Introducing Low Carbon Cement in Cuba - A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Study

摘要

The main goal of the paper is to carry out the first implementation of a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) in Cuba throughout a case of study related with the introduction of Low Carbon Cement in the country. First, an adapted model to assess economic, social and environmental impacts is developed according to cement sector conditions in the island. Secondly, the "adapted LCSA" is carried out comprising a life cycle assessment (LCA), an economic life cycle analysis (EcLCA) and a social-LCA (S-LCA). The environmental assessment includes impacts on climate change, particulate matter emission, fossil fuel depletion among others. The systems explored include all processes from cradle to industry 'gate'. The cements assessed were Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Blended Cement (PPC) and Low Carbon Cement (LC~3). For the EcLCA and S-LCA, indicators adjusted to Cuban conditions are proposed and assessed, using midpoint and endpoint levels to match with LCA methodology. Economically, conventional Portland cement presents the highest costs per ton, followed by PPC and LC~3. In the S-LCA, LC~3 introduction reduces sensitive social impacts in relation with different stakeholders: workers, local community and society. Environmentally, main impact, at global scale, is climate change and, at local level, particulate matter emission. Integrating the results from LCA, S-LCA and EcLCA shows a significant reduction on the climate and social impacts per cost when producing LC~3. Finally, results show that LC~3 introduction is the best option to meet sustainability goals of the cement industry in Cuba and LCSA can be considered a valuable tool to support decision-making processes oriented to sustainability.