Methodology for Life Cycle Assessment of ceramic floor and wall tiles -Applications in BAT definition for ceramic tiles industry

摘要

The LCA procedure developed has been used to compare different products and technologies, in order to identify the "best" ones from the environmental performance point of view, as well as to identify the impact factors (inputs or outputs of the life cycle) characterised by the highest influence on the environmental effects observed. The purification of gaseous emissions, with the performance level achieved in the Italian ceramic tile industries, leads to a significant reduction of heavy metals emission and of winter smog, but higher purification waste production. The recycling of waste materials and wastewaters is documented as the best practice from the environmental point of view. In fact, the LCA results reflect both the material (input: resources) saving and the avoided pollution (output: disposal of polluted materials into the environment). In particular the purification of wastewaters before recycling is necessary not for reducing the environmental impact, but essentially for body mix quality control. Finally, the use of cogeneration, in the conditions prospected in this study, is able to guarantee the lowest impact for the majority of the environmental problems considered.