Daniela Thrän

Social life cycle assessment: in pursuit of a framework for assessing wood-based products from bioeconomy regions in Germany

PurposeWith many policies in Germany steering towards a bioeconomy, there is a need for analytical tools that assess not only the environmental and economic implications but also the social implications of a transition to a bioeconomy. Wood is expected to become a major biomass resource in bioeconomy regions. Therefore, this paper develops a social life cycle assessment (sLCA) framework that can be applied specifically to a wood-based production system in one of Germany’s bioeconomy regions.MethodsThis paper reviews and analyses existing sLCA approaches, in terms of how applicable they are for assessing a wood-based production system in a German bioeconomy regional context. The analysis is structured according to the standard phases of environmental life cycle assessment (LCA). However, we use the term social effects rather than social impacts, to acknowledge the unknown cause–effect relationship between an organisation’s activities and its social impacts. We also consider the establishment of regional system boundaries, as well as the relationship between the social effects and the product being assessed. Additionally, an approach for the development and selection of social indicators and indices is outlined. Furthermore, we discuss data requirements and present an approach for a social life cycle impact assessment method.Results and discussionA new conceptual framework for a context-specific sLCA to assess wood-based products manufactured in a bioeconomy region was developed. It enables sLCA practitioners to identify “social hotspots” and “social opportunities” from a regional perspective. The location and characteristics of these social hotspots and opportunities can be analysed, in particular, for major production activities in a bioeconomy region in Germany. Therefore, according to this framework, the development of social indices and indicators, the collection of data and the approach used for characterising social effects need to relate to the geographical context of the product being assessed. The proposed framework can, thus, help to identify, monitor and evaluate the social sustainability of wood-based bioeconomy chains in a regional context.ConclusionsThis framework requires a high level of detail in the social inventory and impact assessment phase, in order to assess the regional foreground activities in a German wood-based bioeconomy region. It enables sLCA studies to identify which social hotspots and social opportunities occur and where they are located in the wood-based production system of a regional bioeconomy.

Pesticide runoff from energy crops: A threat to aquatic invertebrates?

The European Union aims to reach a 10% share of biofuels in the transport sector by 2020. The major burden is most likely to fall on already established annual energy crops such as rapeseed and cereals for the production of biodiesel and bioethanol, respectively. Annual energy crops are typically cultivated in intensive agricultural production systems, which require the application of pesticides. Agricultural pesticides can have adverse effects on aquatic invertebrates in adjacent streams. We assessed the relative ecological risk to aquatic invertebrates associated with the chemical pest management from six energy crops (maize, potato, sugar beet, winter barley, winter rapeseed, and winter wheat) as well as from mixed cultivation scenarios. The pesticide exposure related to energy crops and cultivation scenarios was estimated as surface runoff for 253 small stream sites in Central Germany using a GIS-based runoff potential model. The ecological risk for aquatic invertebrates, an important organism group for the functioning of stream ecosystems, was assessed using acute toxicity data (48-h LC50 values) of the crustacean Daphnia magna. We calculated the Ecological Risk from potential Pesticide Runoff (ERPR) for all three main groups of pesticides (herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides). Our findings suggest that the crops potato, sugar beet, and rapeseed pose a higher ecological risk to aquatic invertebrates than maize, barley, and wheat. As maize had by far the lowest ERPR values, from the perspective of pesticide pollution, its cultivation as substrate for the production of the gaseous biofuel biomethane may be preferable compared to the production of, for example, biodiesel from rapeseed.

When considering no man is an island - assessing bioenergy systems in a regional and LCA context: a review.

