4.1.5
Production and In-use Phase
To date, there is one full Life Cycle Assessment carried out that includes oxo-degradable polyethylene bags and compares them to other polymers including poly(lactic acid) and nondegradable polyethylene5. The assessment indicated that the impacts at the production and in-use phase of oxo-degradable polyethylene were similar to those of non-degradable polyethylene. The most serious negative impact of oxo-degradable polyethylene was on the depletion of resources of oil, coal and natural gas. In cases where the bag is re-used, as in the ‗bag for life‘, then the LCA study5 concluded that the oxo-degradable bag and the single-use bag both have a more negative impact than the ‗bag for life‘. The fact that they are degradable limits the re-use of oxo-degradable bags. For example, the bags will fragment into small pieces and are therefore not suitable for storing items in the home over timescales in excess of one to two years. Nevertheless, the key difference between oxo-degradable plastics and non-degradable polyethelene is in its disposal, or ‗end of life‘ – thus the focus of this review.
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