An overview of Life Cycle Analysis in the wood-based panel industry

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique that considers the environmental aspects and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its lifetime. It is used to determine the ecological impact from production to consumption. The data obtained are evaluated in decision making, strategic planning, priority setting and design studies. For example, the Paris agreement and its sanctions based on countries have come to the fore depending on the results of the evaluation of the LCA analysis. Turkey ranked fourth in the world and second in EU countries in the wood-based board industry in 2020. In our country, production is 9,376,000 m3, exports are 2,307,032 m3, and imports are 271,524 m3. The LCA cycle analysis of such a large industry has never been put on the agenda in our country, and no study has been done. In this study, literature information will be given about the relationship between LCA and the wood-based board sector, the positive and negative effects of the sector on the environment, the measures that can be taken and the LCA studies that can be planned for the sector in the future. In particular, the methods of determining the effects during the transportation of wood material to the factories, production, transfer of the plates to the sales notes after production, the usage process and the evaluation of the boards that have completed their economic life will be defined. Examples of the application of simple, combined and screening methods used for this purpose will be given. The potential effects of the LCA approach applied in the world forest products sector, their benefits, strengths, and weaknesses were evaluated. Finally, a simulation application was carried out.