How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia
Oyster farming plays a crucial role in sustainable food production due to its high nutritional value and relatively low environmental impact. However, in a scenario of increasing production, it is necessary to consider the issue of plastic use as a limitation to be addressed. A life cycle assessment...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Daniela Summa Elena Tamisari Mattia Lanzoni Giuseppe Castaldelli Elena Tamburini |
| author_facet | Daniela Summa Elena Tamisari Mattia Lanzoni Giuseppe Castaldelli Elena Tamburini |
| author_sort | Daniela Summa |
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| description | Oyster farming plays a crucial role in sustainable food production due to its high nutritional value and relatively low environmental impact. However, in a scenario of increasing production, it is necessary to consider the issue of plastic use as a limitation to be addressed. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on oyster farming in La Spezia (Italy) as a case study, utilizing 1 kg of packaged oysters as the functional unit. Fossil-based plastics and wooden packaging were identified as the primary environmental concerns. To analyze potential strategies for reducing the environmental impact of oyster farming, alternative scenarios were considered wherein fossil-based materials were replaced with bio-based materials. Specifically, this study examined the substitution of the current packaging, consisting of a wooden box and a polypropylene (PP) film, with a fully recyclable PP net. Additionally, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (Bio-PET) were proposed as alternatives to virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and PP for buoys, oyster bags, and boxes. Among the scenarios analyzed, the sole effective strategy to reduce the impact of plastics on the process is to replace them with PHA. In the other cases, the high energy consumption of their non-optimized production renders them disadvantageous options. However, the assessment must include the effects of degradation that traditional plastics can have in the marine environment, an aspect that potentially renders natural fibers more advantageous. The use of PP net packaging has demonstrated high efficacy in reducing impacts and provides a foundation for considering the need to combine sustainability and marketing with current legislation regarding food packaging. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dde5dd0b8e304473a71c00853d6ba2a92025-01-24T13:48:15ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762025-01-011411010.3390/resources14010010How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La SpeziaDaniela Summa0Elena Tamisari1Mattia Lanzoni2Giuseppe Castaldelli3Elena Tamburini4Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyOyster farming plays a crucial role in sustainable food production due to its high nutritional value and relatively low environmental impact. However, in a scenario of increasing production, it is necessary to consider the issue of plastic use as a limitation to be addressed. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on oyster farming in La Spezia (Italy) as a case study, utilizing 1 kg of packaged oysters as the functional unit. Fossil-based plastics and wooden packaging were identified as the primary environmental concerns. To analyze potential strategies for reducing the environmental impact of oyster farming, alternative scenarios were considered wherein fossil-based materials were replaced with bio-based materials. Specifically, this study examined the substitution of the current packaging, consisting of a wooden box and a polypropylene (PP) film, with a fully recyclable PP net. Additionally, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (Bio-PET) were proposed as alternatives to virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and PP for buoys, oyster bags, and boxes. Among the scenarios analyzed, the sole effective strategy to reduce the impact of plastics on the process is to replace them with PHA. In the other cases, the high energy consumption of their non-optimized production renders them disadvantageous options. However, the assessment must include the effects of degradation that traditional plastics can have in the marine environment, an aspect that potentially renders natural fibers more advantageous. The use of PP net packaging has demonstrated high efficacy in reducing impacts and provides a foundation for considering the need to combine sustainability and marketing with current legislation regarding food packaging.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/1/10oyster farmingbioplasticsfossil-based plasticslife cycle assessment (LCA)sustainability |
| spellingShingle | Daniela Summa Elena Tamisari Mattia Lanzoni Giuseppe Castaldelli Elena Tamburini How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia Resources oyster farming bioplastics fossil-based plastics life cycle assessment (LCA) sustainability |
| title | How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia |
| title_full | How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia |
| title_fullStr | How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia |
| title_short | How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia |
| title_sort | how reducing fossil based plastic use can help the overall sustainability of oyster farming the case of the gulf of la spezia |
| topic | oyster farming bioplastics fossil-based plastics life cycle assessment (LCA) sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/1/10 |
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