Dear all,
Good morning!
Concerning the Internally verified data created by One Click LCA for ready-mix concrete, what is the allocation method (economic, mass, no-allocation…) used for the supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) such as GGBS, fly-ash etc. ?
example of data-point: Ready-mix concrete, normal strength, generic, C25/30 (3600/4400 PSI) with CEM II/A-S, 10% GGBS content (280 kg/m3; 17.5 lbs/ft3 total cement)
Was ecoinvent data used in the modelling? if yes, what was the version of ecoinvent used?
Hi José,
thank you for your post and welcome to our community!
ISO 14040 mandates that allocation is used only when system expansion is not a possible option, on it’s end (huge lack of modelling data or at least more than 10% mass wise).
For the purposes of environmentally evaluating co-products such as FA and GGBS SCMs, and any other co-product further on, serving as a raw material for the so-called, recyclate containing products) we therefore apply system expansion. More precisely, we use a cut-off approach to the model, also known as “consumer pays”. This would mean that the seemingly allocated impact to the co-product is completely allocated to the first product and the only allocated burdens to the co-product, in it’s new usable condition, are the embodied energy after its EOW stage has stepped in.
The data utilized in the modelling of the generic materials models has been sourced from upstream databases such as Plastics Europe, World steel , IDEMAT and scientific LCA studies on modelling various construction materials.
I hope this helps clear up your question. Please let me know if you have questions remaining.
1 Like