Attività

Environmental impacts of wooden, plastic, and wood-polymer composite pallet: a life cycle assessment approach

Waste recycling is one of the essential tools for the European Union’s transition towards a circular economy. One of the possibilities for recycling

wood and plastic waste is to utilise it to produce composite product. This study analyses the environmental impacts of producing composite pallets made of

wood and plastic waste from construction and demolition activities in Finland. It also compares these impacts with conventional wooden and plastic pallets made of virgin materials.

Methods

Two different life cycle assessment methods were used: attributional life cycle assessment and consequential life cycle assessment. In both of the life

cycle assessment studies, 1000 trips were considered as the functional unit. Furthermore, end-of-life allocation formula such as 0:100 with a credit system

had been used in this study. This study also used sensitivity analysis and normalisation calculation to determine the best performing pallet.

Result and discussion

In the attributional cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, wood-polymer composite pallets had the lowest environmental impact in abiotic depletion

potential (fossil), acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (including biogenic carbon), global warming potential

(including biogenic carbon) with indirect land-use change, and ozone depletion potential. In contrast, wooden pallets showed the lowest impact on global

warming potential (excluding biogenic carbon). In the consequential life cycle assessment, wood-polymer composite pallets showed the best environmental

impact in all impact categories. In both attributional and consequential life cycle assessments, plastic pallet had the maximum impact. The sensitivity

analysis and normalisation calculation showed that wood-polymer composite pallets can be a better choice over plastic and wooden pallet.