The litterability of plastic bags: Key design criteria

The litterability of plastic bags: Key design criteria

Verghese, K, Jollands, M and Allan, M 2008, 'The litterability of plastic bags: Key design criteria', in S. Kozora, A. Merrington (ed.) Global Plastics Environmental Conference 2008: Sustainability and Recycling for a Greener Environment, United States, 11-12 March 2008, pp. 1-10.

Document type:	Conference Paper
Collection:	Conference Papers

Title	The litterability of plastic bags: Key design criteria
Author(s)	Verghese, K Jollands, M Allan, M
Year	2008
Conference name	Global Plastics Environmental Conference 2008: Sustainability and Recycling for a Greener Environment
Conference location	United States
Conference dates	11-12 March 2008
Proceedings title	Global Plastics Environmental Conference 2008: Sustainability and Recycling for a Greener Environment
Editor(s)	S. Kozora, A. Merrington
Publisher	SPE Plastics Environment Division
Place of publication	United States
Start page	1
End page	10
Total pages	10
Abstract	Single use plastic bags are used by the billion in supermarkets, fast food outlets and retail stores because of their excellent fitness for use, resource efficiency and cheap price. They come in many varied shapes, sizes and materials. Because of their light-weight nature they are only a tiny fraction of the tonnage of plastic used in the packaging industry, yet they make a major contribution to litter, thanks to their large surface area and lack of biodegradability. In 2006 the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage initiated and funded, courtesy of the Natural Heritage Trust, a study to investigate the effect of bag design on litterability. This paper draws on report materials from the study that are the intellectual property of the Commonwealth. The paper presents a review of previous studies on plastic bags, a review of international plastic bag regulations, as well as the results of an assessment of the environmental impact of bag design using a streamlined life cycle assessment and the litterability of bag design using equipment including wind tunnels. The paper concludes with recommendations for bag design to maintain resource efficiency while reducing litterability.
Subjects	Carbon Capture Engineering (excl. Sequestration)
Keyword(s)	Plastic bags litterability plastic bag design life cycle assessment.

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Created:	Fri, 09 Sep 2011, 07:50:00 EST by Catalyst Administrator