MODELING OF A GLASS WOOL PROCESS IN VIEW OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (L.C.A.)

In the construction industry, taking into account environmental aspects has become unavoidable. In France, environmental and sanitary statements for building products (“Fiches de Declarations Environnementales et Sanitaires” (FDE&S)) have been developed. The environmental part of the statement is based on Life Cycle Assessment. So, Knauf Insulation, glass wool producer for the French market, has started to evaluate the environmental impacts of its processes in view of FDE&S drafting. The Glass wool life cycle has been modeled in the GaBi software with industrial data. Adjustable parameters have been introduced to allow application of the model to all Knauf Insulation products, facilitating the creation of FDE&S for these products. This model is also used for eco-conception, with LCA results pinpointing life cycle leaks. Moreover, modifications in the model can highlight environmental impacts of changes in the process, therefore helping to determine the most relevant improvements. The model along with the main results for the eco-conception strategy will be presented. The interest in developing a model based on the different stages in the life cycle of a product or product range will be clarified.