Comparative lifecycle assessment of mango packaging made from a polyethyleneatural fiber-composite and from cardboard material

摘要

A packaging dedicated to transportation of Brazilian mango fruits from producer to end-consumer was developed aiming at reducing food losses in the food supply chain. The packaging consists of a reusable frame, made from high density polyethylene reinforced with natural sponge fiber residue, and a high impact polystyrene recyclable tray. Life cycle assessment was used to compare its environmental performance with those of an identical packaging produced without natural fibers and a commercial cardboard packaging. As the composite's packaging was intended to be reused a number of times, one of the objectives of the study was to define the number of reuses necessary for it to become less environmentally impacting than its alternatives. Two scenarios were developed, assuming end-consumption 1) in Brazil, and 2) in Europe. Primary data for the transformation of fiber and packaging production were obtained experimentally. When no reuses were considered, most of the environmental impacts investigated were clearly lower for the cardboard packaging than for the composite box. This is due to the higher electricity input and higher fuel consumption in transports of the heavier composite packaging. In the Brazilian scenario, after four uses the composite packaging greenhouse gas emissions became inferior to those of the single-use cardboard box. In the European scenario, break-even was attained after 29 or 35 reuses, depending on the fibers' content. The present study shows that use of natural fibers can be environmentally beneficial in relation to some impact categories, but not to others. It also identifies potential improvements and demonstrates the importance of context-dependent assessments of environmental impacts. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.