Life Cycle Assessment Results Research Articles

Making sense of life cycle assessment results of electrified vehicles

Battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can have life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions that can be close, within 5 % of each other, or very different depending on the efficiencies of the powertrain, relative contributions of battery and combustion engine to the traction power, and source of electricity. Life cycle assessments can provide insight into the variability in carbon dioxide emissions, but they are time consuming. In this work a simplified model that can explain the carbon dioxide emissions during the well-to-wheels portion of the life cycle is developed. The robustness of the simplified model is evaluated by varying parameters and comparing its results with those from the life cycle assessment. Assumptions must be made to conduct the assessment. The assumptions include the efficiencies of the internal combustion engine, the battery, the drivetrain, and regenerative braking, and the relative contribution of the battery to traction power in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Renewable and non-renewable sources of generating electricity are considered. It is concluded that a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with the same parameters as the battery electric vehicle can potentially be lower emitting only when the emissions factor of the electricity generation and the internal combustion engine efficiency are high. For low carbon intensity electricity generation, the plug-in vehicle emits more carbon dioxide than the battery electric vehicle for the range of internal combustion engine efficiencies considered.

Evaluating the influence of functional unit on life cycle assessment (LCA) reliability of concrete

The linear lifecycle of concrete, from production through usage to disposal, highlights its status as one of the most carbon-, energy-, and resource-intensive processes in the industry. The development of life cycle assessment (LCA) models to quantify concrete’s embodied and buildings’ operational emissions is strongly influenced by the selection of the functional unit (FU) since it dictates the magnitude and significance of the environmental burdens from concrete and buildings' life span. The chosen FU should comprehensively capture the concrete's functionalities and construction parameters. Nonetheless, establishing a FU that encompasses spatial, temporal, and intensity aspects of cement/concrete and its applications remains a significant limitation in the practice of current LCA models. This study analyzed the FU influence on the environmental footprint of concrete samples with specific compressive strengths (material level) via LCA. The LCA was conducted in OneClick LCA using the environmental product declaration (EPD) provided by the software for each ready-mix concrete sample. From the LCA results, the C 30/37 concrete mix (lowest compressive strength) exhibited the lowest carbon footprint for all the environmental indicators when a volume-based FU was considered. In contrast, the results were more favorable for the C 65/70 concrete specimen when the compressive strength (28 curing days) was chosen because less cement is needed to achieve one MPa of strength. This behavior was also observed in the modeling of a column in a building, where the mixture with the highest compressive strength (C 65/70) showed the lowest environmental impact for all the indicators. However, this assessment does not represent the actual building system's footprint. Thus, regionally specific functional units need to be established, considering not just concrete functionalities but also national regulations, stakeholder needs, and local resource availability.

Exploiting green energy potential via FinTech: The role of DLT-based crowdfunding in PV and ESS investments

This article explores the interplay of green energy potential and innovative financial technology (FinTech). To achieve this, an in-depth study on the technological, economic, and environmental aspects of residential-scale solar energy and storage investments was performed. As the first part of the study, residential-scale solar energy and associated energy storage investments were modeled in the assessed countries. As the next step, the effects of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) enabled crowdfunding on the modeled investments were highlighted with a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) DLT-enabled investment tool. As the last step, the Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of the investments were carried out for each of the assessed countries in order to provide better investment decisions to various investors. The results of this research indicate that with the integration of novel Fintech tools, the Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) values of the assessed investments may be reduced by up to 58%. Meanwhile, the LCA results highlighted that solar silicon production and battery cell manufacturing have the highest LCA results, accounting for 19.1 and 63.8 kgCO2eq/kWh respectively. Meanwhile, the transportation sector had an emission of 9 kgCO2eq/kWh. Thus, with cleaner manufacturing and transportation, the emissions from PV and ESS investments may be reduced drastically.

