Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Elena Corella-Puertas, Carla Hajjar, Jerome Lavoie, Anne-Marie Boulay
Summary: The study aims to address the gap in life cycle assessment (LCA) by providing characterization factors (CFs) for assessing the impacts of aquatic microplastic emissions. This is achieved by updating the existing exposure and effect factor (EEF) and developing fate factors (FFs) for different polymers and sizes. The proposed methodology is tested in case studies and proves to be useful for environmental decision-making on single-use plastics.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andrei Veksha, Ashiq Ahamed, Xin Yi Wu, Lili Liang, Wei Ping Chan, Apostolos Giannis, Grzegorz Lisak
Summary: Laboratory scale recycling of marine plastic litter involving PET bottle sorting, pyrolysis, and CVD showed the necessity of PET separation and challenges in maintaining product quality. Life cycle assessment demonstrated positive environmental impacts of the proposed approach.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lieselot Boone, Nils Preat, Trang T. Nhu, Fabio Fiordelisi, Valerie Guillard, Matthias Blanckaert, Jo Dewulf
Summary: Packaging plays a crucial role in achieving more sustainable food systems, but the use of plastic packaging raises environmental concerns and waste management issues. Biodegradable alternatives like PHBV can address some of these concerns, but a comprehensive evaluation of their environmental impact is necessary, considering production, food preservation, and end-of-life fate.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jerome Lavoie, Anne-Marie Boulay, Cecile Bulle
Summary: This study focuses on the impact of micro- and nano-sized plastics (MNPs) on aquatic ecosystems, extracting data from academic literature and analyzing the differences in effects on different aquatic species, particularly between polystyrene (PS) and other polymer types. The research suggests that a single generic Effect Factor (EF) could be used for now due to the high uncertainty and lack of statistical difference among MNPs at the single species level.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mattia Mele, Giampaolo Campana, Giovanni Fumelli
Summary: Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF) is an advanced Additive Manufacturing technology that melts thermoplastics and deposits droplets layer-by-layer to build three-dimensional objects. The study shows that printer utilisation is the most significant factor for environmental impacts, and electrical consumption during 3D printing phase is crucial to human health and ecosystem quality.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Takunda Y. Chitaka, Harro von Blottnitz
Summary: This study explores the feasibility and potential impact of using leakage rates as a proxy indicator for informing the life cycle management of plastic products. Different types of products have vastly different leakage rates, with plastic products associated with on-the-go food consumption being highly prone to leakage. In South Africa, value-chain actors are increasingly taking an active role in plastic pollution mitigation by adopting design for recycling strategies and investing in downstream recycling activities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sabyasachi Das, Chao Liang, Jennifer B. Dunn
Summary: Pyrolysis is a promising technology for converting non-recyclable plastic waste into fuels or chemicals. The optimal use of pyrolysis products may vary depending on regional characteristics and environmental impacts.
Article
Polymer Science
Viktoria Mannheim
Summary: This paper assesses the environmental impacts of polypropylene and PP-PE-PET mixed-plastic products in the production stage using a life cycle assessment method, comparing the effects of different production methods on resource use and emissions. The research results can be used to develop more environmentally friendly injection-molding processes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevin Jia Le Lee, Sook Fun Wong
Summary: Proper end-of-life management of mixed plastic waste is a global challenge, and current pathways are designed based on geographical conditions and environmental regulations. This study assesses the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of different plastic EOL pathways in Singapore, emphasizing the need to redesign waste-to-resource taxonomy and maximize mechanical recycling to reduce reliance on thermal energies and improve performance.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hatem Alhazmi, Faris H. Almansour, Zaid Aldhafeeri
Summary: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool that quantifies impacts of processes for comparison and decision making. Research shows that different methods can lead to variations in results, which emphasizes the importance of selecting parameters based on goals and context. The study also highlights the impact of different approaches to plastic waste management on environmental outcomes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nelson Rangel-Buitrago, William J. Neal
Summary: The Anthropocene is characterized by the significant impact of human activities on Earth, particularly plastic pollution. Studying the presence of plastics in the geological record serves as a warning of their negative impacts and emphasizes the urgency of addressing plastic pollution.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mattia Costamagna, Beatrice Maria Massaccesi, Devis Mazzucco, Marcello Baricco, Paola Rizzi
Summary: Plastic packaging, especially multilayer flexible packaging, is essential in everyday life, but the recycling of these materials is challenging. This study aims to assess the technical feasibility and environmental sustainability of a process for recycling polyamides-polyethylene multilayer packaging films. The technique used involves selective dissolution of the polymers using monoethylene glycol. Experimental tests determined the optimal conditions for film treatment and maximizing yields and product quality. Life Cycle Assessment showed that the recycling process reduces the overall environmental impacts of these materials. Therefore, the analyzed recycling process is an effective approach to increase environmental sustainability and recover raw materials.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Gonzalez-Fernandez, G. Hanke, M. Pogojeva, N. Machitadze, Y. Kotelnikova, I. Tretiak, O. Savenko, K. Bilashvili, N. Gelashvili, A. Fedorov, D. Kulagin, A. Terentiev, J. Slobodnik
Summary: This study is the first to assess floating marine macro litter (FMML) in the Black Sea region, revealing relatively high litter densities across the basin and the presence of a garbage patch-like phenomenon in the offshore area of the eastern part.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Roberta Stefanini, Giulia Borghesi, Anna Ronzano, Giuseppe Vignali
Summary: The study compares the environmental impact of different types of bottles for food packaging. Results show that R-PET bottles have the lowest contribution to various environmental impacts, followed by PET, returnable glass, and non-returnable glass bottles. The use of returnable glass bottles is favored due to the potential reduction of marine litter.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Matthew G. Davidson, Rebecca A. Furlong, Marcelle C. McManus
Summary: Research on chemical recycling of plastics has increased in the past decade, with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology playing an important role in understanding the environmental impacts. Different approaches to modeling chemical recycling processes were identified, highlighting the need for further research on other methods like gasification and depolymerization to improve data availability and LCA modeling comparisons.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
