Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Sustainability Assessment Framework for the Australian Food Industry: Integrating Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Circular Economy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA)

Abstract

Integrating life cycle techniques and modelling with other approaches to evaluate the eco-efficiency and sustainability of industries and entire supply/value chains has been widely discussed. Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) techniques and modelling capabilities comprehensively evaluate the three sustainability dimensions of complex systems and are able to assess how changes in the system primarily based on circular economy (CE) and other sustainability-based principles will affect the functionality of the system’s processes and the effects of those variations in the system as a whole. A systematic literature review was undertaken to analyse the background, the issues and knowledge gaps related to the proposed methodologies as well as the context-specific sustainability aspects faced by the Australian food industry. The systematic review analysed 89 selected studies, and the results demonstrated that sustainability assessment remains a highly complex challenge for the scientific community. Specifically, the development of effective and reliable methods is a nuanced task, particularly when analysing multifaceted systems such as a food supply chain. However, many efforts have been made to extend the focus of the sustainability assessment of industrial systems; but, there is still a lack of approaches that holistically and comprehensively address the triple sustainability dimensions. This chapter draws on peer-reviewed published literature to explore the potential integration of the aforementioned approaches into a holistic and systematic framework for analysing the sustainability of the Australian food industry. The framework assesses environmental, social and economic benefits and effects of implementing sustainable production and consumption processes in the food production system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. AFGC (2019) State of the industry report. Australian Food & Grocery Council, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  2. Acosta-Alba I, Chia E, Andrieu N (2019) The LCA4CSA framework: using life cycle assessment to strengthen environmental sustainability analysis of climate smart agriculture options at farm and crop system levels. Agric Syst 171:155–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Akhtar S, Reza B, Hewage K, Shahriar A, Zargar A, Sadiq R (2018) Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) for selection of sewer pipe materials. Clean Technol Environ Policy 17(4)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Asensio L, Barreda RGd, Ruiz M, Diego J-LMd, Miqueleiz E (2011) An application of a positive mathematical programming model to analyse the impact of agricultural policy measures in the Spanish agricultural sector. In: Ad Prado, AJB Luiz, HC Filho (eds), Computational methods for agricultural research: advances and applications. IGI Global, Hershey, pp 175–98

    Google Scholar 

  5. Atilgan B, Azapagic A (2016) An integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of electricity generation inTurkey. Energy Policy 93:168–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bond R, Curran J, Kirkpatrick C, Lee N, Francis P (2001) Integrated impact assessment for sustainable development: a case study approach. World Dev 29(6):1011–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bossle MB, Barcellos MDD, Vieira LM (2015) Eco-innovative food in Brazil: perceptions from producers and consumers. Agric Food Econ 3(8):1–18

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cao K, Feng X, Wan H (2009) Applying agent-based modeling to the evolution of eco-industrial systems. Ecol Econ 68(11):2868–2876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cauwenbergh NV, Biala K, Bielders C, Brouckaert V, Franchois L, Cidad VG, Hermy M, Mathijs E, Muys B, Reijnders J, Sauvenier X, Valckx J, Vanclooster M, Veken BVd, Wauters E, Peeters A (2007) SAFE—a hierarchical framework for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems. Agr Ecosyst Environ 120(2–4):229–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chandrakumar C, McLaren SJ (2018) Towards a comprehensive absolute sustainability assessment method for effective Earth system governance: Defining key environmental indicators using an enhanced-DPSIR framework. Ecol Ind 90:577–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chandrakumar C, McLaren SJ, Jayamaha NP, Ramilan T (2018) Absolute sustainability-based life cycle assessment (ASLCA): a benchmarking approach to operate agri-food systems within the 2 degrees C global carbon budget. J Ind Ecol 23(4):906–917

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chaudhary A, Gustafson D, Mathys A (2018) Multi-indicator sustainability assessment of global food systems. Nat Commun 9(1):1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen W, Holden NM (2018) Tiered life cycle sustainability assessment applied to a grazing dairy farm. J Clean Prod 172:1169–1179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cinelli M, Coles SR, Jørgensen A, Zamagni A, Fernando C, Kirwan K (2013) Workshop on life cycle sustainability assessment: the state of the art and research needs—November 26, 2012 Copenhagen, Denmark. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:1421–1424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. DISER (2020) Australia’s Emissions Projections 2020. Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  16. Demirel P, Kesidou E (2011) Stimulating different types of eco-innovation in the UK: government policies and firm motivations. Ecol Econ 70(8):1546–1557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. EMF (2013) Towards the circular economy: economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Ellen MacArthur Foundation, London

    Google Scholar 

  18. EMF (2015) Towards the circular economy—economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Ellen MacArthur Foundation, London

