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Process Data set: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), petrochemical based; polymerisation of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid; production mix, at plant; petrochemical based (en) en

Key Data Set Information
Location GLO
Reference year 2016
Name
Base name ; Treatment, standards, routes ; Mix and location types ; Quantitative product or process properties
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), petrochemical based; polymerisation of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid; production mix, at plant; petrochemical based
Use advice for data set Notice: this data set supersedes the EF3.0-compliant version (see link under "preceding data set version" below calculated with the EF3.0). The life cycle inventory is not changed from the original EF3.0 data set. The LCIA results are calculated based on the EF3.1 methods which provide updated characterisation factors in the following impact categories: Climate Change, Ecotoxicity freshwater, Photochemical Ozone Formation, Acidification, Human Toxicity non-cancer, and Human Toxicity cancer. The review report and the data quality ratings refer to the original results. The data set has been updated by the European Commission on the basis of the original EF3.0 data set delivered by the data provider.
Classification
Class name : Hierarchy level
  • ILCD: Materials production / Plastics
General comment on data set The dataset models the production of 1 kg of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), petrochemical based. PET is the largest used polyester used as resin or fibre. It is a material of high strength, lightweight and stiffness. The density of amorphous PET is 1.333g/cm3. It is widely used for films and packaging of water bottle, beverages and food. It is also used into fibre filling for insulated clothing and furniture and in textile manufacturing for flexible, more resistant and non- shrinking fabrics. Other applications include the automotive and electronic industry, to make equipment and accessories like cables, wiper arm, gear housing, engine cover, etc. References: Polyethylene terephthalate (2021). Encyclopaedia Britannica Available at: https://www.britannica.com/technology/Mylar Wiley-VCH. (2016). Ullmann's Polymers and Plastics - Products and Processes, 4 Volume Set. John Wiley & Sons.
Copyright Yes
Owner of data set
Quantitative reference
Reference flow(s)
Biogenic carbon content
  • Carbon content (biogenic): 0.0 kg
Time representativeness
Data set valid until 2024
Technological representativeness
Technology description including background system Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is synthesised by the polymerisation of terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (MEG) monomers, both produced from oil cracking. The first step is the pre-polymerisation of TPA with MEG by heating them together in an esterification reaction. The process is performed under the pressure of 2.7 – 5.5 bar and a range of temperature 220 – 260 °C. As a result, an intermediate monomer named bis-hydroxyethyl-terephthalate (BHET) is formed. Water is also produced at this step as by product which is removed. PET synthesis continues with the polymerisation of the remaining mixture at a temperature of 270–295 °C under vacuum. At this stage, PET is a viscous, molten liquid that is extruded, and water quenched into granules to form a solid, glass-like amorphous material. The product from the esterification is then sent to the polycondensation reactor which operates under increased temperature (300°C) and vacuum. The final formation of PET takes place while the polycondensation is stopped when a defined melt viscosity is reached. By-products such as water are eliminated, while volatile impurities or thermal degradation products (e.g., acetaldehyde or residual glycols) are removed by thermal desorption. The dataset is based on data from plastics Europe eco-profile reports, that is still valid for the reference year of 2021. References: Coniglio, M.A., Fioriglio, C. and Laganà, P., 2020. Non-Intentionally Added Substances in PET-Bottled Mineral Water. Springer International Publishing. Wiley-VCH.,2016. Ullmann's Polymers and Plastics - Products and Processes, 4 Volume Set. John Wiley & Sons. PlasticsEurope, 2017. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) (Bottle Grade)CPME, Eco-profiles and Environmental Product Declaration of the European Plastics Manufacturers Available at: https://www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/eco-profiles
Flow diagram(s) or picture(s)
  • Diagram of data for chemicals EF3.0 Image
LCI method and allocation
Type of data set LCI result
LCI Method Principle Attributional
Deviation from LCI method principle / explanations Background data: - the \xe2\x80\x9cRecycled content cut-off\xe2\x80\x9d approach to allocate end-of-life by-products and secondary materials. This allocation is explained in the description of the recycled content system model (http://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/cut-off-system-model/allocation-cut-off-by-classification.html). The ecoinvent database mostly relies on “Allocation – market values” apart for few exceptions particularly in the energy sector. ecoinvent energy data is replaced with EF3.0 core data as per the EF guidelines version 2.0. OR - EF compliant data
