A Study on the Environmental Impact During Distribution and Disposal Stages for the 3-Ply Face Masks by Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
3rd International Conference on Green Environmental Engineering and Technology, IConGEET 2021
; 214:69-79, 2022.
Article
in English
| Scopus | ID: covidwho-1718611
ABSTRACT
The demand of face masks had increased tremendously due to pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, leading to the increment production rate of face masks in Malaysia. Waste is also produced at the same time, resulting impacts towards the environment. Due to the land scarcity issue in Malaysia, the end of life treatment for the waste is taken into consideration. The study tools used in this study is life cycle assessment (LCA) to identify the significant potential environmental impact produced during the life cycle stages for distribution and disposal through GaBi Education Software. The disposal stage between landfill and incineration of the 3-Ply face masks is studied to determine the end of life treatment for it. The impact assessment method selected in this study is CML 2001-Jan 2016 with the environmental indicator of Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). GWP results in producing highest impact to the environment during both distribution and disposal stages. The impact of GWP also relates to the climate change. Modern incineration is recommended to overcome the issue of land scarcity in Malaysia as the amount of waste by 3-Ply face masks are increasing due to the pandemic COVID-19, reducing the impacts towards the environment. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
3-Ply face masks; Disposal; Distribution; Environmental impact; LCA; Eutrophication; Global warming; Ozone layer; Waste incineration; Waste treatment; 3-ply face mask; End of life treatments; End-of-life treatments; Face masks; Global warming potential; Land scarcity; Malaysia; Using life; Life cycle
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
Scopus
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Language:
English
Journal:
3rd International Conference on Green Environmental Engineering and Technology, IConGEET 2021
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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