Sustainability and life cycle assessment in industrial biotechnology: a review of current approaches and future needs

Magnus Fröhling, Michael Hiete

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development and implementation of industrial biotechnology (IB) is associated with high expectations for reductions of environmental impacts and risks, particularly in terms of climate change and fossil resource depletion, positive socioeconomic effects, hopes for new competitive products and processes, and development in rural areas. However, not all products and processes are really advantageous with regard to sustainability criteria, and not all are economically successful and accepted by stakeholders. Sustainability and life cycle assessment can play an important role to assess IB products and processes, often accompanying development processes from the early stages onwards. Such assessments can identify key factors regarding sustainability criteria, enable a determination of both product and process performance, or aid in prospectively estimating such performance and its consequences. Thus, development processes, investment decisions, policymaking, and the communication with stakeholders can be supported. This contribution reviews the field of sustainability and life cycle assessment in IB. We explore relevant literature from a methodical and application perspective and categorise suitable methodologies, methods, and tools. We characterise IB from an assessment perspective and indicate challenges, discuss approaches to address these, and identify possible fields of future research. Thus, students, researchers, and practitioners in the field of IB will obtain an up-to-date overview, references to relevant fields of literature, and guidance for own studies in this important and fast-emerging topic.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
PublisherSpringer
Pages143-203
Number of pages61
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Publication series

NameAdvances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
Volume173
ISSN (Print)0724-6145
ISSN (Electronic)1616-8542

Keywords

  • Bioeconomy
  • Biogenic resource
  • Consequential assessment
  • Prospective assessment
  • Renewable raw material
  • Streamlined assessment

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