Achieving negative emissions in plastics life cycles through the conversion of biomass feedstock

Plastics are one of the fastest-growing groups of bulk materials in the world. Yet, a third of plastic waste ends up as terrestrial or marine pollution. As a strategy to lower the carbon footprint of plastics, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that using plastics in long-term applications would bring an environmental advantage due to the reduction of plastic pollution, the achievement of negative CO2 emissions (NETs) by bio-based plastics, and demand reduction for emission-intensive construction materials, such as iron, aluminium, wood, and cement. Cradle-to-grave life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) were performed for four ethylene production routes. For the final disposal, this study assessed incineration; incineration with energy recovery; recycling; and the orientation of plastics for replacing emission-intensive material construction (long-term applications). Findings show that using plastics as long-lifetime materials could lead to NETs, particularly in the cases of bio-based HDPE, bio-based PET, and bio-based EPS. Hence, an opportunity arises, by producing plastics for long-term applications, to reduce both the carbon footprint and the plastic waste generation that may enter the marine environment. (c) 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Automated summary

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that using plastics in long-term applications would bring an environmental advantage. Findings show that using plastics as long-lifetime materials could lead to negative carbon emissions, presenting an opportunity to reduce both the carbon footprint and the plastic waste generation.