Carbon footprint assessment of a precast concrete yard: A case study from Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Despite the significant contribution of precast concrete yards to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Thai construction industry, research on their carbon footprint is limited. This study assessed the carbon footprint of a precast concrete yard in Thailand, from 1 January to 31 December, 2022, during which 2,054.60 m3 of precast concrete products were produced. The total carbon footprint for 2022 was 915.489 tCO2e, with emissions categorized into Scope 1 (0.74%), Scope 2 (1.18%), and Scope 3 (98.08%). Notably, ready-mix concrete consumption emerged as the primary hotspot, contributing 70.59% of total emissions. The GHG emissions-to-production volume ratio for 2022 was 0.445580 tCO2e per m3, with a potential 0.44% reduction achievable by maximizing production volume. The study presented a GHG emission ratio of purchased goods (raw materials) to the production process for precast concrete (1:0.0136), facilitating estimates of emissions based on raw material data. Three key challenges in assessing carbon footprints in Thailand’s construction sector were identified: (1) limited carbon footprint data for construction materials, (2) inadequate data for general products, and (3) gaps in GHG emission factors for truck transportation in the Thai National Life Cycle Inventory Database. The identified GHG emission hotspots serve as critical starting points for strategies to manage and mitigate emissions in the case study yard and similar facilities, including optimizing ready-mix concrete usage and prioritizing environmentally responsible manufacturers. These insights, along with the identified challenges, offer valuable guidance for future assessments of organizational carbon footprints in the construction sector and the embodied carbon of buildings.
Article Details
Section
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
a) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share and adapt the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
b) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
c) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Open Access Citation Advantage Service). Where authors include such a work in an institutional repository or on their website (ie. a copy of a work which has been published in a UTS ePRESS journal, or a pre-print or post-print version of that work), we request that they include a statement that acknowledges the UTS ePRESS publication including the name of the journal, the volume number and a web-link to the journal item.
d) Authors should be aware that the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License permits readers to share (copy and redistribute the work in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the work) for any purpose, even commercially, provided they also give appropriate credit to the work, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. They may do these things in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests you or your publisher endorses their use.
How to Cite
References
Awanthi, M.G.G. and Navaratne, C.M., 2018. Carbon footprint of an organization: a tool for monitoring impacts on global warming. Procedia engineering, 212, pp.729-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2018.01.094.
Battistini, R., Passarini, F., Marrollo, R., Lantieri, C., Simone, A. and Vignali, V., 2023. How to assess the carbon footprint of a large university? The case study of University of Bologna’s Multicampus Organization. Energies, 16(1), 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010166
Chaivanich, K., 2020. Carbon footprint of an organization: a case study of the Department of Ordnance Engineering Academic Division, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Science and Technology Nakorn Sawan Rajabhat University Journal, 12(15), pp.48-57. (In Thai). Available at: https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JSTNSRU/article/view/239993/163868 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Crippa, M., Guizzardi, D., Pagani, F., Banja, M., Muntean, M., Schaaf E., Becker, W., Monforti-Ferrario, F., Quadrelli, R., Risquez Martin, A., Taghavi-Moharamli, P., Köykkä, J., Grassi, G., Rossi, S., Brandao De Melo, J., Oom, D., Branco, A., San-Miguel, J. and Vignati, E., 2023. GHG emissions of all world countries – JRC/IEA 2023 Report, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. https://dx.doi.org/10.2760/173513.
Doolgindachbaporn, T., Neeratanaphan, L., and Wararakpraphat, N., 2014. Carbon footprint of Thai White Spirit Factory. CRMA Journal, 12(1), pp.45-58. (In Thai). Available at: https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/crma-journal/article/download/243050/165283 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Doorn, M.R.J., Towprayoon, S., Vieira, S.M.M., Irving, W., Palmer, C., Pipatti, R., and Wang, C., 2006. Chapter 6 - Wastewater Treatment and Discharge. In: S. Eggleston, L. Buendia, K. Miwa, T. Ngara and K. Tanabe, eds. 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Japan: IGES, Ch.6. Available at: https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/pdf/5_Volume5/V5_6_Ch6_Wastewater.pdf [Accessed 1 January 2024].
GHG Protocol, 2004. A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, Revised ed. USA: World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Available at: https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/ghg-protocol-revised.pdf [Accessed 1 January 2024].
ISO, 2018. ISO 14064-1: 2018 Greenhouse Gases–Part 1: Specification with Guidance at the Organization Level for Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.
