https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.2307%2F3343168.pdf

Development as Freedom

A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems

Review of LCA studies of solid waste management systems--part I: lessons learned and perspectives.

Over the past four decades, global plastics production has quadrupled1. If this trend were to continue, the GHG emissions from plastics would reach 15% of the global carbon budget by 20502. Strategies to mitigate the life-cycle GHG emissions of plastics, however, have not been evaluated on a global scale. Here, we compile a dataset covering ten conventional and five bio-based plastics and their life-cycle GHG emissions under various mitigation strategies. Our results show that the global life-cycle GHG emissions of conventional plastics were 1.7 Gt of CO2-equivalent (CO2e) in 2015, which would grow to 6.5 GtCO2e by 2050 under the current trajectory. However, aggressive application of renewable energy, recycling and demand-management strategies, in concert, has the potential to keep 2050 emissions comparable to 2015 levels. In addition, replacing fossil fuel feedstock with biomass can further reduce emissions and achieve an absolute reduction from the current level. Our study demonstrates the need for integrating energy, materials, recycling and demand-management strategies to curb growing life-cycle GHG emissions from plastics. The life-cycle GHG emissions from plastics are expected to increase. Here, it is shown that an aggressive strategy of decarbonizing energy infrastructure, improving recycling, adopting bio-based plastics and reducing demand is required to keep emissions below 2015 levels.

/pdf/strategies-to-reduce-the-global-carbon-footprint-of-plastics-1jiugp4nr4.pdf

Strategies to reduce the global carbon footprint of plastics

Exploring the relationship between leadership, operational practices, institutional pressures and environmental performance: A framework for green supply chain

A number of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have been undertaken within the last 15 years comparing end-of-life treatment options for post-consumer plastic waste, including techniques such as: ...

Plastic waste management in the context of a European recycling society: Comparing results and uncertainties in a life cycle perspective

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01088221/document

Toward an systemic navigation framework to integrate sustainable development into the company

The application of life cycle thinking in the context of European waste policy

Écologie industrielle et territoriale : Stratégies locales pour un développement durable

Introduction N. Buclet, O. Godard. I. Municipal Waste Management in Germany L. Fischer, U. Petschow. II. Waste Management in The Netherlands P. Kalders, W. Hafkamp. III. Municipal Waste Management in France N. Buclet, et al. IV. Muncipal Waste Management in Italy P. Bertossi, et al. V. Municipal Solid Waste Management in Greece A. Andreadakis, et al. VI. Municipal Waste Management in Europe: A Comparison of National Regimes N. Buclet, O. Godard.

Nicolas Buclet

Papers

Plastic waste management in the context of a European recycling society: Comparing results and uncertainties in a life cycle perspective

Toward an systemic navigation framework to integrate sustainable development into the company

The application of life cycle thinking in the context of European waste policy

Écologie industrielle et territoriale : Stratégies locales pour un développement durable

Municipal waste management in Europe : a comparative study in building regimes