**4.2 Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) on GHGs emission for natural rubber cup lump production from cradle to gate**

The total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) is 4.89E−02 kgCO2eq and its represent 0.11% from the total GHGs emission value for the cultivation of one rubber tree from cradle to grave (**Figure 3**).


#### **Table 2.**

*GHGs emission to maintain the healthy growth of immature rubber trees in Malaysia.*


#### **Table 3.**

*GHGs emission profile to maintain the healthy growth of one immature rubber tree for a year.*

**191**

**Figure 3.**

*Environmental Impact Evaluation of Rubber Cultivation and Industry in Malaysia*

GHGs emission for the cultivation of one rubber tree from cradle to grave.

**Figure 3** has clearly described that the trend from the GHGs emission for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) is basically identical to the

The application and production of ammonium sulfate are the two main processes responsible for 77.9% from the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) (**Figure 3**). Potassium chloride production and glyphosate production recorded the contribution of 8.1 and 7.5% respectively while the remaining 13 processes are considered as minor contributors towards the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg natural rubber

It is found that in Malaysia, the GHGs emission from the production of 1,193,946 tons of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) is 58.4 3 GgCO2eq and this only represent 0.02% from the Malaysian 2011 GHGs emission of 290,230 GgCO2eq [30]. Based on this value, the contribution of the GHGs emission from the production of 1,193,946 tons of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) in Malaysia is consid-

**4.3 Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) on GHGs emission for the production** 

**Figure 4** indicates that the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) block rubber from this study is 0.407 kgCO2eq. Electricity generation, methane emission from the effluent treatment system, production of natural rubber cup lump from cradle to gate and transportation of raw material from the source to the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) block rubber factories are the four key process contributors representing 95.9% from the total GHGs emission value in the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle

From **Figure 4**, it is noticeably reported that the reduction in the electricity consumption during the production of SMR block rubber, elimination in the methane mission from the effluent treatment system, reduction in the total GHGs

*GHGs emission values for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC).*

ered as insignificant as compared to the Malaysian 2011 GHGs emission.

**of SMR block rubber from cradle to gate**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84420*

cup lump (56% DRC) (**Figure 3**).

to gate (**Figure 4**).

*Environmental Impact Evaluation of Rubber Cultivation and Industry in Malaysia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84420*

**Figure 3** has clearly described that the trend from the GHGs emission for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) is basically identical to the GHGs emission for the cultivation of one rubber tree from cradle to grave.

The application and production of ammonium sulfate are the two main processes responsible for 77.9% from the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) (**Figure 3**). Potassium chloride production and glyphosate production recorded the contribution of 8.1 and 7.5% respectively while the remaining 13 processes are considered as minor contributors towards the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) (**Figure 3**).

It is found that in Malaysia, the GHGs emission from the production of 1,193,946 tons of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) is 58.4 3 GgCO2eq and this only represent 0.02% from the Malaysian 2011 GHGs emission of 290,230 GgCO2eq [30]. Based on this value, the contribution of the GHGs emission from the production of 1,193,946 tons of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) in Malaysia is considered as insignificant as compared to the Malaysian 2011 GHGs emission.

### **4.3 Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) on GHGs emission for the production of SMR block rubber from cradle to gate**

**Figure 4** indicates that the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) block rubber from this study is 0.407 kgCO2eq.

Electricity generation, methane emission from the effluent treatment system, production of natural rubber cup lump from cradle to gate and transportation of raw material from the source to the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) block rubber factories are the four key process contributors representing 95.9% from the total GHGs emission value in the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate (**Figure 4**).

From **Figure 4**, it is noticeably reported that the reduction in the electricity consumption during the production of SMR block rubber, elimination in the methane mission from the effluent treatment system, reduction in the total GHGs

**Figure 3.** *GHGs emission values for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC).*

*Climate Change and Agriculture*

tural sector in 2011 (**Table 2**).

immature rubber tree for a year.

**cup lump production from cradle to gate**

Percentage from agriculture sector in Malaysia 2011

GHGs emission (%)\*

*\**

*Source: [16].*

**Table 2.**

as insignificant as compared to the GHGs emissions value from Malaysian agricul-

**4.2 Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) on GHGs emission for natural rubber** 

The total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) is 4.89E−02 kgCO2eq and its represent 0.11% from the total GHGs emission value for the cultivation of one rubber tree from cradle to grave (**Figure 3**).

GHGs emission (GgCO2eq) 524.69 87.45 Percentage from Malaysia 2011 GHGs emission (%)\* 0.18 0.03

*GHGs emission to maintain the healthy growth of immature rubber trees in Malaysia.*

*GHGs emission profile to maintain the healthy growth of one immature rubber tree for a year.*

**Immature rubber stage (6 years)**

3.33 0.55

**Average 1 year for immature rubber stage**

**Table 3** shows the list of GHGs emission and its corresponding values in contributing to the total GHGs emission value in maintaining the healthy growth of one

**190**

**Table 3.**

#### **Figure 4.**

*GHGs emission values for the production of 1 kg Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) block rubber from cradle to gate.*


**193**

*Environmental Impact Evaluation of Rubber Cultivation and Industry in Malaysia*

*GHGs emission profile for the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate.*

emission from the production of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) from cradle to gate and the reduction of fossil fuels based usage in the transporting of raw material from the source to SMR block rubber factory will definitely scale down the total GHGs emission from the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from

