Verification of Circular Economy solutions and sustainability of products with Life Cycle Assessment
Tomasz Nitkiewicz, Giulio Mario Cappelletti
Abstract
The process of transition from the linear to the circular economy through the delivery of sustainable products has already begun while its environmental consequences have not yet been clearly investigated. Life cycle assessment (LCA) could be a perfect tool to verify whether the promises of emission- and waste-free circular manufacturing processes are true or not. The objective of this chapter is to present the methodological choices involved in an LCA study and provide a practical example of the application of LCA for the assessment of circular solutions. The objective is achieved through focussing on the sector of biopolymers and the production of mcl-PHA and P(3HB). On the basis of biopolymer production from waste oil, this chapter also illustrates the requirements of the LCA tool with regard to its information supply. As the results of the study show, different approaches to the LCA methodology give rise to significant changes in the results. This is related to decisions on using attributional or consequential approaches, as well as to the allocation of environmental burdens and benefits from circular solutions.