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A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Study of Polyethylene Based on Sugarcane and Crude Oil

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  • Christin Liptow
  • Anne‐Marie Tillman

Abstract

A potential strategy for tackling the negative environmental impact of conventional plastics is to produce them from renewable resources. However, such a strategy needs to be assessed quantitatively, by life cycle assessment (LCA) for example. This screening LCA is intended to identify key aspects that influence the environmental impact of sugarcane low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and compare these results against fossil‐based LDPE. The study showed that the major contributors to the environmental impact of sugarcane LDPE are ethanol production, polymerization, and long‐distance sea transport. The comparison between sugarcane‐ and oil‐based plastics showed that the sugarcane alternative consumes more total energy, although the major share is renewable. Moreover, for their potential impacts on acidification, eutrophication, and photochemical ozone creation, no significant difference between the two materials exists. However, with regard to global warming potential (GWP), the contribution of land use change (LUC) is decisive. Although the range of LUC emissions is uncertain, in the worst case they more than double the GWP of sugarcane LDPE and make it comparable to that of fossil‐based LDPE. LUC emissions can thus be significant for sugarcane LDPE, although there is need for a consistent LUC assessment method. In addition, to investigate the influence of methodological choices, this study performed attributional and consequential assessments in parallel. No major differences in key contributors were found for these two assessment perspectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Christin Liptow & Anne‐Marie Tillman, 2012. "A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Study of Polyethylene Based on Sugarcane and Crude Oil," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(3), pages 420-435, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:16:y:2012:i:3:p:420-435
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00405.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Roel J. K. Helmes & Pietro Goglio & Silvia Salomoni & Daan S. van Es & Iris Vural Gursel & Lusine Aramyan, 2022. "Environmental Impacts of End-of-Life Options of Biobased and Fossil-Based Polyethylene Terephthalate and High-Density Polyethylene Packaging," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Holmgren, Kristina M. & Andersson, Eva & Berntsson, Thore & Rydberg, Tomas, 2014. "Gasification-based methanol production from biomass in industrial clusters: Characterisation of energy balances and greenhouse gas emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 622-637.
    3. Alvarenga, Rodrigo A.F. & Dewulf, Jo, 2013. "Plastic vs. fuel: Which use of the Brazilian ethanol can bring more environmental gains?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 49-52.
    4. Yang, F. & Meerman, J.C. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2021. "Carbon capture and biomass in industry: A techno-economic analysis and comparison of negative emission options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

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