Frontiers in Sustainability (May 2024)

PET and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan: present and future systems analysis of environmental and socio-economic impacts

  • Utkarsh S. Chaudhari,
  • Kamand Sedaghatnia,
  • Barbara K. Reck,
  • Kate Maguire,
  • Anne T. Johnson,
  • David W. Watkins,
  • Robert M. Handler,
  • Tasmin Hossain,
  • Damon S. Hartley,
  • Vicki S. Thompson,
  • Alejandra Peralta,
  • Jenny L. Apriesnig,
  • David R. Shonnard

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2024.1405427
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5

Abstract

Read online

Many actions are underway at global, national, and local levels to increase plastics circularity. However, studies evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of such a transition are lacking at regional levels in the United States. In this work, the existing polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan were compared to a potential future (‘NextCycle’) scenario that looks at increasing Michigan’s overall recycling rate to 45%. Material flow analysis data was combined with environmental and socio-economic metrics to evaluate the sustainability of these supply chains for the modeled scenarios. Overall, the NextCycle scenario for these supply chains achieved a net 14% and 34% savings of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts, when compared with their respective baseline values. Additionally, the NextCycle scenario showed a net gain in employment and wages, however, it showed a net loss of revenue generation outside of Michigan due to the avoided use of virgin resins in Michigan.

Keywords