Developing environmental sustainability & circularity assessment methodologies for industrial bio-based systems

Project Information

ESCIB

Grant agreement ID: 101135071

DOI

10.3030/101135071

EC signature date 9 November 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 3 999 057,25

EU contribution

€ 3 999 057,25

Coordinated by

WIRTSCHAFT UND INFRASTRUKTUR GMBH & CO PLANUNGS KG
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ESCIB (Developing environmental sustainability & circularity assessment methodologies for industrial bio-based systems)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Anthropogenic pollution undermines Earth’s ecosystems and affects natural resources essential for human life. In line with the European Green Deal (EGD), the EU zero pollution action plan, and the 2030 climate target plan, the “Clean environment and zero pollution (2023/24)” initiative seeks to strengthen circular bio-based systems to operate within planetary boundaries, replacing fossil-based systems, mitigating climate change, and restoring biodiversity. The ESCIB project fully addresses this objective. The urgent need to mitigate climate change, stop biodiversity loss, and move from fossil to renewable resources creates multiple interests related to biobased resources. This requires new technologies for sustainable use and robust assessment methods for existing and new biobased solutions.
The main objective of the ESCIB project is to support the sustainability of the bio-based economy in Europe by developing and standardising assessment methodologies. The goal is a comprehensive, operational methodology to assess the sustainability of bio-based systems at various technology-readiness levels (TRLs), based on a holistic life-cycle approach to evaluate environmental impacts and circularity. ESCIB’s integrated analysis aligns with the EGD and the Circular Economy Action Plan. Specific objectives include developing new models for environmental impact assessment, creating a coherent methodology, and collaborating with industry to support sustainable product development. Sub-objectives include identifying best-practice industrial bio-based systems, developing dynamic assessment methods, and addressing impacts related to land use change.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The ESCIB project has made significant progress in developing sustainability and circularity assessment frameworks for Europe's bio-based economy. Key achievements include benchmarking industrial bio-based systems, creating dynamic environmental assessment methods, and establishing dedicated circularity frameworks. An extensive review provided a comprehensive overview of the EU’s bio-based industries, from feedstocks to end-of-life considerations.
A consistent classification scheme for bio-based systems was created, and a review of existing studies highlighted the environmental benefits and trade-offs of bio-based products compared to fossil-based ones. Spatially and temporally explicit approaches were developed to assess land-use change impacts, and a dynamic inventory modeling concept was advanced for more accurate carbon accounting.
A systematic literature review identified and refined circularity assessment indicators, leading to a new methodology and a Python-based tool for quantitative analysis. To ensure practical relevance, the project aligns with international standards and gathers input from industry partners. These efforts have established a data-backed picture of EU bio-based systems, a transferable classification system, an understanding of environmental trade-offs, advanced carbon impact assessment methods, a dynamic LCA concept, curated circularity indicators, and the foundation for a coherent sustainability methodology.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The consortium has advanced spatial- and temporal-explicit approaches to assess land use and land-management change (LUC/LMC) impacts driven by biomass demand. A retrospective method builds on IPCC guidance to quantify carbon stock changes across above-/below-ground biomass, dead organic matter and soils, linking effects to product systems despite forest multifunctionality. In parallel, a forward-looking ex-ante modelling framework combines a global economic model for demand scenarios, a spatial forest model for land transitions and management, and a spatial techno-economic model to map biomass flows to processing and products (GLOBIOM, G4M, BeWhere). This enables attribution of carbon impacts to specific harvested wood products under alternative futures and supports spatially and temporally explicit assessments of how increased biomass demand affects forestland area, management practices and carbon stock changes.

Dynamic inventory modelling for biobased systems with high spatial-temporal resolution has been developed, prioritising forest systems due to methodological inconsistencies in current practice. The draft procedure and guidance address the temporal dynamics of biogenic carbon removals, storage and delayed emissions, proposing a landscape-level accounting consistent with LULUCF carbon pools (SOC, AGB, BGB, DOM, HWP). An advanced case study with an industrial partner is underway to test the framework on cellulose fibre products sourced from two contrasting regions (Brazil and Austria).

On circularity, a systematic literature review screened 328 sources, analysed 66 in depth and identified 73 Circularity Assessment Indicators (CAIs). The analysis reveals gaps on renewable sourcing, cascading use and nutrient recovery, limited distinction between biotic and abiotic materials, and scarce integration of functional value. A refined indicator shortlist was proposed to guide further development of a circularity methodology grounded in life-cycle thinking.

To support a coherent sustainability assessment, more than 60 publications were reviewed as input to a consolidated methodology. Engagement with ISO (ISO 14000 series) and the Product Environmental Footprint Technical Advisory Board is ongoing to align methodological developments with current European and international guidance. Industry interviews (Stora Enso, Lenzing, GrownBio, Unilin) have elicited needs, tools and data availability.