Microsoft Word - Environmental benefits of recycling 2010 update.doc

Biopolymers‐ n°7

Title
Vergleichende Ökobilanz für Loose‐fill‐Packmittel
aus Stärke bzw. Polystyrol
Year 2002

Author BIfA/IFEU/Flo‐Pak

Impact assessment

CML

Incineration with

energy recovery Composting Anaerobic^ digestion Feedstock^ recycling

Depletion of abiotic resources (kg Sb eq)
Climate change (kg CO 2  eq)^102023609101270
Cumulative energy demand (MJ)* 14000 29000 17000 17000
Water consumption (m^3 )
Terrestrial eutrophication (kg PO4 eq) 0,94 1,00 1,02 1,05
Aquatic eutrophication (kg PO4 eq) 0,0154 0,0190 0,0732 0,0153
Acidification (kg SO2 eq) 5,689,295,999,03
Photochemical oxidation (kg ethylene eq) 0,49 0,63 0,51 0,52
Ozone depletion (kg N2O eq) 0,645 0,802 0,768 0,798
Toxicity (kg  1 ‐ 4 ‐dichlorobenzene)

• The energy demand in this study corresponds to the consumption of fossil energy resources
  Indicator not included

7  [MAS] (MAS= Maize Starch)

Methodology

Full life cycle

100  m^3 of biopolymer