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LCA & material health results & interpretation BioEdge® Edgebanding

Life cycle assessment Material health

Scope and summary

  • Cradle to gate
  • Cradle to gate with options
  • Cradle to grave

Application

Bioplastic Solutions designs and manufactures BioEdge®. It is a furniture/casework product which seals exposed and raw edges and is made primarily with bio-based materials (a byproduct of corn or sugarcane production). It is a competitively priced alternative to petro-chemical based plastics.

Product description

Three different reference products have been considered in this LCA study: table, kitchenette, and classroom cabinet. For the purpose of satisfying the PCR categories, the table is considered benching while kitchenette and classroom cabinet are considered panels in addition with other office components. The reference flows used in this LCA is to support 4 occupants for table and kitchenette, while classroom cabinet supports 6 occupants. The data reported is based on 1 m2 of floorspace.

BioEdge_reference-products.PNG#asset:42205

Functional unit

Functional unit is one square meter of workspace for a period of 10 years.

BioEdge® has been and can be a component of furniture that meets ANSI/BIFMA X5.5-2021 Desk/Table Products. Per technical data sheet, if all guidelines for installation and application of hot melt adhesives to the edging are followed correctly, BioEdge® will remain on the unit permanently and warranty will be extended to the same timeframe as the end unit.

Reference products: Table, Kitchentte, and Classroom cabinet

Physical floorspace reported: 0.785 m2 for Table, 2.229 – 5.574 m2 for Kitchentte, and 4.645 - 6.968 m2 for Classroom cabinet

Reference flows: 0.425 lb for Table, 2.45 lb for Kitchenette, and 1.90 lb for Classroom cabinet

Functional units needed: 1.274 for Table, 0.179 - 0.449 for Kitchenette, 0.144 - 0.215 for Classroom cabinet

Manufacturing data

Reporting period: Oct. 2020 — Sep. 2021 for energy data and July 2020 — June 2021 for non-energy data

Location: Ellendale, MN

Data represents a mix of primary data from BioPlastic Solutions on the production of BioEdge (gate-to-gate) and their polylactic acid (PLA) supplier, and background data from SimaPro databases. The quality is considered to be high and representative of the described systems. Data for material processing and product manufacturing were collected in a consistent manner and were checked for plausibility of inputs and outputs.

What’s causing the greatest impacts

All life cycle stages

Raw material acquisition and transport stages (A1-A2) dominate the results for most impact categories followed by manufacturing (A3), and installation stage (A5). Together A1-A4 contribute to most of the impacts across the life cycle. A1-A2 stage contributes to ~50% of the total impacts in most of the impact categories except non-carcinogenics and respiratory effects. In case of non-carcinogenics impact, A1-A2 stage has negative contribution which means this stage absorbs more toxic chemicals from the environment than it releases. PLA polymer, a major ingredient for BioEdge, is responsible for this negative value. Manufacturing (A3) stage contributes to much of the non-carcinogenics. Impacts from the installation stage (A5) is mostly due to the hot-melt adhesives.

Raw material acquisition and transport stage

Within A1-A2 stage, raw material acquisition stage (A1) is the main contributor, with less impacts coming from raw material transport (A2) stage. Raw material extraction and processing for PLA polymer, a major ingredient in BioEdge® contributes to majority of the impacts in A1 stage.

Manufacturing stage

Electricity used during production contributes to almost all of the manufacturing (A3) impacts. Corrugated cardboard used for packaging and distribution also makes considerable impacts.

Sensitivity analysis

For this LCA study, only input that needed allocation was electricity used during manufacturing, while proxy data was used for two input materials. A sensitivity analysis was performed using a range from half to twice the manufacturing electricity input and raw material inputs for those two materials. Total impact results for all impact categories but ecotoxicity and eutrophication have variations greater than 10%.

BioPlastic Solutions is continuing the process of moving to a zero scrap policy by investigating use of scrap as reprocessed material back into BioEdge®. Packaging for raw materials is re-used to ship back out products on our other product lines. Masterbatch mixing has allowed us to more accurately use the correct amount of material for each job. New ERP program will further simplify accuracy on raw material mixes and leaving less in the barrel for each job to be purged.

