5 Conclusion
LCA of a bio-based computer mouse body was conducted on a cradle to gate basis.
It was found out that the raw material acquisition phase constitutes the major share
in all of the environmental impacts. Several strategies for an eco-design of a
bio-based product were identified based on the LCIA results, scenario analyses and
consideration of some alternative aspects of the product. Some of the methodological and practical requirements for implementing eco-design strategies at the
level of bio-based plastics manufacturing were also shown. Once implemented
these strategies should pave the way for a sustainable production of bio-based
plastics.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education
and Research as well as the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the funding and
support to the research project in which this study has been conducted.
References
1. http://www.plasticseurope.org/documents/document/20161014113313-plastics_the_facts_
2016_final_version.pdf, (Accessed 10.06.2017).
2. Endres H-J, Siebert-Raths A, Engineering Biopolymers Markets, Manufacturing, Properties
and Applications, Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 2011.
3. Yates M, Barlow C.Y, Life Cycle Assessments of biodegradable, commercial biopolymers -
A critical review, Resources Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 78, 2013, pp. 54–66.
4. Olwill J.A., Wright E.I, Rahimifard S, A holistic approach to design support for bio-polymer
based packaging. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 20, 2012, pp. 1112–1123.
5. Ribeiro I, Peças P, Henriques E, A life cycle framework to support materials selection for
Ecodesign: A case study on biodegradable polymers, Materials & Design, Vol. 51, 2013,
pp. 300–308.
6. IHOBE S.A, Manual Práctico de Ecodiseño—Operativa de implantación en 7 pasos, Sociedad
pública de gestión ambiental, 2001.
7. González-García S, Silva F.J, Moreira M.T, Castilla Pascual R, García Lozano R,
Gabarrell X, Rieradevall Pons J, Feijoo G, Combined application of LCA and eco-design
for the sustainable production of wood boxes for wine bottles storage, International Journal of
Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 16, 2011, pp. 224–237.
8. Muñoz I, Gazulla C, Bala A, Puig R, Fullana P, LCA and ecodesign in the toy industry: case
study of a teddy bear incorporating electric and electronic components, International Journal
of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 14, 2009, pp. 64–72.
9. https://www.nager-it.de/maus, (Accessed 05.03.2017).
10. ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management—life cycle assessment—principles and
framework.
11. ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management—life cycle assessment—requirements and
guidelines.
12. GaBi, Thinkstep AG; LBP-GaBi, University of Stuttgart: GaBi Software System,
Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Germany, 2013.
13. Groot W.J, Borén T, Life cycle assessment of the manufacture of lactide and PLA
biopolymers from sugarcane in Thailand, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,
Vol. 15, No. 9, 2010, pp. 970–984.
496
V. Venkatachalam et al.
LCA of a bio-based computer mouse body was conducted on a cradle to gate basis.
It was found out that the raw material acquisition phase constitutes the major share
in all of the environmental impacts. Several strategies for an eco-design of a
bio-based product were identified based on the LCIA results, scenario analyses and
consideration of some alternative aspects of the product. Some of the methodological and practical requirements for implementing eco-design strategies at the
level of bio-based plastics manufacturing were also shown. Once implemented
these strategies should pave the way for a sustainable production of bio-based
plastics.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education
and Research as well as the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the funding and
support to the research project in which this study has been conducted.
References
1. http://www.plasticseurope.org/documents/document/20161014113313-plastics_the_facts_
2016_final_version.pdf, (Accessed 10.06.2017).
2. Endres H-J, Siebert-Raths A, Engineering Biopolymers Markets, Manufacturing, Properties
and Applications, Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 2011.
3. Yates M, Barlow C.Y, Life Cycle Assessments of biodegradable, commercial biopolymers -
A critical review, Resources Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 78, 2013, pp. 54–66.
4. Olwill J.A., Wright E.I, Rahimifard S, A holistic approach to design support for bio-polymer
based packaging. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 20, 2012, pp. 1112–1123.
5. Ribeiro I, Peças P, Henriques E, A life cycle framework to support materials selection for
Ecodesign: A case study on biodegradable polymers, Materials & Design, Vol. 51, 2013,
pp. 300–308.
6. IHOBE S.A, Manual Práctico de Ecodiseño—Operativa de implantación en 7 pasos, Sociedad
pública de gestión ambiental, 2001.
7. González-García S, Silva F.J, Moreira M.T, Castilla Pascual R, García Lozano R,
Gabarrell X, Rieradevall Pons J, Feijoo G, Combined application of LCA and eco-design
for the sustainable production of wood boxes for wine bottles storage, International Journal of
Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 16, 2011, pp. 224–237.
8. Muñoz I, Gazulla C, Bala A, Puig R, Fullana P, LCA and ecodesign in the toy industry: case
study of a teddy bear incorporating electric and electronic components, International Journal
of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 14, 2009, pp. 64–72.
9. https://www.nager-it.de/maus, (Accessed 05.03.2017).
10. ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management—life cycle assessment—principles and
framework.
11. ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management—life cycle assessment—requirements and
guidelines.
12. GaBi, Thinkstep AG; LBP-GaBi, University of Stuttgart: GaBi Software System,
Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Germany, 2013.
13. Groot W.J, Borén T, Life cycle assessment of the manufacture of lactide and PLA
biopolymers from sugarcane in Thailand, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,
Vol. 15, No. 9, 2010, pp. 970–984.
496
V. Venkatachalam et al.