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Development of simplified characterization factors for the assessment of expanded polystyrene and tire wear microplastic emissions applied in a food container life cycle assessment

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  • Elena Corella‐Puertas
  • Pauline Guieu
  • Alessio Aufoujal
  • Cécile Bulle
  • Anne‐Marie Boulay

Abstract

To date, life cycle assessment (LCA) does not include a methodology for assessing the impacts of plastic litter leaked to the environment. This limits the applicability of LCA as a tool to compare the potential impacts of single‐use plastics and their alternatives on ecosystem quality and human health. As a contribution to tackle this issue, this work proposes simplified fate and characterization factors (CFs) for modeling the impacts of two types of microplastics—expanded polystyrene and tire and road wear particles—in the marine environment. In terms of fate mechanisms, this work explores different sedimentation, degradation, and fragmentation rate scenarios, based on literature values and expert estimates. Whereas the fate of expanded polystyrene is sensitive to the different fragmentation, degradation, and sedimentation scenarios, for tire and road wear particles the fate is primarily sensitive to sedimentation. The fate factors are integrated into CFs using an existing exposure and effect factor for microplastics in aquatic environments. Since the CFs of the two studied microplastics show important differences, these results reveal the need for developing polymer‐specific CFs. Finally, the CFs are tested in a case study of on‐the‐go food containers (one single‐use plastic, two compostable alternatives, and one reusable plate). Depending on the fate scenario, plastic litter impacts range from barely noticeable to more than doubling the total potential damage to ecosystem quality, compared to no plastic litter impact assessment. The high uncertainty of the results encourages further research on modeling microplastic fate and impacts in detail.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Corella‐Puertas & Pauline Guieu & Alessio Aufoujal & Cécile Bulle & Anne‐Marie Boulay, 2022. "Development of simplified characterization factors for the assessment of expanded polystyrene and tire wear microplastic emissions applied in a food container life cycle assessment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1882-1894, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:26:y:2022:i:6:p:1882-1894
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13269
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kyungjun Min & Joseph D. Cuiffi & Robert T. Mathers, 2020. "Ranking environmental degradation trends of plastic marine debris based on physical properties and molecular structure," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
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    1. Sivappirakasam Kamalakkannan & Amila Abeynayaka & Asela K. Kulatunga & Rajeev Kumar Singh & Miwa Tatsuno & Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage, 2022. "Life Cycle Assessment of Selected Single-Use Plastic Products towards Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations in Sri Lanka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Ian Vázquez‐Rowe & Robert Parker & Helen Hamilton & Huan Liu, 2022. "Industrial ecology for the oceans," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1842-1846, December.
    3. Lukas Zeilerbauer & Johannes Lindorfer & Pauline Fuchs & Melanie Knöbl & Asle Ravnås & Trygve Maldal & Eimund Gilje & Christian Paulik & Jörg Fischer, 2024. "Quantifying the Sustainability of Football (Soccer) Pitches: A Comparison of Artificial and Natural Turf Pitches with a Focus on Microplastics and Their Environmental Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.

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