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Research Paper FPL–RP–707 2 Life-Cycle Impact Assessment The following six impact categories were examined using the Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) v2.1: global warming (GW (kg CO 2 -eq)), acidification (kg SO 2 -eq), eutrophication (kg N-eq), ozone depletion (kg chlorofluorocarbons-11-eq), photochemical smog (kg NO x -eq), and fossil fuel depletion (MJ surplus). The LCI also provided additional information such as the use of primary energy resources consumption [energy consumption from nonrenewable, renewable (wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal), and nuclear fuels, renewable and nonrenewable resource consumption], water use, and indicators describing waste. Key Findings The cradle-to-grave industry-average impact assessment for the entire life cycle identified where the environmental "hotspots" were found. For GW impacts, the total was 10.4 kg CO 2 e per FU with manufacturing stage contributing the highest impact at 3.6 kg CO 2 e per FU followed by the raw material supplies [A1] (Table 1). Most of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) were derived from the sawing and (kiln) drying processes, which are part of the raw material supply Module [A1]. When accounted for, Module [D] with a value of –11.5 kg CO 2 e per FU offset the cradle-to-grave GHG emissions. Nonrenewable fossil fuels comprised almost 52% of total primary energy consumption of the total 225 MJ/FU. Sensitivity Analysis A sensitivity analysis was completed per the ISO standards to model the effects. The selected parameters included the electricity input, amount of fasteners used, and amount of wood material input to the wooden pallet manufacturing system Module [A3]. Overall, the variations in the environmental impacts were from a 20% increase or decrease in electricity, amount of fasteners used, or amount of wood material input used to produce wooden pallets. The increase in wood material input had the greatest effect on the GW results, whereas a 20% increase in the other two parameters resulted in about a 2% to 3% change in the GW results. Interpretation This study presents a comprehensive industry-average environmental impact analysis of the wooden pallet manufacturing and recycling sector in the United States. The data were collected from wooden pallet facilities throughout the United States. The industry-average LCI developed was representative of the United States for an average wooden pallet produced. The scope and content of this report was in line with the wooden pallet PCR, which will be used to develop an industry-average environmental product declaration. Raw material supply Module [A1] and manufacturing Module [A3] were the major contributors to the overall environmental impact. The raw material supply phase, which includes lumber production, constituted about 34% of the GHG emissions. Wooden pallets showed notable GHG benefits when potential environmental benefits were considered (Module [D]), such as wood coproducts and waste wood generated at the end-of-life stage being used as an energy source to replace natural gas at boilers. The information provided by the contribution analysis allowed us to identify which life-cycle stage had the highest Table 1—Cradle-to-grave (Modules A1-C) and Module D life-cycle impact assessment results for 100,000 lb (45.4 metric tons) of pallet loads of product delivered Units Total (Modules A1-C) Credits and burdens beyond the system boundary (Module D) Impact category Global warming kg CO 2 e 10.39 –11.48 Acidification kg CFC11e 6.30E–02 –8.60E–03 Eutrophication kg SO 2 e 2.13E–02 –3.97E–04 Smog creation kg Ne 1.46E+00 –1.55E–01 Ozone depletion kg O 3 e 2.66E–07 2.37E–08 Fossil fuel depletion MJ surplus 14.36 –26.64 Primary energy consumption Total MJ, NCV a 224.50 — Renewable primary energy MJ, NCV 2.61 — Renewable primary energy biomass MJ, NCV 89.59 — Nonrenewable primary energy (fossil) MJ, NCV 117.26 — Nonrenewable primary energy (nuclear) MJ, NCV 15.04 — a NCV, net calorific value.

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