SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS · Packaging Research and Development ... allow to use organic recycling...
Transcript of SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS · Packaging Research and Development ... allow to use organic recycling...
This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE programme co-financed by the ERDF
www.plastice.org
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS Training
for the National Information Points Greg Ganczewski, COBRO
Petra Horvat, NIC
Packaging Research and Development Department Packaging and Environment
Department Laboratory for Packaging Materials
and Consumer Packaging Testing Laboratory for Transport Packaging
Testing Certification Centre Information services Standardisation Department
COBRO is a state, self-supporting research institution subordinated to the Ministry of
Economy, founded in 1973
COBRO IS A MEMBER OF:
• World Packaging Organisation (WPO)
• International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (IAPRI)
• European Bioplastics
• Polish Chamber of Packaging (KIO)
This training workshop is divided into following parts :
PLASTiCE project – introduction
Guide for entrepreneurs – introduction
Plastics – basics
Plastics classification
Sustainability evaluation – three pillars of sustainability
Sustainable plastics – certification criteria
Contents
PLASTiCE project
Part I
Solution:
Use of plastics with higher level of sustainability –
biodegradable and biobased plastics
(bioplastics)
Challenge:
Intensive plastics use causes considerable and growing environmental burdens
• Use of limited resources (oil)
• Emissions released during production stage
• Waste management
PLASTiCE - Motivation
PLASTiCE Project focus
Identification and removal of barriers to the faster and more widespread use of
sustainable types of plastics,
particularly biodegradable plastics and plastics based on renewable resources, in
Central Europe.
How we intend to achieve this?
Joining strong centres of knowledge on biodegradable materials
Support and involvement of the complete value chain (production, processing, industrial use, consumer, waste management)
PLASTiCE - Objectives
Raising awareness among target groups regarding biodegradable plastics
Improving technology transfer and knowledge exchange mechanisms in biodegradable end-user industries
Improving access to scientific knowledge, use of already existing knowledge adapted to requirements of biodegradable polymer and plastic value chain
Intensifying application-oriented cooperation between research and industry.
PLASTiCE - Expected results
1. National information points
For providing unbiased and scientifically supported information about sustainable plastics to consumers and industrial users
2. Information Toolkit
3. Certification system for compostable plastics
Developed in Slovenia and Slovakia
4. Roadmap
For research and commercialization of new biodegradable polymers that meet overall market expectations
PLASTiCE PROJECT PARTNERS
13 partners from four countries (Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Italy)
Guide for Entrepreneurs
Part II
Today‘s training session:
1. National information points
For providing unbiased and scientifically supported information about sustainable plastics to consumers and industrial users
2. Information Toolkit
3. Certification system for compostable plastics
Developed in Slovenia and Slovakia
4. Roadmap
For research and commercialization of new biodegradable polymers that meet overall market expectations
Guide for Entreprenurs
Information Toolkit = Guide for entrepreneurs
A comprehensible guide about everything you need and want to know about bioplastics and sustainability
Revisions phase 5 – the final version of the guide is the core output of the project
Where do we start?
From what we know
We know that some materials can be harmful to the environment
We know that they may be harmful in their whole life cycle - especially when they turn into waste
We know that we need to share the planet with others and leave it for our children and grandchildren
What we can do?
How this translates into what we can do
We know that some materials can be harmful to the environment
Search for alternatives
We know that they may be harmful in their whole life cycle
Life cycle thinking
We know that we need to share the planet with others and leave it
for our children and grandchildren Sustainable development
What we can do?
How this translates into what we can do: Research new materials - especially
materials from renewable resources Use recycled materials in production Introduce life cycle thinking in
manufacturing practice – LCA and “carbon footprint” concepts
Use biodegradable materials which allow to use organic recycling method called composting
Part III
Bioplastics
17
Biobased and biodegradable plastics
BIOPLASTICS
FOSSIL
BIODEGRADABLE
NONBIODEGRADABLE
FOSSIL + RENEWABLE
BIODEGRADABLE
NONBIODEGRADABLE
RENEWABLE
BIODEGRADABLE
NONBIODEGRADABLE
SOURCES DEGRADABILITY
But they make up around 80 % of the current plastics production
With POLYMERS and PLASTICS!
3, 2, 1… START
Definitions - Polymer
BASIC TERM
A simplified analogy of a polymer is a pearl necklace composed of individual pearls (as monomers) arranged in a linear fashion.
Polymer - macromolecule composed of many repeating units.
Polymers (poly-mer from Greek: poly - many, meros - parts) can contain thousands of repeating units (monomers) arranged linear or branched.
Polymers are found in nature or are man-made (artificial, synthetic). Natural polymers (= biopolymers) are specific and crucial
constituents of living organisms. Man-made polymers are a large and diverse group of
compounds not known in nature. They are synthesized through chemical or biochemical methods. The global annual production of man-made polymers is estimated to be 230 million tons in 2009 (Plastics – The Facts 2010).
The main use of man-made polymers is in the production of plastics.
Definition - Plastics
Plastics – polymer-based material that is characterized
by its plasticity.
The main component of plastics (from Greek: plastikos - fit for moulding, plastos - moulded) is a polymer, which is “formulated” by the addition of additives and fillers to yield the technological material – plastics. Plastics are defined by their plasticity – a state of a viscous fluid at some point during processing.