See how we make it greener

LCA results

Life cycle stage A1-A2
Raw material acquisition and transport		 A3 Manufacturing A4 Transportation A5 Installation B1-B7
Use and maintenance		 C1-C4
End of life

Information modules: Included
Stages B1, B3-B7, C1, C3, and D are not applicable.

 A1 Raw Materials A3 Manufacturing A4 Transportation/ Delivery A5 Installation B1 Use C1 Deconstruction
A2 Transportation       B2 Maintenance C2 Waste Transport
        B3 Repair C3 Waste Processing
        B4 Replacement C4 Disposal
        B5 Refurbishment  
        B6 Operational energy use  
        B7 Operational water use  

SM Single Score

Learn about SM Single Score results
Impacts of 1 pound of BioEdge per 10 years of service 9.47E-02 mPts 5.86E-02 mPts 5.61E-03 mPts 2.05E-02 mPts 2.56E-02 mPts 8.87E-03 mPts
Materials or processes contributing >20% to total impacts in each life cycle stage PLA raw materials and production. Electricity consumed during BioEdge manufacturing. Truck and rail transportation used to transport product to building site. Hot-melt adhesives used for installation Cleaning agent for periodic cleaning. Disposal process after the end-of-life.

Table: TRACI v2.1 results per functional unit

Life cycle stage A1-A2
Raw material acquisition and transport		 A3 Manufacturing A4 Transportation A5 Installation B1-B7
Use and maintenance		 C1-C4
End of Life

Ecological damage

Impact category Unit
Acidification kg SO2 eq Kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide equivalent
Acidification processes increase the acidity of water and soil systems and causes damage to lakes, streams, rivers and various plants and animals as well as building materials, paints and other human-built structures. 		2.34E-03 1.26E-03 6.40E-05 4.85E-04 1.90E-04 2.95E-05
Eutrophication kg N eqKilograms of Nitrogen equivalent
Eutrophication is the enrichment of an aquatic ecosystem with nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) that accelerate biological productivity (growth of algae and weeds) and an undesirable accumulation of algal biomass which impacts industry, agriculture, drinking, fishing and recreation and causes death of fish and shellfish, toxicity to humans, marine mammals and livestock, and reduces biodiversity.		 2.79E-03 5.66E-04 1.34E-05 2.51E-04 1.99E-03 2.58E-05
Global warming kg CO2 eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. Global warming - 100 a refers to the reporting period of 100 years. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.		 5.52E-01 3.54E-01 3.67E-02 1.19E-01 5.88E-02 1.07E-01
Ozone depletion kg CFC-11 eq Kilograms of Trichlorofluoromethane equivalent
Ozone depletion is the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by the release of ozone depleting chemicals. Ozone depletion can increases ultraviolet B radiation to the earth which can adversely affect human health (skin cancer and cataracts and immune-system suppression) and other system (marine life, agricultural crops, and other vegetation) and causes damage to human-built materials. 		6.50E-08 9.83E-09 8.78E-09 1.12E-08 3.31E-09 6.04E-10

Human health damage

Impact category Unit
Carcinogenics CTUh Comparative Toxic Units of Human cancerous toxicity
Carcinogens have the potential to form cancers in humans. 		3.51E-09 2.80E-09 3.36E-11 1.44E-09 6.03E-10 4.93E-10
Non-carcinogenics CTUh Comparative Toxic Units of Human non-cancerous toxicity
Non-Carcinogens have the potential to causes non-cancerous adverse impacts to human health. 		-3.88E-08 3.78E-08 5.15E-09 5.16E-09 1.38E-09 2.87E-09
Respiratory effects kg PM2.5 eqKilograms of Particulate Matter equivalent which are smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter
Particulate matter concentrations have a strong influence on chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and mortality rates.		 3.05E-04 1.68E-03 1.29E-05 1.46E-04 4.48E-05 2.32E-06
Smog kg O3 eqKilograms of Ozone equivalent
Smog formation (photochemical oxidant formation) is the formation of ozone molecules in the troposphere by complex chemical reactions which are influenced by ambient concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the mix of organic compounds (OCs), temperature, sunlight and convective flows. Ozone concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere above the natural trace amounts lead to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.		 2.55E-02 1.14E-02 8.22E-04 5.78E-03 2.27E-03 8.04E-04

