Environmental Assessment of Innovative Paper Recycling Technology Using Product Lifecycle Perspectives

Yuya Ono, Masaaki Hayashi, Koichiro Yokoyama, Takehiko Okamura and Norihiro Itsubo
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Yuya Ono: Graduate School of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama 224-0015, Japan
Masaaki Hayashi: Seiko Epson Corporation, Matsumoto 390-1243, Japan
Koichiro Yokoyama: Seiko Epson Corporation, Matsumoto 390-1243, Japan
Takehiko Okamura: Seiko Epson Corporation, Matsumoto 390-1243, Japan
Norihiro Itsubo: Graduate School of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama 224-0015, Japan

Resources, 2020, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Paper can be reused to efficiently manage biomass consumption, meaning that it has potential as an environmentally friendly material. On the other hand, because of high energy usage during the recycling process and transportation inefficiencies, there is a call for the development of technologies that can mitigate this environmental burden. This study evaluated, from a lifecycle perspective, a new technology that can collect and recycle paper within the office. This technology can reduce by over 90% the amount of water used compared with the conventional recycled paper that is pulped and bleached once by the dry process. It also eliminates transportation from paper collection facilities to recycling factories, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This new technology is already in use in Japan, and analyses by user data indicate that evaluation results differ greatly depending on the utilization rate of the machine. In the future, environmental information should be shared by both users and manufacturers, so that users could increase their utilization rate, and manufacturers could develop alternative bonding agents in order to further reduce the total environmental burden.

Keywords: LCA; paper production; CO 2 emission; water consumption; water footprint; Japan; recycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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