Sustainable plastics : environmental assessments of biobased, biodegradable, and recycled plastics / Joseph P. Greene.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Available to OhioLINK libraries.

The impact of 50 years of unbridled plastics production, use, and disposal is now becoming well known and documented. Plastics made from non-renewable petroleum and natural gas resources threaten the environment, human health, species maintenance, and the very life of the ocean. This book helps readers understand the ability of plastics to be sustainable and goes over the plastic products which have a lower carbon footprint, lower waste, and lower pollution. The well-qualified author's unique perspective puts a special focus on comprehensive coverage of environmental impacts of plastics including Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and sustainability strategies related to biobased plastics (e.g., corn), recycled plastics, and petroleum-based plastics. Other samples topics covered in the book include: End-of-life options for petroleum and biobased plastics including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and composting; ASTM biodegradation standards for compost, marine, anaerobic digestion, and landfill environments; Polymer processing, including injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and compression molding; Environmental data and coverage of petroleum plastics, sustainable composites, and new information on bio-based plastics.