Data and Decision Tools

Circular economy projects related to data and how it helps people make decisions to increase sustainability. 

LCA of Polymers (Plastics) to Improve Circularity

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a quantitative approach to evaluating the impacts of a product across its entire lifespan, from production to use to end of life (disposal or recycling). Quantifying these impacts can be difficult, particularly for plastics. We are assessing the current state of applying LCA to plastics to identify and target research and data gaps to improve the accuracy and transparency of life cycle evaluations. This project is currently evaluating the tools and databases that currently exist for completing LCAs for plastics to identify areas for improvement, including data and modeling gaps.

• Point of contact: Josh Kneifel
• NIST GCR (Grant/Contractor Report): Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Plastics: A Review and Supplemental materials
• Journal Article: Cross-Database Comparisons on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Water Consumption, and Fossil-Fuel Use of Plastic Resin Production and Their Post-Use Phase Impacts
• Argonne National Laboratory Report: Life-Cycle Analysis Datasets for Regionalized Plastic Pathways
• Impacts of key plastic additives on major resins’ recyclability (forthcoming)

Manufacturing in a Circular Economy

Manufacturing systems use data to be less resource intensive, have less impact on the environment, and be more flexible to adjust to changing designs and material streams. This initiative is working with industries, governments, and researchers to create new standards, tools, and business models to help manufacturers achieve their circular economy goals, demonstrate their results, and measure progress.

• Point of contact: KC Morris
• Papers:
  • Refocusing the Barriers to Sustainability for Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers
  • Circular Economy: A Product Life Cycle Perspective on Engineering and Manufacturing Practices
• Workshop: Fostering a Circular Economy of Discarded Manufacturing Materials. (April 20-21, 2022). Hosted by ASTM International. Read the report.

The Circular Economy Resource Registry (Coming Soon)

This registry is an online platform for finding data, tools, and informational resources useful to facilitating a circular economy. It is a central hub where stakeholders across industry sectors, material categories, and lifecycle phases can both locate circular economy information and add their own resources.

• Point of contact: Noah Last

Mass Balance Accounting Methods for Circular Polymers

Chemically recycled polymers become indistinguishable from virgin feedstock. Mass balance accounting is a method to track, trace, and certify circular polymers. NIST assessed mass balance methods for circular polymers in 2021, in accordance with the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020.

• Point of contact: Kelsea Schumacher
• Reports: An Assessment of Mass Balance Accounting Methods for Polymers
  • Workshop Report (PDF)
• Workshop: Assessment of Mass Balance Accounting Methods for Polymers

Mass Spectrometry of Plastic Monomers, Plasticizers, and Processing Aids

In collaboration with the EPA and FDA, NIST develops software pipelines and interfaces for visualizing, organizing, and validating MS data. We are adding plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids containing more than 10,500 compounds to the NIST mass spectral libraries. This work will improve accurate analyses of recycled materials, medical device extracts, drinking water, and other complex media.

• Point of contact: Yamil Simon