COMPARATIVE LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF RAMEN NOODLE PACKAGING: A CASE STUDY OF EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ALUMINUM FOIL AND PAPER BOX PACKAGING IN CAFÉ DESCO

Abstract

1. Introduction This thesis investigates the environmental impact of the 120g ramen noodles served at Cafe Desco through a Life Cycle Assessment. The primary objectives are to quantify the environmental impacts associated with ramen production, packaging, and distribution and to provide sustainable recommendations by comparing the conventional aluminium foil container with an alternative paper box packaging scenario. The comparison highlights the importance of using environmentally friendly packaging for products and promoting a circular economy. 2. Research Methodology The research utilized LCA tool-based databases and SimaPro LCA software for a cradle-to-gate analysis, utilizing ReCiPe 2016 characterization model and data from secondary sources and Cafe Desco. 3. Findings and Discussion Global warming potential for the aluminium foil was significantly higher, contributing 6.60E-06 impact points, indicating its substantial role in emissions due to energy-intensive production and transportation stages, a reduction of approximately 17% compared to the conventional scenario. Key reductions were observed in global warming potential and fossil resource depletion. The endpoint impact was slightly lower at 0.000629, demonstrating a reduction in damage to human health and ecosystems. The paper box showed significantly lower fossil resource depletion, reducing its normalized impact from 0.000534 (aluminium) to 0.000502, reduced carcinogenic human health risks, and also demonstrated a lower ecotoxicity, making them more sustainable. 4. Conclusion and Implications The study concludes that if Cafe Desco switched from its current packaging of ramen noodles to paper boxes, it could drastically decrease its ecotoxicity harm to freshwater and marine ecosystems and reduce its overall environmental footprint, particularly in terms of human health risks and fossil resource consumption.