Plastic – Polymer distinction
Polymer = pure compound „chemical“
Plastics = material Polymer + plasticizers fillers stabilizers additives antistatic agents coloring agents…
Polymer ≠ Plastics
Plastics = Polymer + Additives
Classification
We can classify polymers by:
– physicochemical properties
– origin
– origin of the raw material
– susceptibility to microorganism enzymes activity
– …
Physicochemical properties
Thermoplasts – they become soft when influenced by heat, become hard after a decrease of temperature.
E.g. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene – ABS, polycarbonate – PC, polyethylene – PE, polyethylene terephthalate – PET, polyvinyl chloride – PVC, poly(methyl methacrylate) – PMMA, polypropylene – PP, polystyrene – PS, extruded polystyrene foam – EPS.
Thermoset (duroplasts) – after formed they stay hard, they do not become soft when influenced by heat.
E.g. polyepoxide – EP, phenol formaldehyde resins – PF, polyurethane – PUR, polytetrafluoroethylene – PTFE.
Elastomers – materials, which we could stretch and squeeze, which follow deformations but they almost reshape back to the original shape afterwards.
Indian rubber/caoutchouc has been almost entirely replaced with elastomers. Also many new adaptions have been discovered.
Source of the schemes: http://www.chempage.de/theorie/kunststoffe.htm
Origin
Synthetic polymers – originate from chemical synthesis (polymerization , copolymerization , poly-condensation)
Natural polymers – produced by organisms
e.g. cellulose, protein, nucleic acids
Modified polymers – those are natural polymers, chemically changed to receive new functional properties
e.g. cellulose acetate, modified protein, thermoplastic starch
Origin of raw materials
Renewable resources
plant and animal
Non-renewable (fossil) resources
petroleum, coal
Susceptibility to microorganism enzymes activity
Biodegradable (polylactide – PLA, regenerated cellulose, starch)
Non-degradable (polyethylene – PE, polystyrene - PS)
Part IV
Plastics: conventional plastics
and bioplastics
Plastics - history
First plastics were produced in the 2nd half of 19th
and beginning of 20th century. Celluloid and cellophane were first ones and they were bio-based.
After 2nd World War plastics became very popular. From ’60 till ’90 they have mainly been produced from petrochemical resources.
In ’80 plastics production was bigger than steel production.
In ’90 environment protection policies became more important.
New technologies were put into practice e.g. producing polymer plastics based on renewable resources; production technologies of biodegradable materials.
Source: http://poupee-mecanique.com/blog/category/uncategorized
1902, invention of petroleum based plastics
1924, Ford goes BIO
1941, first bioplastic car - Ford
PLASTICS
• Universal, used in many different fields: – Packaging
– Constructions
– Transport
– Electric and electronic
– Agriculture
– Medicine
– Sport
– …
• Properties can be modified to virtually any requirement
• Lightweight products (due to small density).
• Excellent thermo insulating and electro insulating properties.
• Resistant to corrosion.
• Transparent and therefore used in optical devices.
Conventional - petrochemical plastics
Conventional plastics are produced from fossil resources and find use in many areas of
life.
The “big five” that take the biggest part in market are:
• Polyethylene (PE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polystyrene (solid – PS and foamed – EPS)
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Big role in industry is also attributed to:
• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
• Polycarbonate (PC)
• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) Plexi glass
• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Teflon
80 % of the plastics production
We live in the „Plastic Age“
• High resistant polymeric materials, also resistant to natural degradation => landfill crisis!
• Thermal conversion of plastics? Generation of toxins
• GHG?
• Growth of the price due to the growth of the petrol price
Classic petrochemical plastics
Classic petrochemical plastics
In 2011 global production of plastics reached:
270 million tons.
In 2011 plastics production in Europe reached:
57 million tons (21 % of global production).
The biggest worldwide plastic producer China reached:
23 % of global production.
Classic petrochemical plastics
Classic petrochemical plastics
Plastics consumption in Europe by branches in 2010 and 2011
Classic petrochemical plastics
Consumption has risen from 46,7 million tons in 2010 to 47 million tons in 2011. In 2010 the biggest branch was packaging with 39 %
of all consumption, followed by construction industry (20,6 %), automotive industry (7,5 %), electric and electronic application (5,6 %). Other smaller branches include: sport and recreation, agriculture and machine production.
In 2011 packaging was also the major contributor with a slight increase of its share to 39,4 %. Second biggest branch in 2011 was construction industry (20,5 %), automotive industry (8,3 %), followed by electric and electrical industry (5,4 %).
Classic petrochemical plastics
Plastics consumption by type and industry in 2011
Bioplastics
Bioplastics are bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics.
The term was coined by European Bioplastics
What differentiates bioplastics from conventional plastics?
Source: http://en.european-bioplastics.org/bioplastics/
The term bioplastics encompasses a whole family of materials which are biobased, biodegradable, or both.
Biobased means that the material or product is (partly) derived from biomass (plants). Biomass used for bioplastics stems from e.g. corn, sugarcane, or cellulose.
What differentiates bioplastics from conventional plastics?
