| 1. |
- Molina-Besch, Katrin, et al.
(författare)
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A simplified environmental evaluation tool for food packaging to support decision-making in packaging development
- 2020
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Ingår i: Packaging Technology and Science. - : Wiley. - 0894-3214 .- 1099-1522. ; 33:4-5, s. 141-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Packaging developers in the food industry must consider several, sometimes conflicting, environmental requirements on packaging along with an already complex combination of marketing, logistics and production requirements. Existing methods for the environmental evaluation of packaging either focus on a limited amount of environmental packaging criteria (such as recyclability or renewable content) or rely on life cycle assessment methodology requiring expert competence. To support the food industry in their efforts toward developing product and packaging combinations that reduce the total environmental impact in food supply chains, this article presents a simplified environmental evaluation tool for food packaging. The presented tool was developed through an iterative process in a collaborative research project with the food industry. It evaluates packaging systems based on packaging criteria sorted into four areas that represent the life-cycle steps packaging material production, transport, household and end-of-life. A comparison of the tool results and screening LCA results for three packaging cases showed no major differences. From the practitioners' perspective, the main advantages of the suggested tool are that it does not require LCA-competence, that the required input data is commonly available in packaging development projects and that its overall structure invites several functions of the company to participate. The theoretical benefits of the suggested tool are that it allows for a parallel assessment of eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness criteria in a life cycle perspective and that it considers littering risk as well as the influence of packaging on food waste in households.
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| 2. |
- Molina-Besch, Katrin, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring the industrial perspective on biobased plastics in food packaging applications – Insights from Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: Sustainable Production and Consumption. - : Elsevier BV. - 2352-5509. ; 35, s. 72-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biobased plastics are seen as promising alternative material to reduce negative environmental impacts of plastic food packaging. Despite many years of development efforts of biobased plastics, the current commercial use of them is still low indicating barriers to their application. The purpose of this interview study is to explore the perceptions of industry stakeholders towards the use of biobased plastics in food packaging applications. Data were collected from 17 Swedish companies in the packaging, food, and retail sectors. The results of the study show a generally positive attitude towards the use of biobased plastics in food packaging among the interviewed companies. At the same time, the study identified the following barriers for an increased uptake of biobased plastics packaging in the sample: concerns about the potential conflict between food security and the cultivation of feedstock crops, technical performance issues, consumers' confusion, and doubts about the actual environmental benefits of biobased plastics. The key identified drivers for an increased use of biobased plastics packaging were lower material prices, increased technical performance and a greater supply. Respondents from all three sectors expressed a preference for drop-in bioplastics and a low interest in biodegradable bioplastics.
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| 5. |
- Molina-Besch, Katrin
(författare)
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Use phase and end-of-life modeling of biobased biodegradable plastics in life cycle assessment : a review
- 2022
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Ingår i: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1618-954X .- 1618-9558. ; 24:10, s. 3253-3272
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Due to the negative environmental impacts along the life cycle of fossil-based plastics, there is an increased interest in the development of biobased and biodegradable plastics. Especially, biodegradable bioplastics possess different material characteristics than fossil-based plastics and can therefore be expected to perform differently during the product use and in end-of-life (EOL) phases. Thus, it is important to consider the material performance and behavior of biobased plastics in life cycle assessment studies. In practice, this is often a difficult task due to lack of data. The purpose of this review study is to analyze how contemporary LCA method models the use and EOL phases of biobased biodegradable plastics, with a specific focus on how the properties of these chemical novel materials are considered in LCA modeling. The first part of the review summarizes recommendations for the use phase and EOL modeling of biobased plastics. The second part analyzes 42 bioplastic LCAs in relation to these recommendations. The results of the review reveal that the use phase is commonly neglected in LCAs of bioplastics. Moreover, it is shown that EOL modeling in LCAs of biobased biodegradable plastics is often based on data that is non-specific for the analyzed material(s). The results of the review call for more research on the specific material properties of newly developed biobased biodegradable plastics, as these data are needed to decrease uncertainties in bioplastic LCAs. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
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| 6. |
- Silva, Nathalie, et al.
(författare)
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Replacing plastic with corrugated cardboard : A carbon footprint analysis of disposable packaging in a B2B global supply chain—A case study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-3449. ; 191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Industry is increasingly committed to reduce its ecological footprint. One specific area of increased industrial interest is the use of plastic-free packaging. Plastic packaging is efficient from a supply chain perspective, but as waste risks causing disastrous environmental effects. This case study assesses the environmental impacts (from cradle to grave) of plastic cushioning inserts vs. corrugated cardboard cushioning inserts. The cushioning options have different measurements requiring different box sizes. The carbon footprint calculation covers the main phases of the packaging life cycle: manufacturing, transport and end-of-life processes. Calculation results show that the corrugated cardboard option has the highest carbon footprint, due to weight increase along with long transport distances and high dependence on airfreight. The results reinforce the importance of developing alternatives to plastic packaging without increasing packaging weight. Managerial implications and suggestions for policymakers are presented and discussed.
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