Sustainability risk assessment in manufacturing: A Life Cycle Assessment-based Failure Mode and Effects Analysis approach

This study introduces a methodology integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to identify and assess environmental sustainability risks in manufacturing processes in alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). In contrast to existing top-down approaches at sector and company level, this methodology specifically addresses the challenge of transitory sustainability risks in manufacturing, driven by rapid changes in regulatory frameworks and market expectations, by providing a robust and adaptable framework for comprehensive, bottom-up risk assessment directly on the manufacturing shop floor. Through a detailed literature review, the paper identifies gaps in current risk assessment methods and proposes a novel approach that enhances traditional FMEA by incorporating LCA results, thereby facilitating a comprehensive, quantitative analysis of sustainability risks. The practical application of this methodology is demonstrated through a case study, underscoring its effectiveness in real-world settings and potential for broader applications in sustainable manufacturing. The results presented in the paper also include quantitative sustainability performance benchmarks for the EU28 industrial sector, offering a strategic tool for manufacturers to improve sustainability practices, align operations with environmental standards, and mitigate transitory sustainability risks. This research contributes to the sustainable evolution of manufacturing, providing a methodological foundation for understanding and managing sustainability risks.

Life Cycle Assessment and Model Optimization for Sustainable Energy Cross-Border E-Commerce

INTRODUCTION: In an in-depth study of the application of sustainable energy in cross-border e-commerce, a comprehensive assessment and model optimization of its life cycle are conducted to promote the practical application of sustainable development in e-commerce. With the increasing global concern for renewable energy and environmental protection, e-commerce, as an international business model, has attracted much attention in terms of the environmental and social impacts of its sustainability.OBJECTIVES: The aim is to provide scientific assessment methods and effective model optimization strategies to promote the feasibility and sustainability of cross-border e-commerce for sustainable energy.METHODS: A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) model was constructed using the system life cycle assessment (SLCA) methodology by collecting data from various aspects of sustainable energy cross-border e-commerce. The model considers the entire life cycle process from energy production, logistics, transportation, and product manufacturing to final consumption and integrates various factors such as resource utilization, environmental emissions, and social responsibility. Based on the assessment, a series of model optimization strategies are proposed, including suggestions for improving supply chain efficiency, promoting green energy applications, and strengthening social responsibility.RESULTS: This study achieved significant life cycle assessment and model optimization results. In terms of energy use, promoting the application of renewable energy significantly reduces carbon emissions; in terms of supply chain management, optimization leads to an overall efficiency improvement and a reduction in resource wastage; and in terms of social responsibility, the enterprise strengthens employee training and community involvement, which enhances its social image. These results show that sustainable energy cross-border e-commerce can better achieve sustainable development goals through systematic assessment and optimization.CONCLUSION: Life cycle assessment and model optimization provide scientific assessment methods and practical suggestions for sustainable energy cross-border e-commerce. In global sustainable development, the e-commerce industry should actively adopt sustainable energy and minimize its negative impacts on the environment and society by optimizing production and supply chain management. Future research can continue to expand the assessment model and deeply explore the potential of sustainable energy in e-commerce to provide more precise guidance for the industry's sustainable development.

Life Cycle Assessment as a Decision-Making Tool for Photochemical Treatment of Iprodione Fungicide from Wastewater

Water contamination with various micropollutants is a serious environmental concern since this group of chemicals cannot always be removed efficiently with advanced treatment methods. Therefore, alternative chemical- and energy-intensive oxidation processes have been proposed for the removal of refractory and/or toxic chemicals. However, similar treatment performances might result in different environmental impacts. Environmental impacts can be determined by adopting a life cycle assessment methodology. In this context, lab-scale experimental data related to 100% iprodione (a hydantoin fungicide/nematicide selected as the model micropollutant at a concentration of 2 mg/L) removal from simulated tertiary treated urban wastewater (dissolved organic carbon content = 10 mg/L) with UV-C-activated persulfate treatment were studied in terms of environmental impacts generated during photochemical treatment through the application of a life cycle assessment procedure. Standard guidelines were followed in this procedure. Iprodione removal was achieved at varying persulfate concentrations and UV-C doses; however, an “optimum” treatment condition (0.03 mM persulfate, 0.5 W/L UV-C) was experimentally established for kinetically acceptable, 100% iprodione removal in distilled water and adopted to treat iprodione in simulated tertiary treated wastewater (total dissolved organic carbon of iprodione + tertiary wastewater = 11.2 mg/L). The study findings indicated that energy input was the major contributor to all the environmental impact categories, namely global warming, abiotic depletion (fossil and elements), acidification, eutrophication, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, human toxicity, ozone depletion, photochemical ozone creation, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potentials. According to the life cycle assessment results, a concentration of 21.42 mg/L persulfate and an electrical energy input of 1.787 kWh/m3 (Wh/L) UV-C light yielded the lowest undesired environmental impacts among the examined photochemical treatment conditions.