Source: http://en.european-bioplastics.org/bioplastics/
The term biodegradable depicts a chemical process during which micro-organisms that are available in the environment convert materials into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide and compost (artificial additives are not needed). The process of biodegradation depends on the surrounding environmental conditions (e.g. location or temperature), on the material and on the application.
Of course, materials and products can feature both properties. They then offer all the benefits and additional options outlined.
Research of new materials and their production technologies is closely linked to: Knowledge development in environmental sciences,
which show negative influence of plastics in its whole life cycle
Improving evaluation methods of plastics influence on environment, especially through LCA
Using sustainable development policies, which in manufacturing and trading practice means ecological aspects equal to social and economic aspects
From 2007 to 2008 global biodegradable plastics production was about 500 thousand tons. In 2011 it was forecasted for about 700K tons, realization was 675K tons, total production of bioplastics was 1161 tons. (no data for 2012 yet)
Biodegradable plastics
Plastics susceptible to biodegradation
BASIC TERM
Microorganisms recognize biodegradable plastics as food and consume and digest it.
Different types of biodegradability
• Compostable in industrial composting facilities
• Home compostable
• Soil degradable
• Water degradable
• Anaerobic degradable
• Oxo degradable???
What is biodegradation?
Different parallel or subsequent abiotic and biotic steps, it must include the step of biological mineralization.
Takes place if the organic material of a plastic is used as a source of nutrients by the biological system (organism).
Biodegradation is NOT necessary connected with renewable origin of the feedstock
• Biodegradation • Photodegradation • Oxidation • Thermal degradation • Stress induced degradation
Degradation vs. BIOdegradation
Fragmentation: first step in the biodegradation, material is broken down into microscopic fragments
Biodegradability: Complete microbial assimilation of the fragmented material as a food source by the microorganisms
Compostability: Complete assimilation within 180 days in a composting environment
Fragmentation Biodegradation
Methane is then converted to energy, methane is more harmful for GHG
Determination of the rate of biodegradation
Respirometry
Surface/volume ratio!!!
Composting
Composting (organic recycling)
oxygen processing capability of bio-waste
strict controlled conditions by microorganisms, which turn carbon in to carbon dioxide (mineralization).
Product of this process is organic matter
called compost.
Composting
Composting is a manner of controlled organic waste treatment carried out under aerobic conditions (presence of oxygen) where the organic material is converted by naturally occurring microorganisms. During industrial composting the temperature in the composting heap can reach temperatures up to 70 °C. Composting is done in moist conditions. One composting cycle lasts up to 6 months.
Compostable plastics
Is plastics that biodegrades under the conditions and in the timeframe of the composting cycle
Biodegradable ≠ Compostable
Compostable = Biodegradable
Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November on waste, article 4: Waste hierarchy: (a) Prevention (b) Preparing for re-use (c) Recycling (d) Other recovery, e.g. energy recovery (e) Disposal
European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste, article 3.9 says: Organic recycling shall mean the aerobic and anaerobic treatment under controlled conditions and using microorganisms, of the biodegradable parts of packaging waste, which produces stabilized organic residues or methane. Landfill shall not be considered a form of organic recycling.
Article 6: By 31 December 2008 the following minimum recycling targets for materials contained in
packaging waste will be attained: (iv) 22,5 % by weight for plastics, counting exclusively material that is recycled back into plastics.
And composting is obviously not "back to plastics". That means, that composting of packaging is defined as recycling, but this recycling does not count to the fulfillment of the plastics packaging recycling quota.
REGULATIONS
Compostable plastics are defined by a series of national and international standards e.g. EN 13432, ASTM D-6400 and other.
More about this topic will be said at the end of todays training
Biodegradable plastics can be divided into 2 groups:
Biodegradable plastics from renewable resources
Biodegradable plastics from fossil resources
Biodegradable plastics from renewable resources
• Thermoplastic starch (TPS)
• Polyhydroxyalkanoates; PHAs (made by microorganisms) PHBV, P3HB, P4HB, PHV
• Polylactide (polylactic acid, PLA)
• Cellulose based plastics
Often those polymers appear in mixtures
Thermoplastic starch - TPS
Starch = Amylose + Amylopectin
Amylopectin prevents starch to become plastic-like => AcOH
Glycerol
H2O
VIDEO
Mater-Bi
Starch based material MaterBi is a trade name for the group of materials, produced by the Italian company Novamont, also partner in the PLASTiCE project, used for production of: • thermoformed flexible and durable films,
• trays,
• containers,
• foamed fillers (foamed peanuts),
• injection molded durable packaging and
• paper and cardboard coating.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates
Polyesters, produced by different
microorganisms from renewable
resources
The only family of bioplastics, entirely produced and degraded by living cells. PHAs are energy and carbon reserves for the microorganisms.
