The sustainability debate on plastics: Cradle to grave Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economical Analysis of PP and PLA polymers with a “Polluter Pays Principle” perspective

We have studied the impacts of polypropylene (PP) and poly lactic acid (PLA) to quantify differences between fossil-based first generation biosourced plastics. Preliminary results on impact assessment from manufacturing stages suggested that smaller lot size part weight each injection molded plastic material, higher economic environmental impacts. When were equal, PLA performed better than PP. In three regional development scenarios, we end-of-life (EOL) options for smaller-sized potentially landfilled single-use food packaging materials in town (population <10 k), city 30–250 province >1 M) scales. The change PP as well landfill (L) open incineration (OI) other EOL options, such recycling (R), composting (CP), with energy recovery (IwE), studied. Impacts toxic damages are calculated their healthcare sector. Thus, microplastics (MP) a vector bioaccumulation toxins, dioxins, resulted 16,5 $/kg MP scale. Province scenario, where L (90%), mix R OI was changed CP resulting 63% gain 39% lower global warming potential (GWP). City (50%), IwE (25%), (25%) 22% 26% GWP. However, waste management activities sorting processing, high-carcinogens (+137%), high non-carcinogens (+456%), release total air (+9%) emissions. Future work should be done study compounds contact chemicals compare different obtain more comprehensive results.