ENG608: A Comprehensive PLCA Report on Washing Machines

This report presents a product life cycle assessment (PLCA) of washing machines, examining their environmental impact from cradle to grave. The study identifies key contributors to environmental burdens across different phases, including production, transportation, use (water, electricity, detergents), and end-of-life disposal. The report analyzes factors such as electricity consumption, wastewater generation, water temperature, and resource consumption, assessing their effects on eutrophication potential, greenhouse gases, and volatile organic compounds. It highlights main hotspots and discusses the usefulness of LCA as a tool for improving sustainability in the washing machine industry, considering aspects like power from PV. The assessment includes a goal and scope definition, functional unit, system boundary, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation, ultimately providing conclusions and recommendations for future work. This student contributed solution is available on Desklib, where students can access a variety of study resources.

Running head: ENG608 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
ENG608 Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

1ENG608 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Abstract
The following report mainly deals with Product Life Cycle Assessment (PLCA) of Washing
Machines. LCA is a well-known tool which is needed for carrying out an evaluation on
environmental impact of a given product or process. It is required for defining a life cycle period
by making use of set of principles and guidance for some common products like washing
machine. Making use of LCA helps in carrying out environmental aspect can provide an idea
with respect to environmental aspect of products.

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Table of Contents
Section 1..............................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................3
Aim and Objectives.........................................................................................................3
Goal and Scope................................................................................................................3
Functional Unit................................................................................................................3
System boundary.............................................................................................................3
Section 2..............................................................................................................................3
Inventory Analysis...........................................................................................................3
Material............................................................................................................................3
Manufacturer....................................................................................................................3
Use...................................................................................................................................3
Disposal / Recycle...........................................................................................................3
Section 3..............................................................................................................................3
Impact assessment...........................................................................................................3
Section 4..............................................................................................................................3
Interpretation....................................................................................................................3
Section 5..............................................................................................................................4
Finding.............................................................................................................................4
Section 6..............................................................................................................................4
Conclusion and Recommendation for Future Work........................................................4
References............................................................................................................................4

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Section 1
Introduction
The primary goal of this report is all about examining the present variety of washing
machines in the market. It is mainly required for selecting the environment-friendly devices and
carrying out a PLCA on it (Yuan, Zhang & Liu, 2016). It is primarily done to quickly achieve a
baseline figure. The following report comprises of a prototyped design of a new variety of
product or service which is compared with the shelf model.
Aim and Objectives
The primary objective of the report is to analyze a wide range of washing machines in the
appropriate market group (Kjaer et al., 2016). Following this, a choice is made concerning the
environment-friendly devices along with the streamlining of life cycle assessment. A proper
design of a new product and services are given in the current scenario for understanding (Buxel,
Esenduran & Griffin,2015). It focuses on the shelf model for the given raw material, energy, end
of life and last usage of water.
Goal and Scope
The central notion of the report is all about having a proper kind of understanding
concerning the investigation of washing cloth (Gnoni et al., 2017). The analysis has been done
concerning the home-based and laundromat along with understanding the benefits. The
alternative of making life cycle assessment is all about analyzing both the economic cost along
with its impact on the environment.

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Methodological Approach
Three tasks will be carried out in this section as follows:
 Listing the effect of environment on the current usage of the washing machine with the
Product, Use and End of Life
 The present optimal life cycle of the washing machine
 Decisions for making use of the recycling or reusing of old washing machine or buying a
new one
The answer to the first question can be calculated by making use of 5 kg capacity of the
washing machine. From the collected data, a new system is proposed which has the ability to
reduce the overall impact on the environment.
The answer to the second question can be denoted as the making use of the machine for
determining the present life span of the washing machine. It is mainly done so that the washing
machine can be made possible for realizing the overall efficiency gains.
The answer to the third question concerns about the environmental impact of the overall
effect of a particular product. After that it is compared with an old machine and decision has
been made whether the new machine production cost is over the loss of older machine.
Functional Unit
A specific Cloth Washer is often seen to be consuming a lot of water, subsequently
making use of a massive number of resources (Barbosa et al., 2016). Depending on the value of
energy consumed and materials of the cloth, it can be considered that the colossal amount of
water and proper equipment and resources are the primary functional units for the devices

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(Hughes, 2017). The clothes washing services which are provided by laundromat can easily
result in improving sustainability.
Functional Unit for the present case scenario can be described with the washing habits of
the devices considering a three-person for household in the year of 2020, the wash load of
average is found to be 7 kg, if washing is carried out 175 times a year. The fact should be
considered that each wash, 67 grams of detergents is required, and the summation of machines
that is used in Japan is 3.5 million.
Clean and Green Business as
Usual
Worst Case
Wash Load 12.25 7.00 3.36 Kg/Wash
Frequency 100 175 365 Number of
Washes/ Year
Soap Used 3.3 12 47 Kg/Year
Sharing of
Machine
0.08 0.23 1.20 Mio Machine/
Household/Year
Lifetime 25 15 5 Years
Energy
Consumption
35 82 172 KWh/Year
Water
Consumption
700 12250 25550 L/ Year
Fig 1: Scenario in Numbers

