Plastic leakage of packaging in Life Cycle Assessment – a theoretical framework

Abstract

The proposed theoretical framework explores how packaging could be assessed from gate-to-grave including the probability to become litter. A growing number of studies have confirmed the omnipresence of plastic pollution. Likewise, it has been revealed that marine litter is mainly caused by poor or insufficient waste management. In this line, the environmental impact of packaging have gained much attention due to significant increase in public awareness. Packaging is often designed for single-use and rapidly transforms into waste after a short life-time. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) practitioners who assess packaging will need a framework to determine the probability and percentage of packaging material that becomes litter. Currently the available end-of-life scenarios to model the fate of packaging are: recycling, incineration and disposal in landfill. With the estimation of packaging litter potential and littering as an end-of-life scenario, the life cycle inventory flows of pollution can be determined. A framework like this can be adopted by LCA practitioners and decision-makers, it can enable fairer and more realistic LCA comparisons of packaging, and it can help prioritize regulatory action as well as choices within companies.