Sustainability of Biobased plastics BBP: General Comparative Analysis

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Sustainability of Bio-based plastics (BBP)
General Comparative Analysis Clara Rosalía
Alvarez-Chávez, Sally Edwards, Rafael
Moure-Eraso, Ken Geiser Work Environment
Department. Lowell Center for Sustainable
Production. University of Massachusetts-Lowell
For Sustainable Production
Introduction Materials are considered a
fundamental determinant of sustainability
(Geiser, 2001). Plastics are considered essential
materials in todays society, they have brought
tremendous benefit and wealth for human living,
but during their life cycle they contribute to
pollution and depletion of natural of non
renewable resources. Sustainable materials are
those that during their life cycle reduce impacts
to occupational and public health as well as to
the environment (Geiser, 2001). Bio-based
plastics (BBP) appear as more environmentally
friendly materials than their petroleum based
counterparts when they are compared considering
their origin and biodegradability. But which of
the bio-based plastics currently on the market or
soon to be on the market are preferable from an
environmental, health, and safety perspective?
Objective To evaluate the sustainability of
bio-based plastics including all the stages of
their life cycle (cradle to grave) to assist in
decision-making about selection of these
bio-based materials.
Conclusion None of BBP currently in commercial
use or under development are fully sustainable.
Sustainability criteria showed that PLA, PHA and
starch bio-polymers have similar and better LCA
scores than other BBP.

• Methodology
• It included
• Extensive literature review of polylactic acid
  (PLA), starch, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs),
  Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT),
  Poly(butylethylene terephthalate) (PBT),
  Ligno-cellulosics and other natural fibres,
  plastics from corn and soy protein, bio-based
  polyols and nano-biomaterials to define and
  describe their source, production process,
  properties, process techniques, uses,
  environmental, health and safety impacts, costs,
  and commercial readiness.
• Information from BBP manufacturers (NatureWorks,
  LLC Metabolix Biosphere, LLC).
• A review of ranking schemes and criteria for
  plastics that have been developed by Van der
  Naald and Thorpe (1998) and Rossi, M. (2005,
  2006).
• Principles for the Sustainable Biomaterials
  Collaborative were used as a framework to develop
  a definition for sustainable plastic in this
  study and to make the evaluation of the
  sustainability of the BBP from the information
  obtained in the literature review and from
  manufacturers.
• Each BBP was reviewed according to sustainability
  criteria (EHS) from cradle to grave.

Results The results of this study were summarized
in a graphic tool based on our analysis of the
data we gathered on bio-based plastics according
to sustainability criteria (see Figures 1 and 2).
Discussion Each of the BBP utilized genetic
modified organisms for feedstock manufacture
toxic chemicals in the production process or
generated as byproducts hazardous additives or,
co-polymers from non-renewable resources, etc.
Some BBP are preferable from a health and safety
perspective and others are preferable from an
environmental health perspective. Substitution of
conventional petroleum-based plastics with safer
BBP requires the knowledge of the flow of these
materials and their adverse impacts in all their
life cycle in order to consider new approaches
towards sustainability. The placement of the BBP
on the Bio-based Plastics Spectrums currently in
use may change as additional data becomes
available.

• Recommendations
• The use of the LCA is recommended as an adequate
  instrument that needs to be part of the decision
  making about the sustainability of BBP. The
  sustainability of the BBP can be improved by
• Sustainable agriculture methods should be
  implemented for growing crops
• Less conventional and less expensive agricultural
  or industrial co-products
• Development and use of safer additives,
  co-polymers, and catalysts
• Reducing hazardous exposures to workers in BBP
  industry
• Composting/recycling infrastructure for BBP
• Promoting the reuse of materials and looking for
  alternative materials
• Reducing use of energy and using cleaner sources
  of energy during BBP production
• Introducing the concept of bio-refinery