Additional environmental information

Impact category Unit
Fossil fuel depletion MJ surplus Mega Joule, lower heating value
Fossil fuel depletion is the surplus energy to extract minerals and fossil fuels. 		1.11E+00 1.73E-01 7.78E-02 1.80E-01 1.89E-02 5.73E-03
Global warming 20-year (IPCC) kg CO2 eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. Global warming 20-year refers to the reporting period of 20 years. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.		 8.95E-01 3.86E-01 3.75E-02 1.57E-01 6.85E-02 1.28E-01
Ecotoxicity CTUe Comparative Toxic Units of Ecotoxicity
Ecotoxicity causes negative impacts to ecological receptors and, indirectly, to human receptors through the impacts to the ecosystem.		 1.05E+00 1.22E-01 1.04E-01 1.15E-01 2.19E-01 1.28E-01

Kitchenette: TRACI v2.1 results per functional unit

Life cycle stage A1-A2
Raw material acquisition and transport		 A3 Manufacturing A4 Transportation A5 Installation B1-B7
Use and maintenance		 C1-C4
End of Life

Ecological damage

Impact category Unit
Acidification kg SO2 eq Kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide equivalent
Acidification processes increase the acidity of water and soil systems and causes damage to lakes, streams, rivers and various plants and animals as well as building materials, paints and other human-built structures. 		1.35E-02 7.24E-03 3.69E-04 2.80E-03 1.09E-03 1.70E-04
Eutrophication kg N eqKilograms of Nitrogen equivalent
Eutrophication is the enrichment of an aquatic ecosystem with nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) that accelerate biological productivity (growth of algae and weeds) and an undesirable accumulation of algal biomass which impacts industry, agriculture, drinking, fishing and recreation and causes death of fish and shellfish, toxicity to humans, marine mammals and livestock, and reduces biodiversity.		 1.61E-02 3.26E-03 7.72E-05 1.45E-03 1.15E-02 1.49E-04
Global warming kg CO2 eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. Global warming - 100 a refers to the reporting period of 100 years. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.		 3.18E+00 2.04E+00 2.12E-01 6.85E-01 3.39E-01 6.19E-01
Ozone depletion kg CFC-11 eq Kilograms of Trichlorofluoromethane equivalent
Ozone depletion is the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by the release of ozone depleting chemicals. Ozone depletion can increases ultraviolet B radiation to the earth which can adversely affect human health (skin cancer and cataracts and immune-system suppression) and other system (marine life, agricultural crops, and other vegetation) and causes damage to human-built materials. 		3.75E-07 5.67E-08 5.06E-08 6.48E-08 1.91E-08 3.48E-09

Human health damage

Impact category Unit
Carcinogenics CTUh Comparative Toxic Units of Human cancerous toxicity
Carcinogens have the potential to form cancers in humans. 		2.02E-08 1.61E-08 1.93E-10 8.31E-09 3.48E-09 2.84E-09
Non-carcinogenics CTUh Comparative Toxic Units of Human non-cancerous toxicity
Non-Carcinogens have the potential to causes non-cancerous adverse impacts to human health. 		-2.24E-07 2.18E-07 2.97E-08 2.98E-08 7.97E-09 1.65E-08
Respiratory effects kg PM2.5 eqKilograms of Particulate Matter equivalent which are smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter
Particulate matter concentrations have a strong influence on chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and mortality rates.		 1.76E-03 9.66E-03 7.43E-05 8.44E-04 2.58E-04 1.34E-05
Smog kg O3 eqKilograms of Ozone equivalent
Smog formation (photochemical oxidant formation) is the formation of ozone molecules in the troposphere by complex chemical reactions which are influenced by ambient concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the mix of organic compounds (OCs), temperature, sunlight and convective flows. Ozone concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere above the natural trace amounts lead to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.		 1.47E-01 6.58E-02 4.74E-03 3.33E-02 1.31E-02 4.63E-03