BIOCOMPATIBLE
Author: Dr. Martin Koller, TU Graz
Source: www.rsc.org
Use of PHAs
In agriculture: carriers for controlled release of nutrients, mulch films
Medical and therapeutic: Controlled release of drugs, implants, surgical pins
Packaging
Energy: biodiesel, obtained by transestrification of PHAs with longer side chains (mcl PHA)
Source: http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669598/philippe-starck-s-miss-sissi-lamp-now-made-from-sugar-waste
Source: Metabolix
Polylactide - PLA
Aliphatic polyester, produced by poly-condensation of lactic acid (LA is produced by fermentation of glucose)
PLA is NOT degradable in soil and also NOT suitable for home composting, is recyclable
Normal PLA (PLLA): Heat resistant up to ~50 °C
High heat resistant PLA (PDLA and PLLA stereocomplex): up to ~110 °C
BIOCOMPATIBILE
Natureworks, Purac, Kingfa
Use of PLA
Disposable food packaging (cup, bowls, containers, water bottles)
0 3 17 19 21 24 26 28 33 38 47 Day
Source: EARTHFIRST®PLA
PLA cup composting process
Industrial composting!!! In home composting environment PLA is NOT! compostable
Cellulose plastics
• Dissolved wood pulp from hard wood species eucalyptus
• Production process is based on cellophane films production
• Properties:
transparent, colorized or metabolized
High gas, odor and oil and grease barrier
Printable
Thermal stabile
Suitable for lamination to other biopolymers
Biodegradable plastics from fossil resources
Polyesters made of fossil resources including:
• Synthetic aliphatic polyesters – polycaprolactone (PCL);
• Synthetic and half-synthetic aliphatic copolymers (AC) and polyesters (AP);
• Synthetic aliphatic-aromatic copolymers (ACC);
• Polymers soluble in water – poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH)
Polycaprolactone
Often added as an additive for resins to improve their processing characteristics
compatible with a range of other materials, can be mixed with other materials to lower the costs and improve biodegradability
BIOCOMPATIBLE (drug delivery, in dental medicine – root canal filling(TM Resilon)
3D printing material
Other biodegradable polymers
Polyesters (hydrolysis of the estric bond)
Aliphatic polyesters (no aromatic groups) – PBS polybutylene succinate
– PBSA polybutylene succinate adipate
Aliphatic aromatic polyesters – PBAT polybutylene adipate
terephthalate
– PBMAT (Ecoflex BASF)
Water-soluble polymers – PVOH polyvinyl alcohol
– EVOH ethylenevinyl alcohol
Biodegradable plastics are not designed to be disposed in the nature!!!
Biodegradability is not function of origin of the raw material but is only related to structure!
Oxo-degradable plastics
Aggressively promoted materials, available on the market
Principle:
• Catalyst catalyzing oxidation is added to nondegradable plastics
• Thermal and/or photo activated catalysation
Fragmentation is inconclusive
Biodegradation e.g. mineralization is not proved.
NOT biodegradable, NOT compostable, available on the market – misleading marked
ASTM D6954 = standard test method STM You can not meet the requirements of a STM
Bio-based plastics
Biobased – derived from biomass, made from renewable resources
• Plastics can be fully or partially based on biomass (= renewable resources). The use of renewable resources should lead to a higher sustainability of the plastics because of the lower carbon footprint.
• Although fossil resources are natural they are not renewable and are not considered a basis for biobased plastics.
Source: R. Narayan
Carbon cycle
Green PE
Plastics, made from ethanol which is produced from sugarcane.
Equivalent to traditional PE
-CH2-CH2-CH2-
100 % biobased (ASTM 6866)
NONbiodegradable
Braskem 2009, 200.000 t/a, Dow 2011, 350,000 t/a
Efficiency of the fermentation???
Sugarcane ↓ fermentation, distillation Ethanol ↓ dehydration Ethylene ↓polymerization PE
Green PET
Second very often used plastics being replaced with renewable feedstock is PET for production of PET bottles (PlantBottle).
This method saves global fossil resources and also reduces CO2 by 25 %.
Green PET is easily recycled and can be collected with conventional PET items.
Green PET
Coca-Cola has applied this technology in their production. PlantBottle is made of PET, produced from terephtalic acid (70%) and monoethylene glycol (30%). Terephtalic acid comes from oil processing, glycol is produced from ethanol (produced in polysaccharide fermentation). Pepsi is planning to produce 100 % PET bottle, where TA is produced from plant-based p-xylene
Source: Coca Cola
Bioplastics available on the market Some examples of bioplastics available on the market are:
Bioplastics Production In 2011 global bio plastics producing ability reached 1,161 million tonnes.
This is much less than global classical plastics production figure of 265 million tonnes, but forecast for 2015 shows that bio plastics production will reach almost 6 million tonnes.
Bioplastics Production
Bioplastics Production
Bioplastics Production
Bioplastics Production
Bioplastics Production
Partly-biodegradable packaging material, PE-LD films with 5% addition of modified starch (little interest of this product)
Trays made of modified starch –laboratory scale only (Starch and Potato Products Research Laboratory, Poznań)
Bioplastics in Poland
101
Biotrem technology – wheat bran-based trays and containers wheat bran - waste from the milling industry
Bioplastics in Poland
Additives
Pre-treatment Milling Bran
Wheat
Compression moulding
Coating
Food companies
Retail Consumers Waste
collection
Composting
Compost
Landfill Incineration
Bioplastics in Poland
PLA Packaging
Bioplastics in Poland
BioErg from Dąbrowa Górnicza
First Compostable certificate on the Polish Market
Bioplastics in Poland
T-shirt bags
Market bags
Bags for kitchen, biodegradable waste
Little bags for groceries
Bioplastics in Poland
BIOZON Sp. z o.o. PLA bottle for mineral
water BIAŁOWIEŻA
PLA Bottle Pre-forms
Bioplastics in Poland
Next generation of cellophane - NatureFlex™
Bioplastics in Poland
First compostable carrier bags in Poland, introduced by Carrefour hypermarkets stores.
