Integrated Framework of Plastic Footprint Toward Regional Circular Economy

The plastics frequently have a short retention time (user phase) and improper disposal, not complying with the circular economy. Recycling is a promoted practice. However, the implementation is costly and requires advanced technologies due to the sensitiveness to composition (type), colour and contaminants. Some amount of plastic waste is claimed to be recycled by exporting into the developing countries. Energy recovery can be a viable solution despite some barriers, e.g. off-gas cleaning, the capacity of infrastructure, investment cost. The accounting methodology in assessing the footprint has a direct impact on the decision making. A comprehensive and consistent quantitative framework still needs more development. This study aims to highlight the critical issues in assessing Plastic Footprint and propose an integrated framework to facilitate plastic waste allocation for recovery. The Plastic Footprint introduced by Boucher et al. at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, focuses on leakage and litter, can be a basis for the integrated framework development. This work suggests the integration of plastic footprint with Energy and GHG Footprints to prevent the possibility of footprints shifting as well as to facilitate the plastic waste allocation better. The novel approach is supported by a graphical visualisation. This framework is also enabling the footprints comparison among different materials e.g. paper, glass and metal. The circular economy is not confined to a country border. The plastic waste import and export activities could be complementary when sharing resources, treatment facility, capacity and infrastructure, supply chain and the demand for recovered products are optimised.