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- Title
The potential of emerging bio-based products to reduce environmental impacts.
- Authors
Zuiderveen, Emma A. R.; Kuipers, Koen J. J.; Caldeira, Carla; Hanssen, Steef V.; van der Hulst, Mitchell K.; de Jonge, Melinda M. J.; Vlysidis, Anestis; van Zelm, Rosalie; Sala, Serenella; Huijbregts, Mark A. J.
- Abstract
The current debate on the sustainability of bio-based products questions the environmental benefits of replacing fossil- by bio-resources. Here, we analyze the environmental trade-offs of 98 emerging bio-based materials compared to their fossil counterparts, reported in 130 studies. Although greenhouse gas life cycle emissions for emerging bio-based products are on average 45% lower (−52 to −37%; 95% confidence interval), we found a large variation between individual bio-based products with none of them reaching net-zero emissions. Grouped in product categories, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions ranged from 19% (−52 to 35%) for bioadhesives to 73% (−84 to −54%) for biorefinery products. In terms of other environmental impacts, we found evidence for an increase in eutrophication (369%; 163 to 737%), indicating that environmental trade-offs should not be overlooked. Our findings imply that the environmental sustainability of bio-based products should be evaluated on an individual product basis and that more radical product developments are required to reach climate-neutral targets. Zuiderveen and colleagues find that emerging bio-based products have on average 45% lower greenhouse gas life cycle emissions compared to their fossil counterparts, yet, there is a large variation between individual bio-based products with none of them reaching netzero emissions.
- Subjects
GREENHOUSE gas mitigation; SUSTAINABILITY; EUTROPHICATION; GREENHOUSE gases; BIOMEDICAL adhesives
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2023, Vol 14, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-023-43797-9