Biopolymer from industrial residues: Life cycle assessment of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) from whey

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has turned into a powerful tool to critically and straightforward assess the holistic impact of bio-based plastics and other bio-based products. In order to assure at the same time ecological soundness and to support the economical success of a bioproduct, an early assessment already in the stage of product development is needed. This strategy helps to identify and subsequently to avoid ecological “hot spots”. Assessment by using the sustainable process index (SPI), a member of the ecological footprint family, is considered as an especially viable strategy to realize this goal. The software SPIonExcel was developed to make the assessment methodology easily applicable and operator-friendly. During the process of development for archaebacterial production of poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) biopolyesters from the industrial surplus material whey, a SPI assessment was accomplished to optimize the process in terms of ecological sustainability. As the major outcome, the resulting ecological footprint was comparable with that of competing fossil plastics. Additionally, optimization potentials to further increase the ecological competitiveness were highlighted and quantified. In addition, the developed PHA production process was compared with production of whey powder as the competing, conventional application of surplus whey. Also in this case, the novel PHA production process was superior according to the SPI calculations.

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