Assessment of the environmental impact on the life cycle of polystyrene thermal insulation materials

Abstract The assessment of environmental impacts on the life cycle of thermal insulation materials is a complex task that has a significant impact on the market for heaters and the types of structures used. In this case, such important factors as the effective reduction of heat losses due to the use of foam plastics, the nature of raw materials for their manufacture, methods of processing and disposal, as well as possible effects associated with the presence of toxic components at different stages of the life cycle, should be taken into account. In addition to the analysis of generally accepted criteria related to energy costs, the impact on the greenhouse effect, the formation of photochemical smog, the destruction of the ozone layer, the acidification of water and soil, eutrophication, it is interesting to assess the local effects associated with the state of natural and man-made systems at all stages of the life cycle of thermal insulation products made of polystyrene. The article substantiates the need to assess the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of expanded polystyrene in construction, including through the development of environmental declarations for these products. It is expedient to systematically collect waste heat insulation from expanded polystyrene, as well as to introduce modern methods of processing and disposal, including the use of biologically active living organisms. It has been established that the state of local natural-technogenic systems associated with the life cycle of expanded polystyrene boards correlates with indicators of global impacts in terms of ecological capacity and reproductive capacity for oxygen. Studies of boards made of graphite-containing polystyrene foam have confirmed lower environmental impacts, both by reducing the content of expensive polymer raw materials and by strengthening the structure.