Life Cycle Analysis of Bulk-Handling Equipment(BHE): Identifying Key Strategies for Carbon Footprint Reduction

Bulk handling equipments (BHE) are critical to industrial manufacturing processes, especially in the processing of large amount of bulk materials in the construction and mining industries. These machinery consume high amount of raw material and requires significant amount of energy during operation. However, their contribution to climate change has been seldomly evaluated. This study presents a comprehensive insight into the carbon footprint of BHE. The machinery being analyzed is a crusher, a specialized BHE used in the crushing of ores and other earth materials. The study utilized an existing case study and an integrated approach based on material flow analysis and life cycle assessment to quantify both the material content and the carbon footprint of the crusher. The EN 15804+ A2 (Adapted) impact assessment method was used to evaluate the global warming potential of the crusher over its life cycle on a cradle-to-grave basis. The results showed that the carbon footprint of the crusher is substantial, predominantly emanating from high energy consumption during productive and non-productive operational periods in the use phase. However, reducing non-productive periods and opting for more efficient motors could significantly reduce the use phase impact, and subsequently the overall carbon footprint of the crusher. On this basis, a proposed framework for carbon footprint reduction in the use phase is presented in this study.