title: Greenhouse gas emissions from the treatment of household plastic containers and packaging: replacement with biomass-based materials.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to quantify the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction that could be achieved by replacement of fossil-derived materials with biodegradable, biomass-based materials for household plastic containers and packaging, considering a variety of their treatment options. The biomass-based materials were 100% polylactide or a combination of polybutylene succinate adipate and polylactide. A scenario analysis was conducted considering alternative recycling methods. Five scenarios were considered: two for existing fossil-derived materials (the current approach in Japan) and the three for biomass-based materials. Production and waste disposal of 1 m(3) of plastic containers and packaging from households was defined as the functional unit. The results showed that replacement of fossil-derived materials with biomass-based materials could reduce life-cycle GHG emissions by 14-20%. Source separation and recycling should be promoted. When the separate collection ratio reached 100%, replacement with biomass-based materials could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 31.9%. Food containers are a priority for replacement, because they alone could reduce GHG emissions by 10%. A recycling system for biomass-based plastics must be carefully designed, considering aspects such as the transition period from fossil-derived plastics to biomass-based plastics.
authors.affiliation: 1Environment Preservation Research Center, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsubota
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005740:Gases; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D019064:Product Packaging; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C574545:polybutylene succinate-co-adipate; C033616:poly(lactide)
keywords: Biodegradable plastic; biomass-based plastic; greenhouse gas (GHG); life-cycle analysis; plastic containers and packaging; polylactide (PLA); scenario analysis