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Probabilistic Material Flow Analysis of Seven Commodity Plastics in Europe
Delphine Kawecki1, Paul R W Scheeder1, Bernd Nowack1
1Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5 , CH-9014 St. Gallen , Switzerland.
Environmental Science & Technology
|July 14, 2018
Summary
This study analyzes plastic material flows in Europe, revealing polypropylene (PP) as the most consumed polymer. Understanding these flows is crucial for assessing environmental and health impacts of plastics and their additives.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Material Flow Analysis
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Increasing plastic use necessitates monitoring environmental and health impacts.
- Understanding plastic lifecycle is key for exposure assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a material flow analysis of seven common polymers in European and Swiss anthropospheres.
- To provide a basis for assessing polymer-related environmental and health impacts.
Main Methods:
- Static probabilistic material flow analysis.
- Inclusion of seven polymers: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, EPS, PVC, PET.
- Consideration of synthetic textiles and international trade flows.
Main Results:
- Polypropylene (PP) shows the highest consumption in Europe, followed by LDPE and PET.
- Textile products constitute a significant portion of PET (42%) and PP (22%) consumption.
- Incineration is the primary waste management for HDPE, PS, and EPS; PVC has the highest recycling rate.
Conclusions:
- Material flow data provides a foundation for detailed exposure assessments of plastics and additives.
- Waste management strategies vary significantly across different polymer types.
- Further research can build upon these findings to mitigate plastic-related risks.
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