Yano, J.; Hirai, Y.; Tsubota, J.; Sakai, S. (2013) Presented at ISWA 2013 World Congress, Vienna, Austria, October 9, 2013
ABSTRACT
Various biomass-based materials have been developed and are now being used for plastic containers and packaging in some parts of the world. One of the effective approaches to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with plastic waste is replacement of plastic material with biomass-based materials. The purpose of this study was to quantify the life-cycle GHG reduction achieved by using biodegradable, biomass-based materials for household plastic containers and packaging. This study included a sensitivity check for the treatment methods applicable to biomass-based materials. A scenario analysis was also conducted by taking into account the uncertainties inherent in such an approach. Pure (100%) polylactide (PLA) and a mixture containing 30% PLA and 70% polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA) by weight were considered as biomass-based materials. Production and waste disposal of 1 m3 plastic containers and packaging from household was defined as the functional unit. The results of the treatment methods applicable to biomass-based materials showed that GHG emissions in biogasification using hyperthermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion technology were the lowest, followed by super heated steam treatment and ring-opening polymerization, landfill, incineration with energy recovery (ER), and incineration without ER. The results of the sensitivity check ensured that the order of GHG emissions estimated in this analysis was valid except for that of the landfill. The biodegradation ratio in the landfill site had a high sensitivity. Scenario analysis showed that material replacement using biomass-based materials could reduce GHG emissions by 13.8%. A sensitivity check ensured that GHG could be reduced with the use of biomass-based material. A sensitivity check for PLA pellet production, which was excluded in this analysis, should be considered as part of a future study.