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Evaluation of the Environmental Impact from Production of Partially Bio‐Based Polybutylene Succinate Compared to Conventional Commodity Plastics
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Researchers compared the environmental footprint of partially bio-based polybutylene succinate (PBS) — made from plant-waste-derived succinic acid — against conventional plastics like polypropylene and bioplastics like PLA, finding PBS performs favorably across global warming potential, land use, fossil energy consumption, and water scarcity, positioning it as a credible sustainable thermoplastic alternative.
ABSTRACT The scope of the presented study is the environmental impact during the production phase of partially bio‐based polybutylene succinate (PBS), which is an alternative to conventional plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) or other biopolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA). The PBS investigated in this study is made from bio‐based succinic acid, which is produced from collected plant waste, and petrochemical‐based 1,4‐butanediol. The study focuses on comparing the environmental impact of partially bio‐based PBS to bio‐based PLA and petrochemical‐based PP. The following environmental impact categories were identified as key indicators for assessing the manufacturing phase of plastics and analyzed: global warming potential, land use, fossil energy consumption, and water scarcity. As a result, PBS can be a sustainable thermoplastic alternative based on the cradle‐to‐grave analysis used. Additionally, environmental impacts from the current use of petrochemical 1,4‐butanediol can be further decreased.
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