Trade-offs in replacing single-use plastics - sme travel management

A complex landscape of trade-offs have emerged as sectors worldwide seek to replace single-use plastic products (SUPPs) with sustainable alternatives. The shift toward alternatives brings questions of environmental benefits, economic costs, and social implications. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) show that while SUPPs have notable environmental consequences, their alternatives are not without their own impacts. Understanding life cycle impacts SUPPs are often replaced with alternatives like paper, glass, and biodegradable materials. While these substitutions may initially appear environmentally friendlier, LCAs indicate that they can shift impacts to other areas. For example, paper bags have a higher carbon footprint than plastic bags due to intensive resource consumption during production. If they end up in landfills, paper products can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.