Implementation of Life Cycle Based Tools in the Circular Economy Context—Case Study of Plastic Waste

Katarzyna Joachimiak-Lechman, Dawid Garstecki, Marcin Konopczyński and Anna Lewandowska
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Katarzyna Joachimiak-Lechman: Department of Quality Management, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznan, Poland
Dawid Garstecki: Department of Management Accounting, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznan, Poland
Marcin Konopczyński: AM Trans Progres Sp. z o.o., 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland
Anna Lewandowska: Department of Quality Management, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznan, Poland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: This article describes research done within the CIRCE2020 project, implemented under the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2014–2020 Programme. The main aim is to present the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) carried out for a recycling plant in Wielkopolska. From the LCA perspective, the analyzed recycling plant performs two functions; therefore, two research approaches were adopted: from the final waste management perspective (Approach 1) and from the production of secondary products (Approach 2). From the first perspective, the total environmental impact for the reference flow (215.140 kg of multi-material waste) was 552.32 Pt. When focused on the second perspective, the environmental impact for the production of plastic boards (3.073 boards) reached 659.58 Pt. The difference in the obtained values results from the fact that the second analysis, besides waste processing, included additionally the generation of raw materials corrected by the quality factor. The total production cost of boards made of multi-material waste was PLN 165,957.23. Energy consumption is the main cost-generating element of production and also the most important environmental hot spot. To increase environmental efficiency and reduce costs, the use of technology allowing for the reduction of energy demand should be considered first.

Keywords: circular economy; life cycle assessment; life cycle costing; circular footprint formula (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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