Life-Cycle Assessment and Acoustic Simulation of Drywall Building Partitions with Bio-Based Materials

Abstract

The ecological transition is a process the building industry is bound to undertake. This study aimed to develop new bio-based building partition typologies and to determine if they are suitable ecological alternatives to the conventional non-renewable ones used today. This work started with the development of a bio-based epoxy composite board and a waste-based sheep wool acoustic absorbent. Six different partition typologies combining conventional and bio-based materials were analyzed. A drywall partition composed of gypsum plasterboard and mineral wool was used as the baseline. First, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment was performed to compare their environmental impacts. Secondly, a mathematical simulation was performed to evaluate their airborne acoustic insulation. The LCA results show a 50% decrease in the amount of CO2 equivalent emitted when replacing plasterboard with bio-composite boards. The bio-composites lower the overall environmental impact by 40%. In the case of the acoustic absorbents, replacing the mineral wool with cellulose or sheep wool decreases the carbon emissions and the overall environmental impact of the partition from 4% and 6%, respectively. However, while the bio-based acoustic absorbents used offer good acoustic results, the bio-composites have a lower airborne acoustic insulation than conventional gypsum plasterboard.

The Application of Sheep Wool in the Building Industry and in the Removal of Pollutants from the Environment

“…A comparison of the data in Table 3 makes the environmental impact of the evaluated insulators visible. The environmental point of view also resonates in the work of Quintana-Gallardo et al [36]. They state that the building industry is responsible for one-third of the total carbon emissions in the world.…”

“…Pennacchio et al [35] The responsibility of the building industry for one-third of the total carbon emissions in the world. Quintana-Gallardo et al [36] Biocomposite panels have significantly lower environmental impacts. Nußholz et al [37] Immersing wool in a saline solution, increasing the surface friction of the fibers and the adhesion to the cement matrix.…”

A Life-Cycle Approach to Investigate the Potential of Novel Biobased Construction Materials toward a Circular Built Environment

“…These findings appear to be in line with some other early life-cycle studies of the use of biobased material alternatives in the building sector. For instance, Quintana-Gallardo et al [71] found a 50% decrease in the amount of CO 2 equivalent emitted when replacing plasterboard with bio-composite boards. Other studies have produced less conclusive results (e.g., [72]).…”

Sustainable Sheep Wool/Soy Protein Biocomposites for Sound Absorption

“…Although the insulating properties of sheep wool have been analyzed in several studies [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], there is still a need to provide this material with a more stable structure by hot or cold pressing [ 10 ] or mixing it with polymers. In this regard, synthetic polymers, such as polyester [ 12 ] or epoxy [ 13 ] are used in combination with wool fibers, while there are not many studies on natural matrices [ 14 ]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study regarding an acoustic panel prepared with soy protein and sheep wool fiber.…”