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Life cycle assessments of biodegradable, commercial biopolymers—A critical review

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  • Yates, Madeleine R.
  • Barlow, Claire Y.

Abstract

Biopolymers are generally considered an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical polymers due to the renewable feedstock used to produce them and their biodegradability. However, the farming practices used to grow these feedstocks often carry significant environmental burdens, and the production energy can be higher than for petrochemical polymers. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) are available in the literature, which make comparisons between biopolymers and various petrochemical polymers, however the results can be very disparate. This review has therefore been undertaken, focusing on three biodegradable biopolymers, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), and starch-based polymers, in an attempt to determine the environmental impact of each in comparison to petrochemical polymers. Reasons are explored for the discrepancies between these published LCAs. The majority of studies focused only on the consumption of non-renewable energy and global warming potential and often found these biopolymers to be superior to petrochemically derived polymers. In contrast, studies which considered other environmental impact categories as well as those which were regional or product specific often found that this conclusion could not be drawn. Despite some unfavorable results for these biopolymers, the immature nature of these technologies needs to be taken into account as future optimization and improvements in process efficiencies are expected.

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  • Yates, Madeleine R. & Barlow, Claire Y., 2013. "Life cycle assessments of biodegradable, commercial biopolymers—A critical review," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 54-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:78:y:2013:i:c:p:54-66
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.06.010
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    1. Meeks, Diana & Hottle, Troy & Bilec, M.M. & Landis, A.E., 2015. "Compostable biopolymer use in the real world: Stakeholder interviews to better understand the motivations and realities of use and disposal in the US," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 134-142.
    2. Changping Zhao & Juanjuan Sun & Yun Zhang, 2022. "A Study of the Drivers of Decarbonization in the Plastics Supply Chain in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Sebastian Spierling & Venkateshwaran Venkatachalam & Marina Mudersbach & Nico Becker & Christoph Herrmann & Hans-Josef Endres, 2020. "End-of-Life Options for Bio-Based Plastics in a Circular Economy—Status Quo and Potential from a Life Cycle Assessment Perspective," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Hottle, Troy A. & Bilec, Melissa M. & Landis, Amy E., 2017. "Biopolymer production and end of life comparisons using life cycle assessment," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 295-306.
    5. Javad Torkashvand & Mohammad Mahdi Emamjomeh & Mitra Gholami & Mahdi Farzadkia, 2021. "Analysis of cost–benefit in life-cycle of plastic solid waste: combining waste flow analysis and life cycle cost as a decision support tool to the selection of optimum scenario," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13242-13260, September.
    6. Aikaterini Konti & Diomi Mamma & Nicolae Scarlat & Dimitris Damigos, 2022. "The Determinants of the Growth of the European Bioplastics Sector—A Fuzzy Cognitive Maps Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Miller, Sabbie A. & Srubar, Wil V. & Billington, Sarah L. & Lepech, Michael D., 2015. "Integrating durability-based service-life predictions with environmental impact assessments of natural fiber–reinforced composite materials," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 72-83.
    8. Barlow, C.Y. & Morgan, D.C., 2013. "Polymer film packaging for food: An environmental assessment," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 74-80.

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