Quantitative Estimate of CO2 Emission Reduction from Reuse of Automobile Parts in Japan

Abstract

In general, reusing automobile parts reduces not only the cost of replacing the failed parts but also the environmental load of manufacturing new parts. However, these effects have not yet been quantified. The present study focuses on determining the emitted CO₂ during production and quantitatively evaluating its reduction by the reuse of automobile parts. First, CO₂ emissions are calculated during the reused parts production process at the factory site. Thirty-nine automobiles from 27 models prepared in Japan are examined to measure the amount of CO₂ emitted in the production of new parts. Furthermore, the CO₂ emission reduction effect for different automobile models is estimated through multiple regression analysis. The CO₂ emissions are assumed to be the objective variable, whereas the explanatory variables are derived from the data provided in the automobile inspection certificates. The presented quantitative estimate of CO₂ emission reduction owing to the exploitation of reused parts is expected to promote policies for further reducing CO₂ emissions and arouse public awareness regarding the benefits of recycling automobile parts.