For the project I'm currently working on I have to compare multiple different packaging on their environmental impact. I would like to do a basic version and just compare the impact of the materials used. I have the weight of each material in each packaging, therefore it would be rather simple to compare them if I know what the impact is of 1 kg of those materials.
Does anyone know whether there is a dataset/results available of an LCA of the production of 1kg PET/glass/paper etc? Or any tool that is easy to use to do this with?
I have used GaBi in the past, but this seems a bit overated and time consuming.
Thanks in advance.
You can try using OpenLCA. There are multiple free databases you can utilize (Based on what you need).
Good luck.
Have a look at the ECOINVENT database.
Maybe the guest access, which is free of charge, contains the data you are looking for.
https://www.ecoinvent.org/database/access-the-database/access-the-database.html
Femke Veldhuis
A simple google search "LCA of production of 1 Kg PET" will give you several results that may help you. One of it is a very good report on "Life Cycle Assessment of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Beverage Bottles Consumed in the State of California" (https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Download/1084?opt=dln).
It mentions some very interesting (now known) facts that may be interest for your study such as
- On average, 1 kg of polymer contains 961 g primary resin and 39 g secondary (recycled) resin. 1 kg of polymer will package 27.9 liters of California-average beverage; 38.2 liters of bottled water; 24.2 liters of carbonated soft drink; or 19.6 liters of juice / sports / other drinks.
- Use of 1 kg polymer in the baseline scenario (containing 3.9 percent recycled content) has a primary energy demand of 119.6 MJ, requires 20,500 kg.km of freight services, generates 0.727 kg of solid waste and 0.547 kg of secondary PET that is open-loop recycled.
- The baseline scenario leads to 5.79 kg CO2-eq of global warming potential, 257.5 g SO-eq of acidification potential, and 10.9 g P-eq of eutrophication potential (CML indicators).
Hope it helps!
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