Environmental Profile and Sustainability of Basalt Fibres
topic
Life cycle assessment of basalt fibre production shows cradle-to-gate global warming potential of 1.7 to 2.3 kilograms CO2 equivalent per kilogram, comparing favourably with E-glass at 2.0 to 2.5 kilograms CO2 per kilogram due to simplified single-material melt process without additive manufacturing; basalt rock abundance and no chemical additive requirements eliminate raw material scarcity and hazardous chemical supply risks.
Role
Positions basalt fibre as an environmentally competitive alternative to glass fibre reinforcement with comparable carbon footprint, zero toxic manufacturing byproducts, abundant globally distributed raw material reserves, and complete mineral recyclability by crushing for aggregate applications, supporting sustainable composite material selection frameworks for construction and infrastructure applications.