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Open-loop recycling: A LCA case study of PET bottle-to-fibre recycling

Author

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  • Shen, Li
  • Worrell, Ernst
  • Patel, Martin K.

Abstract

This study assesses the environmental impact of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle-to-fibre recycling using the methodology of life-cycle assessment (LCA). Four recycling cases, including mechanical recycling, semi-mechanical recycling, back-to-oligomer recycling and back-to-monomer recycling were analysed. Three allocation methods are applied for open-loop recycling, i.e. the “cut-off” approach, the “waste valuation” approach and the “system expansion” approach. Nine environmental impact indicators were analysed, i.e. non-renewable energy use (NREU), global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity and photochemical oxidant formation. The LCA results are compared with virgin PET fibre and other commodity fibre products, i.e. cotton, viscose, PP (polypropylene) and PLA (polylactic acid). The LCA results show that recycled PET fibres offer important environmental benefits over virgin PET fibre. Depending on the allocation methods applied for open-loop-recycling, NREU savings of 40–85% and GWP savings of 25–75% can be achieved. Recycled PET fibres produced by mechanical recycling cause lower environmental impacts than virgin PET in at least eight out of a total of nine categories. Recycled fibres produced from chemical recycling allow to reduce impacts in six to seven out of a total of nine categories compared to virgin PET fibres. Note that while mechanical recycling has a better environmental profile than chemical recycling, chemically recycled fibres can be applied in a wider range of applications than mechanically recycled fibres.

Suggested Citation

  • Shen, Li & Worrell, Ernst & Patel, Martin K., 2010. "Open-loop recycling: A LCA case study of PET bottle-to-fibre recycling," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 34-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:55:y:2010:i:1:p:34-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.06.014
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lagioia, Giovanni & Calabrò, Grazia & Amicarelli, Vera, 2012. "Empirical study of the environmental management of Italy's drinking water supply," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 119-130.
    2. Yuantao Peng & Jie Yang & Chenqiang Deng & Jin Deng & Li Shen & Yao Fu, 2023. "Acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate for upcycling and life-cycle assessment study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Toniolo, Sara & Mazzi, Anna & Pieretto, Chiara & Scipioni, Antonio, 2017. "Allocation strategies in comparative life cycle assessment for recycling: Considerations from case studies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 117(PB), pages 249-261.
    4. Chih-Ming Chen & Huey-Ling Chang, 2022. "Environmental Impact Assessment of an Ignition Pencil Coil by a Combination of Carbon Footprint and Environmental Priority Strategies Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.
    5. Toniolo, Sara & Mazzi, Anna & Niero, Monia & Zuliani, Filippo & Scipioni, Antonio, 2013. "Comparative LCA to evaluate how much recycling is environmentally favourable for food packaging," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 61-68.
    6. Allacker, K. & Mathieux, F. & Manfredi, S. & Pelletier, N. & De Camillis, C. & Ardente, F. & Pant, R., 2014. "Allocation solutions for secondary material production and end of life recovery: Proposals for product policy initiatives," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-12.
    7. Toniolo, Sara & Mazzi, Anna & Garato, Valentina Giulia & Aguiari, Filippo & Scipioni, Antonio, 2014. "Assessing the “design paradox” with life cycle assessment: A case study of a municipal solid waste incineration plant," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 109-116.
    8. Komly, Claude-Emma & Azzaro-Pantel, Catherine & Hubert, Antoine & Pibouleau, Luc & Archambault, Valérie, 2012. "Multiobjective waste management optimization strategy coupling life cycle assessment and genetic algorithms: Application to PET bottles," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 66-81.
    9. Marie Kampmann Eriksen & Anders Damgaard & Alessio Boldrin & Thomas Fruergaard Astrup, 2019. "Quality Assessment and Circularity Potential of Recovery Systems for Household Plastic Waste," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 156-168, February.

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