Corn-based Polylactide vs. PET Bottles - Cradle-to-gate LCA and Implications

Abstract

The study compares the environmental impacts of 500 mL water bottles produced from corn-based polylactide (PLA) and PET. The results of cradle-to-bottle factory gate assessment revealed that the usage of PLA granules instead of PET granules would reduce the net global warming potential and cumulative nonrenewable energy demand of bottles by 30.9% and 32%, respectively. However, if no credits are given for atmospheric CO2 fixed by corn, and the energy in corn-feedstock is accounted for, the advantages of PLA would be largely diminished.