Abstract
This paper explores a decision making model for a multidisciplinary problem in nature. This problem considers the role of energy use in sustainable development and the potential sources to increase energy efficiency during its whole life cycle; it also deals with multicriteria decision making of plastic materials used in a day to day basis. Exergy analysis of plastic materials used to the manufacture of disposable polyethylene bags comparing them with other materials that can be used for substitution will be important to take decisions. We are also interested in plastic poly (ethylene Terephthalate or PET) bottles. The calculation of the incoming and outgoing Exergy flows during the production processes are carried out. The Exergy loss considering the sustainability concept, Green House Gases emissions, real energy flows needed to the chain of processes, material balances in the productions chains and value added, are presented as a set of criteria to make decisions of alternative materials including the actual ones. A case study for Mexico’s market will be developed in order to prove the methodology. It offers some interesting data about consumption and production of bags and bottles.
Highlights
Scientific and technological development enables to provide a wide variety of goods and services in order to satisfy our day to day needs, they put at risk the quality and longer-term viability of the biosphere as a result of unwanted, “second order” effects [1]
This problem considers the role of energy use in sustainable development and the potential sources to increase energy efficiency during its whole life cycle; it deals with multicriteria decision making of plastic materials used in a day to day basis
Exergy analysis of plastic materials used to the manufacture of disposable polyethylene bags comparing them with other materials that can be used for substitution will be important to take decisions
Summary
Scientific and technological development enables to provide a wide variety of goods and services in order to satisfy our day to day needs, they put at risk the quality and longer-term viability of the biosphere as a result of unwanted, “second order” effects [1]. These effects are those related to pollution, as mainly global warming, acid rain, water and soil contamination, etc. The first one is that plastic bags and bottles for individual use are not efficient on the energy efficiency viewpoint, considering global pollution and waste problems, within their full life cycle: production, use and disposal
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