TY - GEN
T1 - An environmental assessment of the life cycle of the plastic carrier bag in Zimbabwe
AU - Mbohwa, C.
AU - Manjera, G.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Plastic carrier bags have gained popularity with Zimbabwean shoppers since they provide convenient carriage of groceries and related goods. However most of these have a short useful life and are often disposed into landfills or littered. This research was aimed at assessing the interaction between the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic carrier bag life cycle and the environment, hence identifying specific life cycle stages that pose significant threats to the environment. The study was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040 based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The life cycle stages assessed include the extraction of HDPE, transportation of HDPE pellets, production of the bags, transportation of the finished goods to retailers and disposal scenarios. Improvement strategies were then identified to optimise the environmental performance of the plastic carrier bags.
AB - Plastic carrier bags have gained popularity with Zimbabwean shoppers since they provide convenient carriage of groceries and related goods. However most of these have a short useful life and are often disposed into landfills or littered. This research was aimed at assessing the interaction between the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic carrier bag life cycle and the environment, hence identifying specific life cycle stages that pose significant threats to the environment. The study was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040 based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The life cycle stages assessed include the extraction of HDPE, transportation of HDPE pellets, production of the bags, transportation of the finished goods to retailers and disposal scenarios. Improvement strategies were then identified to optimise the environmental performance of the plastic carrier bags.
KW - Environmental impacts
KW - High Density Polyethylene
KW - LCA
KW - Plastic bags
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=56249110131&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.18-19.501
DO - 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.18-19.501
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:56249110131
SN - 9780878494507
T3 - Advanced Materials Research
SP - 501
EP - 508
BT - Advances in Materials and Systems Technologies - International Conference on Engineering Research and Development
PB - Trans Tech Publications
T2 - International Conference on Engineering Research and Development: Impact on Industry, ICER and D 2006
Y2 - 5 September 2006 through 7 September 2006
ER -
