(550c) A Cradle to Gate Life Cycle Analysis of the Biopolymer Polylactic Acid: Looking beyond Global Warming and Fossil Fuel Use

Derived from corn, the biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) has recently emerged in the marketplace and is advertised as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers. Research into the environmental implications of biobased production has focused primarily on global warming and fossil fuel use. PLA has not been an exception, with the primary body of research focusing on comparing PLA's environmental footprint to polyethylene or similar polymers with respect to environmental impacts such as global warming, fossil fuel use, and water usage. Using a life cycle analysis approach, this research examines the environmental implications of PLA with respect to many environmental impacts of concern, including human health and eutrophication. There are a multitude of contemporary environmental issues associated with the production of corn feedstocks; for example nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from agriculture are the primary contributors to hypoxia and eutrophication within the US. Biobased products like PLA show very different impacts to the environment than their petroleum-based counterparts. As society increases its reliance on bio-based feedstocks, it is important to critically examine these non-carbon based environmental stresses and to determine methods for reducing problems such as eutrophication.