Application of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment to Used Lubricant Oil Management in South Brazilian Region

Malaquias Zildo António Tsambe, Cássio Florisbal de Almeida, Cássia Maria Lie Ugaya and Luiz Fernando de Abreu Cybis
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Malaquias Zildo António Tsambe: Department of Studies in Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, Pedagogical University of Maputo, Av. do Trabalho, Maputo 2482, Mozambique
Cássio Florisbal de Almeida: Post-Graduation Program in Hydric Resources and Environmental Sanitary, Federal University of Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre 9500, Brazil
Cássia Maria Lie Ugaya: Post-Graduation Program in Mechanical Engineering and Materials, Federal University of Technology—Paraná, Av. Sete de Setembro, Curitiba 6681, Brazil
Luiz Fernando de Abreu Cybis: Post-Graduation Program in Hydric Resources and Environmental Sanitary, Federal University of Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre 9500, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: Used Lubricant Oil (ULO) is a hazardous waste resulting from lubricant oil used in motorized equipment to reduce friction between moving surfaces that, over time, wear outs and becomes contaminated. The purpose of this study is to compare the sustainability of two ULO management systems in Brazil: one designated in this study by the TTR scenario (which includes transportation, trans-shipment, and re-refining phases), the other designated by the TsTR scenario (without the trans-shipment phase) to evaluate which scenario is socially, economically, and environmentally more efficient. The study uses the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) methodology. As a combination of life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost (LCC), and social life cycle assessment (s-LCA), it integrates the three sustainability dimensions (environmental, social, and economic). The sustainability index was calculated by aggregating data from eight environmental indicators, five economic indicators, and five social indicators. The results showed that the TsTR scenario presented the best values for the sustainability assessment than the TTR scenario. The TsTR scenario had the best social and economic performance, and the TTR scenario had the best environmental performance. The differences observed in those scenarios’ performances were noted by the absence or presence of the trans-shipment center. The absence of this center improved the social and economic performance of the scenario. The social dimension was improved by the elimination of the stage that causes problems related to social and economic dimensions by reducing several costs that can be associated with it. The presence of the trans-shipment center improves the environmental performance scenario by reducing the number of hazards that could impact the re-refining phase. The LCSA methodology enables a comparative life cycle assessment of two alternative system evaluations of ULO management by the sustainability index of each scenario. This index helps to analyze the contributions of each of the 18 categories and subcategories in the perspective of the sustainability dimensions and, consequently, to carry out their integrated evaluation, aiming to define the best sustainability scenario.

Keywords: Used Lubricant Oil (ULO); life cycle assessment (LCA); social life cycle assessment (s-LCA); life cycle cost (LCC); life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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