InSinkErator

InSinkErator®: Using LCA to promote the environmental benefits of food waste disposers

Food waste is one of the most significant components of the

Our solution

PE INTERNATIONAL deployed its GaBi software for a ‘Cradle to

global solid waste problem, particularly in regard to waste sent

Grave’ LCA using engineering assumptions from an initial analysis

of Emerson and the world’s leading manufacturer of food waste

the supply chain from point of disposal (sink, garbage can) to

to landfills. For one US company, InSinkErator, a business unit

disposers, the issue to address was a simple but important one:

conducted by CDM-Smith. The LCA analyzed every process in

treatment and final end-of-life. Using in-house expertise and in-

understand how environmentally friendly in-sink waste disposers

dustry-leading GaBi databases, PE built an environmental model

impact. To find out, the company commissioned a Life Cycle

disposers are designed to solve, such as the removal and eventual

were and how might they improve the company’s environmental

Assessment (LCA).

of the food disposal process, looking at problems food waste recycling of all types of food waste.

PE INTERNATIONAL, Inc. & Five Winds Strategic Consulting 2260 Baseline Road, Suite 102 Boulder, CO 80302, USA

Phone: +1 617 247 4477 ext. 2 Fax +1 303 447 0909

gabi_na@pe-international.com www.gabi-software.com

The result

The LCA assessed the environmental impact of the four primary

systems for managing food scraps – wastewater treatment,

“Advanced wastewater treatment plants convert food scraps into

renewable energy through a process called anaerobic digestion.

Food scraps become high-value fertilizer biosolids which can

landfills, incineration and advanced industrial composting. It

help build healthier, better structured and more productive soils;

count the environmental impacts of manufacturing, distribu-

elegance.”

on the environment.

Benefits to InSinkErator®

showed that using a food waste disposer, even taking into action and powering them, results in a potentially lower impact

The LCA report concluded that processing at advanced wastewater treatment facilities has lower energy demand – less than

landfills, incineration and centralized industrial composting.

This was a positive finding for InSinkErator and suggests that labor-saving devices can also be beneficial to the environment.

nature’s cycle given a helping hand and accomplished with real

Tracking the life cycle environmental performance of their products is an on-going project for InSinkErator. The company has

moved from understanding and communicating their LCA work

to using GaBi as a process improvement tool and a communi-

cation tool as InSinkErator has begun to actively engage communities in developing sustainable food waste disposal programs.

Michael Keleman, senior environmental engineer, InSinkErator

InSinkErator can now push for further environmental improve-

wastewater treatment systems are often overlooked despite

tive environmental impacts their product can deliver.

said; “In thinking about systems for managing food scraps, their surprisingly effective role in harnessing nature’s own pro-

ments in their manufacturing and continue to market the posi-

cesses for turning semi-liquid waste into valuable resources.”

InSinkErator’s solutions in brief

Customer Industry: Manufacturing of food waste disposers

and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use.

Scope: LCA from ‘Cradle to Grave‘ for food waste disposer

Services & Solutions: GaBi Software solution, ‘Cradle to Grave‘ Life Cycle Assessment, scenario modeling, GaBi i-report

Benefits: Favorable comparison with alternative waste-handling methods

»The LCA conducted by PE INTERNATIONAL supports the

idea that disposers are more than convenient – they can be viewed as an environmental appliance.

After people look at the environmental benefits, we think they will opt for the disposer rather than throw food waste into the garbage bin.« Tim Ferry, President of InSinkErator