Publication: Comparative assessment of global warming impact and eco-efficiency of PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PLA (polylactic acid) boxes
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Issued Date
2016
Resource Type
File Type
application/pdf
ISSN
9596526
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-84979724831
Rights Holder(s)
Scopus
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Cleaner Production. Vol 125, (2016), p.95-107
Suggested Citation
Leejarkpai T., Mungcharoen T., Suwanmanee U. Comparative assessment of global warming impact and eco-efficiency of PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PLA (polylactic acid) boxes. Journal of Cleaner Production. Vol 125, (2016), p.95-107. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.029 Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/5323
Author(s)
Abstract
The life cycle assessment is an important tool to assess the environmental impacts of petroleum- and bio-based plastics. This study assessed the global warming potential and eco-efficiency of single used boxes, namely polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid, from cradle to grave. The effects of carbon uptake from photosynthesis and land-use change during corn plantation on global warming potential of polylactic acid boxes were considered. The global warming impact of the studied materials under various waste management scenarios was studied and compared. It was found that polystyrene in landfill created the lowest global warming impact (51.4 kg CO2 equivalent). Next, polylactic acid with photosynthesis in compost exhibited the second greatest environmental benefits (152.2 kg CO2 equivalent). Whereas, polylactic acid with land-use change in landfill revealed the highest global warming impact (773.5 kg CO2 equivalent). The global warming impact of polylactic acid with photosynthesis was lower by 20-51% than that of polylactic acid with land-use change in all waste management scenarios. Polystyrene in landfill was the most favorable eco-efficiency because of its lowest total cost with relatively low global warming impact. In conclusion for bio-based boxes, polylactic acid with photosynthesis in compost showed the highest eco-efficiency. The eco-efficiency of polylactic acid boxes can be significantly improved by minimizing the resin prices and disposal in the suitable waste management by composting. © 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Subject(s)
Carbon
Carbon dioxide
Composting
Efficiency
Environmental impact
Forestry
Global warming
Land fill
Land use
Life cycle
Photosynthesis
Plastic bottles
Polyesters
Polyethylene terephthalates
Polystyrenes
Waste disposal
Comparative assessment
Eco-efficiency
Environmental benefits
Global warming impact
Global warming potential
Land-use change
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Single used boxes
Waste management
Carbon dioxide
Composting
Efficiency
Environmental impact
Forestry
Global warming
Land fill
Land use
Life cycle
Photosynthesis
Plastic bottles
Polyesters
Polyethylene terephthalates
Polystyrenes
Waste disposal
Comparative assessment
Eco-efficiency
Environmental benefits
Global warming impact
Global warming potential
Land-use change
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Single used boxes
Waste management