IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i17p9922-d628797.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Relevant Are Direct Emissions of Microplastics into Freshwater from an LCA Perspective?

Author

Listed:
  • Beatrice Salieri

    (TEMAS Solution, 5212 Hausen, Switzerland)

  • Natasha Stoudmann

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 Sankt Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Roland Hischier

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 Sankt Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Claudia Som

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 Sankt Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Bernd Nowack

    (Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 Sankt Gallen, Switzerland)

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous in ecosystems and a lot of research is being performed to understand their environmental fate and effects on organisms. However, the release and impact of MP has so far not been considered in LCA studies. This is due to missing information on the inventory side about microplastic releases and missing Characterization Factors to quantify the effects of MP. The goal of this study was to elucidate the relevance of MP release into freshwaters from an LCA perspective, by using worst-case assumptions. In accordance with the USEtox framework, an interim and simplified Characterization Factor for the impact category of freshwater ecotoxicity was calculated to be 3231 PAF·m 3 ·d·kg −1 . Applying this Characterization Factor, two LCA case studies were conducted, one on a polyester T-Shirt and one with a shower gel containing microplastics. The results show a small contribution of microplastics to the freshwater ecotoxicity for a scenario with state-of-the-art wastewater treatment. Different scenarios varying in microplastic release and removal during wastewater treatment and a sensitivity analysis of the Characterization Factor allowed identifying the potential range of the microplastic contribution to the overall ecotoxicity. In conclusion, the inclusion of microplastic release into LCA only marginally influences the overall environmental effects of the two products in the LCA case studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatrice Salieri & Natasha Stoudmann & Roland Hischier & Claudia Som & Bernd Nowack, 2021. "How Relevant Are Direct Emissions of Microplastics into Freshwater from an LCA Perspective?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9922-:d:628797
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9922/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9922/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Riccardo Accorsi & Lorenzo Versari & Riccardo Manzini, 2015. "Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Accorsi, Riccardo & Cascini, Alessandro & Cholette, Susan & Manzini, Riccardo & Mora, Cristina, 2014. "Economic and environmental assessment of reusable plastic containers: A food catering supply chain case study," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 88-101.
    3. David Lazarevic & Emmanuelle Aoustin & Nicolas Buclet & Nils Brandt, 2010. "Plastic Waste Management in the context of a European recycling society," Post-Print halshs-00584531, HAL.
    4. Katsiaryna Pabortsava & Richard S. Lampitt, 2020. "High concentrations of plastic hidden beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Mélanie Schmutz & Roland Hischier & Claudia Som, 2021. "Factors Allowing Users to Influence the Environmental Performance of Their T-Shirt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, February.
    6. Claire F. Hunt & Wilson H. Lin & Nikolaos Voulvoulis, 2021. "Evaluating alternatives to plastic microbeads in cosmetics," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 366-372, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Mayanti, Bening & Helo, Petri, 2022. "Closed-loop supply chain potential of agricultural plastic waste: Economic and environmental assessment of bale wrap waste recycling in Finland," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    2. Joana C. Prata & Ana L. Patrício Silva & João P. da Costa & Catherine Mouneyrac & Tony R. Walker & Armando C. Duarte & Teresa Rocha-Santos, 2019. "Solutions and Integrated Strategies for the Control and Mitigation of Plastic and Microplastic Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Sarah Verdonk & Keri Chiveralls & Drew Dawson, 2017. "Getting Wasted at WOMADelaide: The Effect of Signage on Waste Disposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Markus Gall & Andrea Schweighuber & Wolfgang Buchberger & Reinhold W. Lang, 2020. "Plastic Bottle Cap Recycling—Characterization of Recyclate Composition and Opportunities for Design for Circularity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Miguel Vigil & Maria Pedrosa-Laza & JV Alvarez Cabal & Francisco Ortega-Fernández, 2020. "Sustainability Analysis of Active Packaging for the Fresh Cut Vegetable Industry by Means of Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Benedetta Cotta, 0. "What goes around, comes around? Access and allocation problems in Global North–South waste trade," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-15.
    7. Álvaro J. Arnal & Patricia Royo & Gianpiero Pataro & Giovanna Ferrari & Víctor J. Ferreira & Ana M. López-Sabirón & Germán A. Ferreira, 2018. "Implementation of PEF Treatment at Real-Scale Tomatoes Processing Considering LCA Methodology as an Innovation Strategy in the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Richard S. Lampitt & Stephen Fletcher & Matthew Cole & Alice Kloker & Stefan Krause & Fran O’Hara & Peter Ryde & Mahua Saha & Anastasia Voronkova & Adrian Whyle, 2023. "Stakeholder alliances are essential to reduce the scourge of plastic pollution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-3, December.
    9. Rigamonti, L. & Grosso, M. & Møller, J. & Martinez Sanchez, V. & Magnani, S. & Christensen, T.H., 2014. "Environmental evaluation of plastic waste management scenarios," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 42-53.
    10. Riaz Ahmad & Gengyuan Liu & Remo Santagata & Marco Casazza & Jingyan Xue & Kifayatullah Khan & Javed Nawab & Sergio Ulgiati & Massimiliano Lega, 2019. "LCA of Hospital Solid Waste Treatment Alternatives in a Developing Country: The Case of District Swat, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Żaneta Muranko & Catriona Tassell & Anouk Zeeuw van der Laan & Marco Aurisicchio, 2021. "Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-35, March.
    12. Camilla Tua & Laura Biganzoli & Mario Grosso & Lucia Rigamonti, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable Plastic Crates (RPCs)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Graham, Stephanie & Graham, Byron & Holt, Diane, 2018. "The relationship between downstream environmental logistics practices and performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 356-365.
    14. Helén Williams & Fredrik Wikström & Katarina Wetter-Edman & Per Kristensson, 2018. "Decisions on Recycling or Waste: How Packaging Functions Affect the Fate of Used Packaging in Selected Swedish Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Sebastjan Škerlič & Robert Muha, 2020. "A Model for Managing Packaging in the Product Life Cycle in the Automotive Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-19, November.
    16. Jonas Keller & Carla Scagnetti & Stefan Albrecht, 2022. "The Relevance of Recyclability for the Life Cycle Assessment of Packaging Based on Design for Life Cycle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-13, March.
    17. Luo, Na & Olsen, Tava & Liu, Yanping & Zhang, Abraham, 2022. "Reducing food loss and waste in supply chain operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    18. Tanksale, Ajinkya N. & Das, Debabrata & Verma, Priyanka & Tiwari, Manoj Kumar, 2021. "Unpacking the role of primary packaging material in designing green supply chains: An integrated approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    19. Riccardo Accorsi & Lorenzo Versari & Riccardo Manzini, 2015. "Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-23, March.
    20. Benedetta Cotta, 2020. "What goes around, comes around? Access and allocation problems in Global North–South waste trade," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 255-269, June.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9922-:d:628797. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.