LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF POLYMER MATRIX PRODUCTION OF NANO-ZNO ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING MATERIALS

Petroleum-based polymers offer beneficial packaging properties, but their environmental impact necessitates a shift to bio-based alternatives. The study analyzes the “cradle-to-gate” life cycle as-sessment (LCA) of polymer matrices of ZnO nanoparticles/low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ZnO nanoparticles/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and ZnO nanoparticles/polylactic acid (PLA). Results indicate that PLA produced from renewable biomass requires more water con-sumption than LDPE and EVA produced from petroleum feedstocks. PLA production's depend-ence on water-intensive agricultural processes contributes to its water footprint. In addition, a comparative analysis of energy demand showed that the production of LDPE and EVA is signifi-cantly dependent on non-renewable fossil energy sources, while the production of PLA is more dependent on renewable biomass and alternative energy sources. Findings from environmental im-pact categories such as eutrophication, global warming potential, and ecotoxicity highlight the var-ious environmental concerns associated with PLA and the need for sustainable production meth-ods. The study highlights the importance of LCA when selecting materials for future manufactur-ing, advocating the use of polymers with a lower environmental impact. Keywords: Life cycle assessment, Antimicrobial packaging, Environmental impact, Polymer, Pol-yethylene, Ethylene vinyl acetate, Polylactic acid.