Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Flax-Based Green Composite Product Fabricated by Injection Moulding Process

The life cycle assessment (LCA) is an important tool to determine the effect of a product's life cycle on the environment during the life span of the product. The application of synthetic fibre or synthetic polymer-based composites has several problems related to disposal and recycling. The issues related to the materials for developing products and processes can be assessed by life cycle assessment quite accurately. In this study, the life cycle assessment of a flax/PLA green composite-based product fabricated by the injection moulding process was evaluated. LCA of the green composite of flax/PLA was compared with flax/PP-based partially biodegradable composite. Both flax/PLA and flax/PP composite-based products were developed by considering fibre loading of 10%., 20%, and 30% (wt. %) and 4 mm fibre length. The injection parameters considered to develop the products were injection pressure of 90 bars, injection speed of 60 mm/sec, and injection temperature of 165°C. The eco-properties of the chosen materials (PLA, PP, and flax fibre) like embodied energy Hm(MJ/kg) and CO2 footprint were selected from the material profile of the life cycle assessment. The different phases of the life cycle of the developed product were estimated by evaluating the energy (MJ) and CO2 emission.