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This report investigates the environmental impacts of feedstock production and upstream processing, as regards the STAR-ProBio case studies. The feedstocks considered for the production of the case studies are fermentable sugars from sugar beet pulp, maize grain and maize stover. Fermentable sugars (e.g. glucose) are interesting renewable materials to produce a variety of bio-products, for instance, polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). Maize grain is a starch-rich crop, which goes through an enzymatic hydrolysis process to obtain glucose. On the other hand, sugar beet pulp and maize stover are abundant in ligno-hemicellulose, which is transformed into a variety of sugars (glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose…) by first carrying out a pretreatment process and then, enzymatic hydrolysis.

This report has a three-fold perspective: 1) to assess the life cycle inventory (LCI) of upstream processes; 2) to show preliminary results of life cycle impact (LCIA) assessment and 3) to apply the hybridized indicators, assessed in the Deliverable 3.1 (WP3), for upstream processes. The uppermost purpose of this sudy is to summarize the LCI of feedstock production and upstream processing for sugar beet pulp, maize grain and maize stover and model sugar production. Sugars, such as glucose and xylose, are fermentable feedstocks capable of producing a variety of bio-products, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). Maize grain is a starch-rich crop, easily broken down into glucose by enzymatic hydrolysis. Also, sugar beet pulp and maize stover are rich in ligno-hemicellulose, which can also be converted into a mixture of sugars (glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose…) by enzymatic hydrolysis. However, it is necessary to carry out a pretreatment process to break the ligno-hemicellulosic polymers. The materials and energy flows for maize and sugar beet agricultural activities and maize processing were gathered from literature and databases. Data for the pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis processes of the lignocellulose-rich maize stover and sugar beet pulp were designed and modelled by our AUA partners. 20 different fermentable sugar scenarios were considered, including 10 for maize grain, 4 for maize stover and 6 for sugar beet pulp. Although this study represents the life cycle inventory phase, it was decided to include and anticipate some preliminary LCIA results only for two agricultural systems, considering some of the environmental impact categories proposed in Deliverable 2.2. Among the hybrid indicators, four were applied for upstream processes: hazardous chemical use, feedstock efficiency, waste factor and energy efficiency.

This report describes the outcome from STAR-ProBio Task 2.3 which objective is to select the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), standardised environmental indicators and impact categories that are relevant for the environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA) of bio-based products. Indicators are made of impact categories (e.g.: eutrophication) coupled with impact assessment methodologies, or models (e.g.: how to quantify eutrophication on an impact scale). A two-step approach is applied: Step 1: Definition of a set of hierarchised criteria for impact categories selection, leading to a list of impact categories within the clusters (categories grouped by similarities regarding impact pathways) determined in the D2.1. Step 2: Definition of a set of hierarchised criteria for the methodologies selection, leading to a choice of a precise methodology to be used for each impact category. Annexed files are instructions on the use of the indicators: a ppt describing the interpretation and a zip archive containing the SimaPro CSV file of the LCIA methodology, along with instructions and a GWPbio calculator., This version is a revision of version 1.1 because of minor presentation bugs. It also contains additional annex files. Version 1.1 was a revision after identification of errors, notably in table 15.

This report describes the outcome from STAR-ProBio Task 2.3 which objective is to select the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), standardised environmental indicators and impact categories that are relevant for the environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA) of bio-based products. Indicators are made of impact categories (e.g.: eutrophication) coupled with impact assessment methodologies, or models (e.g.: how to quantify eutrophication on an impact scale). A two-step approach is applied: Step 1: Definition of a set of hierarchised criteria for impact categories selection, leading to a list of impact categories within the clusters (categories grouped by similarities regarding impact pathways) determined in the D2.1. Step 2: Definition of a set of hierarchised criteria for the methodologies selection, leading to a choice of a precise methodology to be used for each impact category.

Questo lavoro si propone di valutare l’applicabilità dello strumento OEF (Organization Environmental Footprint) ad una società di gestione aeroportuale. L’articolo presenta l’impostazione metodologica dello studio: la fase di raccolta dati, L’impostazione di un modello tramite il software di Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) GaBi ts ed i risultati ottenuti. L’aeroporto è considerato come una “black box” all’interno della quale è definito il portfolio di prodotti e servizi. Lo studio presenta una analisi di screening degli impatti provocati dall’organizzazione esaminata ed evidenzia le criticità riscontrate durante l’applicazione della metodologia. La metodologia utilizzata viene quindi proposta come possibile punto di partenza per la creazione delle Organization Environmental Footprint Sector Rules (OEFSR) per il calcolo dell’impronta ambientale di questo tipo di organizzazioni che servono per avviare uno studio comparativo.

The sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of products and energy is the goal of a biorefinery. Sustainability is key in this process and all biorefineries should be designed for sustainability along the entire value chain. A laboratory-scale plant has been built by the University of Bologna, coupling pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion, in order to treat high ligno-cellulosic waste biomass. This technology set can bring a wider range of exploitable residual biomasses in anaerobic digestion. A life cycle assessment has been conducted on the use of corn stover in this experimental plant. The assessment included changes in land-use and soil carbon stock, biochar application to agricultural soils, biomass collection and pre-treatment, and biochar valorization as fertilizer and for carbon storage. The system is compared to a fossil reference system providing the same set of products. Results show that the process can yield a net energy gain and reduce GHG emissions, but high variability affects some key parameters, such as the energy required by the pyrolyzer and the biogas output from the anaerobic digester. As for the carbon balance, a relevant contribution is given by carbon storage in biochar.

Presentazione della struttura produttiva del "quadrilatero della chimica" secondo il concetto del multipolo integrato

The article describes the method chosen for the definition of a development scenario and a set of indicators for integrated coastal zones management. The case studies are in the Center and North Adriatic Sea (Italy, Mediterranean Sea). Selected areas are the Lagoon of Venice, the Province of Rimini and the Conero coastal area. The development of indices and indicators set focuses on sub-regional and local sustainability of coastal management. A multi-scale and diachronic approach based on landscape and seascape ecology is build in order to develop the dynamics of indices set. The indices results are the threshold for carbon, ecological and space footprints. The used approach provides the following results: identification of conflicts and urban sprawl, assessment of degree of sustainability (carbon footprint, ecological footprint, emergy and LDI), assessment of change during the last 30 years. Indicators are developed dealing with both landscape ecology and health of ecosystems. Modeling these changes is critical for formulating effective environmental policies and management strategies The developed model provides suitability maps per each area in order to maximize different policy objectives reducing the coastal conflicts. A final scenario is proposed and assessed in each case studied.