Novel energy efficient in-situ bitumen upgrading technology to facilitate pipeline transportation using natural gas: Sustainability evaluation using a new hybrid approach based on fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making tool and techno-economic and life cycle assessment

An assessment of the techno-economics and life cycle impacts of a new in-situ bitumen upgrading technology using natural gas has been conducted in this study. A comparison was also made between the two other commercial technologies such as hydrogen-assisted upgrading (HAU) and dilbit production with the novel proposed methane-assisted upgrading (MAU). To determine the total capital investment (TCI), the total operating cost (TOC), and the energy consumption, a process simulation was undertaken. HAU process has the highest TCI among all the processes and the lowest TCI belongs to dilbit production. In terms of TOC, MAU has the lowest operating costs compared to other technologies. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Payback Period were calculated in three scenarios over the project's lifetime. As a result of the techno-economic analysis, the MAU process has the highest IRR and the shortest payback period for all scenarios. A comparison was also made between the proposed MAU process and other research studies. Results indicate that MAU with the total operating cost of (34.1 $/bbl. bitumen) and transportation cost of (1.1 $/bbl. Bitumen for 500 km pipeline transportation) has the best results. Based on the life cycle assessment results, it was determined that the MAU process has a lower impact on climate change, human toxicity, ecotoxicity, eutrophication potential, and resource usage than the HAU process. Finally, the sustainability index for processes was calculated using a hybrid approach based on fuzzy decision modeling, TEA, and LCA results. As compared to other commercial technologies like dilution, heating, and dilbit production, the MAU process has the highest level of sustainability.

Critical reviews and benchmarking Tunisian clinker and cement with life cycle assessment results

Clinker and cement production is an energy-intensive and high resource requirement industry with significant environmental impacts, and yet, there is a dearth of environmental research in Tunisia on its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Additionally, there is a tendency either to overlook or underestimate the selection of appropriate life cycle impact assessment methods. This study aims to address these issues by conducting a comprehensive LCA of Tunisian cement production with the goal of analyzing and comparing the results using various methods and benchmarking against existing literature. Three different Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods, including IMPACT 2002+, CML (baseline), and ReCiPe Midpoint (2008–2016) (H), were used. These methods were chosen for their different coverage (regional/global) of their impact categories, leading to a more comprehensive comparison of the performance of clinker and cement to the literature. In addition, the similarity with published values demonstrates reliability for LCA results, except ionizing radiation, ozone layer depletion, and respiratory organics in IMPACT 2002+ for clinker, CEM-I, and CEM-II; fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity and marine aquatic ecotoxicity in CML (baseline) for CEM-I; and photochemical oxidant formation: ecosystem quality and human health in ReCiPe for CEM-I. This low variability with the reported values in the literature suggests the capability of using the benchmarking approach as a proxy in a context of lack of data.

Participatory ecodesign of crop management based on Life Cycle Assessment: an approach to inform the strategy of a Protected Denomination of Origin. A case study in viticulture

Since the context on environmental issues is challenging, the Cognac protected denomination of origin (PDO) adopted life cycle assessment (LCA) to inform its environmental strategy, initially focusing on vineyard soil management. This study developed a participatory eco-design approach involving stakeholders to inform the PDOs’ strategy for transitioning to less impactful crop management practices. It did this by drawing on literature that emphasises the use of participatory design, serious games, and LCA to foster knowledge sharing, engagement, and sustainability assessment. The approach that was put to the test in the Cognac PDO involved 17 elected officials with varying levels of experience. The participants used the serious game known as Vitigame (a game done for participatory ecodesign in viticulture) to ecodesign a soil management and fertilisation pathway for 2030, with the process guided by the results of the LCA. Exchange dynamics, LCA results, and participant feedback were analysed. The study revealed diverse dynamics and efficient ecodesign strategies among the participant groups, which resulted in a reduction of environmental impacts by up to 51% and raised new questions for the territory. The diversity of participants presented challenges, highlighting the need to improve LCA knowledge sharing. The workshop’s results could inform the PDO’s strategic planning. The interest of this innovative process including a serious game was confirmed, suggesting potential applications to other viticultural PDOs and adaptability to diverse sectors.

