IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i4p3665-d1070993.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Two Different Packaging Systems for Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Glass Bottle vs. 100% Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottle

Author

Listed:
  • Carmen Ferrara

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy)

  • Giovanni De Feo

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy)

Abstract

Using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, this study assesses the environmental sustainability of two packaging alternatives for extra virgin olive oil: the glass bottle and the PET bottle produced with 100% of recycled PET granulate. Six scenarios were compared varying on the type of packaging system and the distribution phase (in terms of distribution country and logistics). The life cycle impacts of the scenarios were estimated with the ReCiPe 2018 H evaluation method, using both the midpoint and endpoint approaches. The findings highlighted the higher environmental sustainability of the recycled PET system compared to the glass system for all the impact categories considered, but especially in terms of the global warming potential, particulate formation, terrestrial acidification, and fossil fuel scarcity for which life cycle impacts of the R-PET were lower than 40% compared to those of the glass system. In terms of global warming, the glass system was responsible for 790–1137 kg CO 2 eq. (in function of the destination country considered); while the R-PET system, in the same conditions, showed impacts of 459–634 kg CO 2 eq. This is mainly due to the high weight of the glass bottle that affected the impacts of both the production and distribution phases. The mode of transport affected the impacts of the distribution phases highlighting how ship transport was more sustainable than truck transport, even when considering greater distribution distances. The LCA results can help consumers make more informed choices with a view to sustainability, as well as disprove the prejudices that consumers often have towards glass bottle packaging alternatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmen Ferrara & Giovanni De Feo, 2023. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Two Different Packaging Systems for Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Glass Bottle vs. 100% Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3665-:d:1070993
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3665/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3665/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Ioppolo & Giuseppe Saija, 2013. "Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems: Methodologies and Experiences," Springer Books, in: Roberta Salomone & Maria Teresa Clasadonte & Maria Proto & Andrea Raggi (ed.), Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems (POEMS), edition 127, chapter 0, pages 257-284, Springer.
    2. Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Ioppolo & Giuseppe Saija, 2013. "The Implementation of Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems in Agri-Food SMEs," Springer Books, in: Roberta Salomone & Maria Teresa Clasadonte & Maria Proto & Andrea Raggi (ed.), Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems (POEMS), edition 127, chapter 0, pages 303-330, Springer.
    3. Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Akram, Asadolah & Ghobadian, Barat & Rafiee, Shahin & Heidari, Mohammad Davoud, 2014. "Energy-economic life cycle assessment (LCA) and greenhouse gas emissions analysis of olive oil production in Iran," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 139-149.
    4. Ileana Blanco & Luigi De Bellis & Andrea Luvisi, 2022. "Bibliometric Mapping of Research on Life Cycle Assessment of Olive Oil Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-25, March.
    5. Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Ioppolo & Giuseppe Saija, 2013. "A Model of Product-Oriented Environmental Management System for Agri-Food SMEs," Springer Books, in: Roberta Salomone & Maria Teresa Clasadonte & Maria Proto & Andrea Raggi (ed.), Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems (POEMS), edition 127, chapter 0, pages 285-302, Springer.
    6. Riccardo Accorsi & Lorenzo Versari & Riccardo Manzini, 2015. "Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Mattia Rapa & Salvatore Ciano, 2022. "A Review on Life Cycle Assessment of the Olive Oil Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-17, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Donatella Restuccia & Sabrina Antonia Prencipe & Marco Ruggeri & Umile Gianfranco Spizzirri, 2022. "Sustainability Assessment of Different Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extraction Methods through a Life Cycle Thinking Approach: Challenges and Opportunities in the Elaio-Technical Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Beatriz Ruiz-Carrasco & Lázuli Fernández-Lobato & Yaiza López-Sánchez & David Vera, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment of Olive Oil Production in Turkey, a Territory with an Intensive Production Project," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, June.