Bioplastics in Poland
Pakmar PLA products EARTHFIRST PLA Sidaplax film
Bioplastics in Poland
BAHPOL company conducts testing on compostable laminates and printing on biodegradable films.
Bioplastics in Poland
Sustainable Development
Part V
Sustainable Development To use the traditional definition, sustainable development is: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs", in other words ensuring that today's growth does not jeopardize the growth possibilities of future generations. Sustainable development thus comprises three elements - economic, social and environmental - which have to be considered in equal measure at the political level. The strategy for sustainable development, adopted in 2001 and amended in 2005, is complemented inter alia by the principle of integrating environmental concerns with European policies which impact on the environment.
- source: http://europa.eu
Sustainable development concept for business, consists of taking into consideration widely understood economic, environmental and social issues in the daily and long term operations of a company.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Developement Sustainable development concept for business consists of taking into consideration widely understood economic, environmental and social issues in the daily and long term operations of a company. In plastic industrial practice that means being responsible for the introduction of new products on a plastics market from the perspective of those three issues. This means that new products should be evaluated with regards to environmental, social and economic impacts they generate. This evaluation, which gives equal rank to all three elements, should be performed in whole product life cycle stages (designing, manufacturing, using, recycling).
This fulfilment has to be present in all product life cycle stages, starting from: production processes, delivery chain, processing methods, packaging, distribution, usage and waste management including transport.
At the same time sustainable products should match up or exceed conventional products by functional and quality properties, fulfil todays environmental protection standards, and also contribute to waste management system.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Developement Due to the fact that polymers are used in many industry branches it is hard to set an equal standards and specify define sustainable development policy for all of them. That is why basic standards should be set for all polymer products and for specific sustainability standards should be set for different groups of uses.
Sustainable Development
LCA method can be used to rate and compare a product with another products with similar functionality.
LCA method consists of different criteria of evaluation in all life cycle stages of a selected product.
Potential environmental influence of every life cycle process of a chosen product is quantitatively recorded in different impact categories
Sustainability - Environment
What is LCA ??
LCA = Life Cycle Assessment
Probably the most popular sustainability and environmental assessment methods
Can be used to assess products, value chains, processes, whole companies, economy and even socio-cultural implications
Its main goal is to assess the aspects of environmental impacts in whole life cycle of selected subject matter.
Packaging LCA is used to assess the environmental impact of packaging and includes such factors as infrastructure (transport), multi-usability of packaging and how the packaging is/can be disposed.
LCA is best used as a comparative assessment tool – i.e. in terms of packaging it is best to compare different packaging types for the same group of products.
Packaging LCA
What is LCA ??
Life: Detailed Biography and Family Tree of our product
Input: What we have taken from the environment
Output: What we are leaving behind - emissions
LCA as a description of reality
LCA is used to model complex reality
+ Each model simplifies the reality
= Contradiction – simplification distorts the
reality
Main goal of LCA – minimise this distortion
How to use LCA
Internal LCA – used by enterprises
‘knowing your product’, identification of ‘hot spots’, strategic management goals
Marketing / Benchmarking
PR
Preparation for legislation changes, arguments for lobbying
External LCA – full public reports
Published by public institutes/research institutes
Need to be peer reviewed
Not often used by enterprises due to bad experiences in the ‘90 (benchmarking backfire)
LCA Standards
2 main standards:
EN ISO 14040 – main concept
EN ISO 14044 – details
Other relevant standards:
EN ISO 14020 series – Environmental labels and declarations 14021 – Type II
14024 – Type I
14025 – Type III
14064 – GHG emissions – due soon
14067 – Carbon Footprint calculation – due soon
LCA CEN Reports
2 CEN Reports for packaging: CR 12340:1996 – Recommendations for LCI of
packaging systems
CR 13910:2009 – Criteria and methods for packaging LCA
LCA in 4 steps
Goal and scope definition
Inventory(LCI)
Impact assessment
Interpretation
Direct uses: Development and
improvement of products Strategic planning Shaping of public policy Marketing Other
Step 1 – Goal and Scope
Product
Life Cycle
Scope Goal
How does it look like ??
- Functional Unit - System Boundaries
What/Why/For Whom We need LCA
Step 1 – Goal and Scope
Natural resources
Packaging resources
production
Packaging materials
production
Landfiling Energy
recovery
Recycling
Preperations for re-use
E
n
e
r
g
y
Other uses of
resources
Other products
Goods production
Good usage phase
Packaging production
Filling/Packing
Distribution and sales
Emptying
Boandary includes packaging production loses
Step 1 – Goal and Scope – Functional Unit
Unit of reference
Quantitative system effect – unit has to measure same effect when comparing 2 or more products
All data should be referenced to the functional unit
Step 1 – Goal and Scope – Functional Unit
Functional Unit examples:
Paint: 20 m2 area coverage for 20 years
Ice-cream: kcal / mass / leisure time
Beverage packaging: volume of beverage
Public transport: person-kilometer
Packaging waste: kg
Shopping bags: 5 kg of shopping carried for 500 meters
Hand towels: 10 000 washed hands
Step 2 - LCI
Data collection – depends on the goals and scope of our research.