The Circularity of Materials from the Perspective of the Product Life Cycle: A Case Study of Secondary Fence Board, Part 2 (Scenario Analysis)

Recycling strategies demonstrate different life cycle environmental performance. In order to assess this performance, a life cycle assessment may be used. In such studies, the recycling should be linked with multifunctionality and allocation. This requires it to be modelled accordingly, especially in terms of environmental burdens and credits. The paper presents a case study of open-loop recycling. A flow of mixed post-consumer multi-material waste was reprocessed into another product with a new application—a fence board made of recycled material (secondary fence board). Although many allocation-related case studies are provided in the literature, no example of a comparison between different substitution scenarios for open-loop recycling has been found. In order to fill the gap, various hypothetical market-mix-based alternatives related to the virgin production and durability of products have been examined. The goal of the study is to assess the potential environmental impact of 1 m2 of secondary fence board modelled in different substitution scenarios. The paper is the second part of a two-part study. In Part 1, life cycle assessment results were presented for a baseline scenario (1A). Part 2 focuses strongly on allocation considerations. In order to ensure a consistency between the results of Part 1 and Part 2, the entire life cycle of the fence board has been taken into account in both calculations. The case study has shown that the results may be highly sensitive to the choice of substitutes and the choice of quality attributes impacting the reference flows (in our example, the durability of products).

Evaluation of environmental impacts of cotton polo shirt production in Bangladesh using life cycle assessment

The textile industry is widely considered as one of the most pollutant-releasing sectors globally. As the world is moving toward sustainability, it is essential to thoroughly assess how a textile product affects the environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the environmental impact of textile manufacturing in Bangladesh using life cycle assessment (LCA) method. A cradle-to-gate LCA was conducted to produce 1000 units of cotton polo shirts following ISO 14040 standards. LCA was also conducted for each final product at every manufacturing stage of cotton polo shirt, including the production of 1000 kg of cotton fibers, 1000 kg of yarn, 1000 kg of grey fabrics, 1000 kg of dyed-finished fabrics, and finally, assembling of 1000 pieces of polo shirts. Inventory analysis revealed that for producing 1000 pieces of polo shirts, 0.12 hector of land, 363.89 kg of cotton fiber, 324.84 kg of yarn, 320.45 kg of knitted fabric, and 299.5 kg of dyed-finished fabrics were required. The study also found that 1550.9 kWh of electricity, 15.47 L of diesel, and 72.54 m3 of natural gas were needed to produce 1000 pieces of polo shirts. The potential environmental impacts were categorized into 12 different types based on the CML 2001 method and calculated using openLCA 2.0 software. The outcomes of LCA revealed considerable environmental impacts in different categories during manufacturing of cotton polo shirts in Bangladesh. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) associated with the manufacturing of 1000 pieces of polo shirts was 1345.97 kg CO2-eq. Among several production stages of polo shirts, the highest contributor of GWP was dyeing section (38.36 %), followed by cotton fiber production (29.32 %) and yarn manufacturing (18.92 %). The obtained data also revealed that for cultivating cotton fibers, manufacturing of yarn and grey fabrics, and finally dyeing-finishing of same quantity fabric (1000 kg), the GWP were 1084.41 kg CO2-eq, 783.67 kg CO2-eq, 145.88 kg CO2-eq, 1723.88 kg CO2-eq, 314.94 kg CO2-eq, respectively. The outcome of the impact assessment will be crucial for decision-making when it comes to taking remedial actions to lessen negative environmental consequences for the sustainable development of textile industry in Bangladesh.

Optimization of the end‐of‐life tire repartition within the European treatment system to minimize its environmental impacts

AbstractThis study contrasts two different approaches to inform European‐scale decision‐making to mitigate the environmental impacts of the end‐of‐life tires (ELT) management system. The first analysis is a traditional life cycle assessment (LCA) that compares the environmental performances of the 12 main available European end‐of‐life (EOL) technologies in ELT processing while restricting the boundaries to the EOL stage. The second analysis has a broader scope, addressing the optimization of the ELT distribution within the 12 considered pathways to minimize the environmental impacts of the total tire use in Europe under present capacity and constraints. The results of the traditional LCA show that, except for landfill, all the tested EOL routes present environmental benefits. Material recovery pathways bring the most environmental credits, whereas civil engineering pathways are the least promising. The LCA results that emerged from the optimization of ELT management technologies yield two optimal technological mixes that maximize the quantity of ELT recycled in molded objects production: such results represent a hypothetical case with no constraints. When considering constraints, that is, limitations on maximum quantities of ELT that can undergo retreading, pyrolysis, or recycling in synthetic turfs, in molded objects and in production, the number of optimal technology mixes increases to five. The type of technologies favored depends on the minimized impact categories (climate change, fossil and nuclear energy use, human health, and ecosystem quality). A comparison between constrained and unconstrained scenarios shows that achieving the best environmental performances is conditional to the accessibility of the EOL technologies as well as their individual environmental impacts.

