Carbon Emission Calculation for PE Stretch Film

The carbon emission calculation for PE (polyethylene) stretch film is primarily based on the carbon footprint within the product's entire Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), encompassing stages such as raw material production, manufacturing and processing, transportation, usage, and final disposal (like incineration or landfill).

Below is a simplified calculation method and reference data:

I. Simplified Calculation Formula:

Carbon Emission (kg CO₂e) = Film Weight (kg) × Unit Carbon Emission Factor (kg CO₂e/kg)

II. Common Carbon Emission Factors for PE Film (Reference Values):

(This section was implied to follow, but no specific values were listed in the original text. I will proceed assuming the values were meant to be used in the subsequent examples.)

III. Example Based on a 2.2 kg Net Weight Film Roll:

Virgin PE Film:

2.2 kg × 2.1 kg CO₂e/kg = 4.62 kg CO₂e

Recycled PE Film:

2.2 kg × 0.9 kg CO₂e/kg = 1.98 kg CO₂e

IV. Carbon Emission Difference:

Carbon Reduction per Roll = 4.62 – 1.98 = 2.64 kg CO₂e

Carbon Reduction Rate = (2.64 ÷ 4.62) × 100% ≈ 57.14%

V. Carbon Emission Factor Reference Values for PE Raw Materials:

1. Virgin Polyethylene:

Carbon Emission Factor: Approximately 2.1 kg CO₂e/kg

Data Sources:

• Ecoinvent v3.8 Database (Switzerland)
• PlasticsEurope, "Eco-profiles of Polyethylene" (2022)
• UK DEFRA Carbon Factors Report (2023 Edition)

Depending on the region and production process, the range is 1.8 – 2.5 kg CO₂e/kg. We take the median value of 2.1 as a conservative estimate.

2. Recycled Polyethylene:

Carbon Emission Factor: Approximately 0.9 kg CO₂e/kg

Data Sources:

• Ecoinvent Database: Provides a range of approximately 0.45–1.1 kg CO₂e/kg based on the "recycled high-density PE (HDPE)" classification.
• PlasticsEurope, "Recycled Plastics LCA report" (2021)
• LCA studies in the US and Canada, and the results report of the EU project "CircPack".

This value varies slightly depending on the source, cleanliness, and processing method of the recycled material. We use 0.9 as a commonly used intermediate value in practice, close to actual industrial recycled materials.

Median Estimated Values:

Virgin PE: 2.1 kg CO₂e/kg Recycled PE: 0.9 kg CO₂e/kg

These figures represent average values from internationally recognized carbon footprint databases and industry LCA studies.