Abstract

In this study, life cycle assessment (LCIA) was used for the assessment and evaluation of the environmental performance of the Khaya lumber manufactured by three firms in Ghana. The work mainly aims to assess all possible effects to the environment, measure the carbon footprint for Ghana Khaya lumber and offer an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Ghana Khaya lumber. The results show that the average environmental effect of the Khaya lumber per cubic meter in relation to GWP was 253 kg-CO₂-Eq; AP, 3.9 kg SO₂- Eq; EP, 2.6 kg Phosphate (PO₄)-Eq; POCP, 0.56 kg Ethylene-Eq. The GWP, AP, EP and POCP match very well the results of LCIA for 1 m³ rough-sawn, kiln dried US lumber cradle to gate for 19 diverse species and the LCA results for environmental product declaration of tropical plywood production in Malaysia and Indonesia. The EPD results give useful, confirmed and equivalent information concerning the possible environment effect of Khaya lumber manufactured by three firms in Ghana. A detailed and clear LCA for the timber industry offers industry with precise areas for making physical and economic savings to benefit the wealth of the environment and industry.

Key words: Environmental assessment, tropical timber, life cycle assessment.