Sustainability of bio-based plastics: general comparative analysis and recommendations for improvement
Sustainability of bio-based plastics: general comparative analysis and recommendations for improvement
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.003
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发表时间：
2012-03-01
影响因子：
11.1
通讯作者：
Geiser, Kenneth
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Alvarez-Chavez, Clara Rosalia;Edwards, Sally;Geiser, Kenneth
这项研究评估了生物基塑料的可持续性，包括其生命周期的所有阶段(从摇篮到坟墓)，以帮助做出关于选择这些材料的决策。塑料被认为是当今社会的基本材料，但在其整个生命周期中，它们造成了污染和不可再生自然资源的枯竭。比较生物塑料的来源和生物降解性，生物塑料似乎比石油塑料更环保。但是，从环境、健康和安全的角度来看，目前市场上或即将上市的生物塑料中，哪些是更可取的？这项定性研究的结果显示在两个生物塑料光谱中，这两个光谱提供了根据可持续性标准收集的生物基塑料数据的直观摘要。这项分析发现，目前商业使用或正在开发的生物基塑料都不是完全可持续的。所审查的每一种生物基塑料都利用：用于原料制造的转基因生物和/或生产过程中的有毒化学品，或将其作为副产品生产，和/或使用不可再生资源的共聚物。在决定用生物塑料取代传统的石油塑料时，重要的是要了解这些材料的流动及其对其生命周期所有部分的不利影响，以便选择一种更可持续的材料。(C)2011爱思唯尔有限公司。保留所有权利。
This study evaluated the sustainability of bio-based plastics including all the stages of their life cycles (cradle to grave) to assist in decision making about selection of these materials. Plastics are considered essential materials in today's society, but throughout their life cycles they contribute to pollution and depletion of non-renewable natural resources. Bio-based plastics appear to be more environmentally friendly materials than their petroleum-based counterparts when their origin and biodegradability are compared. But which of the bio-based plastics currently on the market or soon to be on the market are preferable from an environmental, health, and safety perspective? Results of this qualitative study were displayed in two Bioplastics Spectrums that provide a visual summary of the data gathered on bio-based plastics according to sustainability criteria. This analysis found that none of bio-based plastics currently in commercial use or under development are fully sustainable. Each of the bio-based plastics reviewed utilizes: genetically modified organisms for feedstock manufacture and/or toxic chemicals in the production process or generates these as byproducts, and/or co-polymers from non-renewable resources. When deciding to substitute conventional petroleum-based plastics with bio-based plastics it is important to understand the flow of these materials and their adverse impacts in all parts of their life cycles in order to select a material that is more sustainable. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.