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Title: Exploring Comparative Energy and Environmental Benefits of Virgin, Recycled, and Bio-Derived PET Bottles

Journal Article · · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2]
  1. Systems Assessment Group, Energy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
  2. National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common plastic resin used to produce packaging, notably plastic bottles. Most PET bottles are produced from fossil fuel-derived feedstocks. Bio-derived and recycling-based pathways to PET bottles, however, could offer lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the conventional route. In this paper, we use life-cycle analysis to evaluate the GHG emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and water consumption of producing one PET bottle from virgin fossil resources, recycled plastic, and biomass, considering each supply chain stage. We considered two routes to produce bottles from biomass: one in which all PET precursors (ethylene glycol and teraphthalic acid) are bio-derived and one in which only ethylene glycol is bio-derived. Bio-derived and recycled PET bottles offer both GHG emissions and fossil fuel consumption reductions ranging from 12% to 82% and 13% to 56%, respectively, on a cradle-to-grave basis compared to fossil fuel-derived PET bottles assuming PET bottles are landfilled. However, water consumption is lower in the conventional pathway to PET bottles. Water demand is high during feedstock production and conversion in the case of biomass-derived PET and during recycling in the case of bottles made from recycled PET.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1488959
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1493915; OSTI ID: 1508579
Journal Information:
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Name: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Vol. 6 Journal Issue: 8; ISSN 2168-0485
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 40 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables (9)

Figure 1.(p. 2)figure Figure 1.
Table 1.(p. 2)table Table 1.
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Figure 3.(p. 5)figure Figure 3.
Figure 4.(p. 5)figure Figure 4.
Figure 5.(p. 6)figure Figure 5.
Table 4.(p. 6)table Table 4.

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Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
bio-derived PET bottle
life-cycle analysis
recycled-based PET bottle
water consumption