Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) & Environmental Data

Measuring the environmental impact of #tide® recycled plastic

Recycling plastic reduces the need for virgin fossil-based raw materials. But collecting, transporting and recycling plastic also requires energy and resources. So what is the actual environmental footprint of turning ocean-bound plastic into a high-quality recycled material?

To answer this question, #tide® commissioned independent Swiss environmental consultancy Carbotech AG to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of our recycled PET (rPET) and recycled polypropylene (rPP).

The study examines the environmental impacts associated with collecting, transporting and recycling ocean-bound plastic and compares #tide® recycled materials with virgin and conventionally recycled plastics.

The LCA was externally reviewed by myclimate. According to the review, the study complies with the international LCA standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

Key environmental results

~79% lower greenhouse gas emissions

For the European market, the assessed #tide® rPET generates approximately 78% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than virgin PET produced in Europe.

~50% lower greenhouse gas emissions

For the European market, the assessed #tide® rPP generates approximately 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than virgin PP produced in Europe.

Environmental benefits beyond carbon

Using the Ecological Scarcity Method, the study also assessed the environmental benefit associated with removing plastic pollution. It found that the calculated benefits of removing the plastic significantly outweigh the impacts caused by collecting, transporting and recycling it.

What is a Life Cycle Assessment?

A Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, is a scientific method used to quantify the environmental impacts associated with a product or material.

Instead of looking only at one factor – such as transportation or energy consumption – an LCA considers material and energy flows throughout a defined life-cycle system. This provides a more comprehensive picture of environmental impact and allows different materials and production systems to be compared on a consistent basis.

The #tide® LCA follows the principles of ISO 14040 and uses established assessment methods for climate impact and broader environmental impacts. The assessment combines primary supply-chain data with established life-cycle inventory data.

What does the #tide® LCA measure?

The study assesses the environmental footprint of #tide® rPET and rPP made from collected ocean-bound plastic and compares it with virgin and conventionally recycled alternatives.

It considers the environmental impacts associated with collection, sorting, transportation and recycling through to the production of recycled granulate and delivery to the regional market.

The comparison provides #tide® with an independently assessed basis for understanding the environmental performance of our materials and identifying opportunities for further improvement.

Carbon footprint of recycled PET

#tide® rPET vs virgin PET

The LCA found that #tide® rPET supplied to the European market has a significantly lower climate impact than virgin PET produced in Europe.

Based on the scenarios assessed, #tide® rPET generates approximately:

~79% fewer greenhouse gas emissions

The study also compared #tide® rPET with conventionally recycled PET. The results demonstrate that the environmental footprint of recycled plastic depends on factors such as the collection and recycling system, processing, energy sources and transportation.

More detailed LCA data and material-specific environmental information can be shared with potential customers as part of discussions about specific materials and applications.

Carbon footprint of recycled PP

#tide® rPP vs virgin PP

The LCA also assessed recycled polypropylene.

For the European-market scenario assessed, #tide® rPP generates approximately 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than virgin PP produced in Europe.

The difference compared with virgin material is smaller than for PET, reflecting differences between the materials as well as the collection, transportation and processing systems assessed.

As with rPET, the environmental performance of recycled PP depends on the specific supply chain and production conditions.

More detailed environmental data is available for customer discussions and specific material applications.

What about transportation?

Does shipping ocean-bound plastic to Europe cancel out the environmental benefits?

The LCA includes transportation throughout the assessed supply chain – from local collection and transportation to processing, international shipping and delivery to the regional market.

Despite the long distances involved, Carbotech concluded that transportation by container ship is highly efficient and makes a comparatively low contribution to the overall environmental footprint of the material.

Local transportation can have a proportionally greater impact. This demonstrates why distance alone does not determine the environmental footprint of transportation: mode of transport, load, capacity utilisation and distance all matter.

Environmental impact beyond carbon emissions

Carbon footprint is only one part of the picture

Climate impact is an important environmental indicator, but it does not capture every environmental effect associated with a material.

