A Lifecycle Assessment of Meat Processing Products Made from Protein-Based Thermoplastics

Hygiene during slaughtering is paramount for meat processors and plugs are often used during slaughtering to reduce contamination from fecal matter. These products are rendered along with other waste and are considered a serious contaminant to rendering products. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to determine and compare the environmental impacts of plugs made from polypropylene to a protein-based thermoplastic (Novatein). For Novatein plugs, resin production dominated the non-renewable primary energy (NRPE) use and global warming potential (GWP), whereas the impacts from injection molding and packaging dominated downstream production. Novatein plugs had a higher GWP than the PP plug, but required less NRPE. Two important conclusions were drawn: a bio-based material does not necessarily present an overall reduced environmental impact in comparison to other products, and results can easily be skewed based on allocation methods used for impacts from upstream processes, especially considering waste products. However, not evident from this LCA is the advantage that Novatein breaks down during rendering, safely becoming part of part of the rendering products.