LCI method approaches
  • Allocation - market value
Deviations from LCI method approaches / explanations Background data: - the \xe2\x80\x9cRecycled content cut-off\xe2\x80\x9d approach to allocate end-of-life by-products and secondary materials. This allocation is explained in the description of the recycled content system model (http://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/cut-off-system-model/allocation-cut-off-by-classification.html). The ecoinvent database mostly relies on “Allocation – market values” apart for few exceptions particularly in the energy sector. ecoinvent energy data is replaced with EF3.0 core data as per the EF guidelines version 2.0. OR - EF compliant data
Modelling constants All modelling constants follow the requirements listed in the Tender Specifications 070201/2020/SER/ENV.B1. Completeness: There are no intentional cut-offs in the inventory no matter how small their contribution to all the EF impact categories is. Eventual cut-offs are in compliance with the Guide for EF compliant data sets (JRC 2020), i.e. only if below the 3% cut-off rule. Water use: water use is modelled at country level using separate flows for water withdrawal, water release and water evaporation. Handling multi-functional processes: the following PEF multi- functionality decision hierarchy is applied for resolving all multi- functionality problems: (1) subdivision or system expansion; (2) allocation based on a relevant underlying physical relationship (substitution may apply here); (3) allocation based on some other relationship. Direct land use change: GHG emissions from direct LUC allocated to good/service for 20 years after the LUC occurs, with IPCC default values. Carbon storage and delayed emissions: credits associated with temporary (carbon) storage or delayed emissions up to 300 years are not be considered. Emissions off-setting: are not included. Capital goods (including infrastructures) and their End of life: they are included. System boundaries: system boundaries include all processes linked to the product supply chain (e.g. maintenance). Time period: emissions and removals are modelled as if released or removed at the beginning of the assessment method. Fossil and biogenic carbon emissions and removals: removals and emissions are modelled as follows: All GHG emissions from fossil fuels (including peat and limestone) are modelled consistently with the most updated ILCD list of elementary flows. The non-fossil (biogenic) carbon flows are modelled consistently with the most updated ILCD list of elementary flows.
Deviation from modelling constants / explanations None
Data sources, treatment and representativeness
Data cut-off and completeness principles There are no intentional cut-offs in the inventory no matter how small their contribution to all the EF impact categories is. Eventual cut-offs are in compliance with the Guide for EF compliant data sets (JRC 2020), i.e. only if below the 3% cut-off rule. The dataset dry mass and water balance has been checked to ensure the inventory is complete. Capital goods (e.g. infrastructure) and their end-of-life are included.
Deviation from data cut-off and completeness principles / explanations None
Data selection and combination principles These datasets include, in both their foreground and background data, links to EF3.0 compliant data. The relevant background data on energy, transport, and End of Life are from the LCDN data node (http://lcdn.thinkstep.com/Node/). All other background data in the supply of this product for which no EF3.0 process was available are from ecoinvent v3.7 database (www.ecoinvent.org) or other data sources.
Deviation from data selection and combination principles / explanations None
Data treatment and extrapolations principles Several data sources have been used to model the inventory.
Deviation from data treatment and extrapolations principles / explanations None
Data source(s) used for this data set
Uncertainty adjustments None
Completeness
Completeness of product model All relevant flows quantified
Supported impact assessment methods
Completeness elementary flows, per topic
  • Climate change: All relevant flows quantified
  • Ozone depletion: All relevant flows quantified
  • Summer smog: All relevant flows quantified
  • Eutrophication: All relevant flows quantified
  • Acidification: All relevant flows quantified
  • Human toxicity: All relevant flows quantified
  • Freshwater ecotoxicity: All relevant flows quantified
  • Seawater eco-toxicity: All relevant flows quantified
  • Terrestric eco-toxicity: All relevant flows quantified
  • Radioactivity: All relevant flows quantified
  • Land use: All relevant flows quantified
  • Non-renewable material resource depletion: All relevant flows quantified
  • Renewable material resource consumption: All relevant flows quantified
  • Non-renewable primary energy depletion: All relevant flows quantified
  • Renewable primary energy consumption: All relevant flows quantified
  • Particulate matter/respiratory inorganics: All relevant flows quantified
  • Species depletion: No statement
  • Noise: No statement
Validation
Type of review Data quality indicators
Independent review panel
  • Overall quality: Very good - 1.49
  • Methodological appropriateness and consistency: Not applicable
  • Precision: Very good - 1.13
  • Geographical representativeness: Fair - 2.18
