Strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of plastic packaging through the introduction of digital projects

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Strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of plastic packaging through the introduction of digital projects

Yarullina I.E., Master's student 2nd year, Faculty of Economics St. Petersburg State University 7-9 Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

Bogdanova A.A., Master's student 2nd year, Faculty of Economics St. Petersburg State University 7-9 Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

Аннотация

Стратегия сокращения выбросов парниковых газов на протяжении всего жизненного цикла пластиковой упаковки за счет внедрения цифровых проектов

Яруллина И.Е., магистрант 2 курс, Экономический факультет Санкт-Петербургский Государственный университет 199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9, Российская Федерация

Богданова А.А., магистрант 2 курс, Экономический факультет Санкт-Петербургский Государственный университет 199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9, Российская Федерация

В статье рассматривается возможность применения цифровых технологий с целью сокращения выбросов парниковых газов на всех производственных этапах жизненного цикла пластиковой упаковки. На сегодняшний день одной из основных проблем устойчивого развития является глобальное экологическое загрязнение биосферы, расточительное отношение к ограниченным природным ресурсам и постоянно увеличивающиеся объемы пластиковых отходов. Одним из предложенных авторами данной статьи методов снижения уровня выброса углекислого газа в течение всего жизненного цикла пластика является переработка пластиковых отходов.

Ключевые слова: циркулярная экономика, пластиковая упаковка, парниковые газы, углеродный след, цифровые технологии.

Annotation

The article discusses the possibility of using digital technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at all production stages of the life cycle of plastic packaging. Today, one of the main problems of sustainable development is global environmental pollution of the biosphere, wasteful attitude to limited natural resources and constantly increasing volumes of plastic waste. One of the methods proposed by the authors of this article to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions during the entire life cycle of plastic is the recycling of plastic waste.

Key words: circular economy, plastic packaging, greenhouse gases, carbon footprint, digital technologies.

One of the significant and growing threats today is the low level of recycling of plastic waste, which is rapidly polluting our planet. Over the past 50 years, the global production of plastic products has increased 4 times [1]. In addition to the fact that plastic waste affects ecosystems and human health, it also contributes to the formation of global greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change. So, in 2019, the production and burning of plastic in the world added more than 850 million tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, which is equivalent to the emissions of 189 power plants with a capacity of 500 megawatts [2].

In Russia, the problem of plastic and its impact on the environment is also quite acute. Russia ranks 4th in terms of greenhouse gas emissions in the world: 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions were generated in 2020 [3]. In addition, in our country, the share of carbon-intensive production has a large share in the total volume of production by industry.

In order to curb the growth of the global average temperature, the European Union has developed a draft law on the introduction of a mechanism for cross-border carbon regulation (Carbon border adjustment mechanism), which assumes from 2023 the introduction of a tax on goods imported into the EU depending on their carbon footprint to increase the competitiveness of European production, striving for decarbonization of the economy and zero emissions by 2050 [4].

In Russia, the achievement of carbon neutrality is supposed to be carried out within the framework of the implementation of the goals of the Socio-economic Development Strategy with Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions until 2050 [5]. Thus, the strategy is based on two scenarios - an inertial one, which assumes the preservation of the current economic model, and a targeted (intensive) one, which ensures the mutual alignment of international goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the country's economic capabilities to switch to carbon-neutral technologies. gas emissions plastic packaging

It is logical to link the further development of the plastic recycling industry in Russia to the scenario forecasts described above. When projecting an inertial scenario involving 90% waste disposal, numerous studies indicate that by 2050 there will be an increase in the share of plastic production to 12 billion tons [6] and, accordingly, the volume of its disposal at landfills, which, in turn, will lead to an increase in the share of uninhabitable territory, an increase in emissions greenhouse gases by 2372 million tons [7], deterioration of the ecological situation in the country, disruption of the vital activity of all natural ecosystems, etc.

Considering the article in which the authors conducted a full-fledged study and assessment of global greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of the life cycle (LCA) of plastic today, it was noted that the most harmful emissions occur at the production stage - 1085 million tons (61%), which covers all types of activities from mining to transportation to the production plant polymers [8]. At the conversion stage, which includes all production processes that convert polymers into final plastic products, 535 million tons of CO2 emissions (30%) are produced. And at the EoL (End of life) stage, which refers to the processes of processing and disposal of plastic waste, about 161 million tons of CO2 (9%).

