System Dynamics Approach in LCA for PET-Renewable Raw Materials Impact

Pablo Aarón Anistro Jiménez, Carlos E. Escobar Toledo

Department of Chemical Engineering, National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.

DOI: 10.4236/ajor.2015.54024                

Abstract

It has been shown that system dynamics and life-cycle analysis together provide an analytical tool to study different impacts between variables in decision-making process. This paper presents an application of this approach toward to a plastic material of quotidian use, considering both, a production chain using renewable resources and petrochemical production of Polyethylene Terephthalate, used as a beverage bottle application, and showing its impacts to the system when production replacement of non-renewable resources is allowed. We have already studied the substitution between different materials: glass and aluminum.

Keywords

System Dynamics, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Dynamical Modeling, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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