Use phase and end-of-life modeling of biobased biodegradable plastics in life cycle assessment: a review

Abstract Due to the negative environmental impacts along the life cycle of fossil-based plastics, there is an increased interest in the development of biobased and biodegradable plastics. Especially, biodegradable bioplastics possess different material characteristics than fossil-based plastics and can therefore be expected to perform differently during the product use and in end-of-life (EOL) phases. Thus, it is important to consider the material performance and behavior of biobased plastics in life cycle assessment studies. In practice, this is often a difficult task due to lack of data. The purpose of this review study is to analyze how contemporary LCA method models the use and EOL phases of biobased biodegradable plastics, with a specific focus on how the properties of these chemical novel materials are considered in LCA modeling. The first part of the review summarizes recommendations for the use phase and EOL modeling of biobased plastics. The second part analyzes 42 bioplastic LCAs in relation to these recommendations. The results of the review reveal that the use phase is commonly neglected in LCAs of bioplastics. Moreover, it is shown that EOL modeling in LCAs of biobased biodegradable plastics is often based on data that is non-specific for the analyzed material(s). The results of the review call for more research on the specific material properties of newly developed biobased biodegradable plastics, as these data are needed to decrease uncertainties in bioplastic LCAs. Graphical abstract