Environmental, Energy, and Water Footprints of Marble Tile Production Chain in a Life Cycle Perspective

The marble industry is growing in Pakistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the largest producer of tiles Pakistan. Marble production consumes a considerable amount water during its life cycle stages impacts various environmental compartments, such as air, water, soil; therefore, this study aimed to quantify impacts, footprint, cumulative energy demand one-tonne tile manufactured small industrial estate Mardan (SIEM), provide recommendations improve impact profile. covers consumption, use, associated raw materials processes through different life-cycle 2017–2018. cradle-to-gate (extraction factory gate or store house) assessment approach was followed study. functional unit for current one tonne finished produced. Primary data from field surveys secondary were modeled using scarcity index (WSI), CML 2000 v.2.05 methodology, indicator present by default SimaPro v.8.3 software. total footprint required 3.62 cubic meters per (m3/t), with electricity consumed at processing units contributing burdens most. Similarly, (at polishing) transportation local market responsible global warming potential (388 kg CO2 eq/tonne tile), human toxicity (84.34 1,4-DB-eq/tonne), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (94.97kg 1,4-DB eq/tonne) abiotic depletion (7.1 × 10?5 Sb eq/tonne). results our follow other LCA studies conducted globally (such Turkey Italy), which also reported high contribution GWP, AP, EP, HT due fossil fuels consumption. (CED) calculated 5863.40 MJ (Mega Joule), most usage non-renewable fuel sources. indicated that reducing (using standard automatic machinery) waste materials, especially paper plastic wastes, can reduce impacts. Most surveyed did not have wastewater treatment recycling plants, directly flows nearby bodies terrestrial ecosystems. These wastewaters should be adequately treated before being discharged into bodies. Environmental must improved latest machinery, generation, distance between market, installing plants.