Sustainability Management School (SUMAS)

professor GIUSEPPE TUCCI

24.03.2022
Energy, Water and Materials

Milan, March 24th 2022

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION:
Focus on plastic footprint.
FOOTPRINT?
“ The plastic footprint is an
assessment on the quantity of
both microplastics
and macroplastics released to the
environment along the whole value
chain”.

Source: Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

According to PlasticsEurope
(https://plasticseurope.org/ )(2016),
plastic production requires around 4% of the
world’s annual petroleum production while a
similar amount of petroleum is used to provide
the energy for plastic manufacturing

packaging, buildings and construction, vehicles, electrical

and electronic equipment, agriculture production, clothes
and footwear, householder and personal cleaning
products, synthetic fibres for textiles
(37.2 million tons) or synthetic rubber for tyres (6.4 million
tons)

Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.
 Synthetic
fibres for textiles

37.2 MT/y

Synthetic rubber
for tyres

6.4 MT/y

Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
Plastic leakage occurs when
Macro and microplastics are not kept
in a circular loop or properly managed
at their end of life, and thus leak into
the environment.

Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
 The Plastic Leak Project (PLP), a pre-competitive multi-
stakeholder initiative co-founded by Quantis and ecodesign
center EA* in partnership with 35 public, private and scientific
organizations, delivers the first science-based
methodology to map, measure and forecast plastic
leakage along the value chain. These insights provide
sustainability managers and corporate decision-makers with
a strong foundation to translate their commitments to tackle
plastic pollution into effective strategies and actions that
meaningfully address plastic leakage.

* EA - Environmental Action is a mission driven research consultancy,

www.e-a.earth leading the development of plastic footprint methodologies & data.

https://quantis-intl.com/report/the-plastic-leak-project-guidelines/
https://quantis-intl.com/webinar/plastic-leak-project/ 3 FAQs about Plastic Leakage Assessment - YouTube
Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
 Plastic from Wastes

Large plastic wastes are readily visible. Studies have

demonstrated many types of negative social, economic
and ecological impacts. These range from the ingestion,
injury, entanglement or suffocation of wildlife to economic
drawbacks for tourist areas and maritime industries
(GESAMP, 2015; Raynaud, 2014).

Microplastics

Microplastics are not visible. While potential negative

impacts are less obvious, their release into the
oceans may also have far reaching consequences.
Human health concerns are suspected through
the accumulation of microplastics in the food chain and/or
sorption of toxicants to plastic while traveling through the
environment (Eriksen et al., 2014).

Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
 Primary Microplastics

Are plastics directly released into the environment in the form of small
particulates. They can be a voluntary addition to products such as
scrubbing agents in toiletries and cosmetics (e.g. shower gels). They can
also originate from the abrasion of large plastic objects during
manufacturing, use or maintenance such as the erosion of tyres when
driving or of the abrasion of synthetic textiles during washing.

Secondary Microplastics

Are microplastics originating from the degradation of larger plastic

items into smaller plastic fragments once exposed to marine
environment. This happens through photodegradation and other
weathering processes of mismanaged waste such as discarded plastic
bags or from unintentional losses such as fishing nets.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
Microplastics (Primary)

Tyres, Synthetic Textiles, Marine Coatings,

Road Markings, Personal Care Products, Plastic
Pellets and City Dust.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
 Plastic footprint management is a relatively
new concept.

We analyzed every major methodology and

identified four factors that every plastic
footprint assessment should take into
account:

Source: ampliphi
 Quantity and composition of plastics used in a company’s
supply chain

Portion and composition of plastics used in a company’s

supply chain that reached the end of its lifecycle, often
referred to as plastic waste

Quantity and composition of plastic waste that ends up in

nature, often referred to as plastic leakage

Impact of leaked plastics as well as the associated

additives and processing aids on the environment, society,
and economy.

Source: ampliphi
Source: Eco-design & LCA by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Source: Primary Microplastics in the Oceans,a Global Evaluation of Sources. Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot.
 Generic case
The plastic footprint of a Polyester T-shirt and its packaging

Source: Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment by EA, Julien Boucher V1.

