A new tool was introduced today that has been designed for those trying to replace harmful plastics with more environmentally friendly alternatives. The Plastics Scorecard, developed by Clean Production Action (CPA) and Pure Strategies, charts a course for manufacturers, purchasers, and government agencies to evaluate various plastics based on their impact across their life cycles—from feedstock production and manufacturing to use and disposal.

According to CPA, while plastics are an essential material used in many products, they often rely on nonrenewable resources; are manufactured with toxic chemicals that can be released into homes, offices, and cars; and typically contain little to no recycled content. States across the U.S. have enacted or are considering legislation aimed at limiting the use of chemicals in plastics that pose environmental hazards, but until now there has been no easy-to-use tool that charts the path to more sustainable alternatives.

“The scorecard is essentially a decision-making tool aimed at improving the design of plastic products,” says CPA research director Mark Rossi. “As more and more consumers demand products that do not include toxic chemicals, companies, governments, and environmental organizations need a way to assess the environmental preferability of the various alternatives.”

The scorecard rates plastics on a set of criteria developed to simultaneously advance sustainable raw materials, green chemistry, and closed-loop systems. The criteria for moving up the spectrum toward “preferred plastics” were selected to progressively increase the sustainability of the plastic at each stage of its life cycle.

The Plastics Scorecard grades the different plastics from F to A+. CPA says the parameters can be used to inform the greener manufacture of plastics, as well as the process of evaluating their sustainability.

Chemicals of high concern may be cancer-causing, or toxic to the reproductive, neurological, or endocrine systems. These chemicals are used in the production of common plastics used in household items. CPA says these include polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polystyrene.

“We hear a lot today about which chemicals are problematic in terms of toxicity and biodegradability, but until now, there have been no understandable guidelines for selecting better substitutes,” says Tim Greiner, Principal of Pure Strategies. “We look forward to working with companies in using the Plastics Scorecard to help us make greener products.”

Says Rossi, “The creation of the Plastics Scorecard is an important step toward clean production, helping us get closer to our goal of eliminating toxic wastes and promoting the judicious use of renewable energy and materials.”

Beta scorecard assessments on PET, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and PVC are available online for public comment until Dec. 31, 2009.

Read about the American Chemistry Council's response to the scorecard.