{"id":7247,"date":"2025-01-23T07:44:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T07:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plasticenergy.com\/?p=7247"},"modified":"2025-02-24T13:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T13:26:10","slug":"assessing-our-impact-answering-common-faqs-behind-our-lca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plasticenergy.com\/assessing-our-impact-answering-common-faqs-behind-our-lca\/","title":{"rendered":"Assessing our impact: Answering common FAQs behind our LCA"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<h3><em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">This week we <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">released our second Life Cycle Assessment or LCA<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">; an<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\"> analy<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">sis of<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\"> the environmental impact of our technology. But why is this important<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">?<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">A<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">nd <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">what is an LCA<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">? <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">Nadia Chang, <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">our<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\"> Sustainability Manager <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW212951937 BCX0\">explains.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> In January 2025, we released our second Life Cycle Assessment, also called an LCA. This is an analysis of the environmental performance of a process or product across the stages of its whole life cycle &#8211; beginning with the extraction of raw materials, through processing, transportation, use, and disposal.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In our case, we wanted to know the impact of our TAC\u2122 recycling process and resulting TACOIL\u2122 feedstock. This is important for helping us to understand the environmental benefits of chemical recycling, and pinpoint areas of the process we can improve.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We commissioned independent consultancy Sphera to complete this work, then an independent panel of industry experts to critically review the report.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We used data from the design of our plants, which is informed by our operational experience <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">from our <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">commercial plants in Spain (operating since 2016 and 2017). Click <a href=\"https:\/\/plasticenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Plastic-Energy-LCA-01.2025.pdf\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to read the full Executive Summary, plus key results and methodology used to calculate these findings.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As many longer-term followers of ours will know, we previously published an LCA in 2020. This was conducted by independent consultancy Quantis and also reviewed by a panel of experts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Since this first report, our TAC\u2122 recycling process has developed significantly, alongside this the methodology for conducting LCAs. These combined factors led to a new LCA being commissioned. As the data and methodologies are different, we have replaced the 2020 LCA with the 2025 report.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We remain committed to regularly assessing and sharing the results of future LCAs and all other major sustainability developments. This is part of our broader commitment to improve our environmental performance and support a circular economy for plastics.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our work also sits with the context of larger value-chain changes which also contribute to improved environmental performance. This combination of industry electrification, to more ambitious policy targets and legislation, to plastic packaging designed for recyclability \u2013 means a sustainable decarbonised plastics value chain is closer than we think.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To read our full Executive Summary, <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">click <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plasticenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Plastic-Energy-LCA-01.2025.pdf\">here<\/a><\/strong>,<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to read the press release for the announcement of the 2025 LCA, <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">click <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plasticenergy.com\/plastic-energy-publishes-new-lca\/\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; 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