Table 2.
Percentage contributions from the key stages of the life cycle to the environmental impact of disposable drinking straws. All the used straws are assumed to be disposed in landfill.
| Impact category/straw type | Feedstock | Extrusion | Transportation | Landfill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||
| Global warming potential (GWP) | PP | 80% | 13% | 4% | 3% |
| PLA | 59% | 26% | 9% | 6% | |
| PA | 63% | 8% | 2% | 27% | |
| Acidification potential (AP) | PP | 72% | 13% | 10% | 6% |
| PLA | 89% | 5% | 4% | 2% | |
| PA | 65% | 16% | 10% | 9% | |
| Eutrophication potential (EP) | PP | 48% | 7% | 14% | 31% |
| PLA | 82% | 2% | 5% | 11% | |
| PA | 56% | 4% | 7% | 31% | |
| Ozone depletion potential (ODP) | PP | 88% | 10% | 0% | 2% |
| PLA | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| PA | 57% | 38% | 5% | 5% | |
| Freshwater toxicity potential (FTP) | PP | 93% | 2% | 3% | 1% |
| PLA | 99% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
| PA | 13% | 85% | 1% | 0% | |
| Human toxicity potential (HTP) | PP | 80% | 13% | 5% | 2% |
| PLA | 80% | 13% | 5% | 2% | |
| PA | 84% | 12% | 2% | 1% | |
| Terrestrial toxicity potential (TTP) | PP | 76% | 3% | 1% | 20% |
| PLA | 84% | 2% | 1% | 13% | |
| PA | 76% | 5% | 1% | 18% | |
| Abiotic depletion of fossil (ADF) | PP | 92% | 5% | 2% | 1% |
| PLA | 85% | 9% | 3% | 3% | |
| PA | 56% | 30% | 8% | 7% | |