Evaluation of fiber reinforced plastic boat building technologies sustainability by means of life cycle analysis

This thesis is designed on the basis of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and aims to quantitavely resize the controversial ?sustainability? concept for all stages of supply chain for marine vehicles which are manufactered by using fiber reinforced plastic material. With LCA, supply chain carbon emissions, energy consumption, total weight difference between the first usage and recycling and potential contribution to global warming can be considered for the products? cradle to grave life, even including the recycling processes cradle to cradle life. In this study, the aforesaid parameters are presented in the context of the results of comparison for two boat building methods. The comparison of the sustainability of production the method differences for boats with the same material was done on the basis of Life Cycle Assessment by ?Umberto? carbon footprint software which is specially developed and planned for all of the material life cycle processes (production, use, waste management) with flows. The obtained helpful results have been presented to the beneficial of the related stakeholders such as manufacturers, designers, suppliers and recyclers. Keywords : Life cycle assessment, carbon footprint, fiber reinforced plastics, boat building methods, umberto