CRADLE to GRAVE ANALYSIS

COMPARATIVE STUDY

between

Paraffin wax tea light candle

&

Soy wax tea light candle

Meera VaidyaLife Cycle Analysis

Candidate M.S. Sustainable Environmental Systems

February 17, 2015

Image reference: http://images.clipartpanda.com/candle-flame-art-gold-flame-hi.png

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

GOALS & DEFINITIONS

SCOPE OF ANALYSIS

CALCULATIONS

CRADLE TO GRAVE

ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

Paraffin Wax

Tea light candleComponents:

Paraffin wax

Thread

Aluminum cup

Aluminum disk

Soy Wax

Tea light candleComponents:

Soy wax

Thread

Polycarbonate cup

Aluminum disk

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

GOALS & DEFINITIONS

• EDUCATIONAL

• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF

PARAFFIN WAX VERSUS SOY WAX

• USE OF ALUMINUM TRAY AS COMPARED TO PLASTIC TRAY

• OVERALL USABILITY PERIOD OF EITHER CANDLES

PURPOSE

FOCUS

• EDUCATIONAL

• COMPARITIVE ANLYSIS

AUDIENCE

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

SCOPE OF ANALYSIS

FUNCTIONAL UNIT

Function of candle measured in

HOURS BURNT

Functional unit for tea light

candles = 12 hours of tea light use

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

• Material weights are calculated using volume and densities as below:• Paraffin Wax – 900 kg/m3 – 0.9 g/cm3

• Aluminum – 2.7 g/cm3

• Volume of thread is ignored in calculating wax volume

• Thickness of aluminum tray, cup and plastic cup is measured approximately

• Assumed the wax and thread to be burnt entirely with no residue

• No recycling / reuse was assumed –All of the remaining part of candle is assumed to go to landfill through trash

• Soy wax - 0.9 g/ml

• Polycarbonate plastic - 1.21 g/cm3WEIGHT

VOLUME

USE

END

SCOPE OF ANALYSIS

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

CALCULATIONS

SOY WAX CANDLE PARAFFIN WAX CANDLE

Paraffin wax weight = 0.9 * 8.6875 = 7.819 g

Thread weight = 9 – 1.135 – 7.819 = 0.046 g

Aluminum disk weight = 2.7 * 0.149 = 0.402 g

Aluminum tray weight = 2.7 * 0.271 = 0.733 g

Total Aluminum weight =0.733 + 0.402 =1.135 g

Manufacturing to Distribution = 14,492 X 0.009 =

130.428 km kg

Distribution to Shop =536 X 0.009 =4.834 km kg

Shop to Home = 1.6 X 0.009 = 0.0144 km kg

Home to Landfill = 10.5 X 0.0015 = 0.0142 km kg

Soy wax weight = 0.9 * 14.47917 = 13.031 g

Thread is 7/8th of Paraffin wax candle

Thread weight = 8/7 * 0.046 = 0.056 g

Aluminum disk weight = 2.7 * 0.149 = 0.402 g

Manufa. to cargo = 265.54 km * 0.017 kg = 4.514 km

kg

Air distance = 3866.127 km * 0.017 kg = 65.724 km kg

Cargo to home = 33.957 km * 0.017 kg = 0.577 km kg

Home to Landfill = 10.5 X 0.0015 = 0.0142 km kg

Plastic tray weight = 1.21 * 2.8 = 3.388 g

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

CRADLE TO GRAVE

METHODOLOGY

RAW MATERIALS MANUFACTURING DISTRIBUTION END OF LIFE

Grouped under

individual material

Image references:

http://www.seeitmarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Crude_Oil.jpg

http://www.lscmetalfab.com/images/sheet_plat_img2_large.jpg

http://www.bigdata-madesimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/distribution_2.jpg

http://www.corvallisadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Landfill-For-Interior.jpg

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

SOY WAX – Weight = 13.031 g

• Raw materials – Soybeans farming

• Manufacturing – Soy oil extraction

PLASTIC TRAY – Weight = 3.388 g

• Raw materials – Oil to material processing for plastic

• Manufacturing - Injection molding

ALUMINUM DISK – Weight = 0.402 g

• Raw materials –Aluminum extraction

• Manufacturing – Sheet rolling

THREAD – Weight = 0.056 g

• Cotton and Yarn production

DISTRIBUTION – bought via Amazon.com

• Road transportation – Manufacturing to shipping to home

• Air transportation – Shipping by USPS priority mail

END OF LIFE – to landfill

• Transportation from home to landfill

• Landfill

SOY WAX CANDLE

PARAFFIN WAX – Weight = 7.819 g

• Raw materials – Oil extraction

• Manufacturing – Paraffin extraction

ALUMINUM TRAY & DISK – Weight = 1.135 g

• Raw materials – Oil to material processing for plastic

• Manufacturing - Injection molding

THREAD – Weight = 0.046 g

• Cotton and Yarn production

DISTRIBUTION – bought at Dollar Store

• Road transportation – Manufacturing to shipping to home

• Air transportation – Shipping by USPS priority mail

END OF LIFE – to landfill

• Transportation from home to landfill

• Landfill

PARAFFIN WAX CANDLE

CRADLE TO GRAVE

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

ANALYSIS

COMPLETE CANDLES IMPACTS (FU)

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

WAX IMPACTS (FU)

ANALYSIS

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

SOY WAX IMPACTS (FU)

ANALYSIS

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

CANDLE TRAYS IMPACTS (FU)

ANALYSIS

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

DISTRIBUTION IMPACTS (FU)

ANALYSIS

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

CONCLUSION

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS (FU)

WAX CANDLE TRAY DISTRIBUTION

PARAFFIN WAX TEALIGHT in

PLASTIC TRAY

MEERA VAIDYACradle to Grave – Tea light candles

THANK YOU

ANALYSIS