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(Source: McLaren et al., 2016)
System boundary
In the given figure below, the overall life-cycle of washing machine has been provided.
The fact should consider that the system boundaries are an essential factor in the given scenario
(Salvia et al., 2016). Making use of the stages and the cradles for gate needed for the
manufacturing stage for this washing machine is provided in the report. This report is focused on
the use of various material resources and the consumption of water.
Fig 2: System boundary of Washing Machine

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(Source: Bao et al., 2017)
The functional unit has been selected for analyzing the focus on the number of wash
cycles for six families in the given year (Hischier et al., 2015). Considering the case of a
laundromat, it can be suggested that around six families can share the use of the washing
machine. There are specified number of home-based alternatives for a total of six washing
machines which are required for replacing a single device. Thus, it can be considered that six
washing machines can be required for repairing a single device (McLaren et al., 2016). The
entire consideration of the case mainly depends collecting the information depending on a large
number of activities.
Section 2
Inventory Analysis
In understanding the mechanism of cloth washing alternatives, it is crucial for obtaining
the required information (Domingo & Rio, 2016). It focuses on obtaining required information
for the materials, cost and usage of water in the washing machine. There are large numbers of
elements needed for the manufacturing of a washing machine (Kubler et al., 2015). At the cost of
a direct standpoint, the beginning point is all about understanding the mechanism, maintenance
cost, and vending cost. In the case of home washing machines, the overall cost of energy usage
of water is considered to be a public option.
The total weight of the new machine of ADORA is found to be 70.10 kg while the weight
of the older washing machines was found to be 76.60 kg each. Concerning the significance of
different devices, different kind of material functions of apparatus come up with similarities.
Apart from this, there are some differences in it — the metallic parts of two washing machine

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that is steel and aluminium along with plastics. The most significant difference encountered is
the concern of two models that are needed for stabilisation of the two systems. Apart from this,
the weight of the printed board by making use of small is considered to be four times of the new
machines in comparison to old devices.
Fig 3: The Inventory analysis of washing machine
(Source: Joachimiak-Lechman et al., 2017)
Material
Concerning the usage of the equipment of washing machines, steel variations are used as
the raw material in the manufacturing of washing machines (Joachimiak-Lechman et al., 2017).
The overall recycling rate of this material is considered to be a bit high. The total extraction of
clothing items is still left behind. Although the rate of recycling of the metals is supposed to be

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very high, mining of the pollutants for the surrounding areas can be easily contaminated by both
waste ores and acids (Yacout, El-Kawi & Hassouna, 2016).
Manufacturer
Billing of materials (BOM) is mainly needed for establishing a proper kind of energy
which is required in the production stage of this particular washing Machine (Tecchio et al.,
2017). There is a large number of materials needed by the manufacturer after understanding the
washing machine as it is mostly comprised of metal parts. The overall consumption of energy for
the washing machine is around 996 MJ (Buxel, Esenduran & Griffin, 2015). This particular
value is not included in the manufacturer of this printed circuit board (PCB) and LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display).
Use
The Use phase of the washing machine is considered to be energy consumption stage of
life. It mainly tends to operate in the frequency of the operation of these machines along the
utilization of detergents (Gnoni et al., 2017). This particular use phase can impact on the use of
water and energy, potential of global warming and the depletion of fuel. Textiles can be easily
used from different fabrics and results in different type of laundry. Majority of laundry can be
easily washed by making use of a cotton-based program. Wash temperature can have a
substantial influence on the overall consumption of energy (Barbosa et al., 2016). If the
temperature is high, then more amount of energy is needed. Dirt can thus be easily removed from
the clothes. Considering this fact, the components of detergents used also affects the lifecycle of
clothes. It helps in understanding the analysis for the various types of chemicals involved
(Joachimiak-Lechman et al., 2017). There is a lack of any suggestion for utilizing a particular

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detergent. In most of the cases, user manual can be given to the user for using the washing
machine.
Disposal / Recycle
As per WEEE, it can regulate the needs of recycling which aims to provide good kind of
proportion for white clothes (Yacout, El-Kawi & Hassouna, 2016). It can be easily recycled for
the recycling of material regularly. The majority of the washing machine for which the recycling
of electricity around 1.75 KWh. The unused 15% of the electricity can be used for shredding
which is filled in this landfill (McLaren et al., 2016). The overall amount of recycling material
can be taken into account for this washing machine in the last stage.
Section 3
Impact assessment
Use phase tends to affect the most substantial value of impact on the lifecycle of this
washing machine. It can be seen in the various stages of the environment based categories like a
generation of solid waste at the end of life (Hughes, 2017). Both the production of the washing
process and its assembly can quickly be creating a tremendous amount of impact on global
warming, depletion of resources and lastly oxidation. In most of the cases, there can be a
production of ferrous and non-ferrous metal.
Section 4
Interpretation

