Avaliação da viabilidade técnica e ambiental da produção de telhas sustentáveis utilizando resíduos de plástico, areia e fibra de coco

Abstract

The increasing generation of plastic and agro-industrial waste represents one of the main environmental challenges of today. This research analyzed the technical and environmental feasibility of producing sustainable roofing tiles made from PET plastic waste, sand, and coconut fiber, representing an alternative for the construction sector in Mozambique. The study was conducted through the preparation of different composite formulations, followed by laboratory tests for water absorption, flexural strength, flammability, and apparent density, as well as the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) using the OpenLCA software. The results indicated that formulation S2 (50% PET, 40% sand, and 10% coconut fiber) showed the best mechanical performance (1450 N flexural strength), lower flame propagation (6.25 mm/min), and adequate density (2.23 g/cm³), while maintaining low water absorption (3.26%). Although formulation S1 presented lower water absorption, it exhibited lower strength and higher flammability. From an environmental perspective, the LCA demonstrated that S2 presented lower impacts in the categories of Global Warming Potential, Photochemical Ozone Formation, and Particulate Matter Formation, proving to be more advantageous than S1. It is concluded that the production of roofing tiles using PET, sand, and coconut fiber waste is technically feasible and environmentally beneficial, especially in the S2 formulation, contributing to waste valorization, reduction of plastic pollution, and the promotion of a circular economy.