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Life Cycle Assessment of Ordinary Portland Cement Production in South Africa: Mid-Point and End-Point Approaches

Author

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  • Busola Dorcas Akintayo

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban, University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa)

  • Oludolapo Akanni Olanrewaju

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban, University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa)

  • Oludolapo Ibrahim Olanrewaju

    (Wellington School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
    Whitireia and Weltec/Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Wellington 6011, New Zealand)

Abstract

Several environmental impacts are associated with cement production, ranging from high greenhouse gas (GHG) levels to high energy consumption (fossil fuel and electricity) to high resource usage. Due to the growing demand for cement in the industry and limited studies in South Africa, it is essential to evaluate the environmental impact of cement production in the South African context. In this study, an analysis of the production model of South African (SA) cement plants was carried out to quantify its impacts and decipher how they consequently affect lives, resources, and the ecosystem. This study carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of cement using both the mid-point and end-point approaches of the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). This study carried out a cradle-to-gate analysis of 1 kg of cement produced in a typical SA plant. The result showed that for every 1 kg of cement produced, 0.993 CO 2 eq was emitted into the atmosphere; 98.8% was actual CO₂ emission, and its resultant effect was global warming, which causes changes in climatic conditions. Also, 1.6 kg of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) eq was emitted into the air and water, which caused high toxicity in these media, and for every 1 kg of cement produced, 0.139 kg of oil eq was produced, and its effect was seen in fossil resources’ scarcity. The end-point result showed that 55,404 was the potential number of human lives that could be endangered annually; 133 species had the potential to be endangered annually, and the effect of a potential scarcity of resources caused a total marginal price increase of ZAR 6.2 billion due to these damages. In conclusion, this study prescribed mitigation and adaptation strategies to counter these environmental impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Busola Dorcas Akintayo & Oludolapo Akanni Olanrewaju & Oludolapo Ibrahim Olanrewaju, 2024. "Life Cycle Assessment of Ordinary Portland Cement Production in South Africa: Mid-Point and End-Point Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:3001-:d:1369902
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael E. Mann & Raymond S. Bradley & Malcolm K. Hughes, 1998. "Global-scale temperature patterns and climate forcing over the past six centuries," Nature, Nature, vol. 392(6678), pages 779-787, April.
    2. Oluwafemi E. Ige & Oludolapo A. Olanrewaju, 2023. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Different Portland Cement Types in South Africa," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-20, July.
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