EUBCE 2026 - Ida Bagus Gede SUTAWIJAYA - Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Sago and Cassava Based Starch Plastics with BioHDPE and HDPE for Food Delivery Bags in Indonesia

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Sago and Cassava Based Starch Plastics with BioHDPE and HDPE for Food Delivery Bags in Indonesia

Short Introductive summary

The increasing use of single-use plastics for food delivery has increased the threat of plastic pollution, particularly in countries like Indonesia, where waste leakage is high. Biobased biodegradable plastics (BBPs) are often presented as sustainable alternatives, yet their actual environmental performance under local conditions remains uncertain. This study examines the cradle-to-grave impacts of starch-based bioplastics made from cassava and sago, comparing them with bioHDPE and fossil-based HDPE bags using the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method. Results show that sago-based bioplastics performed better than cassava-based ones in most categories, as sago cultivation on undrained peatlands requires no fertilisers or pesticides. However, both starch-based plastics still have higher overall impacts than HDPE due to the use of copolymers and plasticisers. BioHDPE can serve as a practical alternative once waste management systems are well established. These findings emphasise the trade-offs between biodegradability and durability, suggesting that biodegradability should be prioritised only for applications with high risks of waste leakage.

I.B.G. Sutawijaya, Wageningen University & Research, THE NETHERLANDS
A. Suwarno, Wageningen University & Research, THE NETHERLANDS
I. Vural Gursel, Wageningen University & Research, THE NETHERLANDS