    3. Zhen, Wei & Qin, Quande & Miao, Lu, 2023. "The greenhouse gas rebound effect from increased energy efficiency across China's staple crops," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Álvaro J. Arnal & Patricia Royo & Gianpiero Pataro & Giovanna Ferrari & Víctor J. Ferreira & Ana M. López-Sabirón & Germán A. Ferreira, 2018. "Implementation of PEF Treatment at Real-Scale Tomatoes Processing Considering LCA Methodology as an Innovation Strategy in the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Riccardo Accorsi & Lorenzo Versari & Riccardo Manzini, 2015. "Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-23, March.
    6. Dries Couckuyt & Amy Van Looy, 2019. "Green BPM as a Business-Oriented Discipline: A Systematic Mapping Study and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Patrik Mouron & Christian Willersinn & Sabrina Möbius & Jens Lansche, 2016. "Environmental Profile of the Swiss Supply Chain for French Fries: Effects of Food Loss Reduction, Loss Treatments and Process Modifications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Francesco Galati & Barbara Bigliardi & Alberto Petroni & Claudia Pinna & Monica Rossi & Sergio Terzi, 2019. "Sustainable Product Lifecycle: The Role of ICT," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-4, December.
    9. Dassisti, Michele & Intini, Francesca & Chimienti, Michela & Starace, Giuseppe, 2016. "Thermography-enhanced LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) for manufacturing sustainability assessment. The case study of an HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) net company in Italy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 7-18.
    10. Zhu, Y. & Li, Y.P. & Huang, G.H. & Fan, Y.R. & Nie, S., 2015. "A dynamic model to optimize municipal electric power systems by considering carbon emission trading under uncertainty," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 636-649.
    11. Beatrice Salieri & Natasha Stoudmann & Roland Hischier & Claudia Som & Bernd Nowack, 2021. "How Relevant Are Direct Emissions of Microplastics into Freshwater from an LCA Perspective?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, September.
    12. Maria Clara Oliveira & Alessandra Magrini, 2017. "Life Cycle Assessment of Lubricant Oil Plastic Containers in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.
    13. Parascanu, M.M. & Puig Gamero, M. & Sánchez, P. & Soreanu, G. & Valverde, J.L. & Sanchez-Silva, L., 2018. "Life cycle assessment of olive pomace valorisation through pyrolysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 589-601.
    14. Soam, Shveta & Kumar, Ravindra & Gupta, Ravi P. & Sharma, Pankaj K. & Tuli, Deepak K. & Das, Biswapriya, 2015. "Life cycle assessment of fuel ethanol from sugarcane molasses in northern and western India and its impact on Indian biofuel programme," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 307-315.
    15. Koblianska, Inna & Kalachevska, Larysa & Schlauderer, Ralf, 2024. "Agricultural life cycle assessment: a system-wide bibliometric research," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 10(1), March.
    16. Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Shafiei, Marzieh & Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2016. "Biogas and bioethanol production from pinewood pre-treated with steam explosion and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO): A comparative life cycle assessment approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 935-950.
    17. Ghasemi-Mobtaker, Hassan & Kaab, Ali & Rafiee, Shahin, 2020. "Application of life cycle analysis to assess environmental sustainability of wheat cultivation in the west of Iran," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    18. El Hanandeh, Ali & Gharaibeh, Mamoun A., 2016. "Environmental efficiency of olive oil production by small and micro-scale farmers in northern Jordan: Life cycle assessment," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 169-177.
    19. Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Akram, Asadolah & Ghobadian, Barat & Rafiee, Shahin & Heijungs, Reinout & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2016. "Environmental impact assessment of olive pomace oil biodiesel production and consumption: A comparative lifecycle assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 87-102.
    20. Mohammadshirazi, Ahmad & Bagheri Kalhor, Elnaz, 2016. "Energy and cost analyses of kombucha beverage production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 668-673.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3665-:d:1070993. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.