Carbon footprint of geosynthetics

From the GMA Techline

RE: Carbon footprint of geosynthetics
One of my students is working on the topic “of influence of geosynthetics on the reduction of carbon footprint of geosynthetics in pavement construction.

We are unable to get any data on the energy required for producing typical geosynthetics (geotextiles, geogrids, geocells) per square meter area. I wonder if you would have this information from your vast experience.

Thanks very much in advance for your help in this regard. We shall acknowledge your help to us in any publication.

With warm regards,

(Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras | India)

Reply: Yes, I do have such information at least for several types of geosynthetics. The information I have is in units of Kg C0₂ per Kg material. The values are as follows:

• Polyethylene drainage composites = 1.7
• Polyethylene geomembranes = 1.7 to 2.0
• Geosynthetic clay liners = 0.22
• Polypropylene geotextiles = 2.7

There are three major sources that I use: U.S. EPA (2005), University of Bath (2008), and the German FFE (1999).

Best wishes going forward,

Bob Koerner | GMA Techline