Life cycle assessment (LCA) of Coffee Bags Recycling with Green Surfactant and Their Aqueous Solutions

The rising demand for multilayer packaging, especially in the food and beverage industry, presents significant challenges for recycling due to the complex combination of materials like polyethylene (PE), aluminum (AL), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These materials offer essential protective properties but are difficult to separate and recycle, leading to high landfill rates and environmental concerns. This thesis explores the use of Switchable Anionic Surfactants (SAS), particularly Triethanolamine (TEA) and Lauric Acid, as a novel solution for recycling multilayer coffee bags. A detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted, evaluating four recycling scenarios ranging from basic delamination to an optimized closed-loop system. The study employed GaBi software and the EF 3.1 methodology to quantify environmental impacts across categories such as climate change, resource depletion, and water use. Results show that while SAS technology improves material recovery, trade-offs exist, particularly in energy consumption and toxic emissions. In early scenarios, surfactant preparation and delamination had significant impacts on climate change and resource depletion. However, more advanced stages, in Scenario 4, where Lauric Acid and CO₂ were recovered, improved resource efficiency and waste reduction. Despite these advancements, delamination remains a critical environmental hotspot, suggesting the need for further optimization. This research indicates that SAS-based recycling systems align with circular economy principles but require continued technological advancements to reduce energy demands and emissions. The findings contribute valuable insights toward developing more sustainable recycling processes for multilayer packaging, emphasizing the importance of LCA in guiding environmental decision-making.