Characterization of carbon for improved life cycle assessment of end-of-life plastics

The global use of plastic has substantially increased 20 times over the last 50 years and is expected to double in the next 20 years. While many research efforts concentrate on plastic pollution, they overlook the resource perspective and associated tradeoffs. Almost 80% of the plastics used worldwide are derivatives of petrochemicals obtained by refining crude oil and natural gas. These fossil resources are non-renewable and finite, but they are potentially chemically recyclable, making carbon accessible for future uses as carbon feedstock. Several methods exist to account for damages from mineral resource use in life cycle assessment; however, methods for quantifying carbon resource use have not yet been developed. Hence, this study aims to develop a new life cycle impact assessment method that considers carbon accessibility and dissipation as impact mechanisms. This method will guide the selection of optimal routes for managing plastic waste from a natural resource perspective.