PLASTIC BAG LCA Stage: Extraction and processing of raw

 Plastic is made from hydrocarbons obtained from crude oil.

 Crude oil is a finite resource

 The crude oil requires processing by way of fractional distillation, followed by cracking and polymerisation.

 All these stages require energy, however, there is little waste because all the fractions of crude oil have uses. PLASTIC BAG LCA Stage: Manufacturing and packaging

 The plastic is processed into a long roll of film

 The film is cut into the required shape

 Machinery is used at each stage and requires energy

 The bags are packaged in cardboard boxes PLASTIC BAG LCA Stage: Use and reuse

 The actual use of the product has no environmental impact

 Plastic bags are relatively strong so can be reused

 They can be reused as shopping bags or bin liners. PLASTIC BAG LCA Stage: Disposal

 Plastic bags are recyclable so can be turned into another product—this requires energy

 They are not biodegradable so if thrown away, they will take up space in landfill

 Landfill waste can pollute land. PLASTIC BAG LCA Stage: Transport and distribution at all stages

 Crude oil transported from oil rig to processing plant

 Plastic transported to plastic bag manufacturer

 Plastic bags distributed from manufacturer to shops PAPER BAG LCA Stage: Extraction and processing of raw materials

 Paper is made from timber (wood)

 Timber is a renewable resource, but paper bags need to be thick to be strong, which means a lot of wood is required

 The timber requires pulping (crushing) and processing

 Pulping and processing requires lots of energy

 Lots of unusable waste is made. PAPER BAG LCA Stage: Manufacturing and packaging

 The paper is rolled into long sheets of the required thickness

 It is then cut/folded/sealed into the required shapes

 Machinery is used at each stage and requires energy

 The bags are packaged in cardboard boxes PAPER BAG LCA Stage: Use and reuse

 Paper bags are relatively weak so are normally only used once PAPER BAG LCA Stage: Disposal

 Paper bags are recyclable so can be turned into another product— this requires energy

 They are biodegradable and non- toxic so will break down in the environment without causing pollution PAPER BAG LCA Stage: Transport and distribution at all stages

 Timber transported from forest to processing plant

 Paper transported from processing plant to paper bag manufacturer

 Paper bags distributed from manufacturer to shops