Bayer MaterialScience Composites for Shipping Container Floors Contribute to Reduced Energy Use and Smaller Carbon Footprint
Composite flooring incorporating Bayer’s polyurethane is a light weight alternative to traditional materials.
Pittsburgh, PA, January 28, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Energy and environmental issues continue to be significant concerns for the shipping industry, especially as they relate to efficiency and overall cost savings in transportation containers for ships and trucks. Industry stakeholders have an increasing interest in evaluating and understanding how replacing conventional wood floors with composite materials can impact the overall life cycle of the containers, contributing to energy savings and reduced greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Bayer MaterialScience LLC co-authors George Pavlovich, product safety & regulatory affairs, Product Sustainability & Life Cycle Assessment; Shen Tian, life cycle specialist; and Harry George, manager, New Applications, Polyurethanes; will share results of a recent study comparing environmental impacts of interest and relevance to the logistics community, such as: energy and GHGs associated with the entire life cycles of flooring made with fiberglass/ polyurethane composites, plywood and bamboo wood. Their presentation, “Life Cycle Assessment of Composite Shipping Container Floors Compared to Conventional Wood Flooring,” will be presented at Composites 2013 in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 29-31, 2013.
A life-cycle assessment quantifies the inputs (materials, energy) and the outputs (emissions, waste) associated with each life cycle stage of a product, estimates impacts (climate change, resource depletion, etc.) and interprets the results to make conclusions – for example – on processes, energy and materials that contribute most significantly to a product’s life cycle.
The presentation will demonstrate findings that the lighter weight of the composite flooring compared with conventional wood flooring could translate to energy savings associated with reduced fuel consumption on container ships and transport applications in general, as well as a smaller carbon footprint. A lighter weight container also provides the possibility of adding more cargo weight.
The study finds that although composite floors may require more energy during manufacturing than wood floors, during the use phase the composite floor saves more energy and avoids GHGs due to its lighter weight. In addition, the authors will address land occupation (land required for cultivation/manufacturing) that was estimated for the composite flooring compared with conventional plywood and bamboo wood.
To learn more about the benefits of polyurethane composite materials for shipping containers, visit Bayer’s booth, #1033, at Composites 2013.
About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,800 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2011 sales of 10.8 billion euros. Bayer MaterialScience’s 2011 sales in North America were $2.9 billion. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
Contact:
Thomas Erdner, Phone: 412-777-5200
Email: thomas.erdner@bayer.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC's polyurethane composites, call 412-777-7454 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Editor’s Note: Follow news from Bayer MaterialScience on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Bayer4Materials
Bayer MaterialScience LLC co-authors George Pavlovich, product safety & regulatory affairs, Product Sustainability & Life Cycle Assessment; Shen Tian, life cycle specialist; and Harry George, manager, New Applications, Polyurethanes; will share results of a recent study comparing environmental impacts of interest and relevance to the logistics community, such as: energy and GHGs associated with the entire life cycles of flooring made with fiberglass/ polyurethane composites, plywood and bamboo wood. Their presentation, “Life Cycle Assessment of Composite Shipping Container Floors Compared to Conventional Wood Flooring,” will be presented at Composites 2013 in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 29-31, 2013.
A life-cycle assessment quantifies the inputs (materials, energy) and the outputs (emissions, waste) associated with each life cycle stage of a product, estimates impacts (climate change, resource depletion, etc.) and interprets the results to make conclusions – for example – on processes, energy and materials that contribute most significantly to a product’s life cycle.
The presentation will demonstrate findings that the lighter weight of the composite flooring compared with conventional wood flooring could translate to energy savings associated with reduced fuel consumption on container ships and transport applications in general, as well as a smaller carbon footprint. A lighter weight container also provides the possibility of adding more cargo weight.
The study finds that although composite floors may require more energy during manufacturing than wood floors, during the use phase the composite floor saves more energy and avoids GHGs due to its lighter weight. In addition, the authors will address land occupation (land required for cultivation/manufacturing) that was estimated for the composite flooring compared with conventional plywood and bamboo wood.
To learn more about the benefits of polyurethane composite materials for shipping containers, visit Bayer’s booth, #1033, at Composites 2013.
About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,800 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2011 sales of 10.8 billion euros. Bayer MaterialScience’s 2011 sales in North America were $2.9 billion. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
Contact:
Thomas Erdner, Phone: 412-777-5200
Email: thomas.erdner@bayer.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC's polyurethane composites, call 412-777-7454 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Editor’s Note: Follow news from Bayer MaterialScience on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Bayer4Materials
Contact
Bayer MaterialScience LLC
Thomas Erdner
412-777-5200
www.bmsnafta.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC, call 412-777-3983 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.
Thomas Erdner
412-777-5200
www.bmsnafta.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC, call 412-777-3983 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.
Contact
Categories