Distribution [A4]

In 2023, outbound shipments of lavatories from Fairburn were transported an average of 883 miles (1,421 km) by diesel truck and an average of 1,269 miles (2,042 km) by rail. The quantity transported by truck is 83%, and by rail 17%.

End of life [C1-C4]

The model reflects the assumptions that lavatories are 100% disposed in a sanitary landfill. The product is assumed to be transported 100 km via truck to final disposal.

However, it should be noted that many of the associated metal and plastic components follow the waste scenarios as listed in the table below. TOTO ceramic materials can be recycled as aggregate in several applications, although this is not currently common practice. Secondary materials, including shredded and sorted metal waste, are valuable goods that lose their status as waste after the sorting process. No additional waste processing is needed in that case, and no credits for material recovery are given.

Product information

Allocation Allocations of multi-input and multi-output processes follow a mass-based approach in the collected data, which is the most appropriate for the unit processes modeled. Allocation approaches in the background data follow the ecoinvent methodology. No co-product allocations were made in the model.

Major system boundary exclusions

• Construction of major capital equipment, water & wastewater infrastructure
• Maintenance and operation of support equipment
  
• Human labor and employee transport
• Manufacture & transport of packaging materials not associated w/ final product
• Energy consumption in warehouses, distribution centers, and retail facilities during the course of transport to the final customer
• Disposal of packaging materials not associated with final product
• Building operational energy and water use

Major assumptions and limitations

• Transportation of all raw materials with the mass above 1% of the cumulative mass of the model, products from vendors, is estimated based on rail lines and port information.
• Pallet use is assumed based on the average numbers per unit of product and reported pallet quantity of specific models.
  

Data quality assessment

Precision: The precision of the data is considered high. Product engineers provided detailed bills of materials, and facility managers provided utility information for the manufacturing facilities. The raw material transportation distances were calculated based on the raw material manufacturers’ addresses, extracted from the relevant SDSs.

Proxy datasets were utilized in the LCA model when secondary data were not available, as shown in Appendix A in the published LCA background report.

Completeness: The data included is considered complete. The LCA model included all known material and energy flows. As pointed out in that section, no known flows above 1% were excluded and the sum of all excluded flows totals less than 5%, whether evaluated by mass, energy, or potential environmental impact.

Consistency: The consistency of the model is considered high. The bills of materials provided by the product engineers were developed for multiple internal departments use and are maintained regularly.

The LCA practitioner also cross-referenced the installation documents and other relevant information to ensure consistency. Furthermore, modeling assumptions were consistent across the model, with preference given towards SimaPro data, where available.