35d4884b-e15d-453c-8f61-5090e273678aPolyamide 6.6 (PA6.6)1 kg of primary PA6.6 “at gate” (production site output) representing a European industry production average, in pellet formEurope-27PA6.6 can be processed via extrusion, injection moulding and blow moulding. The main uses in-clude fibers and engineering plastics; PA6.6 is generally not used in film applications as it cannot be bi-axially orientated. Applications range from auto-motive to electrical/electronic and textile uses. It should be noted that PA6 (polycaprolactam or Nylon 6) and PA6.6 are used for similar purposes. PA6.6 can be recycled mechanically or for feedstock.Materials productionPlasticsDisclaimer: The LCI and LCIA results of this dataset can vary from the published Eco-profile on PlasticsEurope website due to the conversion of the original LCI to an ILCD compliant LCI, and some updates of characterization factors used in the Eco-profile since the time of the publication. This was done in agreement with PlasticsEurope.0PlasticsEurope Eco-profiles and EPDs represent European industry averages within the scope of PlasticsEurope as the issuing trade federation. Hence they are not attributed to any single producer, but rather to the European plastics industry as represented by PlasticsEurope’s membership and the production sites participating in the Eco-profile data collection.
Primary production data for PA6.6 production is from four different suppliers in the EU. Fuel and energy inputs in the system reflect average European conditions and whenever applicable, site specific conditions were applied, to reflect representative situations. Therefore, the study results are intended to be applicable within EU boundaries and in order to be applied in other regions adjustments might be required. PA6.6 imported into Europe was not considered in this Eco-profile.This EPD describes the production of the Polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) polymer from cradle to gate (from crude oil extraction to granules or resin at plant).
PlasticsEurope Eco-profiles and EPDs represent European industry averages within the scope of PlasticsEurope as the issuing trade federation. Hence they are not attributed to any single producer, but rather to the European plastics industry as represented by PlasticsEurope’s membership and the production sites participating in the Eco-profile data collection.
The production processes were modelled using specific values from primary data collection at site, representing the specific technology for the four companies. The LCI data represent technology in use in the defined production region employed by participating producers. The considered participants cover a majority of producers in Europe in 2011—2012, so the technological coverage is understood as representative. Primary data were used for all foreground processes (under operational control) complemented with secondary data from background processes (under indirect management control).Polyamide 66 for any relevant applicationpa66 process.jpgLCI resultAttributionalNone.
It has been prepared according to PlasticsEurope’s Eco-profiles and Environmental Declarations – LCI Methodology and PCR for Uncompounded Polymer Resins and Reactive Polymer Precursors (PCR version 2.0, April 2011). Allocation - 100% to main functionNo allocation in foreground processUse of high heating valuenoneIn the foreground processes all relevant flows were considered, trying to avoid any cut-off of material and energy flows. At least 95 % of mass and energy of the input and output flows were covered and 98 % of their environmental relevance (according to expert judgment) was considered, hence an influence of cut-offs less than 2 % on the total is expected.NoneEco-profile developed by PlasticsEurope use average data representative of the respective foreground production process, both in terms of technology and market share. The primary data are derived from site specific information for processes under operational control supplied by the participating member companies of PlasticsEurope.
All relevant background data, such as energy and auxiliary materials, are taken from the DEAM, GaBi, Plas-ticsEurope and Ecoinvent 2.2 databases. In particular, GaBi datasets for adipic acid and HMDA were used where no company-specific data were available. Most of the background data and the pertinent documentation are publicly available.NoneWhen there were no database on some chemicals, expertise and stoechiometric equation was used in order to model all raw material in the system boundary.NoneDEAM DatabaseEcoinvent v2.0GaBi databases64.02010-20122013EcoprofileAll relevant flows quantifiedThe project included regular milestone meetings with representatives of all participating producers and PlasticsEurope as system operator. The reviewer participated in these meetings. In addition, a review meeting between the LCA practitioner and the reviewer was held, including a model and database review, and spot checks of data and calculations.
Specific comments on the results include:
- The nitrous oxide (laughing gas, N2O) emission abatement in terms of technologies used, their elimination efficiency, and degree of use was subject to review and received due attention. It became apparent that adoption of such technologies is at quite different stages across industry, in some cases being very recent developments, which may partly explain the disparities in reported N2O levels. Further, the monitoring of N2O levels varied from continuous to intermittent, adding some uncertainty to reported levels in a few cases. Due to the substantial variation of reported N2O emissions, particular attention was on cross-checking high and low values. Also, an effort was made to confirm the reported N2O emission with reports under the ETS scheme. Hence, the average N2O emission and its range found here appear reliable – this, however, confirms suspicions that previously reported levels (2005) were probably substantially too low.
- The differentiation of the water inventory by source and destination (allowing for a water balance and supporting water footprints) should be included in future updates.
This Eco-profile is considered a representative, reliable and high-quality representation of PA6.6 production in Europe. Compared with the previous version, a correction of the N2O emissions was substantiated by the new survey; an uncertainty margin of approximately ±10% on the GWP remains. The critical review confirms that this Eco-profile adheres to the rules set forth in the PlasticsEurope’s Eco-profiles and Environmental Declarations – LCI Methodology and PCR for Uncompounded Polymer Resins and Reactive Polymer Precursors (PCR version 2.0, April 2011).
DEKRAThe main data source was a primary data collection from European producers, providing site-specific gate-to-gate production data for processes under operational control of the participating companies. Data for the upstream supply chain until the precursors are taken from several databases (DEAM, PlasticsEurope, GaBi, ecoinvent).
Variation of single data was not recorded. Variation of the model/dataset not applicable due to vertical average of production lines and technologies. Hence, Precision above was rated “n/a”. (p.9—10)
Critical elements within the model include: level of N2O emissions (based on effectiveness and use of abatement technologies as well as completeness of monitoring.
PlasticsEurope Review PA66 2014-02ILCD Data Network - Entry-levelFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantPlastics EuropeEcoprofileEcoprofileEcobilan2020-01-01T00:00:00.000ILCD format 1.1EcobilanPlastics Europe2020-01-01T00:00:00.00001.00.000Data set finalised; entirely publishedPlastics EuropetruePlastics EuropeOtherFrom PlasticsEuropeNylon 6.6 granulate (PA 6.6)Output1.01.00Mixed primary / secondaryUnknown derivationvaluable