| Title: | Environmental and littering impacts of disposable cups made of polypropylene and polylactic acid in Germany |
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| Authors: | ID Galafton, Christina (Author)
ID Budhiraja, Vaibhav (Author)
ID Stevens, Sarah (Author)
ID Mušič, Branka (Author)
ID Almeida Magalhães, Daniel de (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550925000879
 PDF - Presentation file, download (2,47 MB)
MD5: 4EFD9FFAD5463EC84242B059C28B2C64
PDF - Supplement, download (2,39 MB)
MD5: CCBA6D9AADF3582E3C250C307F05F319
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  ZAG - Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute
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| Abstract: | As a result of improper management, plastics such as drinking cups are accumulating in environmental compartments worldwide, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem services. The goal of this study is to analyze and compare potential environmental impacts of disposable cups made of Polypropylene and Polylactic acid with the help of a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, including impacts related to the littering of these cups. Plastic pollution impacts are calculated based on the products' persistence in the environment, comparing the results of our own experiment to literature data. As an indication of the possible adverse health effects of Polypropylene and Polylactic acid, a toxicity test of the chemical mixtures migrating from the cups is conducted. Overall, the cups made of Polypropylene show lower environmental impacts compared to those made of Polylactic acid when the experimentally determined degradation rates are used. Nevertheless, regarding toxicity of the chemical migrates, the cup made of Polylactic acid performs better than the one made of Polypropylene. Considering all impact categories, there is no overall improvement in environmental impacts of producing the cup from Polylactic acid instead of Polypropylene. Our results indicate the importance of using degradation data measured specifically for the assessed product. Methodologically, we demonstrate a possible integration of life cycle assessment and safe-and-sustainable-by-design scoring. Further development of the plastic pollution impact category is needed to integrate effects on the terrestrial environment. |
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| Keywords: | degradation, accelerated weathering, product environmental footprint, life cycle assessment, plastic pollution, toxicity |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 17.04.2025 |
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| Publisher: | Elsevier B.V. |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 34-45 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 57 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-22515  |
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| UDC: | 620.1/.2 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2352-5509 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.spc.2025.04.013 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 235266563 |
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| Copyright: | © 2025 The Authors |
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| Note: |
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 27.05.2025 |
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| Views: | 800 |
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| Downloads: | 467 |
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