Enhancing Sustainability with LCA: A Comparative Analysis of Design and Manufacturing Processes

Val, Sonia (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lambán, María Pilar (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Two widely used products with the same functionality but different designs and production processes were selected for comparative analysis. SimaPro 9.6.0 software was used for the calculations and LCA of both assemblies. The analysis covered all phases of the life cycle, taking into account factors such as energy, materials and water consumption. The results allowed a comparison of the environmental impacts of the two assemblies, identifying the life cycle phases with the highest impact and the most relevant impact categories. The analysis revealed that the metal trolley exhibited a 40% higher environmental impact during production compared to the polypropylene trolley, primarily due to the material extraction and processing phases. Additionally, the polypropylene trolley showed higher long-term impacts in landfill scenarios due to carcinogenic substance emissions. These findings highlight the significance of design and material selection in reducing environmental impacts. Applying the LCA methodology to the two mechanical assemblies allowed us to identify opportunities for improvement in the design and manufacturing processes, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact and increasing the competitiveness of the products. By considering the full life cycle of a product from the early design phases, more sustainable design and manufacturing decisions can be made, and by using this analysis, companies can develop more sustainable products and reduce costs.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/pr13010195

Año: 2025

Publicado en: PROCESSES 13, 1 (2025), 195 [27 pp.]
ISSN: 2227-9717

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Ing. Procesos Fabricación (Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri.)