What shall be taken into account:
System boundaries
Geography
Time of data collection
Functional Unit
Allocation methods
But most importantly: Time and Money!!
Step 2 - LCI
Step 2 effect – Process Tree
Process Tree includes all LCI results in the form of inputs and outputs emissions from and to soil, atmosphere, water etc.
Examples of quantitative results of LCI: CO2, CFC, P, SO2, NOx, DDT used/emitted during different stages of life cycle.
Step 2 – Process Tree PET bottle – recycling 30%
Fossil Fuels
PET Granulate
PET Bottle
Injection Moulding
Injection Blowing
30% PET recycling 70% PET Landfill
Energy + Transport
Step 2 – Process Tree PET bottle – 30% recycled
Step 2 – Process Tree PET bottle – 30% recycled
Step 3 – Impact Assessment
LCI results while interesting do not give us any specific information about the environmental impact of a particular product
LCI results should be interpreted and characterised into impact categories
There are many characterisation methods available, many of them with normalisation and weighting options
Step 3 – Method example
Step 3 –Midpoint and Endpoint in a method
LCI results: CO2 VOS P
SO2 Nox CFC Cd PAH DDT etc
Impact categories: Examples
Global warming Acidification Cariogenics Radiation Resource utilisation
Fossil fuels etc
Damage categories: According to eco-indicator 99
Human Health Ecosystem quality
Resources
Mid
po
int
End
po
int
Low uncertainity
High uncertainity
Difficult to interpret
Relatively easy to interpret
Step 3 –Midpoint & Endpoint Method Details
Step 3 – Impact Assessment 3 PET bottles – No recyling / recycling 30% &
recycling 50% Method: Eco-indicator 99
Step 3 – Impact Assessment 3 PET bottles – No recyling / recycling 30% &
recycling 50% Method: Eco-indicator 99
Step 3 – Impact Assessment 3 PET bottles – No recyling / recycling 30% &
recycling 50% Method: Eco-indicator 99
Step 4 - Interpretation
ISO 14044 standard recommends that before drawing conclusions and preparing a report from 3 previous steps, following elements should be checked:
Check consistency of results with goal and scope definitions
Check processes with highest environmental impact
Check for anomalies (use best judgment)
Check whether the method is consistent with assessed product
Some methods omit substances present in the LCI – check whether the number of omitted substances influence the result by choosing a different method
LCA is not objective, therefore it is helpful to check how the LCA results are dependent on our choices throughout the process.
Perform uncertainty and sensitivity analysis where logical and possible. Prepare few scenarios.
Summary
Resources
Natural resources utilisation
Environmental damage
Energy utilisation
Gas emissions Liquid waste
Solid waste
Damage impact assessment
Production of materials
Packaging production
Packaging
Product Distribution
Recovery Landfilling
LCA Summary
LCA importance: selected beverage packaging in Germany is
excused from obligatory deposit fees introduced from 1st of
January 2003 based on LCA results
Beverage packaging included in deposit fees legislation: single
use packaging for beer, mineral water and carbonated drinks,
i.e. glass bottles, PET bottles and aluminium cans
Packaging excused from deposit fees include: boxes from
laminates and film bags for fruit juices, milk and non
carbonated beverages. Life Cycle Assessment of those
materials proven to be similar to multi-use bottles, hence the
provision.
Sustainability - Environment Responsible resources usage in manufacturing Current extensive exploitation of non-renewable resources (hard coal, brown coal, oil, petroleum gas) will one day result in their final depletion. This in turn could have a catastrophic effect for future generations. That is why, according to the sustainable development policy it is recommended to try to utilise less materials in product applications and use renewable resources whenever possible.
Sustainability - Environment Responsible resources usage in manufacturing With regards to the responsible usage of resources another important issue is the greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases emission from production. An indicator called “Carbon Footprint” shows total greenhouse gases emission produced directly and indirectly in all life cycle stages of a given product. Usually the indicator is given in tons or kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent gases.
Sustainability - Environment CO2
„New” carbon Biomass, agriculture
Fossil resources oil, gas etc.
„Old” carbon
polymers, chemical substances and fuels
1 year
> 106 years
chemical industry
1 – 10 years
Sustainability - Environment
Meeting of higher requirements than set by current law, including non-obligatory environmental protection certification
There are many non-obligatory environmental certifications systems in existence in EU. For example:
compostable products certification
products with renewable source certification
greenhouse gases emission reduction confirmation
Sustainable Development
Sustainability – Sociology
Fulfilling customers’ expectations
According to current marketing trends products should offer attractive look, high usage comfort, ergonomic shape, durability, etc.
In other words the race for sustainability should not reduce aspects that are appealing from the point of view of end consumers.