Additional environmental information

Impact category Unit
Fossil fuel depletion MJ surplus Mega Joule, lower heating value
Fossil fuel depletion is the surplus energy to extract minerals and fossil fuels. 		6.41E+00 9.95E-01 4.49E-01 1.04E+00 1.09E-01 3.30E-02
Global warming 20-year (IPCC) kg CO2 eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. Global warming 20-year refers to the reporting period of 20 years. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.		 5.16E+00 2.23E+00 2.16E-01 9.07E-01 3.95E-01 7.39E-01
Ecotoxicity CTUeComparative Toxic Units of Ecotoxicity
Ecotoxicity causes negative impacts to ecological receptors and, indirectly, to human receptors through the impacts to the ecosystem.		 6.03E+00 7.04E-01 6.01E-01 6.61E-01 1.26E+00 7.37E-01

Classroom cabinet: TRACI v2.1 results per functional unit

Life cycle stage A1-A2
Raw material acquisition and transport		 A3 Manufacturing A4 Transportation A5 Installation B1-B7
Use and maintenance		 C1-C4
End of Life

Ecological damage

Impact category Unit
Acidification kg SO2 eq Kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide equivalent
Acidification processes increase the acidity of water and soil systems and causes damage to lakes, streams, rivers and various plants and animals as well as building materials, paints and other human-built structures. 		1.05E-02 5.62E-03 2.86E-04 2.17E-03 8.49E-04 1.32E-04
Eutrophication kg N eqKilograms of Nitrogen equivalent
Eutrophication is the enrichment of an aquatic ecosystem with nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) that accelerate biological productivity (growth of algae and weeds) and an undesirable accumulation of algal biomass which impacts industry, agriculture, drinking, fishing and recreation and causes death of fish and shellfish, toxicity to humans, marine mammals and livestock, and reduces biodiversity.		 1.25E-02 2.53E-03 5.98E-05 1.12E-03 8.91E-03 1.15E-04
Global warming kg CO2 eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. Global warming - 100 a refers to the reporting period of 100 years. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.		 2.47E+00 1.58E+00 1.64E-01 5.31E-01 2.63E-01 4.80E-01
Ozone depletion kg CFC-11 eq Kilograms of Trichlorofluoromethane equivalent
Ozone depletion is the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by the release of ozone depleting chemicals. Ozone depletion can increases ultraviolet B radiation to the earth which can adversely affect human health (skin cancer and cataracts and immune-system suppression) and other system (marine life, agricultural crops, and other vegetation) and causes damage to human-built materials. 		2.91E-07 4.40E-08 3.93E-08 5.03E-08 1.48E-08 2.70E-09

Human health damage

Impact category Unit
Carcinogenics CTUh Comparative Toxic Units of Human cancerous toxicity
Carcinogens have the potential to form cancers in humans. 		1.57E-08 1.25E-08 1.50E-10 6.45E-09 2.70E-09 2.20E-09
Non-carcinogenics CTUh Comparative Toxic Units of Human non-cancerous toxicity
Non-Carcinogens have the potential to causes non-cancerous adverse impacts to human health. 		-1.73E-07 1.69E-07 2.30E-08 2.31E-08 6.18E-09 1.28E-08
Respiratory effects kg PM2.5 eqKilograms of Particulate Matter equivalent which are smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter
Particulate matter concentrations have a strong influence on chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and mortality rates.		 1.36E-03 7.49E-03 5.76E-05 6.54E-04 2.00E-04 1.04E-05
Smog kg O3 eqKilograms of Ozone equivalent
Smog formation (photochemical oxidant formation) is the formation of ozone molecules in the troposphere by complex chemical reactions which are influenced by ambient concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the mix of organic compounds (OCs), temperature, sunlight and convective flows. Ozone concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere above the natural trace amounts lead to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.		 1.14E-01 5.10E-02 3.68E-03 2.58E-02 1.01E-02 3.59E-03

Additional environmental information

Impact category Unit
Fossil fuel depletion MJ surplus Mega Joule, lower heating value
Fossil fuel depletion is the surplus energy to extract minerals and fossil fuels. 		4.97E+00 7.72E-01 3.48E-01 8.05E-01 8.43E-02 2.56E-02
Global warming 20-year (IPCC) kg CO2 eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. Global warming 20-year refers to the reporting period of 20 years. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.		 4.00E+00 1.73E+00 1.68E-01 7.03E-01 3.06E-01 5.73E-01
Ecotoxicity CTUe Comparative Toxic Units of Ecotoxicity
Ecotoxicity causes negative impacts to ecological receptors and, indirectly, to human receptors through the impacts to the ecosystem.		 4.68E+00 5.46E-01 4.66E-01 5.13E-01 9.80E-01 5.73E-01


See the additional content required by the BIFMA PCR on page 4 of the Transparency Report PDF.