Generic case
The plastic footprint of a Polyester T-shirt and its packaging
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
https://www.unep.org/
The European Strategy for
Plastics has set the target that
10 million tonnes of recycled
plastics are used to make
products in the EU by 2025.
This compares to less than The Circular Plastics Alliance
has committed to boosting the EU market for recycled plastics to 10
4 million tonnes used in 2016. million tonnes by 2025. The CPA takes action to reach this target and
publishes its deliverables on this page.

https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/strategy/industrial-
alliances/circular-plastics-alliance_en
Some of te 311 signatories. It is open to all public and private actors from European plastics
value chains that are ready to actively contribute to delivering on the declaration of the
alliance.
Agoria, Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG. Aliplast, ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG, APE Europe, Barilla, BASF SE,
Borealis, Coca-Cola, Confederation of Danish Industries (Dansk Industri), CONTENUR, COOP Italia, Danish, Brewers
Association, Danone, Dell, Dow, Eceplast, EcoSynergy System, International Association of the Nonwovens Manufacturers
(EDANA), Electrolux, European Recovered Fuel Organisation (ERFO), European Manufacturers of Expanded PolyStyrene
(EUMEPS), European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW), European Plastics Converters (EuPC), Fischer Gmbh, Groupe
Bel, Groupe Renault, Henkel, Hera Spa, HP, Iberostar Group, IKEA, Indorama, Kaneka Belgium NV, Kaufland, KENOGARD
S.A., Klöckner Pentaplast, Lassila &Tikanoja plc., Lexmark, LIDL, LIPOR (Intermunicipal Waste Management, Porto),
L’Oréal, MACPAC SA, Mayansi Circular Plastics SL, Miele & Cie. KG, Neste Corporation, Nestlé, Next Generation
Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR), P&G, PepsiCo, Petcore Europe, PET Sheet Europe, Philips Domestic Appliances,
Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), Plastika Virant d.o.o., Plastix AS, POLYOLEFIN Circular Economy Platform (PCEP),
REPSOL, SP Group A/S, Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS), The Swedish Food Retailers' Federation (Svensk
Dagligvaruhande), Technology industries of Finland, Tetra Pak, Thrace Plastics Co SA (Thrace Group), Soft Drinks Europe
(UNESDA), Unilever, Versalis SpA, VH Plastics, Vinylplus, Vosläuer Mineralwasser GmbH, Werner und Mertz, WHIRLPOOL,
ZEME Eco fuels & Alloys Limited.
Third annual report;
130 businesses that produce, use,
and recycle large volumes of plastic
packaging; governments, and other
organisations;
common vision of a circular
economy for plastic.

2025 targets to help realize that common vision.

Signatories* to the Global Commitment belong for more than
20% of the plastic packaging market.
The report provides a
quantitative and qualitative
assessment of progress
made by signatories
towards their 2025
commitments and targets
over the last year.

Individual progress reports

submitted by business and
government signatories

https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/global-commitment/signatory-reports
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/global-commitment/signatory-reports
Timeline and goals.
By 2025, combined with the recycled content targets of
plastic and packaging manufacturer signatories, this
would avoid an estimated 8 million tonnes of
virgin plastics from being produced each year –
keeping 40 million barrels of oil in the
ground annually.

Global Plastic market on:
1950 > 2 millions metric tons
2015 > 300 millions metric tons
These targets are
expected to lead to
a total reduction in
virgin plastic used
by brand and retail
signatories of
around 19%
between 2018 and
2025.
Post-consumer recycled content increased over this
period by60%, from 5.2% to 8.2%.
around 80% of the planned 2025 virgin
reduction seems to be driven by increasing recycled
content.
The reduction in virgin plastic delivered by Global
Commitment signatories between 2018 and 2020 was
largely driven by a strong
increase in the
use of recycled plastics, mainly in rigid
PET plastics.
80% of the plastic packaging market
is not captured by the Global Commitment, with
most of those outside it unlikely to act at the scale and
pace required to prevent plastic packaging and waste
from being created in the first place, reduce virgin plastic,
and tackle packaging not recyclable in practice and at
scale.
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/global-commitment/sector-insights
[…] Future scenarios focused on
collection, recycling, and disposal
alone have been shown to fall short,
with high ocean leakage and GHG
emissions*.
*Based on the findings of the recent Breaking the Plastics Wave study by The PEW Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ,
with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as Thought Partner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2uoMa_m3ZU&t=105s
In a circular economy, upstream innovation is about
tracing a problem back to its root cause and tackling it
there. It means that rather than working out how to deal
with a pile of waste, we prevent it from being created in
the first place.

