Bioplastics and Circular Economy—Performance Indicators to Identify Optimal Pathways

authored by: Sebastian Spierling, Venkateshwaran Venkatachalam, Hannah Behnsen, Christoph Herrmann, Hans Josef Endres
Abstract: With a growing demand of resources and environmental issues like climate change, circular economy has become an inevitable fundamental principle in resource consumption. While conventional plastics have become an essential material group in the 20th century, bio-based and/or biodegradable alternatives are still evolving. Principles of the circular economy need to be implemented for all kinds of material flows and bioplastic is no exception, as biomass is a limited resource as well. To identifiy environmentally favourable pathways for bioplastic waste streams, it is helpful to develop suitable specific indicators. To review the current status quo, a literature review was conducted with focus on (bio-) plastics. While general circular economy approaches are available manifold, only few literature on specific circular economy indicators for (bio-) plastics is available. Especially the aspect of biodegradability is unique for bioplastics and therefore enables further waste treatment options. An already existing framework is therefore extended for these waste treatment options to enable the identification of optimal pathways also for biodegradable plastics.
External Organisation(s): University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover (HsH)
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Type: Contribution to book/anthology
Pages: 147-154
No. of pages: 8
Publication date: 2019
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 - Climate Action
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92237-9_16 (Access: Closed)