Circular economy: comparative life cycle assessment of fossil polyethylene terephthalate (PET)and its recycled and bio-based counterparts

Abstract

The transition to circular economy requires diversifying material sources, improving secondary raw materials management, including recycling, and finally finding sustainable alternative materials. Both recycled and bio-based plastics are often regarded as promising

alternatives to conventional fossil-based plastics. Their broad application instead of fossilbased plastics is, however, frequently the subject of criticism because of offering limited

environmental benefits. The study presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of

fossil-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) versus its recycled and bio-based counterparts. The system boundary covers the plastics manufacturing and end-of-life plastic management stages (cradle-to-cradle/grave variant). Based on the data and assumptions set

out in the research, recycled PET (rPET) demonstrates the best environmental profile out

of the evaluated plastics in all impact categories. The study contributes to circular economy in plastics by providing transparent and consistent knowledge on their environmental

portfolio.