Avaliação do ciclo de vida: um estudo de caso sobre compósito à base de plástico reciclável e endocarpo de tucumã

Abstract

Currently, there is a certain urgency related to environmental management issues, since several scientific studies point to an imminent shortage of non-renewable natural resources due to the intense and irresponsible exploitation for the environmental metabolism to regenerate, in addition to the rising generation of solid waste that are not returnable to ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the way humanity consumes, manufactures and disposes its products, these processes must take place in a sustainable way, since each product generates an impact on the environment. This is done through the adoption of effective tools that adhere to the product's life cycle as a cyclical process, so it is possible to make changes so that this impact on the environment is reduced. For this reason, this work aims to present the Life Cycle Assessment as an instrument of this change through its application according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. In addition, to present a methodology for applying this analysis in the production of plastic wood based on recyclable plastic and Tucumã endocarp (Astrocaryum sp.) presenting its stages, how the methodology for its application is given and how it is possible to achieve improvements in processes and products through its use, looking throught cradle-to-gate approach that begins with natural resources extraction until the composite production.