Hybrid Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of prefabrication: A comparison of conventional and mixed reality-based solutions

Conventional prefabrication in construction is causing distinct challenges, including environmental pollution and high energy usage. However, integrating emerging technologies such as Mixed Reality (MR) in prefabrication is expected to mitigate the environmental impacts and improve overall sustainability. This study evaluates and analyses the environmental benefits and burdens associated with implementing MR technologies in prefabrication compared to conventional prefabrication. The production stages in prefabrication, including reinforcement, side formworks, concreting, and human labor, have been identified as primary unit processes, and their respective contributions to the overall environmental impact have been assessed. A comprehensive assessment using a hybrid Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (IO-LCA) model, while incorporating human labor hours is necessary for a thorough environmental assessment. The cradle-to-gate LCA results of a declared unit of 1 m3 volume of conventional prefabrication are compared with MR-enabled prefabrication. The results show that using MR technology in prefabrication significantly decreases the environmental burdens of the prefabrication in impact categories of Global warming (8%), Terrestrial acidification (8%), Marine eutrophication (10%), and Stratospheric ozone depletion (17%). Furthermore, with the higher levels of MR implementation, there is a significant reduction (around 60%) in the environmental impact associated with prefabrication. Accordingly, the contribution of MR technology in designing, planning, monitoring, assembling, and collaborating in prefabrication leads to effective resource management, minimization of waste, and enhancement of overall efficiency. The reinforcement process has notably elevated environmental impact in prefabrication while recognizing the improvement opportunities through MR implementation. MR-enabled quality inspection is of great importance in significantly reducing environmental burdens.

Waste analysis and energy use estimation during MR-HIFU treatment: first steps towards calculating total environmental impact

ObjectivesTo assess the environmental impact of the non-invasive Magnetic Resonance image-guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU) treatment of uterine fibroids, we aimed to perform a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, as a full LCA was not feasible at this time, we evaluated the CO2 (carbon dioxide) emission from the MRI scanner, MR-HIFU device, and the medication used, and analyzed solid waste produced during treatment.MethodsOur functional unit was one uterine fibroid MR-HIFU treatment. The moment the patient entered the day care-unit until she left, defined our boundaries of investigation. We retrospectively collected data from 25 treatments to assess the CO2 emission based on the energy used by the MRI scanner and MR-HIFU device and the amount and type of medication administered. Solid waste was prospectively collected from five treatments.ResultsDuring an MR-HIFU treatment, the MRI scanner and MR-HIFU device produced 33.2 ± 8.7 kg of CO2 emission and medication administered 0.13 ± 0.04 kg. A uterine fibroid MR-HIFU treatment produced 1.2 kg (range 1.1–1.4) of solid waste.ConclusionsEnvironmental impact should ideally be analyzed for all (new) medical treatments. By assessing part of the CO2 emission and solid waste produced, we have taken the first steps towards analyzing the total environmental impact of the MR-HIFU treatment of uterine fibroids. These data can contribute to future studies comparing the results of MR-HIFU LCAs with LCAs of other uterine fibroid therapies.Critical relevance statementIn addition to (cost-) effectiveness, the environmental impact of new treatments should be assessed. We took the first steps towards analyzing the total environmental impact of uterine fibroid MR-HIFU.Key points• Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) should be performed for all (new) medical treatments.• We took the first steps towards analyzing the environmental impact of uterine fibroid MR-HIFU.• Energy used by the MRI scanner and MR-HIFU device corresponded to 33.2 ± 8.7 kg of CO2 emission.Graphical

Evaluating the environmental and economic performance of biological and advanced biological wastewater treatment plants by life cycle assessment and life cycle costing.

