CRADLE-TO-GATE LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL DETERGENTS. CONSEQUENTIAL IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/ig.v8i15.0236

The productive sector in Ecuador requires efficient cleaning solutions, being the industrial detergent one of the most used products for this purpose; analyzing its life cycle from cradle to gate with a carbon footprint measurement approach is the objective of this study. The functional unit used was the 20kg bucket of detergent in a logistics company; the carbon footprint was calculated by applying the technical characteristics of the equipment and sources that use fossil fuels such as diesel and coke; the product flows of internal-external processes, supported by the international guidelines for greenhouse gas inventories of the United Kingdom and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and data on imports and production for the last year. The results showed that a 20 kg bucket of industrial detergent has a carbon footprint of 23.75 kgCO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent); the percentage contribution by processes is 29% for the production of sodium carbonate, 18% for sulphonic acid and 11% for sodium hydroxide; 18% for sulphonic acid and 11% for sodium hydroxide, the transport of these raw materials contributes 18% more carbon dioxide emissions and the production process in the plant 8%, with sodium carbonate having the highest percentage of total CO2 generation, a strong impact as it is an industry that uses coke as fuel for limestone calcination processes. It is concluded that, within plant processes do not generate a large impact due to the use of electrical energy, however, the suppliers of raw materials should be analyzed and local purchasing should be considered to reduce the kilometers travelled and the carbon footprint of these activities and whether they have negative consequences on agricultural ecosystems.

Keywords: Fuel, carbon footprint, environmental impact, raw material, functional unit.