Plastics and Sustainability Towards a Peaceful Coexistence between Bio-based and Fossil Fuel-based Plastics

by Tolinski, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780470938782
• ISBN10: 0470938781
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-10-25
• Publisher: Wiley-Scrivener

Summary

This book addresses an issue of current importance to plastics and manufacturing industry readers, and also to society as a whole. Its guiding question concerns the production, consumption, use, and disposal of plastic products, and how our cultural practice of relying on plastic products can (if it can) fit our needs for a sustainable economy and world. It discusses all possible footprints of plastics use, not just focusing on greenhouse gas production, but also on toxicity and human health, societal standards, and effects on ecosystems.

Author Biography

Michael Tolinski has been researching and writing about plastics sustainability issues for industry readers regularly since 1998 (and since 2004 as a contributing editor for Plastics Engineering magazine published by the Society of Plastics Engineers). His materials science and engineering degree and previous career as a manufacturing/materials engineer has given him a solid background in plastics and in the practical problems faced by manufacturers. His first book, Additives for Polyolefins, was published in 2009.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
General Introduction	p. 1
What is Environmental Sustainability?	p. 4
Facing the Contradictions of Plastics	p. 8
Plastics at Play in Consumer Lifestyles	p. 10
Controversies Concerning Plastics: Recent Examples	p. 11
PVC and Phthalate Plasticizers	p. 12
Plastic Shopping Bags	p. 14
Health Effects of BPA (Bisphenol-A)	p. 16
The Desire to be "Green"	p. 19
Consumer Interest in Sustainability	p. 19
Sustainability: Views and Counterviews	p. 21
The Course of This Book: A Chapter-by-Chapter Overview	p. 26
References	p. 29
The Life Cycles of Plastics	p. 31
"Green Principles" - A Basis for Discussion	p. 33
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - A Baseline Tool	p. 37
Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)	p. 39
LCA: Controversies and Limitations	p. 40
LCA/LCI: Plastics-related Examples	p. 43
Plastic Lifetimes: Cradle-to-Gate...to Gate-to-Grave	p. 46
The "Cradle": Polymer Feedstocks and Production	p. 46
"Gate-to-Gate": General Plastics Use-life Impacts	p. 50
The "Grave": Disposal, Recycling, and Biodegradability	p. 52
Towards a Hierarchy of Choosing Plastics for Sustainability	p. 66
References	p. 68
Polymer Properties and Environmental Footprints	p. 73
Background on Polymers and Plastics	p. 75
"Green Chemistry" Principles Most Relevant to Plastics	p. 76
Common Commodity Thermoplastics	p. 82
Polyethylene (PE)	p. 82
Polypropylene (PP)	p. 87
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, or "Vinyl")	p. 89
Polystyrene (PS)	p. 91
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Related Polyesters	p. 92
Traditional Engineering Thermoplastics	p. 95
Nylon or Polyamide (PA)	p. 96
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)	p. 97
Polycarbonate (PC)	p. 99
Traditional Thermosets and Conventional Composites	p. 100
Unreinforced Thermosets	p. 101
Conventional Composites	p. 103
Biopolymers: Polymers of Biological Origin	p. 104
Polylactic Acid (PLA)	p. 106
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs): PHB and Related Copolymers	p. 110
Starch-based Polymers	p. 113
Protein-based Polymers	p. 114
Algae-based Polymers	p. 115
Blends of Biopolymers	p. 115
Additives and Fillers: Conventional and Bio-based	p. 116
Common Additives	p. 117
Fillers	p. 118
Fiber Reinforcement	p. 119
Nanocomposites	p. 125
Concluding Summary	p. 125
References	p. 126
Applications: Demonstrations of Plastics Sustainability	p. 133
Trends in Sustainable Plastics Applications	p. 136
Sustainable Plastics Packaging	p. 137
Traditional Plastics Bags and Containers: Use, Disposal, and Recycling	p. 140
Bio-based Plastic Packaging	p. 142
"Greener" Foam Packaging	p. 144
Key Points about Plastics Packaging and Sustainability	p. 146
Sustainable Plastics in Building and Construction	p. 146
Recycled/Recyclable Construction Applications	p. 149
Wood-plastic Composites	p. 150
Key Points about Plastics Sustainability in Construction	p. 151
Automotive Plastics and Sustainability	p. 152
Fuel-saving Contributions of Plastics	p. 152
Recycling and Automotive Plastics	p. 154
Bioplastics in the Automotive Industry	p. 155
Key Points: Plastics Sustainability in the Automotive Industry	p. 157
Specialized Applications and Plastics Sustainability	p. 158
Electrical/Electronics Applications	p. 158
Medical Plastics and Packaging	p. 159
Agricultural Applications	p. 161
Conclusions about Sustainable Plastics Applications	p. 162
References	p. 163
Design Guidelines for Sustainability	p. 169
Green Design Principles	p. 172
Minimize Material Content	p. 174
Exploit a Material's Full Value in the Design	p. 175
Design Only to Fulfill Service Durability Requirements	p. 178
Minimize Non-functional Features	p. 179
Focus on Single-material Designs	p. 179
Incorporate Renewable Content	p. 182
The Wildcard: Consumer Preferences in Green Design	p. 183
References	p. 184
Sustainable Considerations in Material Selection	p. 187
A Broad Example of Materials Selection: Plastics vs. Metals and Glass	p. 191
Material Selection for Common High-Volume Plastics Applications	p. 193
Plastics Selection for Beverage Bottles: PET vs. rPET vs. bio-PET	p. 193
Plastics Selection for Thermoformed and Flexible Packaging	p. 197
Selection for Housewares and Food Service Tableware	p. 199
Bio-based Plastic Selection	p. 202
Selecting Bio-based Resins: PLA, PHA, TPS, and Bio-based PE	p. 203
Selecting Natural Fiber Plastics Reinforcement	p. 207
Selecting Engineering (Bio)polymers	p. 212
The Selection Process: A Visual Approach	p. 214
References	p. 219
Processing: Increasing Efficiency in the Use of Energy and Materials	p. 221
Optimizing Resin Recycling	p. 223
Reprocessing Scrap and Post-industrial Material	p. 223
Recycling Technologies for Post-consumer Plastic	p. 226
Optimizing Plastics Processes for Sustainability	p. 231
Optimizing Process Water Use	p. 231
Optimizing Process Energy Consumption of Existing Machinery	p. 233
Choosing New Machinery for Sustainability	p. 236
Sourcing Options for "Green" Processing Energy	p. 237
References	p. 238
Conclusion: A World with(out) Sustainable Plastics?	p. 241
Trends Affecting Future Global Plastics Use	p. 244
Consumer Needs and Market Growth	p. 244
Fossil Fuel Availability and Price	p. 247
Alternative Feedstock Trends	p. 248
Industry Priorities in Responding to Calls for Sustainability	p. 250
Plastic Bans and (Never Ending?) Controversies	p. 252
Future Progress in Promoting Plastics Sustainability	p. 256
Improved Partnerships, Standards, Industry Practices, and Public Education	p. 256
New Sustainability-Enhancing Uses of Both Fossil- and Bio-based Plastics	p. 265
From R&D to Real World: Newer, More Renewably Based Polymeric Materials	p. 268
References	p. 269
Index	p. 273
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