Find out how moving upstream can tackle packaging

waste and pollution while generating economic benefits.

https://plastics.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/upstream
“There is no doubt that plastic is a
useful and versatile material, but we
currently throw away
USD 80-120 billion of it
every year . If we keep plastic in
the economy, we keep it out of the
environment”.

James Woolven

Infarm grows fresh produce directly in stores, restaurants and distribution centers around the world,
eliminating transport packaging. Picture by diephotodesigner.de
RETHINKING THE PRODUCT

“Lush Cosmetics employed upstream innovation to rethink

its products to design out packaging waste. By designing
cosmetics and personal care products like shampoo and
soap in solid form, rather than liquid, Lush eliminated the
need for bottles, containers, and tubes for many of its
products. Since 2007, Lush has sold over 38 million naked
shampoo bars globally, saving more than 90 million plastic
shampoo bottles” James Woolven
RETHINKING THE PACKAGING
P&G 100% recycled Fairy Liquid
bottles made from 90% post-consumer
recycled (PCR) plastic and 10 %
plastic recovered from the ocean.

P&G added that in an effort to divert plastic waste from

landfill and the ocean, the company's brands, including
Fairy, Dawn, Yes, Dreft and Joy, would continue to divert
8,000 metric tonnes of plastic from landfill to keep an
average 40% PCR plastic content across all of its
transparent dish care bottles.
Reusable PET bottle with a standardized design across Collecting,
multiple Coca-Cola brands
Taking back to bottling facilities,
Designing the bottle to enable reuse, avoided the
production of 1.8 billion single-use bottles in Latin America Removing the paper labels,
in 2019.
Cleaning the bottles,
Refilling and rebranding.
From 2006 -2018 the quantities of plastic
packaging waste sent to recycling have
almost doubled.

The total volume of plastic packaging

waste sent to recycling facilities has
increased by more than 92%.
The quantity of plastic packaging waste
sent to landfill decreased by
54% compared to 2006, but 3.3 million
tonnes of plastic packaging
waste still find their way to landfill.

Source: PlasticsEurope_The circular economy for plastics

Source: PlasticsEurope_The circular economy for plastics
Source: PlasticsEurope_The circular economy for plastics
24% of recyclates are used in
common household and industrial
PACKAGING PRODUCTS AND
APPLICATIONS. This figure may increase
when food contact material regulations are
adapted to the circular economy, and if a
larger variety of recyclates meets the
product specifications.

Source: PlasticsEurope_The circular economy for plastics

17% of recyclates are used in
AUTOMOTIVE, ELECTRICAL &
ELECTRONICS and in a wide range of
OTHER PRODUCTS.

Source: PlasticsEurope_The circular economy for plastics

13 % of recyclates in the EU28+2 are
used in AGRICULTURE AND GARDENING
APPLICATIONS, ranging from compost
bins and rain barrels to irrigation pipes.

Source: PlasticsEurope_The circular economy for plastics

MISSING NUMBER 5 THE USE OF
PLASTICS IS FULLY DECUPLED
Waste management company Suez’s start-up of a new
LDPE recycling plant in Thailand which will deliver 30,000
metric tonnes annual capacity and acquisition of a PP
recycling plant in Belgium, with capacity for 20,000 metric
tonnes.

Plastic producer Indorama Ventures increased its

post-consumer recycling production capacity by 46,000 to
346,000 metric tonnes from the prior year. With the
acquisition of a PET recycling plant in Texas in summer
2021, as well as the announcement of a plan to build a
new PET recycling facility in West Java, Indonesia, their
capacity is expected to continue to grow in the next few
years.
Packaging producer Envases Universales de México
reported that in March 2021 it inaugurated ‘the largest
PET recycling facility in the world’, with an annual capacity
54,000 metric tonnes producing FDA-grade resin that is
currently being used in the company’s beverage products
and will enable them to deliver a minimum of 15% of
recycled content for the 2022 period.

Packaging producer ALPLA reported that

it had started construction of an HDPE
recycling plant with an annual capacity of 14,000 metric
tonnes in Toluca, Mexico, with production due to begin
in autumn 2021.
“[…] consumers
reward brands that
deliver social benefit
as well as product
performance and
affordability”.
On 2019, Unilever announced that its purpose-led, Sustainable Living
Brands were growing 69% faster than the rest of the business and
delivering 75% of the company’s growth.
FMCG*: Fast-moving consumer goods.
FMCG*: Fast-moving consumer goods.