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Process Data set: Float Glass, at production (en) en

Key Data Set Information
Location IT
Geographical representativeness description Italy. Primary data collected from leading glass producers active on national context. Dataset representative of Italian production of float glass pane.
Reference year 2021
Name
Float Glass, at production
Technical purpose of product or process Float glass is used as product applied into windows of building sector. Float glass is also intended for further processing (e.g. coating, lamination) and assemblies (e.g. insulated glass unit). Final product is applied into windows of building sector.
Synonyms Vetro float, alla produzione
Classification
Class name : Hierarchy level
  • ILCDCategories: Systems / Construction
General comment on data set Dataset developed within the ARCADIA Project (production chain study regarding glass products for windows “PRODUZIONE DI LASTRE E SISTEMI IN VETRO PER INFISSI E SERRAMENTI”). The dataset refers to the production of float glass pane, representative of the Italian average processing technologies commonly used for glass production. The data set covers relevant process steps / technologies over the supply chain of the represented cradle to gate inventory with a good overall data quality. The inventory is based on primary data for the Float glass production, and on secondary data (literature and/or LCI datasets) representative of Italian supply chain. Float glass is used in windows for the building sector or in further processing and assembling. Dimensions: surface 1 m2, thickness 4 mm.
Copyright Yes
Owner of data set
Data set LCA report, background info
Quantitative reference
Reference flow(s)
Time representativeness
Data set valid until 2026
Technological representativeness
Technology description including background system Float glass is a clear, flat soda lime silicate glass with parallel surfaces. The production process begins with the transport and mixing of raw materials (silica sand, soda ash, dolomite, etc.) and their melting in a furnace. The molten glass is fed into a bath of molten tin, where serrated wheels pull and push the glass sideways depending on the desired thickness. The resulting float glass passes through a controlled cooling tunnel, exiting the lehr at room temperature. The glass is then cut lengthwise and crosswise, performing automatic inspections on regular samples to check the quality of the glass at each step in the glassmaking process. The sheets of float glass are finally packed and stored in the warehouse. Waste treatment and their transport to facilities is included and reflect the Italian waste treatments routes. The system boundary considers A1 “procurement of raw materials”, A2 “transport”, A3 “production”, according to EN15804:2012+A1:2013 standard. The Cradle-to-gate analysis includes the input of materials, energy, water and the outputs of waste, emissions and transport related to the considered system boundary. Equipment and infrastructures are not included in the foreground but accounted for in the background system. Primary data (from leading glass producers) and secondary data (from established database) representative of Italian supply chain for the geographical characteristics and technologies used were collected. Inventory data have been collected as physical quantities of resources (materials and energy) used in the different processes. The benefits from the production and use of energy from incineration and landfill were excluded, as well as those deriving from the use of secondary materials produced from recycling of waste materials. Background data were modelled according to Ecoinvent v.3.6.
Flow diagram(s) or picture(s)
  • 20230915143134_Diagramma FG.jpeg Image
LCI method and allocation
Type of data set Partly terminated system
LCI Method Principle Attributional
LCI method approaches
  • Allocation - mass
Data sources, treatment and representativeness
Data cut-off and completeness principles Production of equipment and infrastructures is not included, except for the background system.
Deviation from data cut-off and completeness principles / explanations None for the inventory. Completeness related to elementary flows cannot be evaluated.
Data selection and combination principles Good consistency of data and modelling. The primary activity data are used with Ecoinvent database 3.6, cut-off. Data gaps in the foreground model are filled with data from Ecoinvent database. The exchanges are judged by experts to be representative for the glass supply chain at national level. The LCA study is based on the following assumptions: - electricity entirely from national grid; - water entirely from tap water; - packaging includes wooden pallets and paper; - wastes include a share of packaging materials; - output transports consider a distance of 20 km for waste intended for landfill and a distance of 160 km for waste intended for recycling plant.
Deviation from data selection and combination principles / explanations None.
Deviation from data treatment and extrapolations principles / explanations None.
Data source(s) used for this data set
Completeness
Completeness of product model No statement
Validation
Type of review Data quality indicators Review details
Independent external review
  • Overall quality: Not applicable
  • Methodological appropriateness and consistency: Not applicable
  • Precision: Not applicable
  • Completeness: Not evaluated / unknown
  • Geographical representativeness: Very good
  • Time representativeness: Very good
  • Technological representativeness: Very good
The review was performed in compliance with Arcadia Metodology “Metodologia per gli studi di filiera della Banca Dati italiana LCA” and ISO 14040-44. The dataset has been assessed limited to the foreground data collected during the supply chain studies. Each dataset has been evaluated on the basis of the following 4 criteria: 1. Technological Representative; 2. Time Representative; 3. Geographic Representative; 4. Reliability. In this context the Reliability is very good. The data used are consistent, appropriate and reasonable in view of the goal and scope of the study. The system boundaries include all relevant processes and activity types from cradle to gate. A cut-off has been applied to production of equipment and infrastructure and to the processes involved in the recycling of glass. These are in line with the requirements of the “Metodologia per gli studi di filiera della Banca Dati italiana LCA” (Buttol et al., v2, November 2021). The LCI modelling choices follow the requirements of Buttol et al. (2021), such as allocation, consistency of included processes, and LCI methodology in general. It has been consistently applied along the whole dataset. The representativeness of the dataset (time-related, geographical, technology) is well documented and very good, thanks also to the involvement of relevant market operators. The precision and completeness of the dataset cannot be evaluated.
Subsequent review comments
The study was judged by the reviewer as compliant with both ISO 14040-44 and Arcadia methodology.
Reviewer name and institution
Compliance Declarations
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant
Nomenclature compliance
Not defined
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant
Review compliance
Fully compliant
Documentation compliance
Not defined
Quality compliance
Not defined
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant
Nomenclature compliance
Not defined
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant
Review compliance
Not defined
Documentation compliance
Fully compliant
Quality compliance
Not defined
Commissioner and goal
Commissioner of data set
Project Arcadia – PON Governance e Capacità istituzionali 2014-2020.
Intended applications None.
Data generator
Data set generator / modeller
Data entry by
Time stamp (last saved) 2023-03-31T12:25:03.746+02:00
Data set format(s)
Publication and ownership
UUID 1c27da2a-b90d-4066-ae8f-b60c6711e93f
Date of last revision 2022-10-14T11:10:37.585Z
Data set version 01.00.000
Permanent data set URI ../processes/1c27da2a-b90d-4066-ae8f-b60c6711e93f.xml
Owner of data set
Copyright Yes
License type Free of charge for all users and uses
Access and use restrictions Type of license: Open Database License (ODbL)
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