Green packaging materials evaluation tools - life cycle assessment method

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) recently announced the launch of a new study, can be recycled PET and HDPE containers to provide life-cycle inventory analysis. Life Cycle Assessment (LifeCycleAssessment), as a new management tool, focusing on the packaging of the whole process, through the life cycle assessment goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and to improve the evaluation of the paper and plastic packaging A preliminary study for the development and production of packaging to provide decision support. LCA the environmental management tool to get attention, thus promoting sustainable development and international trade needs

The results show that the production process of recycled PET packaging resin significantly reduces the packaging material in the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for the environment.

NAPCOR Chairman and global plastic packaging and material procurement, vice president of TomBusard said: "For years, many companies are looking for a product package can assess their sustainability in the environment, and this assessment methods in addition to recovery of other things in this way no other method, but the new study only confirms and quantifies the environmental benefits of recycled PET material. We see more and more customers began to ask us to provide life-cycle inventory data (LCIs) to do life-cycle assessment (LCAs) so since they can more accurately understand their sustainability is now used in packaging. LCAs assessment will consider product or packaging of the entire life cycle, from raw materials to production until the end of life. This is a long-sought hopes as to the way they evaluate the product packaging the information to select a environmental sustainability.

NAPCOR DennisSabourin Chief Operating Officer added, "This research is a scientific way by some companies provide an effective reference tool." "Sabourin went on to emphasize, PET packaging overview and analysis of sustainable development should take into account not only their recyclability, but recovered in the PET resin in the new packaging materials reuse, as well as the inherent performance characteristics of PET material: light weight , earthquake, safety, preservation, and can guarantee both the right time does not affect the performance of the product itself and not leave the weight change. Basically, the package exists to provide products not only effective but also to ensure that products quality of safety, cost and sustainability. The new study by the Franklin Institute LCI, NAPCOR together. American Chemistry Council (ACC), Plastics Recycling Association (APR), polyester resin Association (PETRA) have completed. by Using life cycle inventory (LCI)) method, research to identify and quantify the energy demand, solid waste, and air and water vapor evaporation steps to collect PET and HDPE post-use packaging for material classified and then processed into clean recycling resin. According to the results, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data show that in 2008 all the recycled PET material used for the production of virgin PET resin production saved 30 trillion Btu (British thermal units) energy consumption, which is equivalent to 317,000 households each year the annual U.S. energy consumption. corresponding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and also saves 1.1 million U.S. dollars equivalent of carbon dioxide equivalent of 1.89 million vehicles on the road to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. If recycled PET using a single sheet, the required energy use would be less than PET raw materials, the corresponding 84% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 71%.

Sabourin said: "We think the industry the company through a number of quantitative and transparent system and the peer review agreement with the Government and some non-governmental organizations is very important. The LCI report its use is detailed within a report, it Our customers and end users to informed decision-making confidence.

Founded in 1987, NAPCOR is the United States and Canada dedicated PET plastic industry associations, NAPCOR is committed to leading the industry in the trustworthiness of PET packaging industry leaders to facilitate the resolution of PET recycling industry.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an evaluation of products, processes or activities, from raw material acquisition to production, transportation, sales, use, reuse, maintenance and final disposal stages of the life cycle environmental impacts related to the process. It is the first identification and quantification of the entire life cycle stage of energy and material consumption and environmental release, and then evaluate the consumption and release of the environmental impact, the final identification and evaluation of opportunities to reduce these impacts.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) first appeared in the twentieth century the late 60s, early 70s, was known as the Resource and Environmental Analysis (REPA). Life cycle assessment as a sign of beginning of the study in 1969 by the Midwest Research Institute for the Coca-Cola's beverage bottle for the evaluation of research, the study makes Coca-Cola abandoned the past, long-term use of glass bottles, plastic bottles instead . Subsequently, the United States ILLIN0IS University, Franklin Research Institute, Stanford University, Institute of Ecology Habitat and the European, some Japanese research institutes have also developed a range of packaging products for other similar studies. This period is mainly initiated by the industrial enterprises, research results as an internal product development and management decision support tools. 1990 by the International Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) for the first time hosted the international seminar on life cycle assessment, at the meeting, the first time the life cycle assessment (LifeCycleAssessment, LCA) concept. In later years, SETAC has presided over and held several seminars, life cycle assessment (LCA) from the theory and methods on a wide range of research on life cycle assessment methodology has made important contributions. SETAC 1993, according to an academic conference in Portugal's main conclusions, published a programmatic report "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Program: A Practical Guide." The report for the LCA method provides a basic technical framework for life cycle assessment methodology of starting a milestone in the