Evaluating the Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Biodegradable and Conventional Food Packaging Materials

Growing environmental concerns associated with the use of petroleum-based food packaging have increased interest in biodegradable food packaging. This study was designed to assess and compare the life-cycle environmental impacts of biodegradable packaging materials (PLA and PHA), and conventional petroleum-based packaging materials (PE and PET). A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was adopted through a cradle to grave system boundary, which included raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use and end of life scenarios. Different global warming potential, water consumption, eutrophication potential, energy demand and waste generation indicators were used to assess the impacts on the environment. It was found that the biodegradable materials had smaller impacts in GWP, eutrophication potential, manufacturing energy demand, and end-of-life emissions than the conventional plastics. Nevertheless, water usage to produce agricultural feedstocks and biomass processing for biodegradable packaging was higher. The results suggest that biodegradable packaging materials can offer environmental benefits under specific packaging production and waste management conditions, however, the sustainability of these materials is dependent on regional resources, technological developments, and waste management infrastructure. The findings of this study indicate the need for thorough LCA evaluation approach to decide food packaging alternatives to achieve sustainability.