Environmental life cycle assessment of the incorporation of recycled high-density polyethylene to polyethylene pipe grade resins

Plastic recycling involves a range of potential environmental benefits, from curbing landfill and incineration rates to the reduction greenhouse gas emissions. However, main challenge is find applications where recycled plastic can successfully provide same functionality as replaced virgin plastic. Particularly, incorporation high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (PE) pipe grade resins great that not currently being implemented in manufacture pressure pipes. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) applied quantitatively evaluate impacts producing PE HDPE blended with HDPE. The LCA four waste feedstocks (crates/caps, packaging/detergency bottles, post-consumer industrial containers, automobile fuel tanks) two grades (PE80 PE100). Moreover, different allocation approaches affect recycling, namely cut-off approach Circular Footprint Formula, were investigated. content was found largely determine results. regard, production PE80 quality pure (such tanks containers) allows higher content, thus resulting lower impacts. Compared 100 % resin, these scenarios show 80 53 less carbon footprint if feedstock considered burdens free (cut-off allocation). These percentages however decrease 32 20 benefits are shared according Formula. trends similarly observed for most impact categories evaluated, such as, acidification fossil resources. robustness results supported by error propagation via Monte Carlo simulation.