Environmental Impact of PUR- and Polystyrene-Based Structural Insulated Panels.
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| Title: | Environmental Impact of PUR- and Polystyrene-Based Structural Insulated Panels. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Szita, Klára Tóthné1 (AUTHOR), Terjék, Anita2 (AUTHOR), Mannheim, Viktoria3 (AUTHOR) mannheim.viktoria@eng.unideb.hu |
| Source: | Polymers (20734360). Feb2026, Vol. 18 Issue 4, p518. 20p. |
| Subjects: | Product life cycle assessment, Urethane foam, Structural panels, Thermal insulation, Waste management, Sustainability, Polystyrene, Environmental impact analysis |
| Abstract: | Polymer-based insulation materials are widely used to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings; however, their growing application raises concerns related to resource use and end-of-life management. Rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams are key core materials in structural insulated panels due to their favorable thermal and mechanical performance, yet their life cycle environmental impacts—particularly at end-of-life—remain insufficiently quantified. In this study, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of PUR-based insulation used in structural insulated panel systems is conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/44 and EN 15804 standards. The assessment is performed using Sphera LCA software (version: GaBi 10.5) and the CML 2016 impact assessment method. Formulation-level variations in rigid PUR foams, including changes in methylene diphenyl diisocyanate content and pentane blowing agent ratio, are explicitly incorporated to evaluate their influence on key environmental impact categories. The results indicate that increasing pentane content leads to higher global warming potential, while this effect may be mitigated or intensified by concurrent changes in diisocyanate content and foam density in fully formulated systems. Three end-of-life scenarios—landfilling, incineration with energy recovery, and mechanical recycling—are analyzed. The findings provide material-level, decision-relevant insights that support environmentally informed formulation strategies and contribute to the development of more circular polymer-based insulation solutions for the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 192034350 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Environmental Impact of PUR- and Polystyrene-Based Structural Insulated Panels. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Szita%2C+Klára+Tóthné%22">Szita, Klára Tóthné</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Terjék%2C+Anita%22">Terjék, Anita</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mannheim%2C+Viktoria%22">Mannheim, Viktoria</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mannheim.viktoria@eng.unideb.hu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Polymers+%2820734360%29%22">Polymers (20734360)</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 18 Issue 4, p518. 20p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Product+life+cycle+assessment%22">Product life cycle assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urethane+foam%22">Urethane foam</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+panels%22">Structural panels</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+insulation%22">Thermal insulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Waste+management%22">Waste management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainability%22">Sustainability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polystyrene%22">Polystyrene</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+impact+analysis%22">Environmental impact analysis</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Polymer-based insulation materials are widely used to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings; however, their growing application raises concerns related to resource use and end-of-life management. Rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams are key core materials in structural insulated panels due to their favorable thermal and mechanical performance, yet their life cycle environmental impacts—particularly at end-of-life—remain insufficiently quantified. In this study, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of PUR-based insulation used in structural insulated panel systems is conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/44 and EN 15804 standards. The assessment is performed using Sphera LCA software (version: GaBi 10.5) and the CML 2016 impact assessment method. Formulation-level variations in rigid PUR foams, including changes in methylene diphenyl diisocyanate content and pentane blowing agent ratio, are explicitly incorporated to evaluate their influence on key environmental impact categories. The results indicate that increasing pentane content leads to higher global warming potential, while this effect may be mitigated or intensified by concurrent changes in diisocyanate content and foam density in fully formulated systems. Three end-of-life scenarios—landfilling, incineration with energy recovery, and mechanical recycling—are analyzed. The findings provide material-level, decision-relevant insights that support environmentally informed formulation strategies and contribute to the development of more circular polymer-based insulation solutions for the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/polym18040518 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 20 StartPage: 518 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Product life cycle assessment Type: general – SubjectFull: Urethane foam Type: general – SubjectFull: Structural panels Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal insulation Type: general – SubjectFull: Waste management Type: general – SubjectFull: Sustainability Type: general – SubjectFull: Polystyrene Type: general – SubjectFull: Environmental impact analysis Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Environmental Impact of PUR- and Polystyrene-Based Structural Insulated Panels. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Szita, Klára Tóthné – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Terjék, Anita – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mannheim, Viktoria IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 02 Text: Feb2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20734360 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Polymers (20734360) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
