Sachet Economy: Big Problems in Small Packets

Abstract

In light of recent promotional statements from technology providers, governments, and academic and research institutions, this report looks at the proposed application of converting municipal waste into fuel, namely for gas turbine aircraft engines. General information on the concept of plastic to fuel (PTF) can be found in other publications (Rollinson and Oladejo, 2020; Schiegel, 2020). Gas turbine aircraft engine (jet) fuel, often called 'aviation kerosene', is a mid-crude oil distillation cut between gasoline and diesel, with hydrocarbons in the C 8 -C 16 range. It has a high concentration (70-85%) of paraffins, and contains naphthalenes and aromatics. Standards, however, are based on performance rather than composition (ASTM D1655). Acceptable aviation fuel must perform consistently and safely in extreme conditions: it must allow engine re-light at high altitude, and it must have low viscosity to ensure consistent atomisation (Blakey et al, 2011). Aviation fuel must also fulfil other functions, including hydraulics and balancing aircraft weight. One aerospace representative called it 'the Swiss army knife of aircraft', and warned' don't play with our fuel quality' (Jeuland, 2019). It is also currently accepted that any proposed plastic-or waste-derived aviation fuel must be ' drop in'; meaning that it must meet the current standards exactly (Bergthorson and Thomson, 2015). This is to avoid the logistical problem of airports handling multiple fuel types, and due to the long working life of commercial jet engines. Alarmingly, therefore, some are proposing the very technologies with a track record of failure at the simpler function of municipal waste disposal (gasification and pyrolysis) for the challenging and difficult task of creating highspecification aviation fuel (Gleis, 2012;Rollinson and Oladejo, 2020). In short: plastic-or waste-derived engine fuels have been failures in other sectors, and with aviation fuels, the bar is raised even higher.Moreover, the expectation that new engines could work with new fuel types is unlikely to be supported by the aviation industry due to the investment required to change fleets.

Socio-behavioral assessment of household solid waste management: The case of Barangay Calicanto, Philippines

“…The affordability, convenience, and accessibility of sachets in convenience stores make them a preferred choice over other less affordable alternatives. This observation is in line with the report of Liamson et al (2020) in the Philippines, which emphasized that sachets attract low-income households due to their affordability, allowing for the purchase of essential items in smaller quantities at affordable price [38]. The study also highlighted the convenience of sachets that the target market expanded from the lower-income group to the higher ones [38].…”

Models of justice evoked in published scientific studies of plastic pollution

“…This trend is confined almost exclusively to justice-oriented research groups and grey literature. For instance, GAIA's plastic pollution research is fairly unique in that their work encompasses nearly the full range of models of justice outlined here, including distributive justice by showing how plastics uniquely harm certain groups of people (e.g., Southeast Asian countries in the global waste trade, GAIA 2019), procedural justice in the demand to have waste pickers and other key rightsholders participate in decision making (GAIA 2019, p. 40), critiques of developmental justice in recommendations that foreground the need to reduce the production of plastics and hold companies accountable (e.g., Liamzon et al 2020), and implicit invocations of environment-first justice (Liamzon et al 2020, p. 6). GAIA clearly aligns these various models of justice together against developmental justice by showing how industry growth, profit, and waste practices are at the root of these injustices.…”

Compressive Strength and Bulk Density of Concrete Hollow Blocks (CHB) Infused with Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) Pellets

“…Aside from ineffective policy enforcement, the mass production and the dependence of the country to disposable plastics contributes to the growing problem of solid waste management. Due to the economic status in the Philippines, most households choose to buy goods in small quantities which are usually in small plastic packaging, leading to the proliferation of the so-called sachet economy [8]. About 164 million pieces of sachets and 94 million pieces of plastic bags are used in the country per day [9].…”