i.

How many pairs of hands are dried throughout the lifespan of each
product? (/1)
use years week
(
Hand dryer = 500
year
∗10 ) ( ) ( )
lifespan
∗52
year
=260,000 pair of hands

use years week

Paper Towel Dispenser= 500 (
year) (
∗8 ) (
lifespan
∗52
year )
=208,000 pair of hands

ii. What are the reference flows needed to satisfy the functional unit (i.e.
number of hand dryers, paper towel dispensers and paper towels needed
to dry 260,000 pairs of hands)? (/2)

260,000 pair of hands

paper towel dispenser ¿ satisfy functional unit= =1.25
208,000 pair of hands
hands towels
(
number of paper towel ¿ satisfy functional unit=260,000 ) (
dispenser
∗2 )
hands
=520,000 towels

iii. Based on the information given, draw the system boundary for both the
products. Include the process names and amounts needed for the
functional unit (/10)

Figure 1: System Boundary of Hand Dryer

Figure 2: Environmental impact of Hand Dryer

Figure 3: Environmental impact of Paper towel

iv. Estimate the climate change impacts of both the products in fulfilling the
functional unit using Simapro (/8)

v. We are assuming that the hand dryer and the paper towel dispenser has
the same internal components. What are the implications of this
assumptions for us in conducting a comparative LCA?

The exclusion of electronic components, although both products contain the

same types and the same quantity, the environmental impact of the extraction
and the production process generates pollution of some kind.

Besides, many of the electronic components can be recycled, because they are
made of metal.

vi. What are some of the limitations of your LCA model? (/2)
In this model we are not including box production. Transportation from university
of Guelph to Landfill. The system is also simplified, due to ABS can be recycled
and in this LCA everything is considered as a waste.