Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of disposable facemask waste, posing significant health and environmental risks. This study aims to recycle disposable facemask waste into reusable materials using Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic (PCR) within a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. The p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ital Publication
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Human, Earth, and Future |
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| Online Access: | https://hefjournal.org/index.php/HEF/article/view/447 |
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| author | Siwapa Sirijamorn Danai Bawornkiatikul Rotruedee Chotigawin Torpong Kreetachat Surachai Wongcharee Siriuma Jawjit Kowit Suwannahong |
| author_facet | Siwapa Sirijamorn Danai Bawornkiatikul Rotruedee Chotigawin Torpong Kreetachat Surachai Wongcharee Siriuma Jawjit Kowit Suwannahong |
| author_sort | Siwapa Sirijamorn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of disposable facemask waste, posing significant health and environmental risks. This study aims to recycle disposable facemask waste into reusable materials using Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic (PCR) within a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. The process involves sorting, collecting, and sterilizing the masks through the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). The sterilized material is then processed into PCR pellets, which can be used to produce polypropylene plastic flakes. The findings indicate that disposable facemask waste can be effectively sterilized using AOP (Advanced oxidation Process) and converted into PCR through extrusion. The Life Cycle Inventory Assessment (LCA) identified Human Non-Carcinogenic Toxicity (HNCT) as the most significant environmental impact, amounting to 65.04705 tons of 1,4-DCB. Additionally, PCR production emits 22.3297 tons of CO₂ equivalent, with an Eco-Efficiency assessment of 0.9906 tons of product per ton of raw material. This approach supports sustainable waste management practices and introduces a circular economy business model for repurposing disposable facemasks.
Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2025-06-01-011
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-60d7ef9cc3124d3b88cb234d45b63fea |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2785-2997 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Ital Publication |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Human, Earth, and Future |
| spelling | doaj-art-60d7ef9cc3124d3b88cb234d45b63fea2025-08-20T02:28:42ZengItal PublicationJournal of Human, Earth, and Future2785-29972025-03-016116617910.28991/HEF-2025-06-01-011186Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle AssessmentSiwapa Sirijamorn0Danai Bawornkiatikul1Rotruedee Chotigawin2Torpong Kreetachat3Surachai Wongcharee4Siriuma Jawjit5Kowit Suwannahong6Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131,Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131,Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131,School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000,Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 44150,School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160,Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131,The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of disposable facemask waste, posing significant health and environmental risks. This study aims to recycle disposable facemask waste into reusable materials using Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic (PCR) within a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. The process involves sorting, collecting, and sterilizing the masks through the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). The sterilized material is then processed into PCR pellets, which can be used to produce polypropylene plastic flakes. The findings indicate that disposable facemask waste can be effectively sterilized using AOP (Advanced oxidation Process) and converted into PCR through extrusion. The Life Cycle Inventory Assessment (LCA) identified Human Non-Carcinogenic Toxicity (HNCT) as the most significant environmental impact, amounting to 65.04705 tons of 1,4-DCB. Additionally, PCR production emits 22.3297 tons of CO₂ equivalent, with an Eco-Efficiency assessment of 0.9906 tons of product per ton of raw material. This approach supports sustainable waste management practices and introduces a circular economy business model for repurposing disposable facemasks. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2025-06-01-011 Full Text: PDFhttps://hefjournal.org/index.php/HEF/article/view/447disposable face mask waste (dfm)life cycle assessment (lca)post-consumer recycled plastic (pcr)eco-efficiency. |
| spellingShingle | Siwapa Sirijamorn Danai Bawornkiatikul Rotruedee Chotigawin Torpong Kreetachat Surachai Wongcharee Siriuma Jawjit Kowit Suwannahong Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment Journal of Human, Earth, and Future disposable face mask waste (dfm) life cycle assessment (lca) post-consumer recycled plastic (pcr) eco-efficiency. |
| title | Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_full | Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_short | Managing Disposable Face Mask Waste as Circular Economy Products through Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_sort | managing disposable face mask waste as circular economy products through life cycle assessment |
| topic | disposable face mask waste (dfm) life cycle assessment (lca) post-consumer recycled plastic (pcr) eco-efficiency. |
| url | https://hefjournal.org/index.php/HEF/article/view/447 |
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