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trics for LCA and carbon footprint of bio-based materials and products: New
indicators and normalisation factors for EN15804 and bio-based materials
Erwin M. Schau 1
1. InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, erwin.schau@innorenew.eu
Life cycle assessment (LCA) and the EU-recommended Environmental Footprint (EF) are well known and
accepted tools to measure a comprehensive set of environmental impacts throughout a product’s life
cycle. However, it is still a challenge to environmentally optimize and compare bio-based processes and
products with similar fossil-based counterparts. More detailed lifecycle-based metrics and normalisation
factors for climate change could help in this regard.
Based upon the recommendations for LCA impact assessment, the EU Environmental Footprint (Zampori
& Pant, 2019) and EN15804+A2 (2019), together with data on greenhouse gas emissions from credible
sources, sub-indicators for climate change (-fossil, -biogenic, and -land use change) and associated
normalisation factors are developed. Also, new metrics for biobased products and processes are
suggested. Results are applied on a case study with industry relevance in the transition to a climate-
neutral society where heat from natural gas or wood chips in three different boilers are investigated.
The climate change metrics and normalisation factors are valuable in LCAs and carbon footprints where
bio-based carbon emissions are involved and can be used by decision-makers to improve insight
into the carbon footprint and environmental performance of wood, other bio-based products, and
comparisons between these and their fossil counterparts. The proposed metrics improve communication
and interpretation of the LCA and carbon footprint results for customers and other stakeholders. This
presentation will show the method development and discuss the results of the case study with industry
application.
Keywords: densified poplar, orthotropic material model, finite element analysis, electric guitar, acoustics
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the European Commission for funding the InnoRenew project (grant agreement
739574) under the Horizon2020Widespread-2-Teaming program and the Republic of Slovenia (investment
funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional Development Fund).
INNORENEW COE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021
46
indicators and normalisation factors for EN15804 and bio-based materials
Erwin M. Schau 1
1. InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, erwin.schau@innorenew.eu
Life cycle assessment (LCA) and the EU-recommended Environmental Footprint (EF) are well known and
accepted tools to measure a comprehensive set of environmental impacts throughout a product’s life
cycle. However, it is still a challenge to environmentally optimize and compare bio-based processes and
products with similar fossil-based counterparts. More detailed lifecycle-based metrics and normalisation
factors for climate change could help in this regard.
Based upon the recommendations for LCA impact assessment, the EU Environmental Footprint (Zampori
& Pant, 2019) and EN15804+A2 (2019), together with data on greenhouse gas emissions from credible
sources, sub-indicators for climate change (-fossil, -biogenic, and -land use change) and associated
normalisation factors are developed. Also, new metrics for biobased products and processes are
suggested. Results are applied on a case study with industry relevance in the transition to a climate-
neutral society where heat from natural gas or wood chips in three different boilers are investigated.
The climate change metrics and normalisation factors are valuable in LCAs and carbon footprints where
bio-based carbon emissions are involved and can be used by decision-makers to improve insight
into the carbon footprint and environmental performance of wood, other bio-based products, and
comparisons between these and their fossil counterparts. The proposed metrics improve communication
and interpretation of the LCA and carbon footprint results for customers and other stakeholders. This
presentation will show the method development and discuss the results of the case study with industry
application.
Keywords: densified poplar, orthotropic material model, finite element analysis, electric guitar, acoustics
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the European Commission for funding the InnoRenew project (grant agreement
739574) under the Horizon2020Widespread-2-Teaming program and the Republic of Slovenia (investment
funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional Development Fund).
INNORENEW COE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021
46
