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Resource Intensity Analysis of Producing 21 Types of Plastic in Terms of Mining Activity

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  • Taisuke Umesaki

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
    Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan)

  • Shoki Kosai

    (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan
    Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Noji-Higashi 1-1-1, Kusatsu-shi, Shiga 525-8577, Japan)

  • Shunsuke Kashiwakura

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
    Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan)

  • Eiji Yamasue

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
    Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan)

Abstract

Material flow analysis of plastics has attracted considerable attention for achieving sustainable production and consumption. However, the direct weights of each plastic have been analyzed alone, not considering the amount of natural resources as inputs for plastic production. Therefore, we analyzed the cradle-to-gate resource intensity of 21 types of plastics in terms of mining activity, using the total material requirement under the life cycle concept. It was found that the resource use for plastic production differs by up to approximately 10 times depending on the plastic type. By applying these findings to the material flow analysis of some countries and regions, we found that the quantity of natural resources was more than 20 times the original weight attributed to plastic production. By comparing resource use with greenhouse gas emissions, plastics with higher greenhouse gas emissions were found to have higher resource use, indicating a positive correlation, whereas the opposite trend was also found for some plastics. Considering plastic alternatives, we found that the quantity of natural resources in plastic-based shopping bags is nearly equivalent to that in paper-based bags, whereas that in plastic-based straws is greater than that in paper-based bags. Focusing only on the direct weight of plastic may mislead the decision-making process.

Suggested Citation

  • Taisuke Umesaki & Shoki Kosai & Shunsuke Kashiwakura & Eiji Yamasue, 2024. "Resource Intensity Analysis of Producing 21 Types of Plastic in Terms of Mining Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:2715-:d:1363886
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Bringezu, Stefan & Schutz, Helmut & Steger, Soren & Baudisch, Jan, 2004. "International comparison of resource use and its relation to economic growth: The development of total material requirement, direct material inputs and hidden flows and the structure of TMR," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1-2), pages 97-124, November.
    5. Mutha, Nitin H. & Patel, Martin & Premnath, V., 2006. "Plastics materials flow analysis for India," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 222-244.
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