Life Cycle Assessment of Ball Bladder Production With and Without Recycled Rubbers

Background: Environmental issues such as global warming and ozone depletion are one of the most controversial concerns of scientists due to their several potential impacts on the earth as a result of long-term emission of greenhouse gases, mainly CH۴ and CO۲. Evidence of greenhouse gas emissions during rubber production provides important and useful data for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The present study aimed to reduce the emission rate of greenhouse gases in the ball bladder production process using natural rubber in combination with recycled rubber.Methods: In this regard, a LCA in SimaPro ۸.۰.۱ software using CML۲۰۰۱ method was conducted on data related to the resources, chemicals, raw materials and energy consumption during ball manufacturing in Tanin Peak Sabalan Factory, Ardabil, Iran.Results: Our findings revealed that the ball bladder with natural rubber had the largest contribution to the ozone layer depletion (۳۹.۲%) and global warming (۴۱.۱%), while the bladder with both recycled and natural rubbers had an impact of ۲۷.۹% and ۲۹.۵%, respectively.Conclusion: In conclusion, the ball bladder with both recycled and natural rubbers is less eco-destructive than that the bladder with only natural rubber.

Keywords:

life cycle assessment , Natural rubber , Recycled Rubber , Ball Construction , SimaPro Software