GHG Emission as a Measure of Environmental Impacts in Producing Selected Natural Rubber Products

Abstract

Rubber production has been taking place in Sri Lanka for more than 100 years. This study
presents emission of green house gases (GHG) associated with the production of concentrated
latex and crepe rubber in Sri Lanka. According to the extent of rubber plantation by districts
of Sri Lanka, Kegalle, Kalutara, Ratnapura and Colombo are the major rubber growing
districts. Out of these districts Kegalle, Kalutara and Colombo were selected for the study.
List of rubber manufacturing industries were used to select industries. Those industries were
categorised based on number of workers such as small scale, medium scale and large scale.
Industries were selected from all categories proportionate to the total no of industries in the
list. Based on the list of rubber factories belonging to plantation companies and three
factories belonging to private companies in Sri Lanka were used to collect all activity data
were collected for a year. From April 2010 to March 2011 (financial year). The agricultural
activities in rubber plantation and fuel consumption for staff transportation were not taken to
account.

Emission of greenhouse gases associated with the production of primary rubber products
(crepe rubber and centrifuge latex) are quantified as functions of activities and emission
factors. Diesel uses in fresh latex transportation, electricity use, diesel use for self power
generation, production of diesel for latex transportation and self power generation and waste
water generation from concentrated and crepe factories were considered for GHG emission
calculation. Other than that, ammonia production for concentrated latex factories and
firewood use in crepe rubber factories were also considered. Total emission for the year 2010
from the production of concentrated latex is 1,339,663 Ton of CO2 Eq. and from the
production of crepe rubber is 8,431,884.1 ton of CO2 Eq.

The emission factors of the production of concentrated latex and crepe rubber was estimated
as 55.016 and 138.123 ton CO2 Eq per ton of product respectively. Emissions are largely
associated with waste water discharges and energy use. This study discusses to reduce GHG
emissions from above two product production processes.

Keywords: GHG, Emission, Concentrated latex, Crepe rubber