    Google Scholar 

  19. EMF (2018) Cities and the circular economy for food. Ellen MacArtur Foundation, Cowes

    Google Scholar 

  20. EU (2014) How can we move towards a more resource efficient and sustainable food system. European Union, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ekener E, Hansson J, Larsson A, Pecke P (2018) Developing life cycle sustainability assessment methodology by applying values-based sustainability weighting—tested on biomass based and fossil transportation fuels. J Clean Prod 181:337–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Esa MR, Halog A, Rigamonti L (2016) Developing strategies for managing construction and demolition wastes in Malaysia based on the concept of circular economy. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Esty DC, Porter ME (1998) Industrial ecology and competitiveness. Yale Law School, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  24. FAO (1996) Report of the world food summit-Part I. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  25. FAO (2014) SAFA guidelines: sustainability assessment of food and agriculture systems. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  26. FAO (2017) The future of food and agriculture—trends and challenges. Food and Agriculutre Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  27. FAO (2020) The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2020: transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  28. Finkbeiner M, Lehmann A, Schau EM, Traverso M (2010) Towards life cycle sustainability assessment. Sustain 2(10):3309–3322

    Google Scholar 

  29. Florent Q, Enrico B (2015) Combining agent-based modeling and life cycle assessment for the evaluation of mobility policies. Environ Sci Technol 49(3):1744–1751

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Garofalo P, D’Andrea L, Tomaiuolo M, Venezia A, Castrignano A (2017) Environmental sustainability of agri-food supply chains in Italy: the case of the whole-peeled tomato production under life cycle assessment methodology. J Food Eng 200:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gloria T, Guinée J, Kua HW, Singh B, Lifset R (2017) Charting the future of life cycle sustainability assessment: a special issue. J Ind Ecol 21(6):1449–1453

    Google Scholar 

  32. Grießhammer R, Buchert M, Gensch C-O, Hochfeld C, Manhart A, Rüdenauer I (2007) PROSA—Product Sustainability Assessment Institute of Applied Ecology, Freiburg

    Google Scholar 

  33. Halog A, Manik Y (2011) Advancing integrated systems modelling framework for life cycle sustainability assessment. Sustainability 3:469–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Halog A, Bortsie-Ayree NA (2013) The Need for Integrated Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Biofuel Supply Chains. In: Z Fang (ed) Biofuels—economy, environment and sustainability. https://doi.org/10.5772/52700

  35. Heairet A, Choudhary S, Miller SA, Xu, M (2012) Beyond life cycle analysis: Using an agent based approach to model the emerging bioenergy industry. In: International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  36. Heijungs R, Huppes G, Guinee JB (2010) Life cycle assessment and sustainability analysis of products, materials and technologies Toward a scientific framework for sustainability life cycle analysis. Polym Degrad Stab 95:422–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Heijungs R, Settanni E, Guinée J (2013) Toward a computational structure for life cycle sustainability analysis: unifying LCA and LCC. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18(9):1722–1733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Helming JFM (2005) A model of Dutch agriculture based on Positive Mathematical Programming with regional and environmental applications, PhD thesis, Wageningen University

    Google Scholar 

  39. Horne R, Grant T, Verghese K (2009) Life cycle assessment: principles, practice and prospects. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood

    Book  Google Scholar 

  40. Hossaini N, Hewage K, Sadiq R (2015) Spatial life cycle sustainability assessment: a conceptual framework for net-zero buildings. Clean Technol Environ Policy 17:2243–2253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Hossaini N, Reza B, Akhtar S, Sadiq R, Hewage K (2015) AHP based life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) framework: a case study of six storey wood frame and concrete frame buildings in Vancouver. J Environ Planning Manage 58(7):1217–1241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Huang B, Mauerhofer V (2016) Life cycle sustainability assessment of ground source heat pump in Shanghai China. J Clean Prod 119:207–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Hunkeler D, Lichtenvort K, Rebitzer G (eds) (2008) Environmental life cycle costing. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, New York

    Google Scholar 

  44. Julius C, Moller C, Osterburg B, Sieber S (2003) Indicatorsfor a sustainable land use in the “regionalised agricultural and environmental information system for Germany.” Agrarwirtschaft 52(4):184–194

    Google Scholar 

  45. Jurgilevich A, Birge T, Kentala J, Korhonen-Kurki K, Saikku JP, Schösler H (2016) Transition towards circular economy in the food system. Sustainability 8(1):69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Karvonen J, Halder P, Kangas J, Leskinen P (2017) Indicators and tools for assessing sustainability impacts of the forest bioeconomy. For Ecosyst 4(1):2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Klöpffer W (2008) Life cycle sustainability assessment of products (with comments by Helias A. Udo de Haes, p. 95). Life Cycle Sustain Assess Prod 13(2):89–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Korhonen J, Honkasalo A, Seppälä J (2018) Circular economy: the concept and its limitations. Ecol Econ 143:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Lacy P, Rutqvist J (2015) Waste to wealth: creating advantage in a circular economy. Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire