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From the above discussion, it can be analyzed that the implementation of a new kind of
product can easily result in decreasing both energy and water. A large number of items are not
mentioned in the design phase because it can result in a tremendous amount of improvement
which is not justified (Salvia et al., 2016). After analyzing the upgrades, a new kind of CED can
be used for creating products. After the post-calculation, the fact can be taken into account that
for achieving proper design and use of energy manufacturing (Bao et al., 2017). The overall
energy improvement implied after the manufacturing can be found to be around 9%. It is mainly
needed for adding material like steel or even plastics.
Section 5
Finding
The four basic elements of LCA of washing machine are
 Goal and definition
 Inventory Analysis (Model of Product inflow and outflow)
 Impact assessment (An evaluation of environmental inflow and outflow)
 Interpretation
LCA can provide a large number of benefits like
 Innovation
 Cost Saving
 Internal alignment.
 Regulatory preparedness.
 Reputation of Corporate.

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 Reducing Risk.
There are large number of limitation of using LCA like
 Uncertainties- three categories of uncertainties related to LCA are
 Parameter Uncertainty.
 Scenario Uncertainty.
 Model Uncertainty.
There are large number of Strength of LCA Model like
 LCA is required for carrying out environmental aspect of product system like
Washing Machine that ranges acquisition of material to its disposal.
 LCA is known to be comprehensive in nature with respect to human intervention
and related environmental issues
 LCA is needed for avoiding any kind of issues with respect to problem shifting
from one of the stage in lifecycle.
There is some weakness of LCA Model like
 LCA is considered to be complex and data intensive in nature.
 LCA does not look for any kind of rebound of social effects.
 There is no single kind of method of conducting LCA.
There are large number of areas that require improvement in LCA (Life-Cycle
Assessment) like
 LCA should aim to follow the general principles and guidelines as per 14000
series of given ISO standard.

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 The inventory phase should include the given process in the system boundary.
 All the information related to LCA should be transparent in nature.
Section 6
Conclusion and Recommendation for Future Work
From the analysis above, it can be quickly concluded that this report comprises analyzing
the product development lifecycle of a washing machine. It tends to have the most substantial
proportion for this environmental impact along with the use of apparatus and detergents. The
effect of the Life cycle tends to create a massive amount of influence on water consumption of
the washing machine. It tends to provide a considerable amount of energy for the required area
by improving the overall space by changing behaviour. It is mainly needed for reducing the total
contribution of global warming by understanding household behaviour. The overall result of the
new design can thereby provide a new kind of idea at the use phase of the washing machine. It is
mainly needed for saving consumer money along with the improvement of the present
environment. In the case of implementing a new design consists a practical part can be
implemented by washing machine manufacturer.

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References
Bao, W., Gong, R. H., Ding, X., Xue, Y., Li, P., & Fan, W. (2017). Optimizing a laundering
program for textiles in a front-loading washing machine and saving energy. Journal of
cleaner production, 148, 415-421.
Barbosa, J., Leitão, P., Trentesaux, D., Colombo, A. W., & Karnouskos, S. (2016, July). Cross
benefits from cyber-physical systems and intelligent products for future smart industries.
In Industrial Informatics (INDIN), 2016 IEEE 14th International Conference on (pp.
504-509). IEEE.
Buxel, H., Esenduran, G., & Griffin, S. (2015). Strategic sustainability: Creating business value
with life cycle analysis. Business Horizons, 58(1), 109-122.
Domingo, L., & Rio, M. (2016). Linking use stage life cycle inventories with product design
models of usage. Procedia CIRP, 48, 342-347.
Favi, C., Germani, M., Mandolini, M., & Marconi, M. (2016). PLANTLCA: A lifecycle
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Gnoni, M. G., Mossa, G., Mummolo, G., Tornese, F., & Verriello, R. (2017). Supporting circular
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Hischier, R., Nowack, B., Gottschalk, F., Hincapie, I., Steinfeldt, M., & Som, C. (2015). Life
cycle assessment of façade coating systems containing manufactured
nanomaterials. Journal of nanoparticle research, 17(2), 68.

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Hughes, R. (2017). The EU Circular Economy package–life cycle thinking to life cycle
law?. Procedia CIRP, 61, 10-16.
Joachimiak-Lechman, K., Lewandowska, A., Strózik, T., & Strózik, D. (2017). Environmental
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Yuan, Z., Zhang, Y., & Liu, X. (2016). Life cycle assessment of horizontal-axis washing
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