Cradle to gate life cycle assessment of Tyre-grade natural rubber produced in Thailand

The greatest part of global natural rubber production is used in tyres, where it constitutes up to 40 % by mass. Assessing the environmental impacts of natural rubber from plantation to processing is therefore pivotal for evaluating those related to tyre products. However, no published work comprehensively calculates the impacts of natural rubber for tyre applications. This cradle to gate life cycle assessment (LCA) aims to fill this gap by investigating these impacts, with a specific focus on the context of Thailand, the main natural rubber producer. Environmental impacts are evaluated according to a cradle to gate approach, mainly employing secondary data, obtained through a detailed literature research. Raw materials supply stage emerges as the predominant source of environmental impacts, primarily due to the contributions associated with the Hevea b. plantation: production of fertilisers, related field emissions, and land use change (LUC) emissions. Direct LUC impacts associated with the expansion of rubber plantations in Thailand between 2000 and 2020 represent the paramount contributor to the climate change impact of tyre-grade rubber. The sensitivity analysis reveals a climate change impact variation of - 101 % in the case of considering Hevea b. plantations responsible for only part of the total deforestation occurred in Thailand in the reference period. This result highlights the necessity of primary and representative data regarding the evolution of rubber plantations in Thailand in order to properly attribute the impacts caused by deforestation and creation of new plantations. The impacts of the manufacturing stage hold relatively low relevance, and stem mostly from fuel and electricity consumption. This paper clarifies thus the crucial role of plantation activities in the environmental impact of natural rubber used in tyre industry.