PET and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan: present and future systems analysis of environmental and socio-economic impacts

Chaudhari, Utkarsh S.; Sedaghatnia, Kamand; Reck, Barbara K.; Maguire, Kate; Johnson, Anne T.; Watkins, David W.; Handler, Robert M.; Hossain, Tasmin; Hartley, Damon S.; Thompson, Vicki S.; Peralta, Alejandra; Apriesnig, Jenny L.; Shonnard, David R.

doi:10.3389/frsus.2024.1405427

Title: PET and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan: present and future systems analysis of environmental and socio-economic impacts

Journal Article · 23 May 2024 · Frontiers in Sustainability

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2024.1405427 · OSTI ID:2438035

Chaudhari, Utkarsh S. ^[1]; Sedaghatnia, Kamand ^[1]; Reck, Barbara K. ^[2]; Maguire, Kate ^[3]; Johnson, Anne T. ^[3]; Watkins, David W. ^[1]; Handler, Robert M. ^[1]; Hossain, Tasmin ^[4];

^[4];

^[4]; Peralta, Alejandra ^[5]; Apriesnig, Jenny L. ^[1]; Shonnard, David R. ^[1]

Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, MI (United States)
Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
Resource Recycling Systems, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Chemstations Inc., Houston, TX (United States)

Many actions are underway at global, national, and local levels to increase plastics circularity. However, studies evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of such a transition are lacking at regional levels in the United States. In this work, the existing polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan were compared to a potential future (‘NextCycle’) scenario that looks at increasing Michigan’s overall recycling rate to 45%. Material flow analysis data was combined with environmental and socio-economic metrics to evaluate the sustainability of these supply chains for the modeled scenarios. Overall, the NextCycle scenario for these supply chains achieved a net 14% and 34% savings of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts, when compared with their respective baseline values. Additionally, the NextCycle scenario showed a net gain in employment and wages, however, it showed a net loss of revenue generation outside of Michigan due to the avoided use of virgin resins in Michigan.

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Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517; EE0007897

OSTI ID:: 2438035

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--24-79913-Rev000

Journal Information:: Frontiers in Sustainability, Journal Name: Frontiers in Sustainability Journal Issue: - Vol. 5; ISSN 2673-4524

Publisher:: Frontiers Media S.A.Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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