Implementing the 3E assessment model of sustainable development to investigate coastal pollution management: using PET recycling (bottle-to-fiber) as a case study

Abstract

Recently, plastic pollution of the ocean has been garnering increasing attention. The United Nations considers the problem as a major issue, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a global "Clean Ocean" campaign. An estimated 51 trillion plastic particles can be found in our oceans, and the pollution has caused plastics to enter the food chain. This study investigates the life cycle of recycling waste PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles in the ocean to the regeneration of recycled raw materials in the process of producing blankets made from such materials. First, the activity data of the relevant literature was collected, and the life cycle assessment software Open LCA was used as the assessment tool. We assume that the functional unit is 1 kg of recycled PET bottles. Secondly, with the ILCD 2011 Midpoint impact assessment method for environmental impact analysis, we identify the impact of pollutants generated during the recycling process on the environment as follows: Photochemical ozone formation 7872256.41218/ kg NMVOC eq; Freshwater ecotoxicity 240566129.10051/ CTUe; Human toxicity, cancer effects 120.28305/ CTUh; Human toxicity, non-cancer effects 1.53496/ CTUh. Finally, we conduct risk assessment using the 3E (Engineering, Environment and Economic) assessment model, and propose an overall recovery treatment optimization assessment model.

Techniques, applications, and prospects of recycled polyethylene terephthalate bottle: A review

“…[32][33][34][35][36] On the other hand, these PET bottles do not naturally degrade (or breakdown) into small parts, instead circulate in soil and ocean for many years as well release harmful elements to the environment. 33,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] So, starting from 1941; first manufacturing PET bottles, many trillion wastes has been accumulated in nature and polluting the earth's environment alarmingly. 38,46,47 At this rate, forecasting determined that the amount of PET bottle waste thrown everyday will be tripled by 2050 and the ocean will have more plastic than fish by weight scale.…”