(Braskem) -- Braskem, the largest thermoplastic resin producer in the Americas, Fundacao Espaco ECO and Instituto Akatu presented a comparative survey on the use of different types of bags for transporting goods purchased at supermarkets and the economic and environmental impacts of each alternative.
To ensure that the discussion of the best bag alternative is based solely on scientific studies, the life cycles of various bag options available in the Brazilian market were analyzed, which included disposable bags (made from traditional polyethylene, sugarcane polyethylene and additives to promote biodegradation) and some reusable bags (paper, raffia, cloth and non-woven fabric).
This unprecedented survey in Brazil considers a number of current conditions in the country, including the technology and production methods used and the resulting environmental impacts of certain scenarios involving the use of the bags and the disposal of trash by consumers.
The life-cycle analysis (ACV) was expanded to consider what is known as "ecoefficiency", which evaluates the environmental impacts and cost of each alternative, encompassing everything from the extraction of raw materials to the disposal of the bag, including its production and use. Therefore, the entire production chain was considered and analyzed when studying the environmental impacts and cost of each of phase.
MRC