Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ALIGNED (Aligning Life Cycle Assessment methods and bio-based sectors for improved environmental performance)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-10-01 bis 2024-03-31
ALIGNED will advance the scientific field of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and collaborate with industries and representatives from five bio-based sectors: construction, woodworking, textile, pulp and paper, and bio-chemicals. ALIGNED will develop a modelling framework to perform high quality assessment studies across the bio-based sectors, with industrial relevance and interoperability. The framework will be tested and improved via iterative application in six specific cases of biobased industrial technologies.
WP1 - Shared modelling framework and learnings - constitutes of the methodological basis for the entire project. According to the plan, in the first 18 months we have focused on the review, discussion, selection and development of methods to build and put together a coherent scientific framework. These methods will be then applied in the case study work packages (WP2-6,9) in close collaboration with the industry partners. Specifically, WP1 in the first period has: produced a description of each case study using common features and a description of each sector (summarized in D1.1); developed and harmonized a broad series of methods (all collected in the large D1.2) for conducting all phases of a Life Cycle Assessment of biobased products; drafted a policy brief (D1.3).
WP2 - Improving bio-based industry in the construction sector- takes the case of bio-based phenolic foams used as insulation boards, produced in Europe (Netherlands). These are made of phenolic resin (70-80%) and additives (15-20%). The ambition is to have the fossil phenol of the resin replaced by either bio-based phenol stemming from bio-based oil, or partly replaced by lignin.
At M18, WP2 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: the two bio-based resin inventories are initiated, and data have been exchanged with the company partner for the insulation board inventory at plant, as well as for the end-of-life phase. This work is to be consolidated in the upcoming months, using the current outcomes of WP1.
WP3 - Improving bio-based industry in the woodworking sector - considers alternative wood-working feedstocks such as untreated, treated, and painted timber for façade applications and new types of fencing applications. At M18 WP3 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: a base LCA part has been completed and is now further improved with input from WP1; the socio-economic modelling is started (data gathered and model ready).
WP4 - Improving bio-based industry in Bio-based textiles - focuses on the recycling of workwear containing a blend of polyester and cotton fibres, with a particular emphasis on valorising waste cotton fibres obtained from shredding processes. At M18 WP4 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: a base LCA part has been completed and is now further improved with input from WP1; the socio-economic modelling is started (data gathered and model ready).
WP5 - Improving bio-based industry in Pulp and Paper - investigates an emerging biorefinery, focusing on lignin valorisation using aldehyde assisted fractionation to produce multiple products such as lignin polymers, oligomers, cellulose. At M18 WP5 is on track: ccase study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: preliminary analysis of the case via LCA has been performed, also building on and adapting the previous LCAs done at the company, these will be then further developed during the next project period.
WP6 - Improving bio-based industry in Bio-based chemicals - intends to reduce the impact of different vegetable oil use in the production of consumer products and to explore the potentials for a sustainable expansion of the bio-based sector in Europe. At M18 WP6 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: preliminary analysis of the case via LCA has been performed, also building on and adapting the previous LCAs done at the company, focusing on how the biorefinery process should be modelled given this is an emerging technology with several co-products and unclear markets, these will be then further developed in the next project period. Preliminary assessments of current European production of polymers and selection of bio-based alternatives to replace them has been performed and will be further expanded in the next project period.
WP9 - Improving blue bio-based industry - sets to make different improvements for energy and water savings in the production of microalgal-based biochemicals. WP9 started later in the project (approx. M6) as the lead partner A4F was added via an “hop on” application. Nevertheless, at M18 WP9 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: an initial LCA model has been built for the microalgal facility, with focus on modelling renewable energy generation and biorefinery. These will be then further developed in the next project period
WP2 - Improving bio-based industry in the construction sector- takes the case of bio-based phenolic foams used as insulation boards, produced in Europe (Netherlands). These are made of phenolic resin (70-80%) and additives (15-20%). The ambition is to have the fossil phenol of the resin replaced by either bio-based phenol stemming from bio-based oil, or partly replaced by lignin.
At M18, WP2 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: the two bio-based resin inventories are initiated, and data have been exchanged with the company partner for the insulation board inventory at plant, as well as for the end-of-life phase. This work is to be consolidated in the upcoming months, using the current outcomes of WP1.
WP3 - Improving bio-based industry in the woodworking sector - considers alternative wood-working feedstocks such as untreated, treated, and painted timber for façade applications and new types of fencing applications. At M18 WP3 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: a base LCA part has been completed and is now further improved with input from WP1; the socio-economic modelling is started (data gathered and model ready).
WP4 - Improving bio-based industry in Bio-based textiles - focuses on the recycling of workwear containing a blend of polyester and cotton fibres, with a particular emphasis on valorising waste cotton fibres obtained from shredding processes. At M18 WP4 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: a base LCA part has been completed and is now further improved with input from WP1; the socio-economic modelling is started (data gathered and model ready).
WP5 - Improving bio-based industry in Pulp and Paper - investigates an emerging biorefinery, focusing on lignin valorisation using aldehyde assisted fractionation to produce multiple products such as lignin polymers, oligomers, cellulose. At M18 WP5 is on track: ccase study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: preliminary analysis of the case via LCA has been performed, also building on and adapting the previous LCAs done at the company, these will be then further developed during the next project period.
WP6 - Improving bio-based industry in Bio-based chemicals - intends to reduce the impact of different vegetable oil use in the production of consumer products and to explore the potentials for a sustainable expansion of the bio-based sector in Europe. At M18 WP6 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: preliminary analysis of the case via LCA has been performed, also building on and adapting the previous LCAs done at the company, focusing on how the biorefinery process should be modelled given this is an emerging technology with several co-products and unclear markets, these will be then further developed in the next project period. Preliminary assessments of current European production of polymers and selection of bio-based alternatives to replace them has been performed and will be further expanded in the next project period.
WP9 - Improving blue bio-based industry - sets to make different improvements for energy and water savings in the production of microalgal-based biochemicals. WP9 started later in the project (approx. M6) as the lead partner A4F was added via an “hop on” application. Nevertheless, at M18 WP9 is on track: case study description and sector overview are completed. Modelling and assessment are in progress: an initial LCA model has been built for the microalgal facility, with focus on modelling renewable energy generation and biorefinery. These will be then further developed in the next project period
Main beyond state of the art results so far is strengthened scientific basis of LCA in the aforementioned bio-based industrial sectors.
In practice, the ALIGNED project has already:
✅ Selected the best available methods based on scientific soundness;
✅ Increased applicability of methods (4 new tools and 5 guides);
✅ Developed new methods (background inventory, carbon flow, constraints to biomass);
✅ Performed better and more applicable uncertainty analysis.
In practice, the ALIGNED project has already:
✅ Selected the best available methods based on scientific soundness;
✅ Increased applicability of methods (4 new tools and 5 guides);
✅ Developed new methods (background inventory, carbon flow, constraints to biomass);
✅ Performed better and more applicable uncertainty analysis.