PurposeWith many environmental burdens associated with bioenergy production occurring at the regional level, there is a need to produce more regional and spatially representative life cycle assessment of bioenergy systems. On the other hand, such assessments also need to account for the global and cumulative impacts along the full bioenergy life cycle in order to support effective regional policy measures and decision making. Therefore, the challenge is to find a balance. In other words, how should we define the regional context for bioenergy system assessments in order to complement life cycle thinking? The aim of this review is to answer this question by providing an overview of important considerations when assessing bioenergy systems in a regional and LCA context and how these two contexts intersect. It also aims to help guide and orientate LCA practitioners interested in including more regional aspects in their bioenergy studies. Until now, such a review which explores the integration of regional and life cycle contexts in relation to bioenergy systems and their products has not been done.MethodsAs a first step, we define what we mean by the term region. We then look at the potential burdens relating to bioenergy systems and their relationship with the regional context. In a next step, we explore life cycle thinking and the intersection between the regional and LCA contexts by providing some examples from the literature. We then discuss the benefits and limitations of such regionally contextualized life cycle approaches in relation to bioenergy production systems and indeed other alternative biomass uses.Results and discussionThree regional contexts were identified to help orientate life cycle thinking aiming to assess the regional and nonregional environmental implications of bioenergy production. These contexts were as follows: “within regional,” “regional and ROW,” and “regionalized.” The added value of implementing a regionally contextualized life cycle approach is the ability, therefore, to include greater regional and spatial details in the assessments of bioenergy production systems, without losing the links to the diversity of global supply chains. Thus, providing greater geographical and regional insight into how such potential burdens can be reduced or shifted burdens avoided or how associated regional production activities could be optimized to mitigate such burdens.ConclusionsThe use of different regional contexts as proposed in this paper is not only useful to orientate life cycle thinking in relation to bioenergy systems but also for the assessment of alternative novel bio-based systems.

Cascade use indicators for selected biopolymers: Are we aiming for the right solutions in the design for recycling of bio-based polymers?

When surveying the trends and criteria for the design for recycling (DfR) of bio-based polymers, priorities appear to lie in energy recovery at the end of the product life of durable products, such as bio-based thermosets. Non-durable products made of thermoplastic polymers exhibit good properties for material recycling. The latter commonly enjoy growing material recycling quotas in countries that enforce a landfill ban. Quantitative and qualitative indicators are needed for characterizing progress in the development towards more recycling friendly bio-based polymers. This would enable the deficits in recycling bio-based plastics to be tracked and improved. The aim of this paper is to analyse the trends in the DfR of bio-based polymers and the constraints posed by the recycling infrastructure on plastic polymers from a systems perspective. This analysis produces recommendations on how life cycle assessment indicators can be introduced into the dialogue between designers and recyclers in order to promote DfR principles to enhance the cascading use of bio-based polymers within the bioeconomy, and to meet circular economy goals.

Development of Bioenergy Trade in Four Different Settings – The Role of Potential and Policies

The provision, use and trade of bioenergy differ significantly between countries. This chapter provides an overview of bioenergy trade worldwide and presents case studies of four national biomass markets – Brazil, Canada, Finland and Germany – showing diverging degrees of biomass use for energy provision and biomass potentials. Since energy policy is considered to be a main driver for the use of biomass for energy generation, an overview of bioenergy policy making in different countries and the resulting impact on trade is given.

The knowledge-based bioeconomy and its impact in our working field

In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion about the vision of the bieoconomy at regional, national and international levels. This discussion has involved many in the scientific community, including Waste Management & Research, which has published several editorials and original manuscripts on this subject. This increasing attention to the bioeconomy stems from growing global interest in major energy and materials transition processes, such as circular economy and the energy transition, among others. The term energy transition relates to the envisaged change in the structures of national energy systems, not only in terms of an increased share of renewable resources, but also through the introduction of energy-saving measures and decentralised energy generation networks that allow an overall enhancement of the overall system’s efficiency. One common point of all these processes is their aim to attain sustainable use of the Earth’s finite resources. In the bioeconomy field, the challenge is, therefore, to find room for the next wave of innovations that can boost technologies, products and services out of the available purpose-grown and waste-sourced biomass to support the establishment of a more sustainable society. This challenge is a particularly tricky one, considering that although the term ‘bioeconomy’ is relatively new, the basis of the bioeconomy is already in place, and it is formed by the already existing, traditional industries and sectors, such as (among others) agricultural and forestry sectors, as well as the food processing and pulp and paper industries. However, the bioeconomy field is not limited to the traditional raw materials (e.g. wood or agricultural residues). It includes also new promising raw materials, such as bacteria and fungi. The goal of introducing them is clear: To diversify the feedstock basis for the bioeconomy and thus to establish an overall production system that is far superior to todays and is at the same time sustainable.

The Potential of Flexible Power Generation from Biomass: A Case Study for a German Region

Energy scenarios and roadmaps indicate that intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV) will be crucial to the power supply in the future. However, this increases the demand for flexible power generation, particularly under conditions of insufficient wind and/or solar irradiation. Among the renewable energy sources, bioenergy offers multiple end-use in the form of power, fuel or heat. Biomass-based power combines the advantages of being renewable, exceptionally CO2 neutral and supporting demand-oriented production.

The Role of Sustainability Requirements in International Bioenergy Markets

As the main driver for bioenergy is to enable society to transform to more sustainable fuel and energy production systems, it is important to safeguard that bioenergy deployment happens within certain sustainability constraints. There is currently a high number of initiatives, including binding regulations and several voluntary sustainability standards for biomass, bioenergy and/or biofuels. Within IEA Bioenergy studies were performed to monitor the actual implementation process of sustainability regulations and certification, evaluate how stakeholders are affected and envisage the anticipated impact on worldwide markets and trade. On the basis of these studies, recommendations were made on how sustainability requirements could actually support further bioenergy deployment. Markets would gain from more harmonization and cross-compliance. A common language is needed as ‘sustainability’ of biomass involves different policy arenas and legal settings. Policy pathways should be clear and predictable, and future revisions of sustainability requirements should be open and transparent. Sustainability assurance systems (both through binding regulations and voluntary certification) should take into account how markets work, in relation to different biomass applications (avoiding discrimination among end-uses and users). It should also take into account the way investment decisions are taken, administrative requirements for smallholders, and the position of developing countries.

Government Policy on Delivering Biofuels for the Aviation Sector

Abstract Air transport is a developing business sector, with rapidly increasing rates in transport loads and fuel demand. Aircraft emissions are impacting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and hence inducing climate change. Decarbonization in the aviation sector is being addressed by international airline organizations (eg, IATA), and in different policies as well. Biojet fuels can contribute to this goal substantially in the short- and medium-term because they can be applied as drop-in fuels without major changes in infrastructure or aircraft engines. Technical standards for certain biojet fuels have successfully been established during the last several years. On the other hand, biojet fuel implementation needs policy adoption and instruments – that is, by considering the GHG emission reduction of renewable fuels in taxation, Emissions Trading System or quotas, or blending mandates. Additionally, sustainability of biojet fuels along the whole value chain needs to be reflected and assured by appropriate certification standards and schemes. During the last few years, experience from the application of biofuels has been gained; biojet fuel certification can be built upon this. The restricted land availability and the related environmental effects demand a coherent monitoring system for the market implementation of biojet fuels. This is in conjunction with long-term support for research and development on sustainable feedstock provisions, efficient conversion technologies, and integration of biojet fuels in overall concepts of an efficient and mainly renewable energy supply in the future. Due to the internationality of the sector, a coherent international biojet fuel policy is strongly recommended to realize the intended GHG emission reduction in the aviation sector.

Nebenprodukte, Rückstände und Abfälle

Unter Ruckstanden, Nebenprodukten und Abfallen werden hier Stoffe organischer Herkunft (d. h. Biomasse) verstanden, die bei der Herstellung eines bestimmten (Haupt-)Produktes (meist hergestellt mit dem Ziel der stofflichen Nutzung) aus organischen Stoffen anfallen und zur Bioenergiebereitstellung nutzbar sind. Derartige Biomassefraktionen kommen u. a. aus der Land- und Forstwirtschaft sowie der Industrie und dem Gewerbe. Zudem werden Siedlungsabfalle dazu gezahlt, welche ebenfalls hohe Anteile an organischen Komponenten aufweisen konnen. Derartige Stoffe konnen grundsatzlich im Verlauf der gesamten Bereitstellungskette von der Produktion uber die Bereitstellung und Nutzung des organischen Materials bis zu dessen Entsorgung entstehen. Beispielsweise fallt bei der Stammholzproduktion als Nebenprodukt bzw. Ruckstand u. a. Waldrestholz und bei der Weiterverarbeitung des Stammholzes beispielsweise zu Mobeln Industrierestholz an; derartige Sortimente konnen – und werden heute bereits sehr weitgehend – als Energietrager eingesetzt. Am Ende des Lebensweges des Holzes bleibt – ggf. nach einer erneuten stofflichen Aufarbeitung bestimmter Sortimente zu beispielsweise Span- oder Faserplatten und damit eines weiteren stofflichen Nutzungszyklusses – Altholz ubrig, das ebenfalls als Energietrager genutzt werden kann oder – wenn es entsprechend belastet ist – ggf. auch als Abfall thermisch entsorgt werden muss.