CETEA has conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of PE (polyethylene) plastic bags with emphasis on the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), collecting data for the reference year 2003. The goal of this paper is to present part of this complete study, focusing on the influence of polyethylene recycling rate on the LCI of PE plastic bags in Brazil. For generating the Brazilian average data of ethylene, HDPE-HMW, HDPE/LLDPE and LDPE, the data were compiled taking into account, respectively, 61, 100, 78 and 63% of the companies involved in each phase of the production process. After the companies agreed to collaborate with the Project, appropriate questionnaires were prepared and sent for data collection. The companies were responsible for both collecting the data and completing the data sheets. The calculation of the Brazilian average polyethylene recycling was accomplished considering the data supplied by seven companies. The calculation of the Brazilian average PE plastic bags production was accomplished considering the data supplied by four companies. Taking into account the impact categories adopted in this study it has been demonstrated that recycling helps to improve the PE plastic bags environmental profile measured as LCI data.
Polyethylene; recycling; inventory; life cycle; bags
