A lifecycle-based evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions from the plastics industry in South Africa

Increased production rates of plastic and limited disposal methods have fed concerns regarding environmental degradation. Whilst most the focus is on litter marine pollution, greenhouse gas emissions over its value chains are also interest non-trivial at global scale. To quantify warming potential local plastics industry, a lifecycle-based carbon footprint presented encompassing activities such as resource extraction, polymer conversion, recycling, stages. The South African sector estimated to emitted 15.8 Mt CO2 eq in 2015, with granulate stage bearing highest load. consumption fossil fuel based electricity burning waste contribute notably overall emissions. Additionally, recycling process 2015 saved approximately 1.4 emissions.Significance: Research has typically focused impacts end-of-life plastics, namely recycling. Despite growing concern, across chain not been investigated. Greenhouse arising from total 2015. Amongst lifecycle stages, resin had contribution Africa due country’s coal-based monomer process.