Journal
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
Volume 201, Issue -, Pages 1019-1028Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.114
Keywords
Circular economy; Packaging; Cassava starch; Sustainability; Climate change; Waste management
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Funding
- Foundation for Science and Technology of the State of Rio de Janeiro [FAPERJ-PDS: 200026/2016]
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
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In the dominant industrial economy, packaging waste represents a significant share of urban solid waste generation (similar to 20.0% by volume in Europe and United States), with wide-ranging negative impacts on interconnected human-Earth systems. The transition from the dominant linear economy to a model grounded in circularity by intention and design can build a new essential foundation for the market economy and packaging utilization. This work examines packaging production and consumption vis-a-vis circular economy. In pursuing this goal, it comprises (i) a life cycle inventory analysis of rigid packaging products, discussing yield of raw materials and products, water and energy use, and GHG emissions; (ii) a case study of cassava starch-based material, and (iii) a comparative analysis between petroleum-based and cassava starch-based packaging. The results clearly indicate that compostable packaging of cassava starch has far better societal and environmental outcomes than petroleum-based packaging. The transition from the linear (take-make-use-dispose) to the circular (grow-make-use-restore) pattern creates new opportunities for innovation beyond technology, as it inevitably redefines the significance of waste, products, services, markets, natural capital, and growth. Addressing the GHG emissions from the petroleum-based packaging industry, the societal adoption of bio-based packaging of cassava starch is an effective and promising Climate Change mitigation strategy. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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