Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable and Single use Plastic Bags in California

California State University, Chico
Institute for Sustainable Development

Life Cycle Assessment of
Reusable and Single-use Plastic
Bags in California

January 2011

Produced under contract by:

California State University
Chico Research Foundation

Author:

Joseph Greene, Ph.D.
Sustainable Manufacturing Program
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0789
Funding provided by

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................... 2
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... 3
List of Tables................................................................................................................................. 3
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 3
Glossary ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7
Project Management ............................................................................................................... 7
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) ....................................................................................................... 7
ISO Standards on LCA............................................................................................................ 8
Literature Review of LCA on Plastic Bags .............................................................................. 9
U.S. LCA of Single-use Plastic Bags

References: <www.bpiworld.org/Files/Article/ArttJInBM.pdf> (August 2005). 2 http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=37456 (August 2008) 3 http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=38498 (August 2008) BaBi Software Product Sustainability, http://www.gabi-software.com/index.php?id=85&L=6&redirect=1 (August 2008) 6 SimaPro LCA Software, http://www.pre.nl/simapro/ (August 2010) of Grocery Bags- Recyclable Plastic; Compostable Plastic , and – Recycled, Recyclable Paper -2007, http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/doc.asp?CID=1106&DID=7212 (July 2010) Unbleached Paper Grocery Sacks." CSWS (800-243-5790), Washington, DC, June 1990. (July 2010) 10 agement_for_Ontario_Sept01.pdf (December 2010) 11 Ecobilan, February 2004. www.ademe.fr/htdocs/actualite/rapport_carrefour_post_revue_critique_v4.pdf (July 2010) Report, American Chemistry Council, http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/sec_pfpg.asp?CID=1439&DID=5336 (July 2010) Consumer Plastic Recyclers, American Chemistry Council http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/sec_content.asp?CID=1593&DID=10383 (August 2010) Plastic Recyclers, American Chemistry Council http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/sec_content.asp?CID=1593&DID=10776 (August 2010) Consumer Plastic Recyclers, American Chemistry Council http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/sec_content.asp?CID=1593&DID=10383 (August 2010) 17 http://earth911.com/recycling/automotive/car-batteries/ (August 2010) http://www.green.ca.gov/EPP/building/PlasticBags.htm (August 2010) Gerba, C., Williams, D., and Sinclair, R.,” Assessment of the Potential for Cross Contamination of Food Products by Reusable Shopping Bags,” Loma Linda University School of Public Health, http://www.docuticker.com/?p=37322 (July 2010)