Plastic banners are largely used for advertising and communication of cultural and academic events. In both applications, they quickly turn into waste because of their short lifespan. In Bologna, for instance, it was calculated that an average of 15 plastic banners for about 2 weeks festival or temporary exhibi-tion was used. In that way, their end of life management has become more concerned for municipality and other public banner owners. The considered plastic banners consist in multicomponent materials composed by a polyester film coated by polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Due to the double compositions, plastic banners are difficult to be recycled and in most of the case they are incinerated or landfilled according to regional policies. The paper shows a case study conducted by the Students’ “Green Office” of the University of Bolo-gna, within a European project aiming to promote common sustainable solutions for city and Universi-ty together. One of the purposes of the Green Office initiative was to engage students in developing new sustainable activities and programmes in collaboration with the Municipality of Bologna. The project aimed at investigating a secondary use of the banners and at finding new alternative solutions. The specific plastic banners considered have a very short usage, from one to maximum two months, therefore alternative uses are of paramount importance to extend their lifespan. More specifically, three end of life management options were examined within a circular economy perspective. Some physical-mechanical characterization tests were developed to analyse materials properties in order to explore a secondary use by reprocessing plastic banners into new products (e. g. pencil case or bicycle accessories) or to evaluate recycling alternatives. Finally, an eco-design approach has been considered to explore different solution in materials and components of banners, in their polymers’ composition or assembling, in order to facilitate recycling or reuse options.
Sara Pennellini , Sara Bottausci , Alessandra Bonoli (2021). A circular prospective for a secondary life of plastic banners.
A circular prospective for a secondary life of plastic banners
Sara Pennellini
;Sara Bottausci;Alessandra Bonoli
2021
Abstract
Plastic banners are largely used for advertising and communication of cultural and academic events. In both applications, they quickly turn into waste because of their short lifespan. In Bologna, for instance, it was calculated that an average of 15 plastic banners for about 2 weeks festival or temporary exhibi-tion was used. In that way, their end of life management has become more concerned for municipality and other public banner owners. The considered plastic banners consist in multicomponent materials composed by a polyester film coated by polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Due to the double compositions, plastic banners are difficult to be recycled and in most of the case they are incinerated or landfilled according to regional policies. The paper shows a case study conducted by the Students’ “Green Office” of the University of Bolo-gna, within a European project aiming to promote common sustainable solutions for city and Universi-ty together. One of the purposes of the Green Office initiative was to engage students in developing new sustainable activities and programmes in collaboration with the Municipality of Bologna. The project aimed at investigating a secondary use of the banners and at finding new alternative solutions. The specific plastic banners considered have a very short usage, from one to maximum two months, therefore alternative uses are of paramount importance to extend their lifespan. More specifically, three end of life management options were examined within a circular economy perspective. Some physical-mechanical characterization tests were developed to analyse materials properties in order to explore a secondary use by reprocessing plastic banners into new products (e. g. pencil case or bicycle accessories) or to evaluate recycling alternatives. Finally, an eco-design approach has been considered to explore different solution in materials and components of banners, in their polymers’ composition or assembling, in order to facilitate recycling or reuse options.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
