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Bridging the circularity gap in the LDPE value chain: A Tetra Pak and PolyPlank case study in Sweden

Brahmi, Margot LU (2018) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEN41 20181
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Abstract
The consumption of single use and disposable packaging has led to significant amounts of waste. A large share of food and beverage packaging products are multi-layered aseptic cardboard packages laminated with aluminium and principally with the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic material. This multilayer design makes them poorly recyclable and causes that aluminium and LDPE layers are often incinerated after the recycling process of paper. Incineration leads to a significant loss of the material’s value and causes substantial emissions of carbon dioxide. In Sweden, the LDPE layers contained in Tetra Pak’s carton packaging are incinerated and recovered into energy, creating an important gap in the circularity of the material flow in... (More)
The consumption of single use and disposable packaging has led to significant amounts of waste. A large share of food and beverage packaging products are multi-layered aseptic cardboard packages laminated with aluminium and principally with the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic material. This multilayer design makes them poorly recyclable and causes that aluminium and LDPE layers are often incinerated after the recycling process of paper. Incineration leads to a significant loss of the material’s value and causes substantial emissions of carbon dioxide. In Sweden, the LDPE layers contained in Tetra Pak’s carton packaging are incinerated and recovered into energy, creating an important gap in the circularity of the material flow in the value chain. A company interested in using recycled LDPE from post-consumer packaging is PolyPlank AB, manufacturing bio-plastic and wood fiber composite for construction and packaging products. The Tetra Pak and PolyPlank case study of this paper addresses this circularity gap and intends to find solutions by identifying the main actors of the LDPE value chain, examining their main barriers and drivers for bridging the circularity gap of LDPE material and evaluating the existing possibilities to reuse the LDPE waste by performing a simplified Material Flow Analysis. The research employs a literature review and semi-structured interviews with company representatives in the LDPE value chain. Despite many challenging barriers in closing the loop, the findings show that there are possibilities to reuse the rejected LDPE and mixed materials from paper mills into PolyPlank production’s processes. This paper is of relevance to food and beverage packaging manufacturers, recyclers, as well as any industries reusing or planning to reuse recycled LDPE. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Brahmi, Margot LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEN41 20181
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Plastic recycling, Circular economy, Material recovery, Low-Density Polyethylene, Polylaminated food and beverage packaging
publication/series
IIIEE Master Thesis
report number
2018:10
ISSN
1401-9191
language
English
id
8973450
date added to LUP
2019-04-18 08:25:46
date last changed
2019-04-18 08:25:46
@misc{8973450,
  abstract     = {{The consumption of single use and disposable packaging has led to significant amounts of waste. A large share of food and beverage packaging products are multi-layered aseptic cardboard packages laminated with aluminium and principally with the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic material. This multilayer design makes them poorly recyclable and causes that aluminium and LDPE layers are often incinerated after the recycling process of paper. Incineration leads to a significant loss of the material’s value and causes substantial emissions of carbon dioxide. In Sweden, the LDPE layers contained in Tetra Pak’s carton packaging are incinerated and recovered into energy, creating an important gap in the circularity of the material flow in the value chain. A company interested in using recycled LDPE from post-consumer packaging is PolyPlank AB, manufacturing bio-plastic and wood fiber composite for construction and packaging products. The Tetra Pak and PolyPlank case study of this paper addresses this circularity gap and intends to find solutions by identifying the main actors of the LDPE value chain, examining their main barriers and drivers for bridging the circularity gap of LDPE material and evaluating the existing possibilities to reuse the LDPE waste by performing a simplified Material Flow Analysis. The research employs a literature review and semi-structured interviews with company representatives in the LDPE value chain. Despite many challenging barriers in closing the loop, the findings show that there are possibilities to reuse the rejected LDPE and mixed materials from paper mills into PolyPlank production’s processes. This paper is of relevance to food and beverage packaging manufacturers, recyclers, as well as any industries reusing or planning to reuse recycled LDPE.}},
  author       = {{Brahmi, Margot}},
  issn         = {{1401-9191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
  title        = {{Bridging the circularity gap in the LDPE value chain: A Tetra Pak and PolyPlank case study in Sweden}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}