The primary objective of this study is to assess and establish benchmarks for environmental and economic sustainability of biological and advanced biological wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different treatment technologies and characteristics. Furthermore, the study aims to determine the beneficial role of WWTPs to reduction of eutrophication potential. Environmental and economic sustainability of ten municipal WWTPs was assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC). In the first section of the study, LCA was performed to determine the environmental performance of the WWTPs. Furthermore, net environmental benefit (NEB) approach was implemented to reveal the beneficial role of WWTPs to eutrophication potential. In the subsequent section, LCA-based LCC was conducted by integrating the results of LCA. The most significant environmental impact was determined as marine aquatic ecotoxicity, which is highly affected from the generation and transmission of electricity consumed in the WWTPs. Wastewater recovery and co-incineration of sewage sludge in cement kiln ensure significant environmental savings on ozone layer depletion, human toxicity, acidification, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion (fossil fuel) potential. Considering NEB approach, the highest NEB values were found for the WWTPs with the higher organic load and nutrient concentration in the influent. The results of LCC in WWTPs varied between 0.21 and 0.53 €/m3. External (environmental) costs were evaluated higher than internal (operational) costs for all selected WWTPs. While eutrophication was the highest among environmental costs, electricity cost was the highest among operational costs for almost all WWTPs.

Sewage sludge co-pyrolysis with agricultural/forest residues: A comparative life-cycle assessment

This study aims to determine the sustainability and energy efficiency of co-pyrolysis scenarios as treatment processes for municipal sewage sludge through a life cycle assessment (LCA). In addition, sensitivity and energy recovery analyses are conducted to determine the possible methods for optimizing the co-pyrolysis process from a circular bioeconomy perspective. Corncob and wood residue have been selected as potential co-feed materials for co-pyrolysis with sewage sludge at three mixing ratios (25, 50, and 75 wt%). The functional unit (FU) for this study is 1000 kg of dried single or mixed feedstock. LCA results indicate that sewage sludge, in a singular pyrolysis scenario, demonstrated the most unfavorable outcome by causing a rise in all negative environmental indicators. In contrast, the overall environmental impacts are reduced by up to 48 %, when the sewage sludge is mixed with co-feed biomass (wood or corncobs), with corncob co-pyrolysis performing better than wood residue in most impact indicators. Energy recovery from a gas turbine provides significant benefits, generating about nine times of the required energy for gas turbine operation and supplying sufficient energy to sustain the whole process. This is notably evident for corncob co-pyrolysis, where the energy produced from gas recovery is equivalent to 59–181 % of energy requirement of the whole process and achieved the highest net positive energy balance (+1368 kWh/FU). Sensitivity analysis indicates that co-pyrolysis is more sensitive to bio-oil yield fluctuations and feedstock transportation. In conclusion, this study establishes that sewage sludge co-pyrolysis is a more environmentally friendly treatment approach when compared to single pyrolysis.

Life cycle assessment for early-stage process optimization of microbial biosurfactant production using kinetic models-a case study on mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL).

Introduction: This study assesses the environmental impacts of mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) production for process optimization using life cycle assessment (LCA). MELs are glycolipid-type microbial biosurfactants with many possible applications based on their surface-active properties. They are generally produced by fungi from the family of Ustilaginaceae via fermentation in aerated bioreactors. The aim of our work is to accompany the development of biotechnological products at an early stage to enable environmentally sustainable process optimization. Methods: This is done by identifying hotspots and potentials for improvement based on a reliable quantification of the environmental impacts. The production processes of MELs are evaluated in a cradle-to-gate approach using the Environmental Footprint (EF) 3.1 impact assessment method. The LCA model is based on upscaled experimental data for the fermentation and purification, assuming the production at a 10m³ scale. In the case analyzed, MELs are produced from rapeseed oil and glucose, and purified by separation, solvent extraction, and chromatography. Results: The results of the LCA show that the provision of substrates is a major source of environmental impacts and accounts for 20% of the impacts on Climate Change and more than 70% in the categories Acidification and Eutrophication. Moreover, 33% of the impacts on Climate Change is caused by the energy requirements for aeration of the bioreactor, while purification accounts for 42% of the impacts respectively. For the purification, solvents are identified as the main contributors in most impact categories. Discussion: The results illustrate the potentials for process optimization to reduce the environmental impacts of substrate requirements, enhanced bioreactor aeration, and efficient solvent use in downstream processing. By a scenario analysis, considering both experimental adaptations and prospective variations of the process, the laboratory development can be supported with further findings and hence efficiently optimized towards environmental sustainability. Moreover, the presentation of kinetic LCA results over the fermentation duration shows a novel way of calculating and visualizing results that corresponds to the way of thinking of process engineers using established environmental indicators and a detailed system analysis. Altogether, this LCA study supports and demonstrates the potential for further improvements towards more environmentally friendly produced surfactants.