Janangkakan, B., Chavalparit, O. and Kanchanapiya, P., 2012. Carbon footprint of an academic organization: a case study of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University. Applied Environmental Research, 34(1), pp.23-35. (In Thai). Available at: https://www.thaiscience.info/journals/Article/JOER/10892848.pdf [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Keawsawang, N., Amonsanguansin, J. and Sornilm, W., 2017. Carbon footprint assessment and sustainable approaches to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of Thai local administrative organizations: a case study of the Bangkhae District Office, Thailand, Kasetsart Engineering Journal, 30(102), pp.61-72 (In Thai). Available at: https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/kuengj/article/view/121491/92653 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Kiehle, J., Kopsakangas-Savolainen, M., Hilli, M. and Pongrácz, E., 2023. Carbon footprint at institutions of higher education: the case of the University of Oulu. Journal of Environmental Management, 329, 117056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117056
Lucendo, A.G., García-Orenesa, F., Ruiz-Martínez, J.J. and Quilesb, P.G., 2019. The Spanish carbon footprint calculation and registration system: The Miguel Hernández of Elche University case. Advances in Ecological and Environmental Research, 4(11), pp.324-36. Available at: https://www.ss-pub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AEER2019091802.pdf [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Luengyuang, N. and Wattana, S., 2022. Corporate carbon footprint assessment: a case study of beverage manufacturing factory. Proceedings of The 21st National Graduate Research Conference, Khon Kaen, Thailand, pp.201-12. (In Thai). Available at: http://202.28.34.124/dspace/handle123456789/1605 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Maimun, T., Teekasap, S., Sareephattananon, A. and Rattanatai, B., 2018. Organization carbon footprint assessment of Eastern Asia University. EAU Heritage Journal Science and Technology, 12(2), pp.195-209. (In Thai). Available at: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/EAUHJSci/article/view/134724/105650 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Mah, C.M., Fujiwara, T. and Ho, C.S., 2017. Concrete waste management decision analysis based on life cycle assessment. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 56, pp.25-30. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1756005
ONEP, 2022. Thailand’s Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy, Revised ed. Bangkok: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning. Available at: https://unfccc.int/documents/622276 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Pettineo, G., Raciti, R., Allegro, G., Zerbo, A. and Froio, A.P., 2020. Principi Di Butera: the carbon footprint in the Sicilian wine industry. Procedia Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, pp.233-42. Available at: https://procedia-esem.eu/pdf/issues/2020/no2/11_27_Pettineo_20.pdf [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Pollution Control Department, 2023. Report on the Community Waste Management Situation in Thailand 2022. (In Thai). Available at: https://www.pcd.go.th/publication/29509 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Priya, P.K. and Neamitha, M., 2018. A comparative study on precast construction and conventional construction. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 5(8), pp.839-42. Available at: https://www.irjet.net/archives/V5/i8/IRJET-V5I8144.pdf [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Pruangpreechasak, P., Junggoth, R., Tantriratna, P. and Kamsong, T., 2020. Carbon footprint of organization: case study Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University. KKU Journal for Public Health Research, 13(3), pp.34-43. (In Thai) Available at: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/kkujphr/article/view/216501/166869 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Rodtusana, I., 2013. Carbon footprint for organization; Huachiew Chalermprakiet University. Applied Environmental Research, 35(2), pp.33-42. (In Thai). Available at: https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/download/13381/12034 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Sikiwat, W., Thonghom, W., Kwangsopa, S., Neamhom, T. and Patthanaissaranukool, W., 2021. Carbon footprint of Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Phayathai Campus. Thai Science and Technology Journal, 29(4), pp.604-17. (In Thai). Available at: https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tstj/article/download/238401/172855/898846 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Tantipanatip W., 2018. Carbon footprint of organization: a case study of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University. Journal of Science & Technology MSU, 37(4), pp.494-503. (In Thai). Available at: https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sci_01/article/view/258205 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Thai Carbon Label, 2023. Manufacture and Distribute Precast Concrete Products. [online]. (In Thai). Available at: https://thaicarbonlabel.tgo.or.th/index.php?lang=TH&mod=YjNKbllXNXBlbUYwYVc5dVgyRndjSEp2ZG1Gcw&action=WkdWMFlXbHM¶m=TVRVek1EQT0 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
TGO, 2022. Requirements for the calculation and reporting of the carbon footprint of the organization. 6thed. Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (In Thai). Available at: https://thaicarbonlabel.tgo.or.th/tools/files.php?mod=YjNKbllXNXBlbUYwYVc5dVgyUnZkMjVzYjJGaw&type=WDBaSlRFVlQ&files=TkRFPQ [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Thai Government Gazette, 2022. Announcement from the Central Registration Office regarding the number of citizens throughout the kingdom according to the evidence of citizen registration as of December 31, 2022. Vol. 135, Parts 33, pp. 10-12. (In Thai). Available at: https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2565/E/012/T_0010.PDF [Accessed 1 January 2024].
UNFCCC, n.d. The Paris Agreement: What is the Paris Agreement? Available at: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement#:~:text=Its%20overarching%20goal%20is%20to,above%20pre%2Dindustrial%20levels.%E2%80%9D [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Usubharatana, P. and Phungrussami, H., 2014. Carbon footprint of organization: case study for Thammasat University. Thai Journal of Science and Technology, 22(1), pp.1-12. (In Thai). Available at: https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tstj/article/view/15101/13845 [Accessed 1 January 2024].
Vrachni, A., Christogerou, A., Thomopoulos, G.A., Marazioti, C. and Angelopoulos, G.N., 2022. Carbon footprint of the University of Patras in Greece: evaluating environmental culture and campus’ energy management towards 2030. Pollutants, 2(3), pp.347-62. https://doi.org/10.3390/pollutants2030024