A Comparative Lifecycle Impact Analysis: Assessing Global Warming Potential of Newly Manufactured and Reused Bricks for Building Construction in Sweden

Abstract: The aim of the study is to compare the environmental performance in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP), for reused bricks and newly manufactured bricks used in Swedish Construction Industry. The objective of the study was to compile and conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), in terms of GWP, of newly manufactured and reused clay façade bricks used in Sweden. Cradle-to-cradle lifecycle impact of new and reused clay façade bricks was calculated by utilising product-specific data and Swedish national scenarios. GWP impact was accessed for the primary energy source used in the product stage and its overall impact throughout the product lifecycle. The product type and the end-of-life scenario with the least GWP impact was identified through data analysis. The GWP data of 128 clay façade bricks were obtained from the published type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) by European Program Operators. Product-specific data and Boverket Klimatdatabas scenarios were used to recalculate the impacts in LCA software to suit the Swedish national scenarios. Parametric study was conducted in LCA software, GaBi ts and openLCA, to evaluate the impact on the product’s lifecycle due to the application of various energy sources in product stage. The obtained data was compiled in Excel and analysed using Tableau and Python to identify the case with the lowest GWP. It was found that reused bricks had lowest lifecycle impact in terms GWP compared to newly manufactured bricks concurrently being financial beneficial. The study concludes the whole lifecycle impact of a product not only depends on the product stage resource consumption, but also on the reuse, recycle potential. The best method to lower the GWP of new bricks was to manufacture using cleaner, renewable fuels with greater reuse potential.