Detailed life cycle assessments for industrial products of
the future
August 6, 2015) Crackpot
idea or recipe for success? This is a question entrepreneurs often face. Is it
worth converting the production process to a new, ecologically better material?
Empa has developed an analysis method that enables companies to simulate
possible scenarios – and therefore avoid bad investments. Here’s an example:
Nanofibers made of carrot waste from the production of carrot juice, which can
be used to reinforce synthetic parts.
Motorcycle helmets consist of fiber-reinforced synthetic
material. Instead of glass fibers, a biological alternative is now also
possible: plant fibers from the production of carrot juice. Empa researchers
are now able to analyze whether this kind of production makes sense from an ecological
and economical perspective – before money is actually invested in production
plants.
All over the world, research is being conducted into
biodegradable and recyclable synthetics. However, fiber-reinforced components
remain problematic – if glass or carbon fibers are used. Within the scope of an
EU research project, the Scottish company Cellucomp Limited has now developed a
method to obtain nanofibers from carrot waste. These fibers would be both
cost-effective and biodegradable. However, is the method, which works in the
lab, also marketable on a large scale?
An MPAS (multi-perspective application selection) method
developed at Empa helps identify the industrial sectors where new materials
might be useful from a technical and economical perspective. At the same time,
MPAS also considers the ecological aspect of these new materials. The result
for our example: Nanofibers made of carrot waste might be used in the
production of motorcycle helmets or side walls for motorhomes in the future.