Abstract
Background, aim, and scope
The goal of this study is to analyze the environmental impact of new composite materials obtained from the combination of recycled thermoplastics (polypropylene [PP] and high-density polyethylene [HDPE]) and biodegradable waste of little economic value, namely, rice husks and recycled cotton. The environmental impact of these materials is compared to the impact of virgin PP and HDPE using life cycle assessment.
Materials and methods
From-cradle-to-grave life cycle inventory studies were performed for 1 kg of each of the three new composites: PP+cotton linters, PP+rice husks, and HDPE+cotton linters. Inventory data for the recycling of thermoplastics and cotton were obtained from a number of recycling firms in Spain, while environmental data concerning rice husks were obtained mainly from one rice-processing company located in Spain. Life cycle inventory data for virgin thermoplastics were acquired from PlasticsEurope. Two different scenarios—incineration and landfilling—were considered for the assessment of disposal phase. A quantitative impact assessment was performed for four impact categories: global warming over a hundred years, nonrenewable energy depletion, acidification, and eutrophication.
Results
The composites subject to analysis exhibited a significantly reduced environmental impact during the materials acquisition and processing phases compared to conventional virgin thermoplastics in all of the impact categories considered. The use of fertilizers for rice cultivation, however, impaired the results of the rice husk composite in the eutrophication category where it nevertheless outperformed its conventional counterparts. The compounding phase fundamentally implies an electric consumption. The disposal phase was analyzed with regard to emissions in the global warming category.
Discussion
Composites obtained from renewable sources are still in an incipient state of development in comparison with petroleum-derived plastics. In the future, as mass production of these plastics becomes more widespread, their environmental impact can be expected to reach lower levels than those obtained in our study. The new materials exhibited adequate mechanical performance for the application analyzed (structures used in aquaculture).
Conclusions
The composites subject to analysis exhibited a significantly reduced environmental impact compared to conventional virgin thermoplastics using 1 kg of material as a functional unit.
Recommendations and perspectives
In accordance with the International Organization for Standardization 14044:2006 standard, it would be advisable to avoid impact allocation. This posed some difficulties, since rice husks are a coproduct of rice. Thus, some impact allocation was done in our study on the basis of economic value. It would also be advisable to take the land use impact category into consideration when performing comparative studies between composites and conventional plastics, albeit the definition of this category is currently the subject of scientific debate.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions made by Vicente Franco and Jose Pasqual Cerisuelo and the data and support provided by the European project DOLFIN: “Development of innovative plastic structures for aquaculture using a new composite with crop waste as reinforcing filler” (EC contract COOP-CT-2003-508682, funded by the VI Framework Programme of the European Commission) and the project of the National Environmental Science and Technology Programme 2004–2007 (Ministry of the Environment of Spain): “Life cycle assessment of the waste of biodegradable materials and composites, as an alternative to conventional polymers” (reference 566/2006/1-2.4).
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Vidal, R., Martínez, P. & Garraín, D. Life cycle assessment of composite materials made of recycled thermoplastics combined with rice husks and cotton linters. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14, 73–82 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-008-0043-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-008-0043-7