaluate the potential environmental impact of automotive products made from natural fiber composites is also included. Eco-indicator 99 method was applied as an impact assessment method in the simplified LCA analysis, based on cradle-to-grave approach. The case study showed that the use of NFCs in hybrid form to produce automotive anti-roll bar components resulted in a lower eco-indicator score, compared to current use of spring steel material. The case study also showcased how the LCA methodology is able to help product designers in performing simplified LCA analysis to assess products' environmental impact holistically throughout their life cycle stages. Woodhead Publishing 2019 Book Section PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/1/The%20environmental%20impact%20of%20natural%20fiber%20composites%20through%20life%20cycle%20assessment%20analysis.pdf Salit, Mohd Sapuan and Mansor, Muhd Ridzuan and Mohammad Taha, Mastura and Zainuddin, Ainur Zaireen (2019) The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis. In: Durability and Life Prediction in Biocomposites, Fibre-Reinforced Composites and Hybrid Composites. Composites Science and Engineering . Woodhead Publishing, United Kingdom, 257 - 285. ISBN 9780081022900 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081022900000118#! https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102290-0.00011-8
spellingShingle Salit, Mohd Sapuan
Mansor, Muhd Ridzuan
Mohammad Taha, Mastura
Zainuddin, Ainur Zaireen
The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
title The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
title_full The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
title_fullStr The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
title_full_unstemmed The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
title_short The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
title_sort environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78979/1/The%20environmental%20impact%20of%20natural%20fiber%20composites%20through%20life%20cycle%20assessment%20analysis.pdf