Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of polymer vs. paper bank notes
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Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs. paper bank notes LCA XI conference, October 2011 Heather Jackson Bank of Canada Coppelia Marincovic PE International, Inc.
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Comparative LCA of polymer vs. paper bank notes
Transcript of Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of polymer vs. paper bank notes
Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes LCA XI conference, October 2011
Heather Jackson Bank of Canada
Coppelia Marincovic PE International, Inc.
1. Background, goals & challenges 2. Scope of the project 3. Results and conclusions 4. Reactions to the study
LCA XI conference, October 2011
Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes
1. Background, goals & challenges 2. Scope of the project 3. Results and conclusions 4. Reactions to the study
LCA XI conference, October 2011
Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes
Background
The Bank of Canada, Canada’s central bank, is issuing a new series of bank notes starting in 2011 Major change
Cotton-based paper to polypropylene substrate Distinctly different design (clear window areas) Different supply chain Increased longevity in circulation
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New designs considerations
Resistance to counterfeiting Cost Production process capability Environmental impact
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Current Design - Paper
New Design - Polymer
Goals of the study
Evaluate the environmental impacts of producing and distributing Canadian bank notes based on two different substrates – cotton‐based paper vs. polymer
Identify substances of concern whether in the form of bank note components or emissions arising from bank note production
Reveal those aspects of banknote production and distribution that could be targeted to further reduce environmental impact
Follow ISO standard Life Cycle Assessment procedures
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Challenges
Confidentiality Bank note manufacturers and suppliers are necessarily secretive about materials and processes Central banks do not divulge bank note details
Worldwide supply chain Two supply chains (paper and polymer) Defining “representative data” “Comparative assertion” Simplifying model for bank note distribution and use phases
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1. Background, goals & challenges 2. Scope of the project 3. Results and conclusions 4. Reactions to the study
LCA XI conference, October 2011
Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes
Scope of the study
Functional Unit: “Provision of $2,000 (CDN) of cash value over a time span of 7.5 years”
Time coverage: 2009 (current), projected based on 2009 tests (new) Geographical coverage: Canada (distribution/use/EoL), specific countries for production Data sources: Primary data from suppliers whenever possible, otherwise from available databases and literature Background data: GaBi database Allocation: mass Environmental Indicators: Primary Energy Demand, Global Warming Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Acidification Potential, Smog Potential, USETox, Ozone Depletion Potential Deliverable: ISO compliant LCA report
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Lifetime (years) Weight (kg/100 bank notes) Reference flow
Paper bank note 3 0.102 250 pieces of 20 CAD bank notes (2000/20*7.5/3)
Polymer bank note 7.5 0.093 100 pieces of 20 CAD bank notes (2000/20 *7.5/7.5)
System overview
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Cotton production
Polymer production
Paper production
Polymer conversion
Emissions to air, discharges to water and soil
Resources (materials and energy resources)
Thread
Thread
Foil
Foil Foil
Bank note printing
Bank note printing
Ink
Plates
Ink
Plates Printing
Distribution
Use
End of Life
Distribution
Use
End of Life Bank note
Scope of the study
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Bank note life cycle step Representativeness Data source
Cotton paper production 100% Supplier (primary data)
Polymer substrate production 100% Supplier (primary data)
Foil production 100% Supplier (primary data)
Thread production 100% Supplier (primary data)
Thread conversion 100% Supplier (primary data)
Printing 100% Supplier (primary data)
Ink production 100% Supplier (primary data)
Distribution logistics 100% Bank of Canada (primary data)
Armored cars 100% Contractor (primary data)
Use phase n/a Bank notes equipment manufacturers (primary data)
End of Life - landfills 57% Contractor (primary data)
1. Background, goals & challenges 2. Scope of the project 3. Results and conclusions 4. Reactions to the study
LCA XI conference, October 2011
Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes
High level results All life cycle steps included
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67.3%
69.5%
61.1%
71.7%
40.0%
55.2%
61.0%
62.9%
69.1%
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
CML2001 - Nov. 09, Global Warming Potential (GWP 100 years) [kg CO2-Equiv.]
Primary energy from renewable raw materials (net cal. value) [MJ]
Primary energy from resources (net cal. value) [MJ]
TRACI, Acidification Air [mol H+ Equiv.]
TRACI, Eutrophication (Air & Water) [kg N-Equiv.]
TRACI, Ozone Depletion Air [kg CFC 11-Equiv.]
TRACI, Smog Air [kg NOx-Equiv.]
USETox2008, Ecotoxicity [PAF m3.day]
USETox2008, Human toxicity [cases]
Current Design
New Design
Detailed results for the LC phases
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4%
4%
5%
6%
3%
5%
40%
7%
5%
53%
20%
44%
17%
59%
23%
43%
17%
36%
14%
64%
26%
58%
22%
43%
43%
52%
52%
34%
34%
52%
52%
24%
24%
29%
29%
36%
36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
current
new
current
new
current
new
current
new
current
new
current
new
current
new
Glo
bal
War
min
g Po
tent
ial
Prim
ary
ener
gy
from
re
new
able
ra
w
mat
eria
ls
Prim
ary
ener
gy
from
re
sour
ces
TRAC
I, Ac
idifi
catio
n Ai
r
TRAC
I, Eu
trop
hica
tion
TRAC
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zone
De
plet
ion
Air
TRAC
I, Sm
og A
ir Manufacturing Distribution Use End of Life
Sensitivity analysis - lifetime
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0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Current design (3
years)
New design (3 years)
New design (4 years)
New design (5 years)
New design (6 years)
New design (7 years)
New design (8 years)
New design (9 years)
New design (10 years)
CML2001 - Nov. 09, Global Warming Potential (GWP 100 years) [kg CO2-Equiv.] Primary energy from renewable raw materials (net cal. value) [MJ]
Primary energy from resources (net cal. value) [MJ] TRACI, Acidification Air [mol H+ Equiv.]
TRACI, Eutrophication (Air & Water) [kg N-Equiv.] TRACI, Ozone Depletion Air [kg CFC 11-Equiv.]
TRACI, Smog Air [kg NOx-Equiv.] USETox2008, Ecotoxicity [PAF m3.day]
USETox2008, Human toxicity [cases]
Base scenario: 100% = current design (lifetime = 3 years)
Conclusions
The new design (based on a polymer substrate) shows benefits over the current design (based on a cotton paper substrate) because of: Manufacturing: increased lifetime lower overall impact (even if the manufacturing of the polymer bank note has a higher environmental impact) Distribution: - polymer bank note has to be transported 2.5 less times than the cotton paper bank notes (less transport of fresh notes to the system, and fewer unfit bank notes sent back to the banking system) - weight of the polymer bank note is lighter; shipments are limited by value and not weight, then a lighter weight environmental benefit over time End-of-life: the polymer is mostly made of inactive carbon, which in contrary to cotton paper, does not contribute to GHG emissions in landfill.
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1. Background, goals & challenges 2. Scope of the project 3. Results and conclusions 4. Reactions to the study
LCA XI conference, October 2011
Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes
Reactions to results
Internally at the Bank of Canada Surprised by dominance of the transportation distances, ATM power usage Critical Review Panel gave insightful feedback
External reactions Suppliers appreciated the thoroughness of the study
Full report published on the Bank of Canada website (June 20, 2011)
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/polymer/life-cycle-assessment-lca/
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Bank of Canada Comparative LCA of polymer vs.
paper bank notes LCA XI conference, October 2011
Heather Jackson Bank of Canada
Coppelia Marincovic PE International, Inc.
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