Investigating the ecological footprint of the paper production process based on the life cycle assessment approach (Case study: Persia Golestan Paper Factory)
Subject Areas : Environmental impact assessment
Shaghayegh Ebrahimi
1
,
seyedhamed mirkarimi
2
,
Sepideh Saeidi
3
*
,
Fatemeh Hashemi
4
1 - MSc student of Environmental Planning, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran
2 - professor of environmental sciences Associate
3 -
4 - Assistant Professor of Agroecology, Arhus University, Tjele, Denmark
Keywords: Ecological Footprint, Greenhouse Gas Footprint, Life Cycle Assessment, SimaPro, Persia Golestan Paper Factory,
Abstract :
|
Paper production, due to the consumption of resources such as water, minerals, and fossil fuels, requires a comprehensive assessment of its environmental impacts. Conducting case studies in domestic industries, such as the Golestan Persia Paper Factory, provides practical insights for sustainable production and evidence-based decision-making. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the white top liner paper production process was performed at the Golestan Persia Paper Factory in Golestan Province, with the aim of evaluating environmental impacts in accordance with ISO 14040 standards. The system boundary was defined as gate-to-gate, and the functional unit was one ton of paper. SimaPro software (version 9.0.0.35) was used to assess environmental impacts, applying the EF and GHG methods to evaluate ecological footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, respectively. The results indicated that the ecological footprint of the paper production process was −7.3 Pt, while the greenhouse gas emissions amounted to −11.1 kg CO₂-equivalent. Among all process inputs, white wastepaper and brown cardboard contributed most positively to reducing impacts, whereas calcium carbonate had the highest negative contribution. Substituting raw materials with more environmentally friendly alternatives and employing cleaner energy sources can enhance the environmental compatibility of the paper production process. This study highlights that life cycle assessment can serve as a valuable tool for managerial decision-making and environmental policymaking within the paper manufacturing industry. |
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