References

LCA Background Report

BioEdge® Edgebanding LCA Background Report (public version), BioPlastic Solutions 2021. SimaPro Analyst 9.2, EcoInvent 3.7 database.

BIFMA PCR for Office Furniture Workspace Products: UNCPC 3814
Valid through July 31, 2022. PCR review conducted by Jack Geibig (chair, [email protected]); Thomas Gloria, PhD ([email protected]); and Dr. Michael Overcash ([email protected]).

SM Transparency Reports (TR) are ISO 14025 Type III environmental declarations (EPD) that enable purchasers and users to compare the potential environmental performance of products on a life cycle basis. Environmental declarations from different programs (ISO 14025) may not be comparable. They are designed to present information transparently to make the limitations of comparability more understandable. TRs/EPDs of products that conform to the same PCR and include the same life cycle stages, but are made by different manufacturers, may not sufficiently align to support direct comparisons. They therefore, cannot be used as comparative assertions unless the conditions defined in ISO 14025 Section 6.7.2. ‘Requirements for Comparability’ are satisfied. When attempting to compare EPDs or life cycle impacts of products from different companies, the user should be aware the uncertainty in the final results due to and not limited to the practitioner's assumptions, the source of the data used in the study, and the software tool used to conduct the study. Different LCA software and background LCI data sets may lead to different results upstream or downstream of the life cycle stages declared.

Rating systems

The intent is to reward project teams for selecting products from manufacturers who have verified improved life-cycle environmental performance.

LEED BD+C: New Construction | v4 - LEED v4

Building product disclosure and optimization

Environmental product declarations

  • Industry-wide (generic) EPD ½ product

  • Product-specific Type III EPD 1 product

LEED BD+C: New Construction | v4.1 - LEED v4.1

Building product disclosure and optimization

Environmental product declarations

  • Industry-wide (generic) EPD 1 product

  • Product-specific Type III EPD 1.5 product

Green Globes for New Construction and Sustainable Interiors

Materials and resources

  • NC 3.5.1.2 Path B: Prescriptive Path for Building Core and Shell

  • NC 3.5.2.2 and SI 4.1.2 Path B: Prescriptive Path for Interior Fit-outs

Collaborative for High Performance Schools National Criteria

MW C5.1 – Environmental Product Declarations

  • Third-party certified type III EPD 2 points

BREEAM New Construction 2018

Mat 02 - Environmental impacts from construction products

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

  • Industry average EPD .5 points

  • Multi-product specific EPD .75 points

  • Product specific EPD 1 point

  • Verification LCA
  • 3rd party verified
  • Transparency Report (EPD)
  • 3rd party verified
  • Material evaluation
  • Self-declared

Validity: 2022/03/14 – 2027/03/14
Decl #: BPS – 20220314 – 001

This environmental product declaration (EPD) was independently verified by Harmony Environmental, LLC to the the BIFMA PCR for Office Furniture Workspace Products and ISO 14044.

Harmony Environmental, LLC
16362 W. Briarwood Ct.
Olathe, KS 66062
www.harmonyenviro.com

(913) 780-3328

SUMMARY

Reference PCR
BIFMA PCR for Office Furniture Workspace Products: UNCPC 3814

Regions; system boundaries
North America; Cradle to grave

Functional unit / reference service life:
1 m² of floor space; 10 years

LCIA methodology: TRACI 2.1

LCA software; LCI database
SimaPro Analyst 9.2
EcoInvent 3.7

LCA conducted by: Sustainable Minds

Public LCA:
Life Cycle Assessment of BioEdge® Edgebanding for BioPlastic Solutions

© 2024 | The SM Transparency Report [EPD]™ Program is operated by Sustainable Minds® (www.sustainableminds.com) | Privacy policy

Bio-Plastic Solutions
4004 Highway 30 West
Ellendale, MN 56026
www.bioplasticsolutions.com
507-583-0097