http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 340 editor@iaeme.com International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2017, pp. 340–345, Article ID: IJCIET_08_07_037 Available online at http:// http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=7 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316 © IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF HDPE AND LDPE PLASTIC BAGS USING SIMAPRO 8.3.0 (YAMUNANAGAR, HARYANA) Neha Ahuja PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University, Gharaun, Punjab, India Puneet Sharma Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University, Gharaun, Punjab, India ABSTRACT Plastic bags have become one of the most used items on the planet today. Each day a large number of shopping bags are used by the shoppers to bring home their groceries and other items and then discard the bags after one use. The increased use of the plastic bags has contributed to the environmental conditions ranging from pollution to overloaded landfills. Plastic bags effect the environment at various stages. Therefore in order to determine the energy usage, waste flows and emissions over the entire life cycle of the plastic bags, life cycle assessment is used. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standard method which is used to determine the environmental impacts of producing, using and disposing the product through its entire life cycle. The LCA process includes a Life Cycle Inventory of all the inputs of making a product and all of the outputs or wastes of the production, use and disposal of the product. Key words: Plastic bags, Pollution, Landfills, Waste flow, Life Cycle Assessment Cite this Article: Neha Ahuja and Puneet Sharma, Life Cycle Assessment of HDPE And LDPE Plastic Bags Using Simapro 8.3.0 (Yamunanagar, Haryana), International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(7), 2017, pp. 332–339. http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=7 1. INTRODUCTION Plastic bags are widely used because of their cheapness and easiness to carry. The plastic bags find their main use in carrying groceries and other items. They are also widely used for packaging purposes. The plastic bags to be used for carrying food items should be non-toxic, safe in handling and resistant to bacterial growth. Apart from these the plastic bags should be environment friendly as well. But, now a day’s excessive use of plastic bags have proven to be a huge source of pollution. The effects of plastic bags are devastating. The plastic bags don’t