Life cycle analysis of plastic packaging

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand of plastic usage all around the world, the production and disposal of plastic packaging have a significant increase in amount. This study is aimed to analyze the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic packaging by using life cycle analysis (LCA) method which implemented as in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The system is designed to study the cradle-to-grave process of LDPE plastic packaging which included the production of polymers, manufacture of packaging, distribution of packaging, overall transportation, and the end-of-life treatments, with the functional unit of 1000 kg, using GaBi LCA software and TRACI 2.1 method, to assess the significant environmental impacts throughout the processes which were the global warming (climate change), acidification, smog formation, eutrophication, and particulate matter emission. The findings show that climate change is the most significant impact (43% contribution) while the most relevant unit process is the manufacture of LDPE packaging (52% contribution). Landfill has found to be the best option within end-of-life treatments, with the least pollutant emissions. However, the design of landfill had to be enhanced to cope with the long-lasting effects of plastic in landfill.