TY - JOUR
T1 - Sustainability of bio-based polyethylene
T2 - The influence of biomass sourcing and end-of-life
AU - Ritzen, Linda
AU - Sprecher, Benjamin
AU - Bakker, Conny
AU - Balkenende, Ruud
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Bio-based polymers may present a sustainable, circular way to reduce the environmental impact of plastics because they are produced from biomass that absorbs CO2 during its growth. However, sourcing (type of biomass used and cultivation location), production, and end-of-life affect the environmental impact of bio-based plastics. We assessed the effect of sourcing and end-of-life options on the environmental impact of bio-based high-density polyethylene (bio-HDPE) in 31 sourcing scenarios and five end-of-life options. Our study found that careful consideration of biomass sourcing (biomass type and production location) and end-of-life is needed to optimize the environmental impact of bio-based plastics. If these aspects are not considered, the environmental impact of bio-HDPE may exceed that of its petrochemical-based counterpart. The direct availability of fermentable sugars indicated a lower environmental impact. The production location affected the resources needed for biomass cultivation and the environmental impact of processing due to the energy mix. Recently published guidelines do not allow biogenic carbon to be accounted for during the production stage, but only upon the incineration of the plastic. Our results show that this way of attributing biogenic carbon results in an apparent disadvantage for bio-based plastics compared to petrochemical-based plastics. Furthermore, it disadvantaged mechanical recycling of bio-based plastics compared to incineration, a result out of line with circular economy principles.
AB - Bio-based polymers may present a sustainable, circular way to reduce the environmental impact of plastics because they are produced from biomass that absorbs CO2 during its growth. However, sourcing (type of biomass used and cultivation location), production, and end-of-life affect the environmental impact of bio-based plastics. We assessed the effect of sourcing and end-of-life options on the environmental impact of bio-based high-density polyethylene (bio-HDPE) in 31 sourcing scenarios and five end-of-life options. Our study found that careful consideration of biomass sourcing (biomass type and production location) and end-of-life is needed to optimize the environmental impact of bio-based plastics. If these aspects are not considered, the environmental impact of bio-HDPE may exceed that of its petrochemical-based counterpart. The direct availability of fermentable sugars indicated a lower environmental impact. The production location affected the resources needed for biomass cultivation and the environmental impact of processing due to the energy mix. Recently published guidelines do not allow biogenic carbon to be accounted for during the production stage, but only upon the incineration of the plastic. Our results show that this way of attributing biogenic carbon results in an apparent disadvantage for bio-based plastics compared to petrochemical-based plastics. Furthermore, it disadvantaged mechanical recycling of bio-based plastics compared to incineration, a result out of line with circular economy principles.
KW - bio-based plastic
KW - biogenic carbon
KW - circular economy
KW - high-density polyethylene
KW - industrial ecology
KW - lifecycle assessment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85205899629&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jiec.13555
DO - 10.1111/jiec.13555
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85205899629
SN - 1088-1980
VL - 28
SP - 1684
EP - 1698
JO - Journal of Industrial Ecology
JF - Journal of Industrial Ecology
IS - 6
ER -