Sustainability – Sociology Waste collection system existence and recycling availability Introduction of new products on a
market should consider waste collection systems and recycling methods availability in the region. A product can be sustainable from the point of view of environment, but when it turns into waste it can become a problem if end-of-life treatment is not supported in the region. For example compostable plastic waste which is not collected with organic waste, but is being deposited on a landfill will have a negative social environmental impact.
COLLECTION network INFRASTRUCTURE
recycling value chain
KNOWLEDGE education & information
INSTRUMENTS legislative & economic
IDENTIFICATION certification & labels
ORGANOSPHERE
TECHNOSPHERE
END-OF-LIFE recycling technologies
Sustainability – Sociology Recycling System
155
Collection of organic waste (biowaste).
Packaging fulfilling PN-EN 13432:2002 requirements
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION INSTALATION
COMPOSTING PLANT
Sustainability – Sociology Customers knowledge and education level
New technical and technological solutions approvals by market and society requires high level of customers awareness which depends on capital and education expenditure.
This factor depends on knowledge level and awareness of society and can be influenced by marketing/PR actions and educational schemes on different levels
Sustainability – Sociology
Legal and normative regulation for defined actions for certain products, including environmental protections requirements
Example: Directive 94/62/EC
Sustainability – Sociology
External effects evaluation – hidden costs of end-of-life
Decisions made in microeconomic scale by producers and customers may cause an occurrence called “the external effect”. Depending if an action causes an advantage or a disadvantage we identify:
– positive external effect (external advantages)
– negative external effect (external costs)
Sustainability – Sociology
Kt – production costs
Ko/u – external costs connected with recycling or wastes disposal
Sustainable Development
Sustainability – Economy Demand of polymer materials Launching a new product on
a market, and determining its price should be of course based on the total costs of manufacturing, including polymer material costs.
This however should be based on the market analysis of a potential consumers on specific output market.
Questionnaire responses for packaging producers / users
Polish Market Research
Questionnaire responses for packaging producers / users
Polish Market Research
Questionnaire responses for packaging producers / users
Polish Market Research
Questionnaire responses for end consumers
Polish Market Research
Questionnaire responses for end consumers
Polish Market Research
Questionnaire responses for end consumers
Polish Market Research
Question I - I rank my environmental awareness as high Question II - I rank my awareness of new technologies as high Question III - Packaging is important for my purchase decision Question IV - I gladly choose innovative looking packaging when buying goods Question V - I gladly choose packaging advertised as environmental friendly when buying goods Question VI - I gladly choose environmental friendly looking packaging when buying goods Question VII - I take notice of the symbols and special markings on the packaging Question VIII - I will pay more for product in innovative packaging Question IX - I will pay more for product in environmental friendly packaging Question X - When buying a product I think what I will do with used packaging
Polish Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Slovenian Market Research
Sustainability – Economy
Life cycle costs evaluation (LCC). Processes costs in all life cycle
Processes costs evaluation in all life cycle stages could be analysed by LCA method taking into consideration costs of processes. With this approach to LCA separate processes contribution could be analysed and managerial decisions can be fashioned on this basis.
Sustainability – Economy
Economically supported polymer choice
Polymer sources should be chosen by:
– market analysis
– risk analysis (feasibility study)
– producers and suppliers portfolio analysis (competition analysis)
Sustainability – Economy
Sustainable Development
Important!
plastics according to sustainable development policy are already fulfilling ecological, economic and social criteria with higher standard than analogous conventional products.
Sustainable Development
Glass Environmental:
(+) – when reused
Social:
(+) – reuse and acceptance
Economic:
(-) – Expensive for fillers
Sustainability examples
Oxo-degradable Bags Environmental:
(-) – Barrier in recycling
Social:
(-) – grey PR practices
Economic:
(+) – Cheaper than sustainable alternatives
Sustainability examples
Packaging plastics Environmental:
(?) – greatly depends
Social:
(+) – acceptance, end-of-life options
Economic:
(+) – Cheap
Sustainability examples
Bioplastics Environmental:
(+) –whole life cycle
Social:
(+) – education, end-of-life – this is what PLASTiCE is all about!!
Economic:
(+) – Getting cheaper and cheaper and desirable
Sustainability examples
Evaluation systems for
selected criteria
Part VI
Plastics evaluation system for selected criteria
• Compostable plastics certification
• Plastics including renewable resources certification
• Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Standard = Certificate Standard
• Set of requirements that a product/service shall conform to
• Two types: – Specification (e.g. EN
13432)
– Test method (e.g. ISO 14855)
• Basis for certification systems
Certificate
• Independent confirmation that material/product conforms to specific requirements
• Product/material verifications are based on standard test methods
?
Standardization of bioplastics
WHY?
• Very difficult to distinguish bioplastics from “conventional” plastics
• Overcome difference in opinion
• To prevent false advertising
• Basis for
– a guarantee for consumers
– a tool for producers
HOW?
