Electronic Parts/Guidelines - infoHouse

Recyc/eb///ty: Corrugated fiber board is a highly desirable material for recycling. There are extensive
systems set up throughout the country for collecting and recycling corrugate board. 9.098,oOO tons of
corrugated was recycled in 1991, an increase of 4.2% from the previous year. The trend IS for greater
increases in 1992.
/nc/n.rstlon: Corrugated can be incinerated, prodUChg 7080 Btu/pound. but is not as efficient as fossil
fuel energy generation. Refer to Table 11 on page 63 for energy content of other materials.
Com~~~//ltylBlodegmd~b///~~: COrrUgated fiber board is generally biodegradable (except for
chemically treated and/or waxed board). However, like other "degradable" materials in a landfill,
Corrugated may take many years to break down due to lack of oxygen and light. When shredded,
corrugated fiberboard is a very good compost material.
7.5.1.4 Recommendations: Companies purchasing Corrugated containers can request informa-
tion on environmental stewardship practice from their suppliers. Many large milis have wildlife pro-
tection practices, pollution control practices, high recycled content and policies on harvesting old
growth forests. By requesting this information and using this as a basis for deciding a vendor, the
electronics packaging professional can have a positive impact on improving policies for companies
that do not have an environmental stewardship policy and rewarding companies that do.
Recycled content is commonly available with minimal effect on strength and appearance. For many
uses like pads, partitions and void fillers, virgin material is not necessary and lM)% recycled board
would work weii. Even outer shipping containers can utilize the 100% recycled material with little
degradation in performance. By specifying recycled content (a mixture of post-consumer and industrial
scrap) the packaging professional can have a positive impact on the market for collecting corrugated
fiber board and reducing the amount of trees needed for the industry.
The printing inks for some containers have used heavy metals. Current legislation in the Northeast
United States will require a combined maximum of 100 parts per miiiion (ppm) by weight of lead,
cadmium, mercury, and hekavaient chromium for any packaging material. A good practice would be to
requesting that the inks be FDA approved or contain no more than 100 ppm of heavy metals.
7.5.2 Environmental lmpad of Polystyrene
Polystyrene is the oldest commercial thermoplastic polymer resin, having been commercially produced
at the beginning of World War II. It is stable, lightweight. an excellent thermal insulator, water
reslstant, and ideal for cushioning when expanded (foamed). Polystyrene has multiple uses.
Expanded, it is used in the food service industry as container materials and in the electronics industry
as cushioning for delicate instrumentation. It is also used in toys, housewares, and office supplies
Polystyrene resins sales in the U.S. in 1990 were 5.1 billion pounds of which approximately 250 mlilion
pounds was EPS from packaging.
7.5.2.1 Resources: Polystyrene Is a derivative of benzene and ethylene; both by- products of the
production of oil and gas, which are non-renewable resources. It is estimated that approximately 3%
of oil and natural gas volume is used by the plastics industry. A specific percentage for polystyrene IS
not available. Environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling for energy would be similar to those for the
plastic industry, and include the extractive operations on sensitive habitats and general depletion of
the fossil fuel base.
7.5.2.2 Manufacturing
Energy Use: Because it involves high temperature processes, some of which exceed 600' C, the man-
ufacture of styrene and polystyrene requires high energy inputs. This is somewhat offset by the
recovery of steam and other process byproducts which are reconverted to energy for the processes.
Life Cycle Assessment 59