Abstract
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology has traditionally been a tool to assist in the comparison between design alternatives. Currently, one of the established strategies in product eco-design will be the design of lightweight products. For this purpose, due to the nature of the LCA methodology, based on the inventory of materials in relation to a functional unit of the product, it can have a relevant role in the application of lightweight product design strategy. The present study addresses this approach with the analysis of a retail product, more specifically a supermarket shelf. Starting from a complete LCA with a cradle-to-gate approach, with original inventory data, a sensitivity analysis is performed based on different product functional units: product system or product function. The results show that the use of a single shelf for all products in the supermarket generates an excessive use of (metal) materials, as the density of the products to be supported is radically different. Therefore, it is proposed the need to redesign the product based on the specific function by product type. As an example, it is analysed how the variation in the thickness of the part that generates the greatest environmental impact of the assembly affects the load-bearing capacity and environmental impact of the shelving. A drastic reduction of its impact is observed, adapting its load-bearing capacity to the product to be supported. Therefore, a possible solution is to have different types of shelves in the supermarket for specific product densities to be sold.
Keywords
LCA, ecodesign, lightweight design, functional unit
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.496
Citation
Goldáraz-Salamero, N.,and Sierra-Pérez, J.(2023) The use of life cycle assessment for lightweight product design based on functional unit, in De Sainz Molestina, D., Galluzzo, L., Rizzo, F., Spallazzo, D. (eds.), IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design, 9-13 October, Milan, Italy. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.496
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The use of life cycle assessment for lightweight product design based on functional unit
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology has traditionally been a tool to assist in the comparison between design alternatives. Currently, one of the established strategies in product eco-design will be the design of lightweight products. For this purpose, due to the nature of the LCA methodology, based on the inventory of materials in relation to a functional unit of the product, it can have a relevant role in the application of lightweight product design strategy. The present study addresses this approach with the analysis of a retail product, more specifically a supermarket shelf. Starting from a complete LCA with a cradle-to-gate approach, with original inventory data, a sensitivity analysis is performed based on different product functional units: product system or product function. The results show that the use of a single shelf for all products in the supermarket generates an excessive use of (metal) materials, as the density of the products to be supported is radically different. Therefore, it is proposed the need to redesign the product based on the specific function by product type. As an example, it is analysed how the variation in the thickness of the part that generates the greatest environmental impact of the assembly affects the load-bearing capacity and environmental impact of the shelving. A drastic reduction of its impact is observed, adapting its load-bearing capacity to the product to be supported. Therefore, a possible solution is to have different types of shelves in the supermarket for specific product densities to be sold.