Effect of Cellulose Nanofibers Composites in Automotive Components on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract

Utilization of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as a substitute for plastic resins to reduce the total vehicle weight is under consideration, even though the total amount of plastic resin used is very small compared to steel This study aims to investigate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission effect of the use of CNF as substitutes of plastic resins as composite materials in vehicles. In order to estimate the reduction of GHG effected, two scenarios were proposed: Business as usual (BAU) and CNF-added (CNFa). The amount of GHG emissions from the part of plastic components in a vehicle were evaluated and compared using life cycle assessment (LCA) in the two scenarios. The total GHG emissions in the CNFa scenario declined by about 21.2 per cent compared to the BAU scenario. Although the GHG emissions coefficient of CNF is relatively high compared to plastic resins', the total amount of GHG emissions decreased probably due to reduction in weight of the part of plastic components in a vehicle by replacing plastic resins with CNF.