LCA / Carbon foot print
The Role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Circular Economy Strategies
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is an effective tool for identifying the most promising circular economy strategies in order to apply them to improve the environmental performance of the company’s consumption and production models.
A Holistic Approach to Industrial Systems Analysis
The fundamental characteristic of this methodology is the innovative way of approaching the analysis of industrial systems: from the typical approach of traditional engineering, which favors the separate study of the individual elements of the production processes, we move to a global vision of the production system, in which all the transformation processes, starting from the extraction of raw materials to the disposal of end-of-life products, are taken into consideration as they participate in the realization of the function for which they are designed.
Centro plastica and Serioplast’s Commitment to LCA Studies
Centro Plastica and Serioplast are engaged in the development of LCA studies with the support of dedicated software and tools and applying the guidelines expressed by the International EPD System in the PCR Plastics in Primary Forms.
Environmental Impact of Recycled HDPE: A Life Cycle Assessment
At Serioplast Group, we are committed to creating value through circularity. Our production of post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) at our Centro Plastica Plants relies on mechanical recycling of rigid plastic packaging—mainly HDPE bottles collected from domestic waste streams. To better understand and transparently communicate the environmental benefits of this process, we conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
The LCA follows international best practices and is aligned with the ISO 14040/44 standards, as well as the International EPD® System’s Product Category Rules (PCR 2013:08 v2.13 – Plastic Waste and Scrap Recovery Services, UN CPC 8942). It focuses on quantifying the impacts associated with the production of 1 kg of rHDPE granules produced in 2023, excluding packaging.
Our Process: From Waste to High-Quality Recycled Resin
Our recycling chain operates across two plants:
- Plant A: Converts sorted plastic waste into clean HDPE flakes
- Plant B: Processes flakes into high-performance rHDPE granules
The mechanical recycling process includes multiple stages:
- Flotation and grinding
- Washing, drying, and flake screening
- Optical sorting of material and color (PP content < 2%)
- Extrusion with melt filtration (≤ 100 µm)
- Degassing and optional deodorization
The output is a high-quality, compliant rHDPE resin, suitable for extrusion and extrusion blow molding (EBM) at processing temperatures between 170°C and 210°C. While not suitable for food contact, it is ideal for packaging applications in the home care and laundry care sectors.
Our rHDPE grades—CiPiWHITE+ and CiPiTENE+—are both classified as Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials and are derived from mixed-color HDPE bottles. The composition of incoming waste bales is typically 85–90% HDPE, with minimal contamination from other polymers.
Environmental Assessment: Transparent and Data-Driven
The LCA was carried out using SimaPro modeling software and the Ecoinvent v3 database. It analyzes impacts across two key phases:
Upstream Processes
- Raw material production and transportation
- Production of primary and secondary packaging
Core Processes
- Post-consumer plastic collection and sorting
- Washing, flake production, extrusion into granules
- Internal transport and material handling
- Energy and water consumption
- Additive and water treatment inputs
- Waste management during production
What’s Excluded?
Following the PCR guidelines, the study does not include:
- Downstream activities (distribution and end use)
- Maintenance, R&D, capital equipment
- Personnel movement or infrastructure
- Packaging and product transport losses (assumed negligible)
Assumptions & Data Quality
We have ensured geographical and temporal consistency of data, using 2023 as the reference year. The study will be updated in the next 3 incoming years.
- Primary data: Site-specific, directly measured from operations at Centro Plastica;
- Secondary data: Sourced from Ecoinvent for background processe;
- Chemical inputs were modeled using declared SDS values;
- Transport distances were estimated using market-specific averages or Eurostat data.
A Unique Contribution to the Circular Economy
At June 2025, time of the present publication, no Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for virgin or recycled HDPE resins are available under the relevant PCRs in the International EPD® System. This LCA positions Centro Plastica and Serioplast Group as a leader in environmental transparency for mechanically recycled HDPE.
By investing in data-driven sustainability, we provide credible, third-party-verifiable insights into the environmental profile of our materials—empowering customers and partners to make informed, responsible choices.
