Use phase and end-of-life modeling of biobased biodegradable plastics in life cycle assessment: a review

Abstract Due to the negative environmental impacts along life cycle of fossil-based plastics, there is an increased interest in development biobased and biodegradable plastics. Especially, bioplastics possess different material characteristics than plastics can therefore be expected perform differently during product use end-of-life (EOL) phases. Thus, it important consider performance behavior assessment studies. In practice, this often a difficult task due lack data. The purpose review study analyze how contemporary LCA method models EOL phases with specific focus on properties these chemical novel materials are considered modeling. first part summarizes recommendations for phase modeling second analyzes 42 bioplastic LCAs relation recommendations. results reveal that commonly neglected bioplastics. Moreover, shown based data non-specific analyzed material(s). call more research newly developed as needed decrease uncertainties LCAs. Graphical abstract