Utilising copper tailings as a sustainable alternative to conventional structural filling materials: LCA analysis

Purpose: Mine tailings are solid waste left after extracting the valuable fraction of the ore. This study reviewed the possibility of using copper-tailing waste to develop building foundations and compared its environmental implications with conventional sand foundations. Design/methodology/approach: This study first discusses the state-of-the-art use of copper tailings in various industries through a literature review. The study then uses the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to quantify and compare the environmental impacts generated by the conventional sand and tailing foundations for buildings by considering a 1 × 1 m foundation area. The study also assessed the environmental impacts of a real copper mine case of the Khetri Copper Complex in the state of Rajasthan, India, and conducted a sensitivity analysis to show the impact of transportation distance on environmental impacts using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Findings: The study results indicate that the building foundation developed using copper-tailing waste is environmentally beneficial compared to a sand foundation. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the transportation of tailings reduces the environmental benefits if transported over long distances; however, the utilisation is helpful for environmental sustainability. We further discussed the managerial and social implications of the results. Originality/value: This study is a novel contribution highlighting the sequestration potential of copper tailing waste utilisation using midpoint and endpoint environmental impact categories.