Other

Figure 1: Environmental impacts of particleboard
coated with melamine impregnated paper along its
life cycle (impacts from production modules A1-A3
= 100 %; for illustrative purposes, the biogenic
carbon included in the GWP is documented
separately)
Figure 2 illustrates that the biogenic carbon stored in
the particleboard coated with melamine impregnated
paper, expressed as CO
2
equivalent, is higher than the
CO
2
emissions from fossil sources, leading to a
negative GWP for the production module A1A3. The
potential substitution effect in module D almost entirely
offsets the GHG emissions during the production
phase (module A1A3).
Figure 2: Carbon footprint of particleboard coated
with melamine impregnated paper
The GWP is dominated by CO
2
emissions and
removals.
The ozone layer depletion potential (ODP) is quantified
based on the emissions of gases that can destroy
stratospheric ozone.
The ODP is caused mainly by emissions of Halon
1211, which are associated with the production and
transport of natural gas. For uncoated particleboard,
around 75 % of the ODP are associated with the use of
natural gas in upstream processes for the production
of UF/MUF resins.
For particleboard coated with melamine impregnated
paper, 62 % of the ODP are caused during the board
production, 35 % are associated with the production of
the melamine impregnated paper.
The acidification potential (AP) is created with the
transformation of airborne emissions into acids, which
among other can reduce soil fertility.
Roughly, 35 % of the AP are caused by the upstream
processes for the production of UF/MUF resins used in
the production of the uncoated particleboard. Electricity
generation is responsible for about 20 % of the AP, the
transport of raw materials for about 10 %. About 10 %
are caused by the onsite combustion processes for
the production of heat and, in some plants, for the
generation of electricity.
For particleboard coated with melamine impregnated
paper, 72 % of the AP are caused during the board
production, 22 % are associated with the production of
the melamine impregnated paper.
The AP is caused in comparable shares by emissions
of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide.
The eutrophication potential (EP) quantifies the
accumulation of nutrients in soils and watersheds,
which can cause increased growth of algae and shifts
in species composition.
The EP of the uncoated particleboard is caused by
upstream processes for the production of UF/MUF
resins (about 40 %), onsite combustion processes
(about 15 %) and by the transport of raw materials
(about 15 %); electricity generation is responsible for
another 10 % of the EP.
For particleboard coated with melamine impregnated
paper, 70 % of the EP are caused during the board
production, 25 % are associated with the production of
the melamine impregnated paper.
The EP is caused mainly by airborne emissions of
ammonia and nitrogen oxides as well as
phosphate/phosphorus emissions into the
groundwater.
The photochemical oxidation potential (POCP)
assesses the contribution of airborne emissions that
contribute to summer ozone creation.
For the uncoated particleboard, the upstream
processes of production of UF and MUF resins cause
45 % of the POCP; another 25 % of the POCP are
associated with onsite emissions from combustion
processes (CO, SO
2
) and from the gluing system
(formaldehyde).
For particleboard coated with melamine impregnated
paper, 75 % of the POCP are caused during the board
production, 22 % are associated with the production of
the melamine impregnated paper.
The abiotic resource depletion potential of fossil
resources (ADP fossil) assesses the use of scarce
fossil resources such a natural gas or crude oil.
The ADP (fossil resources) is caused mainly by the
consumption of natural gas and crude oil for the
production of the UF/MUF resins and – to a much
smaller extend – for the generation of electricity.
The abiotic resource depletion potential for mineral
resource (ADP elements) assesses the use of scarce
mineral resources such as ores and other mineral raw
materials.
The ADP (elements) is caused almost completely by
infrastructure processes, such as the buildings
required for the production of UF/MUF resins (about 80
%); the main resources contributing to the ADP
(elements) are gold and copper.
The main use of renewable primary energy is the
heating value of the wood in particleboard; this amount
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Environmental Product Declaration – Particleboard, coated