Eco-efficiency improvement by using integrative design and life cycle assessment. The case study of alternative bread supply chains in France

Abstract

LCA studies reveal emission hotspots along the whole product value chain allowing the researcher to identify opportunities for improvements. Its combination with integrative design offers an opportunity to substantially improve the eco-efficiency. We describe the multi-stakeholder design process that was followed to provide reductions in resource use and emissions from two alternative bread supply chains in France. Case studies of alternative bread were selected because of strong motivation to improve environmental performance and the limited number of actors along the supply chain: farmers are also processors, distributors and retailers. The structured process of integrative design was supported by the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as an evaluation and information support tool. To avoid any potential burden shifting, environmental impacts were tracked for 13 impact categories. Results of LCA with highlights of processes responsible for the largest share of environmental impacts were disclosed to experts during the collaborative design workshop. Stakeholders included sustainability experts, plant breeders, agronomists and representatives of farmers associations. In the next step, generated improvement scenarios were consulted with farmers on a feedback loop basis. Despite the low acceptance of expert suggestions, the supply of environmental information allowed farmers to find some innovative design solutions. Conservative modelling of approved improvement scenarios revealed 47% potential reduction in the global warming potential in one of the value chains and 40% for aquatic eutrophication potential in the other one. Results of these case studies suggest that in addition to biophysical limitations, some producers may suffer from the lack of innovation, suboptimal management and the lack of access to reliable environmental information. Integrative approaches coupled with systematic, science based assessment tools such as LCA can be effective in overcoming some of these barriers and improving eco-efficiency. More research is needed to understand the social factors driving the life-cycle based eco-innovation on farms.