Environment
Ecological Quality
The raw material extraction and production processes associated with aluminium production may have local adverse landscape, vegetation,
aquatic, atmospheric and biodiversity impacts.
However, only a small
volume of aluminium is used in the products and this is somewhat offset
early in the products' life by improved thermal performance and pollution minimisation.
Terrestrial
Emissions
There are minor toxic emissions to land in the production of the constituent materials localised around production facilities during the production of the constituent materials.
Physical
Polyethylene is petrochemical based, and will therefore have limited physical pollution due to oil extraction.
Aquatic
Emissions
Ethylene is produced in the initial production stage of polyethylene and the emissions to water consist of methanol and butane. The production of these products does not produce waste water. There is no pollution of water or groundwater.
Physical
The petrochemical portion of polyethylene results in potential sea pollution in the extraction or spilling of oil. Other aquatic emissions include methanol and butane in the production of ethylene.
Atmosphere
Greenhouse (GHG)
The raw materials fabrication, especially aluminium, are associated with high GHG emissions. However, the aluminium content is integral to the products performance yet it comprises a small percentage of the overall product.
Approximate Greenhouse intensity
- Polyair Super: 0.68 kgCO2e/m²*
- Polyair Multi: 1.00 kgCO2e/m²*
- Polyair Ultra: 1.21 kgCO2e/m²*
*Calculation is based on data sourced from Bath University, UK.
Transport intensity
Product is manufactured in Israel. GHG intensities for shipping product are shown below, provided that shipping port from country of origin is Tel Aviv and destination port is Sydney.
Shipping product are shown below, provided that shipping port from country of origin is Tel Aviv and destination port is Sydney.
| Product weight | Distance to destination port |
Energy Intensity – Container Shipping |
GHG Intensity – Container Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyair Super 1.2m x 30m roll: 10 kg/roll |
15626 km | 0.000135 MJ / kg.km | 0.000011 kgCO2e / kg.km |
| Polyair Super 1.2m x 60m roll: 18 kg/m² |
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| Polyair Ultra: 10 kg/roll |
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| Polyair Multi: 14 kg/roll |
Greenhouse Intensity for Container Shipping of
- Polyair Super 1.2m x 30m roll – 0.047 kgCO2e / m²
- Polyair Super 1.2m x 60m roll – 0.042 kgCO2e / m²
- Polyair Multi 1.2m x 30m roll – 0.066 kgCO2e / m²
- Polyair Ultra 1.2m x 20m roll – 0.071 kgCO2e / m²
Table below provides land transportation greenhouse intensity figures to
help calculate the greenhouse gas intensity of land transportation from shipping port.
| Light commercial vehicle | Rigid Truck | Articulated Truck |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001451 kgCO2e / kg.km | 0.000195 kgCO2e / kg.km | 0.000169 kgCO2e / kg.km |
Transport intensity figures sourced from Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990, 1995 and 1999 and WWF International, Inland Navigations and Emissions, 2005.
Operational efficiency
Products do not require energy during operation. Applying insulation reduces energy consumption of the building.
Re-use Efficiency
Subject to appropriate installation and removal techniques, these products represents a high value product with high re-use potential.
Toxics and Pollutants
Polyethylene is highly stable and does not readily react with other elements or compounds in the environment. Neither LDPE nor aluminium are sources of toxics or pollutants in use, but both create minor localised emissions around production facilities.
Ozone Depletion
There is no ODP in production, installation or on-going use.
Urban Heat Island Effects
Polyair is always covered by roof/wall cladding so its highly reflective surface is never exposed and hence creates no UHI benefits.
Noise
Products will provide some acoustic insulation, reducing noise levels.
Biodiversity
Open cast mining of bauxite minerals, used in the fabrication of aluminium, involves habitat destruction, modified soil profiles and modified drainage which impacts natural vegetation and biodiversity. Petroleum, the primary raw material of polyethylene, can have localised marine biodiversity impacts in its extraction and potentially catastrophic impacts when spills occur.
