SP 2.1: Product related ecological evaluation of bioplastics

The SP 2.1 deals with the product related ecology of bioplastics. The aim is to develop new recommendations of action for the ecological sustainability assessment of bioplastics based on the existing methods in context to the conventional plastics. A close connection to the practice is made sure by verification with cooperating industry partners for product examples made from bioplastics.

Following project partners are involved in SP 2.1.

• IfBB - Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, Hochschule Hannover (lead)
• Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics - Life Cycle Engineering
• iWF - Institute for Machine Tools and Production Engineering, Technical University of Braunschweig

The SP 2.1 deals with the ecological evaluation of bioplastics. The focus is set on the further development of the assessment method of bioplastics in direct comparison to conventional plastics. The fundament for this development is establishes a comprehensive analysis of the current state of already existing life cycle assessment studies, product category rules and guidelines for bioplastics respectively bio-based products with respect to the used methods and available parameters. The proof of concept is conducted with cooperating companies along the value chain of selected bioplastics products. In the final stage recommendations for action for a standardized and unified approach for the ecological assessment of bioplastics and bioplastics products will be developed. Furthermore different cascade use paths will be investigated within this SP from an ecological point of view. A close cooperation and gearing will be done with SP 2.2 and 6, to unify the framework for all aspects of the sustainability assessment (Ecology, Economy, Social).

SP 2.2: Energy value stream in the production of bioplastics

The SP 2.2 is concerned with the holistic view of the energy value stream in the production of bioplastics. The aim is to develop new recommendations for the sustainable production of bioplastics based on the existing methodologies in the context of the conventional plastics. The practical relevance is ensured by the testing with cooperating companies on specific product examples from bioplastics.

Further information

The SP 2.2 energy and resource efficiency of bioplastics in the production is aimed at the detection and appropriate modeling and simulation of relevant energy and emissions flows considering various material compositions of bioplastics and their production processes. On the development of suitable methods and tools the most ecologically and economically advantageous combinations of different materials and process parameters can be evaluated and they can be integrated into the product and process design.

The SP 2.2 includes 5 build on each other phases of the project:

• Metrological recording and modeling  of energy and material flows of bioplastic process chain (comparison of innovative bioplastic products and their supply chain with conventional plastic injection molding process chains).
• development of a simulation model for predicting production performance and dynamic energy and material flows in the production of bioplastics depending on material composition and process parameter variations.
• Review the resulting energy and resource efficiency by integration of technological innovations
• development of an user interface and result visualization of energy-oriented material flow simulation of bioplastics for non-experts for short-term evaluation and ecological effect of process parameter variations.
• recommendations for a resource-efficient implementation of technological developments in real production

There is a close cooperation with SP 2.1 and SP 6, so that the framework for all aspects of sustainability assessment (environmental, economic, social) can be selected congruent.
Furthermore, the following project partners involved in SP 2.2:

• iWF - Institute for Machine Tools and Production Engineering, Technical University of Braunschweig (lead)
• IfBB - Institute for bioplastics and biocomposites, Hochschule Hannover
• Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics - Life Cycle Engineering