Combining LCA-MFA models to identify China's plastic value chain environmental impact mitigation pathways.

ABSTRACT: Characterizing material flows and environmental impacts of plastic value chain is crucial for sustainable plastic management. Here, we combine material flow analysis and life cycle assessment methods to map the flows of eight major plastics and investigate the multiple environmental impacts of China's plastic value chain. We find that packaging and textile sectors dominate plastic consumption and are responsible for the value chain environmental burdens, but with low recycling rates. Major environmental impacts are generated in plastic production and product manufacturing stages because of the consumption of coal-based feedstocks and electricity. We therefore set up six scenarios by considering carbon neutrality energy pathway, plastic recycling improvement, and technology updating, findin

SUBMITTER: Liang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10483054 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature