Low carbon and eco-material adaptation method to railway vehicle through the life cycle environmental performance quantification

초록

GHG emission is one of the most important factors in global environment preservation. To reduce total GHG emission in each company and country, various technologies, standards and polices are emerged and focused. Furthermore, strong requirement of the green growth and sustainable development over the world including environmental regulation and standard are also another reason. But, up to now, railway industry is not included these environmental trend because of its complexity and strong point, environmentally friendly transportation mode and so on. Most of the industry except Railway industry is struggling to develop its product more environmentally friendly and get the 3rd party certification like Eco-labeling and Carbon footprint. Under these current situations, Railway industry cannot stay and sustain its better position any more than other transportation industry. To get environmental certification, LCA method has to be applied because life cycle approach is needed to respond current environmental requirement. But, from the interview and discussion with stakeholders, two main current problems are discovered. First, railway vehicle is much more complicate than other general products. Second, most product designer and other workers don't have environmental concept and knowledge. As a result, rail vehicle products are manufactured in the absence of environmental approach. To encourage use of LCA method into railway vehicle, it is needed to make more simplified method. The purpose of this research is to provide simple environmental performance evaluation tool for obtaining the environmental certification termed the EPD. As a result of this research, the Korea tilting train expresses (TTX), case study target in this study, got the EPD certification for the first time in Korea and some measures was suggested for more environmentally friendly railway vehicle considering to the end of its life.