Managing the Uncertainty and Accuracy of Life Cycle Assessment Results for the Process of Beverage Bottle Moulding

A review of exploring the synthesis, properties, and diverse applications of poly lactic acid with a focus on food packaging application

Polylactic acid (PLA) is an aliphatic polyester, which is primarily synthesized from renewable resources through the polycondensation or ring-opening polymerization of lactic acid (LA)/lactide. LA can be conveniently produced via the fermentation of sugars obtained from renewable sources such as corn and sugar cane. Due to its biodegradable and biocompatible nature, PLA exhibits a vast range of applications. Its advantages include non-toxicity, environmental safety, and compatibility with human biological systems. PLA finds significant use in various biomedical applications, including implants, tissue engineering, sutures, and drug delivery systems. Additionally, PLA serves as a renewable and biodegradable polymer of extensive utility in film production, offering an alternative to petrochemical-based polymers. Moreover, the properties of PLA-based films can be tailored by incorporating extracts, polysaccharides, proteins, and nano-particles. This review encompasses LA production, PLA synthesis, and diverse applications of PLA and further explores the potential of PLA in the realm of packaging.

Using the LCA Method to Develop the Production of Pigment for Processing Plastics

In recent years, the chemical industry has been developing more and more dynamically, which results in the introduction of many new chemical substances to the market. However, some of them do not meet the accepted standards and may be toxic to humans and the environment. This problem largely concerns polymer materials, which are currently widely used in many areas of the economy. This is indirectly related to the coloring of these materials during processing. Therefore, it became necessary to introduce modern research procedures that enable the quantitative and qualitative determination of the impact of coloring agents in the processing of plastics, in order to include their negative impact on humans and the natural environment. The LCA methodology was used in this work, with ReCiPe 2016 used as the test method. Among the analyzed technological operations, the highest negative impact on the environment was characterized by the process related to heating the tested material (2.08 × 10-1 Pt). Among the materials, polyethylene terephthalate was distinguished by the greatest harmful effect on human health (2.91 × 10-1 Pt) and the quality (2.35 × 10-2 Pt) of the environment. The use of recycling processes would reduce the negative impact on human health (about -3.71 Pt), the ecosystem (about -0.14 Pt), and resources (about -0.27 Pt).

Evaluating the Technology Readiness of a Ribbon-Blade Wind Turbine Using NASA's TRL Method

The aim of this article was to complete a methodologically original study and evaluation of the technological readiness of an innovative ribbon-blade wind turbine in accordance with NASA’s TRL method. The structural form of the wind turbine unit analyzed herein, featuring a new ribbon turbine design, is distinguished by its safe durability. The circumferential speeds of the points on the turbine circumference were technologically verified positively and have a significant impact on the evaluation indicators of the conversion process, these being efficiency, unit energy consumption, and the quality of the power and energy of the wind power plant. The use of a new turbine design in the wind turbine analyzed herein, a working ribbon unit, resulted in a technological increase in efficiency from 13% to 32% and a reduction in unit internal energy consumption from 18% to 36% compared to the traditional wind turbine design. The TRL NASA-based evaluation herein, which consists of modern computer-aided engineering procedures (CAE standard) as well as IT instrumentation, and which includes nine degrees of technological readiness of an innovative ribbon windmill, falls in line with the standards for smart development based on knowledge and innovation (EU 2020 Strategy).

The Comparative Assessment of Effects on the Power System and Environment of Selected Electric Transport Means in Poland

Currently, electric vehicles are a rapidly growing alternative to those with combustion engines and can contribute to reduction of CO₂ emissions in the transport sector, especially when the energy to power electric motors is predominantly derived from renewable sources. Until now, the comparison of environmental impact and influence of electric transport means on the power systems was not fully addressed in the case of Poland. The purpose of the study is to describe, analyse and assess electric vehicles (EV) operation against performance indicators in Poland, especially the influence of electric transport means (ETM) (electric cars, trams, trolley buses and buses) on power system and environment. The influence on the power system was investigated for the Polish National Powers system using the simulation of different scenarios of loads generated by EV charging. The energy demand of the National Power System and daily load variability indices were determined. Based on the data of ETM powers consumption and emissions of energy production, the emissions of harmful gases per one km and per one person were calculated, as well as the financial outlays for energy necessary to drive 1 km per 1 passenger. To assess and compare the environmental impact of the selected ETM life cycle, the life cycle assessment method was used. The results of environmental impacts were determined for selected assessment methods: CML 2 and IPCC 2013 GWP 100. The functional unit in this study is one selected ETM with a service life of 100,000 km. Comparison of trams, trolley buses, buses and electric passenger cars indicates that most beneficial are electric buses which do not need rails or overhead lines, thus investment costs are lower.

