Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020
ObjectivesThis study analyzed Korea’s plastic flows and stocks over the past 40 years to provide a quantitative basis for the nation’s plastic management and circular economy MethodsDynamic material flow analysis was conducted to quantify plastic flows across lifecycle stages and to estimate the siz...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
2023-03-01
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| Series: | 대한환경공학회지 |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jksee.or.kr/upload/pdf/KSEE-2023-45-3-127.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797845004716081152 |
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| author | Jooyoung Park Yongchul Jang Minhee Son |
| author_facet | Jooyoung Park Yongchul Jang Minhee Son |
| author_sort | Jooyoung Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesThis study analyzed Korea’s plastic flows and stocks over the past 40 years to provide a quantitative basis for the nation’s plastic management and circular economy MethodsDynamic material flow analysis was conducted to quantify plastic flows across lifecycle stages and to estimate the size of in-use stocks. Focusing on 10 resins and 7 products, the analysis was conducted between 1982 and 2020 and at a national level. Production and trade flows were mainly quantified based on statistical and literature data, while consumption and waste flows were estimated using transfer coefficients. Different from static material flow analysis, waste flows were calculated based on the products’ lifetime distribution functions, and the changes in in-use stocks were estimated Results and DiscussionBetween 1982 and 2020, Korea produced 237 million tons of resins and provided 242 million tons of primary plastic products after the trade. Approximately 207 million tons of final products were consumed, 71% of which was generated as post-consumption waste and additional 3.8 million tons of waste was generated from the manufacturing stage. The amount of in-use stock of plastics was estimated to be 60 million tons. Of the 151 million tons of plastic waste, 24% was landfilled, 29% was incinerated and 47% was entered into sorting and recycling facilities. After sorting and recycling, 27 million tons were estimated to be recycled into products. From 1982 to 2020, per-capita plastic consumption increased from 15 kg to 150 kg, and per-capita waste generation increased from 2 kg to 139 kg. Packaging and containers, or PP and PE represented a major share of plastic consumption as well as waste generation. On the other hand, about half of the plastic stock was used for buildings and more than 50% of the building plastic stock was PVC ConclusionThis study used a dynamic material flow analysis to quantify plastic flows over time, identify the composition of plastic waste flows according to resins or products, and estimate the size of in-use stocks. Such information on the waste composition and in-use stocks would be useful to improve recycling systems and estimate future waste flows. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:31:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83cbae34b121441b96088d6aa8ae6d24 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1225-5025 2383-7810 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:31:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society of Environmental Engineers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | 대한환경공학회지 |
| spelling | doaj.art-83cbae34b121441b96088d6aa8ae6d242023-04-18T04:15:10ZengKorean Society of Environmental Engineers대한환경공학회지1225-50252383-78102023-03-0145312713710.4491/KSEE.2023.45.3.1274450Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020Jooyoung Park0Yongchul Jang1Minhee Son2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Republic of KoreaEnergy Environmental Policy and Technology, Graduate School of Energy and Environment, Korea University, Republic of KoreaEnergy Environmental Policy and Technology, Graduate School of Energy and Environment, Korea University, Republic of KoreaObjectivesThis study analyzed Korea’s plastic flows and stocks over the past 40 years to provide a quantitative basis for the nation’s plastic management and circular economy MethodsDynamic material flow analysis was conducted to quantify plastic flows across lifecycle stages and to estimate the size of in-use stocks. Focusing on 10 resins and 7 products, the analysis was conducted between 1982 and 2020 and at a national level. Production and trade flows were mainly quantified based on statistical and literature data, while consumption and waste flows were estimated using transfer coefficients. Different from static material flow analysis, waste flows were calculated based on the products’ lifetime distribution functions, and the changes in in-use stocks were estimated Results and DiscussionBetween 1982 and 2020, Korea produced 237 million tons of resins and provided 242 million tons of primary plastic products after the trade. Approximately 207 million tons of final products were consumed, 71% of which was generated as post-consumption waste and additional 3.8 million tons of waste was generated from the manufacturing stage. The amount of in-use stock of plastics was estimated to be 60 million tons. Of the 151 million tons of plastic waste, 24% was landfilled, 29% was incinerated and 47% was entered into sorting and recycling facilities. After sorting and recycling, 27 million tons were estimated to be recycled into products. From 1982 to 2020, per-capita plastic consumption increased from 15 kg to 150 kg, and per-capita waste generation increased from 2 kg to 139 kg. Packaging and containers, or PP and PE represented a major share of plastic consumption as well as waste generation. On the other hand, about half of the plastic stock was used for buildings and more than 50% of the building plastic stock was PVC ConclusionThis study used a dynamic material flow analysis to quantify plastic flows over time, identify the composition of plastic waste flows according to resins or products, and estimate the size of in-use stocks. Such information on the waste composition and in-use stocks would be useful to improve recycling systems and estimate future waste flows.http://www.jksee.or.kr/upload/pdf/KSEE-2023-45-3-127.pdfplasticsdynamic material flow analysiscircular economy |
| spellingShingle | Jooyoung Park Yongchul Jang Minhee Son Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020 대한환경공학회지 plastics dynamic material flow analysis circular economy |
| title | Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020 |
| title_full | Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020 |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020 |
| title_short | Dynamic Plastics Flow Analysis for Korea between 1982-2020 |
| title_sort | dynamic plastics flow analysis for korea between 1982 2020 |
| topic | plastics dynamic material flow analysis circular economy |
| url | http://www.jksee.or.kr/upload/pdf/KSEE-2023-45-3-127.pdf |
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