Procedimientos recomendados en el sistema SACADA

After data verification, the data gathered was compiled to construct a model of all the processes involved using the SimaPro 7.1 process modelling software. SimaPro (Pré Consultants, 2008) is a professional tool to collect, analyse and monitor the environmental performance of products and services. It is a tool with which it is easy to model and analyse complex life cycles in a systematic and transparent way, following the ISO 14040 series recommendations.

SimaPro comes with several inventory databases with thousands of processes, plus the most important impact assessment methods. Pré Consultants is also reseller of the Ecoinvent database (Ecoinvent, 2007), an up-to-date LCI database with 2500+ processes. This database has only limited versions of Australian processes. The most useful part of the Australianised database which is supplied with SimaPro is the sources of energy (e.g. electricity generation – all by State, and other fuels used in Australia). The SimaPro database was also a source of models for the common processes, such as transport modes and imported products such as adhesives, which were modified to suit Australian usage. SimaPro is thus essentially a modelling tool with which to create the various process models using specifically created models for the processes for which data was collected. The availability of impact measures such as CO2-e and Eco-indicator 99 minimised the effort in

producing results. The role of SimaPro in this project was similar to using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to develop models and input your own individual data. A typical SimaPro process map is shown in Figure 14.

Input tables were constructed for each significant step (as a unit process) of the production process. Modelling results were checked and transferred for report compilation and was followed by an audit as well as a sensitivity analysis.

From the visits to forests, mills and plants, comprehensive process maps were drawn up and then related individual processes were aggregated into a small number of processes which became the unit processes required of a LCI. The selection of unit processes was based on clearly defined steps in the process of producing the products and influenced by the availability of data (or lack of being able to disaggregate available data).

These unit processes were modelled as an integrated SimaPro model to calculate the resulting inputs and outputs per functional unit (e.g. cubic metre of log or sawn timber or square metre of a plywood or particleboard) including all raw materials from growing forests and common processes such as Australian energy sources.

All data inputs were gathered, searching for primary data first, then supplemented with secondary data and finally estimates calculated or otherwise determined from other available sources. All of the data was then modelled together across the defined scope and system boundaries (physical and temporal).

The data inputs and outputs per functional unit were averaged for input into models developed in the SimaPro life cycle assessment software (Pré Consultants, 2008) for all products except logs from forests where seven individual models were created.

Table 16 Forestry and wood products contained in the LCI database

Product Reference unit

Forestry

Sawlog, Large, Softwood, At Mill m3

Sawlog, Medium, Softwood, At Mill m3

Sawlog, Small, Softwood, At Mill m3

Woodchips, Softwood, At Mill t

Average log, Softwood, At Mill m3

Veneer log, Hardwood, At Mill m3

Sawlog, High Quality, Hardwood, At Mill m3 Sawlog, Low Quality, Hardwood, At Mill m3

Average log, Hardwood, At Mill m3

Sawn timber

Timber, Softwood, Rough sawn green m3

Timber, Softwood, Planed green m3

Timber, Softwood, Rough sawn kiln dried m3 Timber, Softwood, Planed kiln dried m3 Timber, Hardwood, Rough sawn green m3

Timber, Hardwood, Planed green m3

Timber, Hardwood, Rough sawn kiln dried m3 Timber, Hardwood, Planed kiln dried m3

Plywood and LVL Plywood, Interior, 9mm m2 Plywood, Interior, 12.5mm m2 Plywood, Exterior, 6.5mm m2 Plywood, Exterior, 12mm m2 Plywood, Exterior, 19mm m2 Plywood, Formply, 17mm m2 Plywood, Formply, 19mm m2 Plywood, Structural, 12.5mm m2 Plywood, Structural, 18mm m2 Plywood, Structural, 19mm m2

Plywood, Flooring, T&G 12mm m2

Plywood, Flooring, T&G 15mm m2

Plywood, Flooring, T&G 17mm m2

LVL, 90x36mm m2 LVL, 200x45mm m2 LVL, 240x63mm m2 Particleboard and MDF Particleboard, 9mm m2 Particleboard, 16mm m2

Particleboard, 16mm moisture resistant (MR) m2 Particleboard, 25mm moisture resistant (MR) m2 Particleboard, 33mm moisture resistant (MR) m2

Particleboard, 19mm flooring m2 Particleboard, 19mm decorated m2 MDF, 12mm m2 MDF, 18mm m2 MDF, 25mm m2 MDF, 12mm decorated m2 MDF, 18mm decorated m2 MDF, 25mm decorated m2

Glulam and Engineered I-beams

Glulam m3

I-beam, 200x70mm OSB web & pine flanges Lm I-beam, 280x70mm OSB web & pine flanges Lm I-beam, 360x70mm OSB web & pine flanges Lm I-beam, 240x63mm ply web and LVL flanges Lm I-beam, 300x63mm ply web and LVL flanges Lm I-beam, 360x63mm ply web and LVL flanges Lm