LCA Study: Carbon and Energy Footprint Assessment of Non-Metallic Materials Against Traditional Metallic Materials in Building and Construction Sector

The study assesses the carbon and energy footprints of the non-metallic (NM) and traditional metallic materials in building and construction applications through a Life Cycle Assessment in accordance of ISO 14067 and 14040/44. The goal of this assessment is to address the misconceptions surrounding non-metallic materials and provide a fact-based understanding of their environmental impact, specifically their carbon footprint. Moreover, this scientific assessment is performed to evaluate the feasibility of switching from conventional metallic products to non-metallics (polymers). The assessed products in this sector include rebars, sand movement controls, claddings, manholes, window frames, and walkways, which are found in the assessment for each product system’s metallic and non-metallic materials. The life cycle assessment of carbon and energy in this study includes the manufacturing, transportation, and end of life of each product in the listed products, while the use phase is assumed to be identical whether the product is metallic or non-metallic, except for sand movement control and walkways. The structure of this assessment starts with an introduction, followed by materials and methods which define all data and products assessed, and lastly a conclusion of the analysis. All in all, the study results show that non-metallic products are favorable with less carbon and energy footprint potential when compared to the corresponding metallic products in the building and construction sector.