Brightmark’s technology results in less GHG emissions than equivalent products made from virgin material
San Francisco-based Brightmark has announced that a life cycle analysis of its pyrolysis-based process for mixed plastic scrap shows that it produces 39 percent to 139 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than equivalent products made using virgin materials. The Georgia Institute of Technology collected the data, with Environmental Clarity Inc. performing the analysis.
The life cycle analysis shows that plastics renewal provides 82 percent energy use savings, 46 percent water use savings and a 39 percent to 139 percent reduction in carbon footprint. The technology’s carbon footprint benefit was further found to be directly correlated to the extent to which a given country relied on incineration as a waste disposal method: In Europe, where 50 percent of plastics are incinerated, plastics renewal’s carbon footprint improvement jumps to 139 percent compared with equivalent virgin products.
“We commissioned this life cycle analysis so that we had total clarity on the environmental benefits offered by plastics renewal,” says Bob Powell, CEO and founder of Brightmark. “These are massive savings, and we’ll seek to continue improving our environmental impact as our work advances.”
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