Life Cycle Inventory of A Corrugated Board Box, 1994 Recycling Symposium Proceedings

M. Arbeloa, J. Poustis, J.C. Pommier

Life Cycle Inventory of products (LCI is a material and energy balance that covers the life of the product from the extraction of raw materials to the end of life of the product. The purpose of this type of study for a company is to improve its environmental flows. This method has been applied in our Company to study the impact of a particular type of Corrugated Board Box on the environment.

After studying the life cycle of an existing box, changes occuring to the LCI were simulated when the corrugated board box composition was modified.

The main environmental problem specifically due to paper manufacturing is the water pollution emission. The air emissions are generated at all the steps of the life cycle.

The amount of solid waste going to landfill at the end of life of the corrugated board box could be reduced by increasing the recycling rate. However, this would be accompanied by a detrimental effect on CO2 emissions.