End-of-Life Pathways for Beverage Packaging An LCA study on the Swedish deposit system, conventional recycling and incineration with energy recovery

Abstract

In line with the EU Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWD), a fundamental shift in how packaging is designed and managed is required to reduce environmental impacts and support the transition to a circular economy. This master’s thesis conducts a life cycle assessment (LCA) of waste management systems for PET bottles and aluminium cans in Sweden. The systems studied are Returpack’s deposit system, conventional recycling, and incineration with energy recovery. The study aims to investigate the environmental impact of each system based on four categories, in accordance with the LCA methodology. The study seeks to highlight the most significant processes by identifying key environmental hotspots across the systems and provide practical recommendations for promoting more sustainable packaging waste management in Sweden. The study shows that the deposit system generally results in the lowest environmental impact, as it enables closed loop recycling and maintains high material quality. Incineration with energy recovery generally has the highest environmental impact. In all investigated impact categories, the recycling process is the largest contributor to the deposit and conventional recycling systems’ environmental impact. A common factor contributing to the environmental impact across the three PET systems is the incineration of PET that cannot be recycled, along with other residual waste generated in the processes. Regarding aluminium cans, the high electricity consumption within the recycling process in the deposit system and the addition of metals in the conventional recycling process are the main contributors to the systems’ environmental impact. Differences in collection rates and consumer behavior between the systems were not fully accounted for, despite their potential to influence environmental impacts. Future studies should investigate these aspects to provide a more comprehensive assessment. The results highlight the importance of preserving material quality, efficient sorting, and technological advancements. Recycling is shown to be an effective strategy for a circular economy, particularly when implemented as closed loop recycling, as in the deposit system. This approach keeps materials in use longer and reduces the demand for new virgin resources. Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, Circular