    Google Scholar 

  50. Laedre O, Haavaldsen T, Bohne RA, Kallaos J, Lohne J (2014) Determining sustainability impact assessment indicators. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 33(2):1–10

    Google Scholar 

  51. López-Ridaura S, Keulen Hv, Ittersum MKv, Leffelaar PA (2005) Multi-scale sustainability evaluation of natural resource management systems: Quantifying indicators for different scales of analysis and their trade-offs using linear programming. Int J Sustain Dev & World Ecol 12(2):81–97

    Google Scholar 

  52. Man Rd, Friege H (2016) Circular economy: European policy on shaky ground. Waste Manage Res 34(2):93–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Moon YB (2015) Simulation modeling for sustainability: a review of the literature. Syracuse University, Syracuse

    Google Scholar 

  54. Morawicki RO (2012) Handbook of sustainability for the food sciences. Wiley, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  55. Mullender SM, Sandor M, Pisanelli A, Kozyra J, Borek R, Ghaley BB, Gliga A, von Oppenkowski M, Roesler T, Salkanovic E, Smith J, Smith LG (2020) A Delphi-style approach for developing an integrated food/non-food system sustainability assessment tool. Environ Impact Assess Rev 84

    Google Scholar 

  56. Murray A, Skene K, Haynes K (2017) The circular economy: an interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context. J Bus Ethics 140(3):369–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. NFF (2017) Food, fibre & forestry facts: a summary of Australia’s agriculture sector. National Farmers Federation, Barton

    Google Scholar 

  58. Nemecek T, Huguenin-Elie O, Dubois D, Gaillard G, Schaller B, Chervet A (2011) Life cycle assessment of Swiss farming systems: II. Extensive and intensive production. Agric Syst 104:233–245

    Google Scholar 

  59. Nemeck T, Kagi T (2007) Life cycle inventories of agricultural production systems. Agroscope Reckenholz, Zurich

    Google Scholar 

  60. Ness B, Urbel-Piirsalua E, Anderbergd S, Olssona L (2007) Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecol Econ 60:498–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Neugebauer S, Martinez-Blanco J, Scheumann R, Finkbeiner M (2015) Enhancing the practical implementation of life cycle sustainability assessment e proposal of a Tiered approach. J Clean Prod 102:498–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Niemeijer D, Groot RSd (2008) A conceptual framework for selecting environmental indicator sets. Ecol Ind 8(1):14–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. OECD (2010), Guidance on sustainability impact assessment

    Google Scholar 

  64. Onat NC, Kucukvar M, Tatari O (2016) Uncertainty-embedded dynamic life cycle sustainability assessment framework: an ex-ante perspective on the impacts of alternative vehicle options. Energy 112:715–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Onat NC, Kucukvar M, Halog A, Cloutier S (2017) Systems thinking for life cycle sustainability assessment: a review of recent developments, applications, and future perspectives. Sustainability (Switzerland) 9(5)

    Google Scholar 

  66. OpenLCA (2017) OpenLCA 1.7.0.beta, GreenDaelta, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  67. Pagotto M, Halog A (2016) Towards a circular economy in Australian agri-food industry: an application of input-output oriented approaches for analyzing resource efficiency and competitiveness potential. J Ind Ecol 20(5):1176–1186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Palmieri N, Suardi A, Alfano V, Pari L (2020) Circular economy model: insights from a case study in South Italy. Sustainability 12(8)

    Google Scholar 

  69. Peano C, Migliorini P, Sottile F (2014) A methodology for the sustainability assessment of agri-food systems: an application to the slow food presidia project. Ecol Soc 19(4)

    Google Scholar 

  70. Pelletier N (2015) Life cycle thinking, measurement and management for food system sustainability. Environ Sci Technol 49:7515–7519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Pelletier, N, Maas, R, Goralczyk, M, Wolf, MA (2014) ‘Conceptual basis for the European sustainability footprint: towards a new policy assessment framework. Environ Dev 9, 12–23.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Rockstrom J (2009) A safe operating space for humanity. Nature 461:472–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Sala S, Farioli F, Zamagni A (2013) Life cycle sustainability assessment in the context of sustainability science progress (part 2). Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:1686–1697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Sanders J (2007) Economic impact of agricultural liberalisation policies on organic farming in Switzerland, PhD thesis, Aberystwyth University

    Google Scholar 

  75. Sattler C, Schuler J, Zander P (2006) Determination of trade-off-functions to analyse the provision of agricultural noncommodities. Int J Agric Resour, GovAnce Ecol 5(2–3), 309–25

    Google Scholar 

  76. Schader C, Grenz J, