Towards the Integration of Bioeconomy Constraints in Life Cycle Assessment

The transition to an EU-level bioeconomy will induce a growing demand for biomass feedstocks. The extent to which the production of different biomass feedstock types can respond to the increased demand is limited by many factors. This leads to a competition between sectors demanding the same, finite biomass feedstocks. Considering these constraints and competition when conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of bio-based technologies is fundamental. We developed a framework that allows to construct marginal market mixes for bio-based products and feedstocks by adapting EU-wide data on biomass production and use for applications in LCA.
We use an EU JRC dataset on biomass production, supply, uses, and flows. The dataset allows for a comprehensive cross-sectoral representation of the EU bioeconomy. It provides detailed biomass flows linked via supply and use data across different sectors. The cross-sectoral mass-based data is used to investigate seven bioeconomy sectors and capture the indirect effects of the corresponding fossil sectors on their markets.
Through consequential LCA, using JRC-derived economic data and policy trends, we forecast the future development of the supply and identify the unconstrained production activities, those with the capacity to increase production that will respond to the increased demand. We then create new market activities that represent the projected share of these activities in the marginal mix for biomass feedstocks.
We represent the seven targeted sectors and the relevant marginal mixes in a matrix format which enables the integration of the proposed model with LCI databases, allowing to capture the competition for biomass between different bio- and non-bio sectors in LCA.
The framework allows to obtain more holistic assessment of the environmental impacts linked with the shift to bioeconomy by computing new marginal mixes that capture the indirect burdens of competing bio-based and fossil sectors. Further work will focus on expanding the framework beyond bio-based products.