Life cycle assessment of the car tire with eco indicator 99 methodology

Abstract

Today automotive industry is a driving force for development of national economics so number of vehicle increases expeditiously. As an integral part of the vehicle, tires are generated annually in large amount all over the world. Growth of the car tires production affect environment and also the growth of non-degradable waste which has a large energetic potential but which currently is not fully used. The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact of car tire during its whole life cycle and to identify activities in life-cycle phases that can be improved. That analysis can be achieved throughout its service life, from the acquisition of the raw materials through to the recycling of the worn tire, because the tire constantly interacts with the environment. Approaches to effectively reducing the negative environmental impact can be demonstrated only on the basis of detailed knowledge of this interaction.This is why a life cycle assessment quantifies the material and energy flows in the different stages of a tire’s life cycle (life cycle inventory analysis) and describes the interaction with the environment (impact assessment and interpretation). In this study, environmental impact is evaluated by using methodology Eco Indicator 99, which is one of the most widely used impact assessment methods in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).