Carbon footprint assessment of BioDur biocomposites

The key objective of this report is to share potential environmental impacts of Spectalite BioDur biocomposites by using life cycle impact assessment method. This report presents cradle-to-gate climate change impact (global warming potential – carbon footprint).

Carbon footprint of a product presents the life greenhouse gas emissions as part of the process of creating, storing, transporting, using, recycling, or disposing of a product. This report includes cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of biocomposites, until it is manufactured.

Carbon footprint assessment of BioDur 1

Carbon footprint assessment framework

The cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of our BioDur biocomposites are determined with the following inputs –

  • The inventory that has been curated based on reliable datasets & publications.
  • The electricity needed to manufacture biocomposite as determined at our manufacturing facility in India.
  • The renewable material and its source provide the carbon content and carbon sequestered.
  • The binders & additives used for biocomposites.
  • Mode of transport and distance to our facility.
  • Where possible, we have used actual data.

For this report we have considered injection moulding grade of BioDur biocomposites made with virgin Polypropylene (PP) as the binder. They are sustainable replacements to commonly used PP, PE, ABS, PS, PP+GF & PP+Mineral plastics. We have provided relative comparison between these materials and our biocomposites to understand the ecological benefits of using our biocomposites.

The actual carbon footprint of the biocomposites used in your  product may vary from this report depending on the final formulation, raw materials used and their source.

Carbon footprint assessment of BioDur 2

Relative comparison of carbon footprint

Carbon footprint assessment of BioDur 3

Carbon emissions of BioDur with 40% bamboo fibers

For our conditions & assumptions made, the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of our biocomposites produced in our facility is provided for different cases depending on the renewable content in the product. The renewable content considered here is the bamboo waste sourced from one of the incense stick manufacturing companies in India, which would otherwise be burnt or discarded.

Our blockchain technology enables us to share real-time carbon footprint of each batch of our biocomposites manufactured. The technology enables to record and determine the carbon footprint at different stages of the biocomposites manufacturing process.

Remarks

  • The BioDur biocomposites offer best carbon footprint compared to most plastics & composite materials used in thermoplastic process.
  • The main raw materials of BioDur biocomposites are natural fibres and polypropylene binder. By using natural fibre as raw material BioDur biocomposites replace the use of fossil based plastics with renewable raw material sourced sustainably, that does not result in deforestation and does not compete with food production with verifiable chain of custody using our blockchain technology.
  • The proportion of the bamboo fibre, binder and other additives varies depending on the product application.
  • This report is provided for reference only and is valid for specific conditions and assumptions made.
  • We plan to further reduce carbon footprint of BioDur by reducing scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions of our manufacturing process.