An allocation method based on relative profit between industrial sectors

Author(s): G. Habert, N. Roussel
Paper category: symposium
Book title: International Symposium on Life Cycle Assessment and Construction – Civil engineering and buildings
Editor(s): A. Ventura and C. de la Roche
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-127-8
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-128-5
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 352 – 359
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: The most efficient way to reduce the environmental impact of cement production is to replace Portland cement with alternative cementitious materials. However, a recent European directive no longer considers these products as waste but as by-products. Therefore, the impact of their production has to be considered. Within this new framework, we develop an evaluation method of their environmental impacts. Preexisting methods are first presented. A new allocation method is then proposed, based on the fact that both cement and the alternative materials, are produced by energy-intensive industries (cement iron and coal) which are all subjected to the European Union greenhouse gas emissions trading system (EU ETS). Our allocation coefficient is calculated so that the economic gains and losses are the same for all of the industries involved in these exchanges, and provides the overall environmental benefit of the exchanges. The discussion shows that whilst this method has much in common with other allocation methods it is more accurate as it allocates the environmental costs fairly over the industries involved, and more robust because of its constant value. Lastly, the technical term of the proposed equation could be employed to calculate the most environmental uses by-products could be put to.

Online publication: 2012
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00