Evaluating the Sustainability of Paper and Plastic Substitute Material LimeX

Abstract With the increasing decline in the environment and natural resources it is important to find new ways in which manufacturing can increase the sustainability of the world. This study seeks to compare LimeX, a state-of-the-art paper and plastic alternative primarily made of limestone, with conventional paper and plastic materials. For a better understanding of LimeX as a material, a brief investigation of the mechanical and chemical properties will be performed through experimentation and analysis. In addition, this paper aims to evaluate the sustainability of LimeX through the analysis of metrics relating to the triple bottom line (environmental impacts, economic impacts and societal impacts) to evaluate and compare the sustainability performance of LimeX products with conventional paper and plastic products. The previously developed Product Sustainability Index (ProdSI) will be adapted and used in this study to conduct the sustainability evaluation. Major findings will include results from an experimental analysis of LimeX via SEM and EDS, and LimeX material property measurements via tensile testing and density measurements. In addition, there will also be a comparison of the sustainability performance of conventional paper and LimeX using a simplified ProdSI. The study found that LimeX was marginally more sustainable than paper, but this evaluation could change with information from the development of a life-cycle analysis report on the material.