Christina Galafton (Avtor), Vaibhav Budhiraja (Avtor), Sarah Stevens (Avtor), Branka Mušič (Avtor), Daniel de Almeida Magalhães (Avtor)

Povzetek

As a result of improper management, plastics such as drinking cups are accumulating in environmental compartments worldwide, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem services. The goal of this study is to analyze and compare potential environmental impacts of disposable cups made of Polypropylene and Polylactic acid with the help of a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, including impacts related to the littering of these cups. Plastic pollution impacts are calculated based on the products' persistence in the environment, comparing the results of our own experiment to literature data. As an indication of the possible adverse health effects of Polypropylene and Polylactic acid, a toxicity test of the chemical mixtures migrating from the cups is conducted. Overall, the cups made of Polypropylene show lower environmental impacts compared to those made of Polylactic acid when the experimentally determined degradation rates are used. Nevertheless, regarding toxicity of the chemical migrates, the cup made of Polylactic acid performs better than the one made of Polypropylene. Considering all impact categories, there is no overall improvement in environmental impacts of producing the cup from Polylactic acid instead of Polypropylene. Our results indicate the importance of using degradation data measured specifically for the assessed product. Methodologically, we demonstrate a possible integration of life cycle assessment and safe-and-sustainable-by-design scoring. Further development of the plastic pollution impact category is needed to integrate effects on the terrestrial environment.

Ključne besede

razgradnja;pospešeno staranje;okoljski odtis izdelka;ocena življenjskega cikla;onesnaženje s plastiko;toksičnost;degradation;accelerated weathering;product environmental footprint;life cycle assessment;plastic pollution;toxicity;

Podatki

Jezik: Angleški jezik
Leto izida:
Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
Organizacija: ZAG - Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije
Založnik: Elsevier B.V.
UDK: 620.1/.2
COBISS: 235266563 Povezava se bo odprla v novem oknu
ISSN: 2352-5509
Št. ogledov: 656
Št. prenosov: 408
Ocena: 0 (0 glasov)
Metapodatki: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Ostali podatki

Sekundarni jezik: Slovenski jezik
Sekundarne ključne besede: razgradnja;pospešeno staranje;okoljski odtis izdelka;ocena življenjskega cikla;onesnaženje s plastiko;toksičnost;
Strani: str. 34-45
Zvezek: ǂVol. ǂ57
Čas izdaje: Jul. 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2025.04.013
ID: 26444510