The Life Cycle Assessment for Polylactic Acid (PLA) to Make It a Low-Carbon Material

The massive plastic production worldwide leads to a global concern for the pollution made by the plastic wastes and the environmental issues associated with them. One of the best solutions is replacing the fossil-based plastics with bioplastics. Bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) are biodegradable materials with less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. PLA is a biopolymer produced from natural resources with good mechanical and chemical properties, therefore, it is used widely in packaging, agriculture, and biomedical industries. PLA products mostly end up in landfills or composting. In this review paper, the existing life cycle assessments (LCA) for PLA were comprehensively reviewed and classified. According to the LCAs, the energy and materials used in the whole life cycle of PLA were reported. Finally, the GHG emissions of PLA in each stage of its life cycle, including feedstock acquisition and conversion, manufacturing of PLA products, the PLA applications, and the end of life (EoL) options, were described. The most energy-intensive stage in the life cycle of PLA is its conversion. By optimizing the conversion process of PLA, it is possible to make it a low-carbon material with less dependence on energy sources.

Manufacturing and Recycling Impact on Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Innovative Wind Power Plant Part 2/2

The process of conversion of wind kinetic energy into electricity in innovative wind power plant emits practically no harmful substances into the environment. However, the production stage of its components requires a lot of energy and materials. The biggest problem during production planning process of an innovative wind power plant is selection of materials and technologies and, consequently, the waste generated at this stage. Therefore, the aim of this publication was to conduct an environmental analysis of the life cycle of elements of a wind turbine by means of life cycle assessment (LCA) method. The object of the research was a wind power plant divided into five sets of components (tower, turbine structure, rotors, generators, and instrumentation), made mainly of steel and small amounts of polymer materials. Eco-indicator 99 was used as an analytical procedure. The impact of the subjects of analysis on human health, ecosystem quality and resources was assessed. Among the analyzed components, the highest level of negative impact on the environment was characterized by the life cycle of the wind turbine tower. The application of recycling processes is reducing the negative impact on the environment in the perspective of the entire life cycle of all studied elements of the wind power plant construction.

LCA as a Tool for the Environmental Management of Car Tire Manufacturing

Car tire manufacturing can be the cause of numerous environmental hazards. Harmful emissions from the production process are an acute danger to human health as well as the environment. To mitigate these unwanted consequences, manufacturers employ the eco-balance analysis at the product designing and development stage, when formulating general development strategies, and increasingly when investigating the entire product lifecycle management process. Since the negative effects of products are considered in a broader range of implications, it has become necessary to extend the traditional scope of analytical interest onto the production, use, and end-of-life stages. This work investigates the manufacturing of passenger car tires executed with traditional and modern manufacturing technologies. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of tires reported in this study involved three LCA methods: Eco-Indicator 99, Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and the scientific assessment methods developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Warming Potential (IPCC). LCA as a tool for environmental analysis can be carried out for the entire life cycle or its individual phases. The implementation of the work made it possible to demonstrate that as a result of the identification of the main sources of negative impacts, it is possible to propose ways to minimize these impacts in the car tire manufacturing process. The results indicate that the most damaging impact is the depletion of natural resources, which play a key role in the production process of car tires.

Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastics: From Passive Barrier to Active Packaging Behavior

An overview of the articles has presented for the Special Issue “Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastics: From Passive Barrier to Active Packaging Behavior”. This issue has objective of collecting comprehensive findings regarding structure and functionality of bio-based sustainable polymers performing as multifaceted barrier and packaging in food, cosmetic, and other areas. The content of the collection covers diverse fields of knowledge embracing polymer chemistry, materials science, transport–diffusion phenomena, biodegradation exploring, and others.