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The environmental effect of reusing and recycling a plastic-based packaging system

The environmental effect of reusing and recycling a plastic-based packaging system. Application : Fridge packaging. Isabelle LHERAULT 21.03.05 . Plan. Definition of goal and scope Inventory analysis Life cycle impact assessment Life cycle conclusions. Definition of goal and scope. 1.

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The environmental effect of reusing and recycling a plastic-based packaging system

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  1. The environmental effect of reusing and recycling a plastic-basedpackaging system Application : Fridge packaging Isabelle LHERAULT 21.03.05

  2. Plan • Definition of goal and scope • Inventory analysis • Life cycle impact assessment • Life cycle conclusions

  3. Definition of goal and scope

  4. 1 = transparent polyethylene (PE) = expanded polystyrene (EPS) caps moulded = expanded polystyrene (EPS) side pieces Definition of goal and scope • Email Ltd : Australian company • 350 000 fridges / year • Packaging since 1990 :

  5. = layer of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) = transparent polyethylene (PE) = expanded polystyrene (EPS) caps moulded = expanded polystyrene (EPS) side pieces 1 2 Definition of goal and scope • Proposed system : Re use strategy

  6. Definition of goal and scope Problem : Will a recycle and reuse strategy for a plastic based packaging system that substantially reduces the quantity of waste to landfill would also reduce its overall environmental burden ? -> Life cycle assessment approach

  7. Weight in Kg of principal components of EPS/PE and EPS-HIPS/PE packaging for 500L refrigerators 20% less Definition of goal and scope

  8. 1 System boundaries Definition of goal and scope

  9. 2 System boundaries Definition of goal and scope

  10. Moomba Ethane Fusing EPS/HIPS Orange Wellington (New Zealand) Sydney PE resin HIPSsheet Melbourne HIPSresin, EPS Production locations Definition of goal and scope Chester Hill PE film

  11. Definition of goal and scope Assumptions • Ignore emission of ozone depleting gases • Ignore potential contributions to acid rain • Resources : crude oil + natural gas • Lack of relevant data • Loss of biodiversity, • Human health effects, • Eutrophication, • Ecotoxicity

  12. Inventory analysis

  13. Process of inventory analysis Multiplying by MJ/kg Inventory analysis

  14. Inventory of relevant inputs and outputs • Material flow diagram for producing 1Kg of EPS, EPS-HIPS, Polyethylene film Inventory analysis

  15. Inventory • Material flow in Kg for 1Kg of packaging (2) 0% re-use Inventory analysis

  16. Process of inventory Multiplying by MJ/kg Inventory analysis

  17. Inventory Energy inputs in MJ for the production, use and disposal of 1Kg of the materials Primary energy inputs in MJ for the production, use and disposal of 1Kg of the materials Inventory analysis

  18. Process of inventory Multiplying by MJ/kg Inventory analysis

  19. Inventory : summary Oxidant precursors Crude oil Methane Natural gas Carbone dioxide Excess HIPS Landfill waste OUTPUTS INPUTS Inventory analysis

  20. Life cycle impact assessment

  21. Assess potential impactsof the 2 packagings • Assign resource consumptions and waste emissions to categories of impacts • Greenhouse gas emissions • Depletion of oil and gas • Regional impact of photochemical oxidants • Examine re-using packaging Life cycle impact assessment

  22. 1 Assign resource consumptions and waste emissions to categories of impacts Greenhouse gas emissions : carbon dioxide and methane Greenhouse gas emissions in kg of carbon dioxide equivalents arising from the prod, use and disposal of 1 kg of each of the components of the 2 packagings : Life cycle impact assessment

  23. 1 Assign resource consumptions and waste emissions to categories of impacts • Photo chemicals oxidants : • Sydney and Melbourne are the only cities where the concentration of photo chemicals oxidants exceeds the threshold of regulations • Identification of processes which occur in these cities Life cycle impact assessment

  24. 1 Comparison of env. Burdens : Results 50% less Life cycle impact assessment

  25. 2 Examine re-using packaging PE not recycled Life cycle impact assessment

  26. Life cycle conclusions

  27. Life cycle impacts • Less for EPS-HIPS/PE packaging (lighter weight + recycling/reuse strategy) • Oil consumption 30% less for EPS-HIPS/PE • Oil consumption small part of energy consumption • Photochemical oxidants problems in Sydney and Melbourne • Recycling reduce energy required Life cycle conclusions

  28. General conclusions • Recycling reduces the env. burden of plastic based packaging • Energy consumed during Transportation negligible • Changing geographical locations of certain process steps can improve env. burden Life cycle conclusions

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