Publication

Decarbonisation pathways for packaging bioplastics

2025

Abstract

Decarbonising the packaging plastic industry requires disruptive changes in both our production and consumption patterns. In this study, we compare the well-established production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via biomass gasification, to emerging technologies that aim to develop bioplastics for packaging, which have similar properties to PET but retain more native-like structures. Our modelling results show that conventional PET production would require more feedstock than is sustainably available to meet the 2050 demand. Conversely, alternative bioplastics-specifically polyethylene furanoate (PEF) and polybutylene xylosediglyoxylate (PBX)-are less resource-intensive and could become cost-competitive with fossil-based PET under lower carbon tax scenarios. Notably, the integrated use of biomass and captured CO2 for PBX production could achieve profitability at half the current carbon price.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/c2c9ce13-81ba-40ef-a351-baa3293ba3b6

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2025

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/c2c9ce13-81ba-40ef-a351-baa3293ba3b6

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Bioplastic

Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc. Some bioplastics are obtained by processing directly from natural biopolymers including polysaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose, chitosan, and alginate) and proteins (e.g., soy protein, gluten, and gelatin), while others are chemically synthesised from sugar derivatives (e.g.

Biodegradable plastic

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three. While the words "bioplastic" and "biodegradable plastic" are similar, they are not synonymous. Not all bioplastics (plastics derived partly or entirely from biomass) are biodegradable, and some biodegradable plastics are fully petroleum based.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is the process of extracting bioenergy from biomass and capturing and storing the carbon, thereby removing it from the atmosphere. BECCS can be a "negative emissions technology" (NET). The carbon in the biomass comes from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) which is extracted from the atmosphere by the biomass when it grows. Energy ("bioenergy") is extracted in useful forms (electricity, heat, biofuels, etc.

Related publications (16)

Decarbonisation pathways for packaging bioplastics

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