Life-cycle-assessment - Life-cycle inventory for detergent manufacturing

The project group ''Life Cycle Assessment'' of the IKW (German Detergent Industry Association) compiled the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for the detergent manufacturing in Germany. The LCI follows the principles recommended by SETAC and the ISO Commitee Draft on ''Life Cycle Assessment''. The study covers regular powder, compact powder and liquid detergents. The companies participating in this LCI data acquisition represent more than 90% of the German detergent market. The LCI includes the phases of detergent manufacturing: storage, spray tower (for powders only), mixing and packaging. For these phases the environmental data energy demand airborne/waterborne emissions and solid waste are being evaluated. All data in this study are expressed as required amount of detergents per 1,000 kg dry laundry. The study covers only one segment of the detergent's life-cycle: the detergent manufacturing processes. It must be emphasized, however, that the study does not allow any comparative evaluation on the overall environmental effects of regular powder, compact powder and liquid detergents. Additionally, regular powder, compact powder and liquid detergents differ in their formulation characteristics, cleaning properties and performance, although all considered detergents are heavy duty detergents. For liquid detergents, the LCI data show a lower energy demand and consequently also lower air emissions and solid waste in comparison to powder detergents; air emissions and solid waste are mostly fuel related. Reason is that the manufacturing of liquid detergents does not require the spray tower technology. It needs to be recognized that the new generation of compact powders which is already introduced to the German market does not require spray tower technology anymore. Therefore, energy demand air emissions and solid waste will be reduced significantly. No conclusions on the waterborne emissions from liquid detergent manufacturing is feasible due to process technology constraints. Packagings for liquid detergents require more plastics while powder dergents use more paper/cardboard for their packagings.