IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/recore/v78y2013icp54-66.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344913001407
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.06.010?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lee R. Lynd & Michael Q. Wang, 2003. "A Product‐Nonspecific Framework for Evaluating the Potential of Biomass‐Based Products to Displace Fossil Fuels," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 7(3‐4), pages 17-32, July.
    2. Devdatt Kurdikar & Laurence Fournet & Steven C. Slater & Mark Paster & Kenneth J. Gruys & Tillman U. Gerngross & Remi Coulon, 2000. "Greenhouse Gas Profile of a Plastic Material Derived from a Genetically Modified Plant," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 4(3), pages 107-122, July.
    3. Shapouri, Hosein & Duffield, James A. & Graboski, Michael S., 1995. "Estimating the Net Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol," Agricultural Economic Reports 34005, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    4. Kendall, Alissa, 2012. "A life cycle assessment of biopolymer production from material recovery facility residuals," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 69-74.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sobrino, Fernando Hernández & Monroy, Carlos Rodríguez & Pérez, José Luís Hernández, 2010. "Critical analysis on hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels and biofuels for vehicles in Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 772-780, February.
    2. Baker, Mindy L. & Hayes, Dermot J. & Babcock, Bruce A., 2008. "Crop-Based Biofuel Production under Acreage Constraints and Uncertainty," 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6352, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    3. Mindy L. Mallory & Dermot J. Hayes & Bruce A. Babcock, 2011. "Crop-Based Biofuel Production with Acreage Competition and Uncertainty," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 87(4), pages 610-627.
    4. Eaves, James & Eaves, Stephen, 2007. "Renewable corn-ethanol and energy security," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 5958-5963, November.
    5. Rausch, Kent D. & Belyea, Ronald L. & Singh, Vijay & Tumbleson, M.E., 2007. "Corn processing coproducts from ethanol production," Biofuels, Food and Feed Tradeoffs Conference, April 12-13, 2007, St, Louis, Missouri 48775, Farm Foundation.
    6. Musaab O. El-Faroug & Fuwu Yan & Maji Luo & Richard Fiifi Turkson, 2016. "Spark Ignition Engine Combustion, Performance and Emission Products from Hydrous Ethanol and Its Blends with Gasoline," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-24, November.
    7. Mitra, Subhro & Dybing, Alan & Tolliver, Denver, 2011. "Impacts of ethanol plants on highway networks," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 4(1), pages 71-81.
    8. Szulczyk, Kenneth R. & McCarl, Bruce A. & Cornforth, Gerald, 2010. "Market penetration of ethanol," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 394-403, January.
    9. R. Lal, 2007. "Carbon Management in Agricultural Soils," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 303-322, February.
    10. Liu, Jin & Wu, Jianguo & Liu, Fengqiao & Han, Xingguo, 2012. "Quantitative assessment of bioenergy from crop stalk resources in Inner Mongolia, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 305-318.
    11. Yu, Suiran & Tao, Jing, 2009. "Energy efficiency assessment by life cycle simulation of cassava-based fuel ethanol for automotive use in Chinese Guangxi context," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 22-31.
    12. Sebastian Lubjuhn & Sandra Venghaus, 2024. "Unlocking the potential of the bioeconomy for climate change reduction: The optimal use of lignocellulosic biomass in Germany," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(1), pages 144-159, February.
    13. Charles, Michael B. & Ryan, Rachel & Ryan, Neal & Oloruntoba, Richard, 2007. "Public policy and biofuels: The way forward?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 5737-5746, November.
    14. Malça, João & Freire, Fausto, 2006. "Renewability and life-cycle energy efficiency of bioethanol and bio-ethyl tertiary butyl ether (bioETBE): Assessing the implications of allocation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(15), pages 3362-3380.
    15. Sourie, Jean-Claude & Treguer, David & Rozakis, Stelios, 2006. "Economic impact of biofuel chains in France," 2006 Annual meeting, July 23-26, Long Beach, CA 21184, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    16. 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.
    17. Dahlgran, Roger A., 2009. "Inventory and Transformation Hedging Effectiveness in Corn Crushing," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 34(1), pages 1-18, April.
    18. Tembo, Gelson & Epplin, Francis M. & Huhnke, Raymond L., 2003. "Integrative Investment Appraisal of a Lignocellulosic Biomass-to-Ethanol Industry," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 28(3), pages 1-23, December.
    19. H K, Narendra Kumar & N, Chandra Mohana & H C, Amrutha & D, Rakshith & B P, Harini & Satish, S., 2023. "Biomass conversion through optimization of cellulase from Chryseobacterium junjuense Bp17 and their utility in bioethanol production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    20. Brito, Dagobert & Rosellon, Juan, 2005. "The Political Economy of Solar Energy," MPRA Paper 22420, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:78:y:2013:i:c:p:54-66. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Kai Meng (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/resources-conservation-and-recycling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.