**GHGs Weight in kgCO2eq** Methane, dichlorofluoro-, HCFC-21 1.99E−12 Methane, bromo-, Halon 1001 2.84E−18 Total GHGs emission 0.407

The GHGs emission from the production of SMR block rubber from cradle to gate had the potential to be reduced through the elimination of methane release from the effluent treatment system. The methane release from the treatment of SMR block rubber factory effluent can be eradicated through changing the current effluent treatment system of facultative/anaerobic ponding system to a fully aerobic system. At present, the methane emission from the effluent treatment plant in the

The GHGs emission from the production of 562,967 tons of natural rubber cup lump based SMR block rubber in Malaysia is 229.41 GgCO2eq and this only represent 0.08% from the Malaysian total GHGs emission of 290,230 GgCO2eq in 2011 [30]. The list of GHGs emission and its corresponding values in contributing to the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate is shown in **Table 4**. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are the three major GHGs that contribute 99.96% from the total GHGs emission value in

block rubber factories are not subjected to any environmental regulations.

the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate (**Table 4**).

trees from cradle to grave based on average 1 year perspective.

rubber trees for gate to gate boundary in Malaysia.

The GHGs emission from the production of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) in Malaysia for the average period of 1 year for cradle to gate is 58.43 GgCO2eq and it represents 18.5% from the total GHGs emission for the cultivation of rubber

In summary, with the implement of Life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology for the Malaysian rubber industry in this study, it can be concluded that the reduction in the utilization of ammonium sulfate fertilizer to its optimum level has the potential to reduce the GHGs emission for the cultivation of rubber trees in Malaysia from cradle to grave perspective. Meanwhile, the reduction in the immaturity rubber stage period and incorporating of manual weeding method in the weed management have the potential to reduce the GHGs emission for the production of mature

The GHGs emission from the production of SMR block rubber in Malaysia for the average period of 1 year for cradle to gate boundary have the potential to be reduce through increasing the supply of local natural rubber and making sure the natural rubbers are free or have a very minimum amount of contaminants. The GHGs emission from the production SMR block rubber in Malaysia for the average period of 1 year for cradle to gate boundary also has the potential to be reduce through replacing the current effluent treatment system to a fully aerobic system.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84420*

cradle to gate.

**Table 4.**

**5. Conclusions**

*Environmental Impact Evaluation of Rubber Cultivation and Industry in Malaysia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84420*


#### **Table 4.**

*Climate Change and Agriculture*

**GHGs Weight in kgCO2eq** Carbon dioxide 2.40E−01 Methane 1.18E−01 Nitrous oxide 4.90E−02 Methane, tetrafluoro-, CFC-14 6.16E−05 Sulfur hexafluoride 4.18E−05 Methane, chlorodifluoro-, HCFC-22 2.25E−05 Ethane, hexafluoro-, HFC-116 1.30E−05 Methane, bromotrifluoro-, Halon 1301 9.13E−06 Methane, bromochlorodifluoro-, Halon 1211 6.92E−06 Ethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-, HFC-134a 4.39E−06 Methane, tetrachloro-, CFC-10 3.75E−06 Ethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-, CFC-114 2.24E−06 Methane, dichlorodifluoro-, CFC-12 7.84E−07 Methane, trichlorofluoro-, CFC-11 3.39E−07 Methane, chlorotrifluoro-, CFC-13 1.39E−07 Methane, trifluoro-, HFC-23 6.21E−08 Ethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoro-, CFC-113 1.23E−08 Methane, dichloro-, HCC-30 1.09E−08 Ethane, 1,1-difluoro-, HFC-152a 1.37E−09 Chloroform 1.31E−09 Methane, monochloro-, R-40 1.68E−11 Ethane, 1,1,1-trichloro-, HCFC-140 6.50E−12

*GHGs emission values for the production of 1 kg Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) block rubber from cradle to gate.*

**192**

**Figure 4.**

*GHGs emission profile for the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate.*

emission from the production of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) from cradle to gate and the reduction of fossil fuels based usage in the transporting of raw material from the source to SMR block rubber factory will definitely scale down the total GHGs emission from the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate.

The GHGs emission from the production of SMR block rubber from cradle to gate had the potential to be reduced through the elimination of methane release from the effluent treatment system. The methane release from the treatment of SMR block rubber factory effluent can be eradicated through changing the current effluent treatment system of facultative/anaerobic ponding system to a fully aerobic system. At present, the methane emission from the effluent treatment plant in the block rubber factories are not subjected to any environmental regulations.

The GHGs emission from the production of 562,967 tons of natural rubber cup lump based SMR block rubber in Malaysia is 229.41 GgCO2eq and this only represent 0.08% from the Malaysian total GHGs emission of 290,230 GgCO2eq in 2011 [30].

The list of GHGs emission and its corresponding values in contributing to the total GHGs emission value for the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate is shown in **Table 4**. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are the three major GHGs that contribute 99.96% from the total GHGs emission value in the production of 1 kg SMR block rubber from cradle to gate (**Table 4**).

The GHGs emission from the production of natural rubber cup lump (56% DRC) in Malaysia for the average period of 1 year for cradle to gate is 58.43 GgCO2eq and it represents 18.5% from the total GHGs emission for the cultivation of rubber trees from cradle to grave based on average 1 year perspective.
