Environmental impact assessment of an automotive component using eco-indicator and CML methodologies

The environmental conscious manufacturing and climate change made automotive manufacturing organisations to recognise sustainability as a vital concept for survival in the global competitive scenario. Many components of automobiles are manufactured using plastics which play imperative role in ensuring sustainability. This research article deals with the application of Life Cycle Assessment on instrument panel of an electric car which is made of ABS (Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene). The case study has been conducted in an Indian instrument panel manufacturing plant. First, a life cycle model of ABS sheet which is particularly used in instrument panel manufacturing was built, and the environmental impact assessment of the instrument panel was done using Eco-indicator and CML methodologies. In life cycle perspective, the environmental hot spots have been found out. Later the results have been interpreted based on environmental impact assessment factors. The relative comparison of impact factors at different stages in the life cycle enables the generation of improvement options. The sustainability index of instrument panel before and after implementing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been computed. The results are statistically validated, and the managerial implications have been derived.

[1]  R V Rao,et al.  Evaluation of environmentally conscious manufacturing programs using multiple attribute decision-making methods , 2008 .

[2]  Giuliano Noci,et al.  Measuring the environmental performance of new products: an integrated approach , 1996 .

[3]  Christopher J. Koroneos,et al.  HYDROGEN PRODUCTION VIA BIOMASS GASIFICATION-A LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT APPROACH , 2008 .

[4]  K. Hungerbühler,et al.  Developing environmentally-sound processes in the chemical industry: a case study on pharmaceutical intermediates , 1999 .

[5]  M. Hauschild,et al.  Fate and distribution modelling of metals in life cycle impact assessment , 2007 .

[6]  Tomohiko Sakao,et al.  Quality engineering for early stage of environmentally conscious design , 2008 .

[7]  H. Reichl,et al.  Eco-design and beyond - key requirements for a global sustainable development , 2005, Proceedings of 2005 International Conference on Asian Green Electronics, 2005. AGEC..

[8]  Stefanie Hellweg,et al.  Ecological footprint accounting in the life cycle assessment of products , 2008 .

[9]  Andrew Y. C. Nee,et al.  Environmental life cycle cost analysis of products , 2001 .

[10]  Y. Zhang,et al.  Green QFD-II: A life cycle approach for environmentally conscious manufacturing by integrating LCA and LCC into QFD matrices , 1999 .

[11]  Sami Kara,et al.  Sustainable product development and manufacturing by considering environmental requirements , 2003 .

[12]  Oscar Ortiz,et al.  Sustainability based on LCM of residential dwellings: A case study in Catalonia, Spain , 2009 .

[13]  Tom N. Kalnes,et al.  LCA of a spent lube oil Re-refining process , 2006 .

[14]  Faisal I. Khan,et al.  An integrated approach for risk-based life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision-making: Selection, design and evaluation of cleaner and greener processes , 2006, Bus. Process. Manag. J..

[15]  S. Vinodh,et al.  Leanness assessment using multi-grade fuzzy approach , 2011 .

[16]  Cathy A. Rusinko,et al.  Green Manufacturing: An Evaluation of Environmentally Sustainable Manufacturing Practices and Their Impact on Competitive Outcomes , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

[17]  Oscar Ortiz,et al.  Sustainability in the construction industry: A review of recent developments based on LCA , 2009 .

[18]  George W. Woodruff,et al.  Incorporating Environmental Issues in Product Design and Realization , 1999 .

[19]  M D Bovea,et al.  Alternative scenarios to meet the demands of sustainable waste management. , 2006, Journal of environmental management.

[20]  Michael Zwicky Hauschild,et al.  Comparison of Three Different LCIA Methods: EDIP97, CML2001 and Eco-indicator 99 , 2003 .

[21]  G. Boothroyd,et al.  Design for Disassembly and the Environment , 1996 .

[22]  Cinzia Buratti,et al.  Life cycle assessment of biomass production: Development of a methodology to improve the environmental indicators and testing with fiber sorghum energy crop , 2010 .