Life cycle analysis of the environmental impact of different cabinet designs

The design of refrigerated display cabinets greatly affects their

subsequent environmental impact. To control this impact, a designer must

primarily consider the operating efficiency of a cabinet. However, less

account is taken of the materials used to make the cabinet, nor the

construction techniques used. These both have a significant effect on the

environmental impact of different cabinets outside the use phase of their

life cycle. Initial construction impact, remanufacturability and

recyclability are all affected. Given the ubiquity of the display cabinet

in the retail sector, it is important to assess their lifetime impact in

toto. This is particularly so with the increasing implementation of the

WEEE directive in member states. Three typical refrigerated display

cabinets are examined in this paper, all offering the same function, but

manufactured with quite different constructions and materials. The mass of

materials in each cabinet was determined experimentally and the methods of

assembly examined. The stages in the life of each cabinet were then

modelled and life cycle analyses performed. To compare the efficiency of

the cabinets in terms of their environmental impact, the Eco Indicator

Points/litre of refrigerated space/day were determined in each case. When

combined with the energy performance (kWh/litre/day) this provides a good

measure of the overall environmental impact of a cabinet and a way of

choosing between different models that nominally provide the same

refrigeration function. Different end of life scenarios, and improvements

in the choice of materials, were also investigated depending on the type of

construction.