  • Time representativeness: Very good - 1.0
  • Technological representativeness: Good - 1.66
Reviewer name and institution Complete review report
Type of review Scope / Method(s) of review Data quality indicators
Dependent internal review
Scope name Method name
Documentation
  • Expert judgement
  • Compliance with ISO 14040 to 14044
Life cycle inventory methods
  • Compliance with ISO 14040 to 14044
Raw data
  • Element balance
  • Mass balance
  • Energy balance
  • Documentation
  • Expert judgement
  • Sample tests on calculations
  • Validation of data sources
  • Cross-check with other source
LCIA results
  • Expert judgement
  • Cross-check with other data set
  • Cross-check with other source
Unit process(es), black box
  • Element balance
  • Mass balance
  • Energy balance
  • Compliance with ISO 14040 to 14044
  • Expert judgement
  • Sample tests on calculations
  • Validation of data sources
  • Cross-check with other data set
  • Cross-check with other source
Unit process(es), single operation
  • Element balance
  • Mass balance
  • Energy balance
  • Documentation
  • Compliance with ISO 14040 to 14044
  • Expert judgement
  • Sample tests on calculations
  • Validation of data sources
  • Cross-check with other data set
  • Cross-check with other source
LCI results or Partly terminated system
  • Element balance
  • Mass balance
  • Energy balance
  • Compliance with ISO 14040 to 14044
  • Expert judgement
  • Sample tests on calculations
  • Validation of data sources
  • Cross-check with other data set
  • Cross-check with other source
  • Overall quality: Very good - 1.49
  • Methodological appropriateness and consistency: Not applicable
  • Precision: Very good - 1.13
  • Geographical representativeness: Fair - 2.18
  • Time representativeness: Very good - 1.0
  • Technological representativeness: Good - 1.66
Reviewer name and institution
Compliance Declarations
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant
Nomenclature compliance
Fully compliant
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant
Review compliance
Fully compliant
Documentation compliance
Fully compliant
Quality compliance
Not defined
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant
Nomenclature compliance
Fully compliant
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant
Review compliance
Fully compliant
Documentation compliance
Fully compliant
Quality compliance
Fully compliant
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant
Nomenclature compliance
Not defined
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant
Review compliance
Fully compliant
Documentation compliance
Not defined
Quality compliance
Not defined
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant
Nomenclature compliance
Not defined
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant
Review compliance
Not defined
Documentation compliance
Fully compliant
Quality compliance
Not defined
Compliance
Compliance system name
Approval of overall compliance
Not defined
Nomenclature compliance
Fully compliant
Methodological compliance
Not defined
Review compliance
Not defined
Documentation compliance
Not defined
Quality compliance
Not defined
Commissioner and goal
Commissioner of data set
Project Provision of process-based 3.0 Environmental Footprint-compliant life cycle inventory datasets - Plastics - contract number 070201/2020/839443/SER/ENV.B.1
Intended applications Implementation of regular Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) studies and Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) studies exclusively under the specified Product groups and sectors as defined in the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) and Organisation Environmental Footprint Sectorial Rules (OEFSR) listed in http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/PEFCR_OEFSR.htm
Data generator
Data set generator / modeller
Data entry by
Time stamp (last saved) 2022-12-01T22:17:39.218+01:00
Data set format(s)
Data entry by
Publication and ownership
UUID 00a5d0c8-becf-520a-b3fe-eb0710efa170
Date of last revision 2020-09-02T14:36:46.214668+02:00
Data set version 01.01.000
Preceding Data set version
Workflow and publication status Data set finalised; entirely published
Owner of data set
Copyright Yes
Reference to entities with exclusive access
License type Free of charge for some user types or use types
Access and use restrictions Free of charge for all final users implementing a regular Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) studies and Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) studies exclusively under the specified Product groups and sectors as defined in the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) and Organisation Environmental Footprint Sectorial Rules (OEFSR) listed in http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/PEFCR_OEFSR.htm and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the EULA (available at https://ecoinvent.lca-data.com/) exclusively until 31st December 2024. Any use of this dataset or any derivative data not within the specific context of one of the PEF/OEF projects or after the end of 2024 is not permitted.
Access to the data set is restricted to metadata only. Please register to get full access to the data set.
Access to the data set is restricted to metadata only. Please register to get full access to the data set.