Design for sustainability and life cycle assessment toward increase use of recycled aluminum: case of architectural light shelf

This study concerns the design of a light shelf applying concepts of Design for Sustainability and Life Cycle Thinking by using Life Cycle Assessment method as a tool to decision-making for the material choice. Light shelves are building devices installed in window with the goal to provide greater use of natural light. This study intends to consider the urgent need to promote the use of recycled aluminum in order to improve the use of scrap in applications that add value to this as an important raw material. The study has been conducted in the product design and search to understand the impacts caused in parts, using primary aluminum and recycled aluminum, with a view to adopting the best alternative for the product environmental quality. As result, the design has proposed solutions for a product with a potential to disseminate the importance of the recycling, seeking an opportunity to valorize recycled scrap and the use of mono-material. Three scenarios have been analyzed. As conclusion, it is confirmed that the use of part from recycled raw material generates less impact in Global Warming Potential category, about 17% of emission reduction of CO2-eq. in Scenario 2 and about 81% in scenario 3.