• Developed and published by standardization organizations (ISO, CEN, ASTM, JIS, … SIST…)
• Each standardization organization has own standards
• CEN obligatory for EU member states
• Common to harmonize with ISO
• Standards
- Specification (criterion: pass/fail)
- Test method, Practice, Determination, Evaluation
Standardization of bioplastics
Compostable
• First standard for compostable products was DIN V54900 (1997), but in 2000 the standard was withdrawn because EN 13432 was published. (standard harmonized with Directive 34/62/EC concerning packaging)
• Now the field of standards for compostable plastics is very broad
– Specifications: 12
– Test methods: ~ 20
Specifications for composting
Standardization for biobased
• Use of renewable resources
• Basis: radiocarbon (14C) analysis
Standards
• ASTM D6866
• CEN/TS 16295:2012
• ISO/CD 16620
• Result related only to carbon!
Standardization for biobased plastics
Requirements
– min. 50 % of organic compounds
– min. 20 % of carbon from renewable resources
– non-toxic
• Medical products are excluded
Result
• % of renewable carbon
• No pass/fail
• Range 0 – 100 % - how much is enough?
Certification
CLEAR, TRUSTED, BACKED BY SCIENCE
• proof issued by an independent authority
• based on a certification process, which often follows standard specification/test method
• voluntary, commercial
• a document and a logo, on-line record -> public recognition
• For bioplastics: DIN CERTCO, Vinçotte, BPI
Certification process
Valid certificate contains a name of the certification organization and the certification number Other claims, although also called certificates, are not valid.
Certification of bioplastics
Certification of compostability
• First certification scheme Vinçotte, 1995
• Products certification
• Intermediates/additives registration
• Chemically unmodified materials and components of natural origin
• Organic components > 50 % (volatile solids)
• Printing dyes - compostable
• Blends and laminates – all compostable, ½ thickness
• Certification of products made of registered materials (IR, thickness)
Compostable plastics certification
1. Chemical Composition No substance that are harmful to the environment. Level of heavy metal contents and other hazardous elements within standardized limits.
2. Biodegradability More than 90 % conversion of organic carbon into CO2, in maximum of 180 days.
3. Disintegration during composting Quick disintegration of the material (12 weeks, sieve fraction)
4. Eco toxicity Positive results from testing of the compost quality (germination rate, biomass mass)
5. Labeling Labeling according to certification scheme, allows the inhabitants to identify and collect the waste in organic waste bins
Specifications for composting
Biobased plastics
“Carbon age” signifies a time needed to get carbon for manufacturing a product. Classical plastics are manufactured from fossil resources containing fossil – old carbon.
On the other hand, plastics manufactured from renewable crops (corn, sugarcane, potatoes also farm and food production waste) contain carbon which circulates in nature for maximum a few years. For wooden products “carbon age” is about several dozen years.
Biobased plastics certification
CO2 „New” carbon
Biomass, agriculture
Fossil resources oil, gas etc.
„Old” carbon
polymers, chemical substances and fuels
1 year
> 106 years
chemical industry
1 – 10 years
Biobased plastics certification
This system could be used for many products completely or partly manufactured from natural origin materials/polymers/resources (except solid, liquid and gaseous fuel).
Analysis is based on the ASTM D6866 standard, method B or C.
Biobased plastics certification
When a product contain more than one component then the company applying for the certificate needs to certify each component separately.
On the other hand it is possible to certify a group of products, provided they are made from the same material, have similar shape and size is the only differentiating factor.
Biobased plastics certification
Biobased plastics certification
Europe certification logo map
CONCLUSION Stand&Cert
• Standardization and certification of bioplastics complex
• Rapidly changing
• Solid basis of test methods and specifications
• Certification has a marketable value
• Need to inform industry and users
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Legislative restrictions on emissions of greenhouse gases influenced many evaluation methods of those emissions, including methods that can be applied to products including packaging. Most popular method is called the “carbon footprint” or “carbon profile”. For a polymer product a “carbon footprint” amounts to overall directly and indirectly emitted CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) throughout its whole life cycle. In Europe most popular “carbon footprint”
calculation is currently based on PAS 2050:2008
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
In 2007 Carbon Trust (organization financed by British government) introduced a new mark called “carbon reduction label”. “Carbon reduction label” shows overall CO2 and other greenhouse gases emission calculated as CO2 equivalent in all life cycle stages (production, transport, distribution, removal and recycling). Basis for evaluation is PAS 2050:2008. “Carbon reduction label” informs consumers about greenhouse gases emission level and helps them to make deliberated decisions that are beneficial for the environment.
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Producers cooperating with Carbon Trust analyse process maps related to life cycle of their specific products. With understanding of the greenhouse gas emissions of their processes companies are able to change technical and logistic solutions which can then reduce emissions.
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Coca-Cola is another notable example of cooperation with Carbon Trust.
Carbon Trust evaluated the “carbon footprint” of Coca-Cola’s packaging for several of their products.
For a glass bottle “carbon footprint” attributed to the packaging amounts to 68,5% of total CO2 emissions. For a 0,33l metal can this value is 56,4%, a PET bottle (0,5 l) has a share of 43,2% and for a large PET bottle (2 l) amounts to 32,9% of total carbon.
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Confirmation of greenhouse gases emission reduction
Summary
Today we discussed the following:
PLASTiCE project – introduction
Guide for entrepreneurs – introduction
Plastics – basics
Plastics classification
Sustainability evaluation – three pillars of sustainability
Sustainable plastics – certification criteria
THANK YOU!! www.plastice.org