Verification of the results of environmental life cycle assessment of bulky waste management technologies using sensitivity analysis

Abstract The calculation aimed to verify the life cycle assessment (LCA) results of the bulky waste management technology by using sensitivity analysis. Different sensitivity analyses for LCA were carried out to point out which of the tested methods gave the most reliable LCA results. The main factor that helped to find the best-fitted method was CO2 emissions. The LCA analyses were performed by IOŚ-PIB using SimaPro software based on the technology data obtained during the Urbanrec project. The sensitivity analysis was conducted twofold: the LCA analysis was carried out for different time horizons in the frame of the ReCiPe method egalitarian (E), individual (I), and hierarchic (H). In the second step, the LCA results for the ReCiPe method were compared with the LCA results for methods: CML-IA, Impact 2002+, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GGP). The results of the LCA for all endpoints are sensitive to changes in the time horizon, which is reflected in the change in impact assessment methods used in calculations. The biggest differences are visible between the egalitarian and individual perspectives. In the second case of the sensitivity analysis, differences in results between the individual analytical methods used for LCAs can be observed. The obtained results show a high sensitivity of LCA results from the adopted time horizon, as well as moderate sensitivity of the carbon footprint depending on the method of analysis used.

Life cycle analysis of seawater biodesalination using algae

This study assesses environmental impacts of reverse osmosis and algae-based biodesalination in four scenarios using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. These scenarios encompass (1) a multistage conventional pre-treatment desalination system, (2) immobilized algae-based hybrid desalination system, (3) suspended algae pre-treatment hybrid system, and (4) an attached growth algae-based hybrid system with a low-pressure reverse osmosis (LPRO) system. The assessment integrates the ReCiPe and USEtox 2.0 methods, examining diverse phases such as construction, operation, waste treatment, and chemicals. The impact analysis unveils waste treatment as a significant contributor in Scenario 1. In Scenarios 2 and 3, the operational phase, driven by chemical consumption, emerges as a major factor by 60–70 %, causing environmental damage. Scenario 4 showcases superior environmental performance, notably in global warming potential, freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, ozone layer depletion, and fossil resource scarcity. Results highlight that Scenario 2 and Scenario 3, utilizing immobilized and suspended growth biodesalination, do not align with favorable LCA outcomes. Overall, Scenario 4 displays the least environmental impact and a favorable carbon footprint. The study advocates pipeline brine disposal due to its greater convenience and lesser environmental damage. A sensitivity analysis emphasizes the advantages of shorter transportation distances for optimal brine disposal from the desalination plant to the sea.

A supply-chain perspective on producing and upscaling bioplastic from cultivated brown seaweed

Plastic pollution is an environmental emergency and finding sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics has become a pressing need. Seaweed-based bioplastic has emerged as a promising solution, as it is biodegradable and made from renewable biomass, while seaweed cultivation itself provides various environmental benefits. However, the feasibility of implementing a brown seaweed-based bioplastic supply chain in a realistic setting remains unclear, as previous research focused either on single processing steps or on virtual supply chains aggregating data from different studies. This study describes a case study for seaweed-based bioplastic within the PlastiSea research project: from seaweed cultivation to biomass processing and bioplastic and composite material development at the lab and pilot scale, thus providing insights into its feasibility. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the study employs multiple methods to characterize each stage in the supply chain and provides an overall life cycle assessment (LCA) as well as lessons learned throughout the process. The analysis showed potential for producing and utilizing multiple co-products from the same seaweed source, including biopolymer extracts with varying degrees of refinement for use in low-cost (bioplastic films) and high-cost (microfiber composites) applications. The use of residual biomass as a source of alginates for producing bioplastics offers a low-cost and sustainable biomass supply currently not competing with other markets. The LCA results indicate the potential for reducing the environmental impact of seaweed-based bioplastic production through upscaling and increasing process efficiency.