Waste on events

In commission of OVAM, VITO performed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and an Eco-efficiency analysis on 4 types of drinking cups for use on events. The reason to set up for this study was the introduction of the polylactide (PLA) cup on Flemish events. The objective was to obtain insight in the current environmental impacts and the costs related to existing systems for drinking cups on events in Flanders (Belgium).

In the study three one-way cups (the PP, the PE-coated cardboard and the PLA-cup) are compared to the reusable PC-cup and this on small and large events. In the eco-efficiency analysis, the LCA was related to a Life Cycle Cost analysis to finally assess and compare the eco-efficiency of all the 4 alternatives. Both analyses were, according to the ISO 14040-standards on LCA's, subject of a critical review by a review panel coordinated by TNO.

The LCA resulted in a comparative environmental profile in which 9 environmental impact categories were considered. None of the four considered cups show overall superior performance on small nor large events.

In the eco-efficiency analysis the 9 environmental impact categories were, on request of the commissioner, elaborated into one environmental indicator which was compared with a cost indicator. The analyses showed that the reusable cup has a significant more favourable environmental score on small events. On large events no significant differences between the four cups exist. A sensitivity analysis showed that in the near future, taking into account the potential improvements for the PLA-cup system, the PLA-cup might become the best choice.

Two publications with the complete information of this reseach can be downloaded.