| Title | Sustainability check for bio-based technologies: A review of process-based and life cycle approaches |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 24077 |
| Authors | Escobar, N; Laibach, N |
| Title | Sustainability check for bio-based technologies: A review of process-based and life cycle approaches |
| Year | 2021 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | Industries across the world are making a transition from fossil resources to renewable biological feedstock for the production of chemicals, fuels, and materials, as a strategy to promote sustainable development and economic growth. However, limited biomass availability can halt the expansion of bio-based sectors, unless alternative raw materials are employed and cascading uses are implemented on a large scale. Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) can contribute to feedstock diversification and improved biomass conversion efficiencies along supply chains, although concerns arise about their actual viability and competitiveness. A systematic review of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and related process-based approaches is carried out to evaluate the sustainability of advanced bio-based technologies, defined as those that use either non-food feedstock or circularity principles -or both- for delivering diverse products. A classification scheme is proposed to categorise KETs based on the feedstock employed (plant residues and perennials, designer crops, algae, or biological waste) or the underlying technological configuration (enzyme/microbial assisted processing or biorefineries). Results show that producing biofuels and biochemicals from perennial plants, lignocellulosic residues and algae has advantages in terms of greenhouse gas emissions relative to their fossil counterparts, while trade-offs occur with other environmental impacts and sustainability dimensions. Cradle-to-cradle systems can deliver additional sustainability gains, but their implementation poses technical and socio-political challenges. Further harmonisation of LCA methodologies is desirable to compare KETs in different sectoral, geographical and policy contexts. In spite of the diversity of outcomes and approaches, this review provides an overview of advanced bio-based technologies, while shedding light on the often overestimated sustainability benefits of the bioeconomy. |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
20369
|
Albizzati, PF; Tonini, D; Astrup, TF High-value products from food waste: An environmental and socio-economic assessment(2021) | |
| 14529
|
Pérez-Almada, D; Galán-Martín, A; del Mar Contreras, M; Castro, E Integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment of biorefineries: review and future research directions(2023)Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 7, 17 | |
| 6477
|
Wagh, MS; Sowjanya, S; Nath, PC; Chakraborty, A; Amrit, R; Mishra, B; Mishra, AK; Mohanta, YK Valorisation of agro-industrial wastes: Circular bioeconomy and biorefinery process - A sustainable symphony(2024) | |
| 7172
|
Romero-Perdomo, F; González-Curbelo, MA Integrating Multi-Criteria Techniques in Life-Cycle Tools for the Circular Bioeconomy Transition of Agri-Food Waste Biomass: A Systematic Review(2023)Sustainability, 15, 6 | |
| 24662
|
Angulo-Mosquera, LS; Alvarado-Alvarado, AA; Rivas-Arrieta, MJ; Cattaneo, CR; Rene, ER; García-Depraect, O Production of solid biofuels from organic waste in developing countries: A review from sustainability and economic feasibility perspectives(2021) | |
| 10205
|
Lokesh, K; Matharu, AS; Kookos, IK; Ladakis, D; Koutinas, A; Morone, P; Clark, J Hybridised sustainability metrics for use in life cycle assessment of bio-based products: resource efficiency and circularity(2020)Green Chemistry, 22, 3 | |
| 26705
|
Rebolledo-Leiva, R; Moreira, MT; Gonzalez-Garcia, S Progress of social assessment in the framework of bioeconomy under a life cycle perspective(2023) | |
| 12389
|
Osman, AI; Mehta, N; Elgarahy, AM; Al-Hinai, A; Al-Muhtaseb, AH; Rooney, DW Conversion of biomass to biofuels and life cycle assessment: a review(2021)Environmental Chemistry Letters, 19.0, 6 | |
| 24752
|
Patrizi, N; Bruno, M; Saladini, F; Parisi, ML; Pulselli, RM; Bjerre, AB; Bastianoni, S Sustainability Assessment of Biorefinery Systems Based on Two Food Residues in Africa(2020) | |
| 6979
|
Begum, YA; Kumari, S; Jain, SK; Garg, MC A review on waste biomass-to-energy: integrated thermochemical and biochemical conversion for resource recovery(2024)Environmental Science-Advances, 3, 9 |