If we analyze in more detail greenhouse gas emissions at the final stage (EoL), then breaking it down into types depending on the method of plastic disposal, we can see that incineration is the most carbon-intensive process (96 million tons), followed by recycling (49 million tons) and landfill (16 million tons).

One of the methods proposed by the authors of this article to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions during the entire life cycle of plastic is the recycling of plastic waste. Thus, according to a number of Russian researchers, the most promising direction for the Russian Federation is the development of the principles of a circular economy, which implies the formation of closed supply chains [9, 10], which, in turn, determines the development of the waste processing industry, including plastic.

That is why, as part of the intensive scenario development of plastic waste disposal, it is possible to assume the introduction of a circular economy with the use of digital technologies included in all stages of the plastic life cycle in order to comprehensively reduce CO2 emissions.

Among the digital technologies used to achieve hydrocarbon neutrality, it should be noted: IoT, Big Data, Data analysis and artificial intelligence, the creation and use of a digital platform, a digital product passport and digital twin technology.

At the conversion stage, technologies such as a digital passport and a digital double can be used. A digital passport is formed due to special markings on plastic bottles, and with the help of a digital double, it will be possible to directly track the path of the manufactured goods, as well as information about its composition, forms of use, maintenance, etc. Big Data, Data analysis and artificial intelligence technologies can also be used to collect and process various information presented in the form of a single register at the production stage: the number of PET bottles, their suitability for reuse, packaging material, manufacturer's data, etc.

The Internet of Things (IoT) technology can be used at the EoL stage both for sorting as part of optimizing the tracking of plastic waste, and for distribution between facilities and equipment where the recycling process is directly carried out.

At the EoL stage, one of the important technologies in the process of the circular economy of plastic recycling can be used - a digital platform through which information is exchanged between producers and consumers of recycled plastic pellets. This interaction can stimulate the production and sales complex of enterprises in different sectors of the economy.

Thus, the problem of greenhouse gas emissions both in the world as a whole and in Russia cannot be underestimated today. The use of digital technologies at all stages of the plastic life cycle will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. Government support should also encourage industrial enterprises to use all the necessary tools to reduce their carbon footprint and preserve the planet's ecosystem.

References:

1. Geyer R., Jambeck J.R., Law K.L. Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. sci. Adv. 3, e1700782 (2017)

2. See Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) et al., Plastics & Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet (2019). [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.ciel.org/reports/plastic-health-the-hidden-costs-of-a-plastic-planet- february-2019 (accessed: 15.04.2022).

3. Greenpeace «Green Course of Russia». [Electronic resource]. U RL: https://greenpeace.ru/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GC A4 006.pdf (accessed: 18.04.2022) .

4. The European Green Deal COM/2019/640 final. [Electronic resource]. URL: EUR-Lex - 52019DC0640-EN-EUR-Lex (europa.eu) (accessed: 14.04.2022).

5. Strategy for the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation with a low level of greenhouse gas emissions until 2050. [Electronic resource]. URL: http://static.government.ru/media/files/ADKkCzp3fWO32e2yA0BhtIpyzWfHaiUa. pdf (accessed: 12.04.2022).

6. World vs Disposable: A Brief Guide to Anti-Plastic Measures. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://bellona.ru/2020/10/22/mir-protiv-odnorazovogo/ (accessed: 15.04.2022).

7. Russia has a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.rbc.ru/business/23/03/2020/5e73c8739a7947f53f4f3a06 (accessed:

16.04.2022).

8. Zheng, Jiajia & Suh, Sangwon. (2019). Strategies to reduce the global carbon footprint of plastics. nature climate change. doi 10.1038/s41558-019-0459- z.

9. Gur'eva M.A., Butko V.V. The practice of implementing the circular economy model // Journal of international economic affairs, 2019, No. 9.

10. Pakhomova N.V., Richter K.K., Vetrova M.A. Transition to a circular economy and closed supply chains as a factor of sustainable development // Bulletin of St. Petersburg University. Economy. 2017. No. 2.

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