Life Cycle Comparative Assessment of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Bottles: A Case Study of Drinking Bottled Water in Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand

Abstract

In the current context where all sectors aim to promote sustainable development, hospitals, as large organizations with significant human interactions, face challenges in managing not only medical waste but also general waste such as water bottles. Improper management of these wastes can lead to environmental problems and high disposal costs. This study performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) of regular (petroleum-based) and alternative (bio-based) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles used in Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand, to identify effective strategies for mitigating environmental impacts. The assessment was divided into three scenarios: label-free bottles, bio-based bottles, and 100% recycling. The results indicate that using label-free bottles instead of conventional ones merely reduces environmental impacts by 2%. Transitioning to 30% and 100% bio-based PET can decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 7 and 13 tons of CO₂ eq per year, respectively. Currently, the hospital's PET bottles contribute 56.2 tons of CO₂ eq annually. Health impacts associated with conventional PET bottles amount to 11.70 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a comprehensive measure that includes both mortality and morbidity. Meanwhile, 30% and 100% bio-based bottles reduce this to 7.35 and 4.87 DALYs, respectively. Achieving 100% recyclability in bottle management can cut GHG emissions from disposal processes by up to 90%. Moreover, combining the use of 100% bio-based PET bottles with 100% recycling can lower GHG emissions by up to 40% compared to current practices. These findings highlight the potential for significant environmental and health benefits through improved bottled water management strategies in hospitals.