The #tide® LCA therefore also assesses broader environmental impacts using established Life Cycle Assessment methodologies.

This is particularly relevant for ocean-bound plastic because the study does not only consider the environmental footprint of collecting and recycling the material. It also examines the calculated environmental benefit associated with removing plastic pollution from the environment.

The environmental benefit of removing plastic waste

The LCA compared the environmental footprint of producing #tide® recycled material with the calculated environmental benefit associated with removing plastic waste from the environment.

The assessment found that the calculated environmental benefits of removing the plastic significantly outweigh the impacts caused by its collection, transportation and recycling. Carbotech consequently concluded that collecting ocean-bound plastic for use as a recycled raw material is an environmentally meaningful activity.

At the same time, collecting plastic after it has reached coastal environments is not the ideal long-term solution. Functioning waste-management and recycling systems that prevent plastic from reaching the marine environment in the first place are preferable.

This is also part of #tide®'s approach. Alongside collecting and recycling ocean-bound plastic, we work with local partners to help build up waste-management infrastructure in the regions where we operate.

The objective is not only to recover plastic that is already at risk of entering the ocean, but also to contribute to systems that improve the collection and recycling of plastic waste over time.

How the #tide® LCA was conducted

From collection to recycled material

The study uses a cradle-to-gate approach and considers environmentally relevant processes throughout the assessed #tide® supply chain.

These include collection and sorting, transportation, recycling and processing, production of recycled granulate and transportation to the regional market.

This means the LCA considers not only the recycling process itself, but also important upstream activities needed to turn collected ocean-bound plastic into a usable recycled raw material.

Independent assessment and external review

The LCA was conducted by Carbotech AG, an independent Swiss environmental consultancy based in Basel.

Carbotech assessed supply-chain data from #tide® alongside established environmental databases and reference datasets.

The study was completed in 2022 and externally reviewed by myclimate. According to the external review, the study complies with the international Life Cycle Assessment standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

Understanding LCA results

Life Cycle Assessment results always relate to defined system boundaries, supply chains, technologies and reference scenarios.

The results presented here therefore describe the scenarios assessed in the #tide® LCA and should not be interpreted as universal emission factors for every recycled or virgin plastic.

Environmental performance can also change as supply chains, processing technologies, energy sources and logistics evolve.

For customers evaluating #tide® materials for a specific application, we can provide further environmental information and discuss the relevant data in more detail.

Looking for environmental data for your material?

Independent assessment helps us understand and improve the environmental performance of our recycled materials – and gives our customers a stronger basis for evaluating the materials they source.

Want to find out more about #tide® recycled materials and the environmental data available for your application?

Frequently asked questions

How much can #tide® recycled PET reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

In the European-market scenario assessed in the LCA, #tide® rPET generates approximately 78% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than virgin PET produced in Europe.

What about recycled PP?

For the European-market scenario assessed, #tide® rPP generates approximately 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than virgin PP produced in Europe.

Is recycled plastic always better than virgin plastic?

Environmental performance depends on the material, recycling process, energy mix, collection system and transportation. In the scenarios assessed in the #tide® LCA, both #tide® rPET and rPP have substantially lower climate impacts than their corresponding virgin alternatives.

Does shipping ocean-bound plastic to Europe negate the environmental benefits?

Not according to the LCA. Carbotech found that transportation by container ship makes a comparatively low contribution to the overall environmental footprint despite the distances involved.

Does the LCA consider more than CO₂ emissions?

Yes. In addition to climate impact, the study uses established LCA methodologies to assess broader environmental impacts, including the calculated environmental benefit associated with removing plastic pollution.

Who conducted the #tide® LCA?

The study was conducted by independent Swiss environmental consultancy Carbotech AG and externally reviewed by myclimate.

Is more detailed LCA data available?

Yes. More detailed environmental data and information about the LCA can be provided to potential customers as part of discussions about specific materials and applications.