Cleaner production: A study of the environmental and economic advantage in polymer recycling [Produção mais limpa: estudo da vantagem ambiental e econômica na reciclagem de polímeros]

Abstract

This study evaluated the environmental and economic advantages of the implementation of cleaner production (CP) in a plastic manufacture by the use of in closed-loop recycling of polymers. The research method used was a qualitative case study employingh semi-structured interviews and participant observation, and a quantitative one to assess the material intensity factor (MIF). Results indicated environmental benefits by reducing pollution in 3.507.470,8kg and economic advantages of R$75.384,00 monthly with the reutilization of 21.600,0kg of polymer waste, with the implementation of CP. Thus, the study helped motivate managers of small and medium-sized companies to implement CP because one can quickly identify the environmental and economic benefits of the project and provides the academy a simple and practical methodology to evaluate the CP deployment projects, especially when there is little available data.