Life Cycle Assessment of Plasterboard Production: A UK Case Study

Saeed Morsali (), Kambiz Rakhshanbabanari, Mohamed Osmani, Sergio Cavalaro, Matyas Gutai, Miguel Castro-Díaz, Bill Parker, Joanna Sparkes, Paul Needham, Scott Newport, Meaghan Sands and Alexis Massey
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Saeed Morsali: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Kambiz Rakhshanbabanari: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Mohamed Osmani: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Sergio Cavalaro: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Matyas Gutai: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Miguel Castro-Díaz: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Bill Parker: British Gypsum, East Leake, Loughborough LE12 6JT, UK
Joanna Sparkes: British Gypsum, East Leake, Loughborough LE12 6JT, UK
Paul Needham: ENVA, Enviro Building, Private Road 4, Colwick Industrial Estate, Nottingham NG4 2JT, UK
Scott Newport: ENVA, Enviro Building, Private Road 4, Colwick Industrial Estate, Nottingham NG4 2JT, UK
Meaghan Sands: ENVA, Enviro Building, Private Road 4, Colwick Industrial Estate, Nottingham NG4 2JT, UK
Alexis Massey: Wernick Group, Windmill Lane, Denton, Manchester M34 2JF, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: Plasterboard, which serves as a nonstructural building material, is widely employed for lightweight wall construction and surface finishing in walls and ceilings. Amid mounting concerns regarding product sustainability and the adoption of Net Zero strategies, evaluating the environmental performance of materials has become crucial. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) for wall gypsum plasterboard, aiming to pinpoint areas for potential environmental improvement. The LCA methodology, adhering to established guidelines and considering midpoint impact categories, was employed to quantify environmental impacts across various stages of the plasterboard life cycle—encompassing raw material extraction, plasterboard manufacturing, transportation during all stages, and end-of-life treatment of plasterboard waste. Primary data were sourced directly from a plasterboard manufacturer and recycler and supplemented with secondary data obtained from the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and the Ecoinvent 3.9 database. Among the identified impact categories, the human carcinogenic toxicity category emerged as the most affected category, primarily due to the raw material supply stage, followed by freshwater ecotoxicity, which was impacted due to the material supply stage.

Keywords: plasterboard; life cycle assessment; environmental impacts; sustainability; building materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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