Analysis of the life cycle of packaging for the Brazilian market

• Grant number: 95/09428-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: March 01, 1997
• End date: December 31, 1999
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Fernando Ceribelli Madi
• Grantee: Luis Fernando Ceribelli Madi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Consórcio Associação Empresas através FUNDEPAG
• City: Campinas

Abstract

This project proposed to carry out a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) study of approximately twenty packaging systems in the national market. With financial support from FAPESP and from a consortium of associations and companies, it aimed to identify strategic actions for improvements in whatever stage of the processes involved in the production, use and final disposal of the packaging, taking into consideration the minimization of its environmental impact. The work was developed using methodology selected from those available on the international market, in accordance with the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (Setac), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ISO 14000 regulations, and from a proposed database of national processes and products, which will also contain reference information on external markets. The study was applied to packaging systems of some national products, with a significant share of packaging consumption in the country, with emphasis on the comparison of the environmental impact of different packaging alternatives and in the detection of the critical points of the production processes and final disposal of the packaging open to improvement and with consequent potential for optimization, thus contributing to the application of clean technologies aimed at the sustainable development of the country. (AU)