Work

Life Cycle Assessment of Compostable and Conventional Coated Paper Plate Production and Disposal in the United States

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Food contamination and the type of coating material used on coated paper plates prevent recycling and increase landfill waste, creating environmental concerns. Biodegradable coating materials generally provide a more favorable environmental impact. This study evaluates the potential environmental footprints of biodegradable paper plates coated with ionized poly (butylene adipate- co -terephthalate) (PBAT) in two variants (P35 and P36) compared with conventional paper plates coated with an acrylic-based polymer or low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Ionized PBAT is a compostable and biodegradable polymer modified to enhance its aqueous solution dispersibility before coating application. An ISO-compliant cradle-to-gate (production) plus end-of-life (disposal) life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for functional units of 100 paper plates with a 20.32 cm diameter. SimaPro version 9.6.0.1 and the DATASMART US-EI 2.2 database were used to model the life cycle inventory. Four coated paper plate types were modeled, considering variations in coating materials, thickness, and end-of-life scenarios, including composting and high recycling rates. TRACI 2.1 midpoint impact method was applied to perform impact assessment and to analyze contribution, sensitivity, and uncertainty/discernibility within the system. Ionized PBAT–coated paper plates initially have a higher environmental footprint due to the coating material production; however, reducing the coating amount mitigates this impact. When matched for coating thickness and composted or recycled at a rate of 93.6%, ionized PBAT P36- coated paper plates show a lower global warming potential than the other two options, highlighting their potential to improve landfill diversion for contaminated paper products.

Source: Materials Circular Economy

DOI: 10.1007/s42824-025-00208-2

Authors: Dwi P. Y. Yudison, Syeda Shamila Hamdani, Hazem M. Elkholy, Muhammad Rabnawaz, Rafael Auras

Institution: Michigan State University

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090