A life cycle analysis approach to evaluate sustainable strategies in the furniture manufacturing industry

Md Nazmus Sakib; Golam Kabir; Syed Mithun Ali

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167611

A life cycle analysis approach to evaluate sustainable strategies in the furniture manufacturing industry

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 10:907:167611. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167611. Epub 2023 Oct 12.

Authors

Md Nazmus Sakib¹, Golam Kabir², Syed Mithun Ali³

Affiliations

¹ Industrial Systems Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada.
² Industrial Systems Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada. Electronic address: golam.kabir@uregina.ca.
³ Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mithun@ipe.buet.ac.bd.

PMID: 37832673
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167611

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) plays a crucial role in sustainability evaluations and impact assessments, especially in the realm of eco-design and environmentally friendly manufacturing in the furniture sector. However, the existing research tends to focus on specific stages of the furniture life cycle and leaves a substantial portion of the environmental impact unaddressed, including resource consumption, waste generation, and emissions throughout the entire value chain. This research presents a comprehensive LCA of the production and distribution process of a Pinewood Table, aiming to evaluate and improve its environmental sustainability. Six different production and distribution models were analyzed, including a base model strategy and five alternative strategies incorporating various sustainable policies. The study assessed the environmental impacts at each stage, considering resource consumption, emissions, and waste generation. Additionally, a cost analysis was conducted to identify the most economically viable sustainable option among the alternative strategies. Among the six production and distribution models studied, Alternative Strategy 5 demonstrates the lowest Climate Change CO₂ equivalent emissions, with Alternative Strategy 2 following closely. This outcome underscores the importance of reducing forklift usage and transitioning to photovoltaic cells, resulting in a 50 % reduction in carbon emissions during CNC machining processes. Results also indicated that the collaborated strategy exhibited the highest reduction in Climate Change CO₂ eq which is 65.4 %, highlighting the significance of reducing forklift usage and transitioning to photovoltaic cells for electricity generation. Finally, a sustainable option where all the strategies were collaborated is recommended for practitioners, emphasizing the significance of implementing eco-friendly practices to enhance the overall sustainability of pinewood table production and distribution. This research contributes to literature by providing essential information and guidance for industry stakeholders and policymakers to make informed decision-making and promote sustainable practices within the furniture manufacturing sector.

Keywords: Cost analysis; Furniture industry; Life cycle assessment; Sustainable strategies.