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Sustainability Evaluation

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Book cover Biorefineries

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 166))

Abstract

The long-term substitution of fossil resources can only be achieved through a bio-based economy, with biorefineries and bio-based products playing a major role. However, it is important to assess the implications of the transition to a bio-based economy. Life cycle-based sustainability assessment is probably the most suitable approach to quantify impacts and to identify trade-offs at multiple levels. The extended utilisation of biomass can cause land use change and affect food security of the most vulnerable people throughout the world. Although this is mainly a political issue and governments should be responsible, the responsibility is shifted to companies producing biofuels and other bio-based products. Organic wastes and lignocellulosic biomass are considered to be the preferred feedstock for the production of bio-based products. However, it is unlikely that a bio-based economy can rely only on organic wastes and lignocellulosic biomass.

It is crucial to identify potential problems related to socio-economic and environmental issues. Currently there are many approaches to the sustainability of bio-based products, both quantitative and qualitative. However, results of different calculation methods are not necessarily comparable and can cause confusion among decision-makers, stakeholders and the public.

Hence, a harmonised, globally agreed approach would be the best solution to secure sustainable biomass/biofuels/bio-based chemicals production and trade, and to avoid indirect effects (e.g. indirect land use change). However, there is still a long way to go.

Generally, the selection of suitable indicators that serve the purpose of sustainability assessment is very context-specific. Therefore, it is recommended to use a flexible and modular approach that can be adapted to various purposes. A conceptual model for the selection of sustainability indicators is provided that facilitates identifying suitable sustainability indicators based on relevance and significance in a given context.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.goodgovernance.org.au/about-good-governance/what-is-good-governance/.

  2. 2.

    http://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/starting-life-cycle-thinking/what-is-life-cycle-thinking/.

  3. 3.

    https://greet.es.anl.gov/.

  4. 4.

    http://www.biograce.net/.

  5. 5.

    https://www.ifeu.de/english/index.php?bereich=nac&seite=ENZO2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thünen-Institute of Agricultural Technology, Bundesallee 50, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany

    Heinz Stichnothe

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  1. Heinz Stichnothe
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Correspondence to Heinz Stichnothe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. DECHEMA e.V., Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    Kurt Wagemann

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, Jülich, Germany

    Nils Tippkötter

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Stichnothe, H. (2017). Sustainability Evaluation. In: Wagemann, K., Tippkötter, N. (eds) Biorefineries. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2016_71

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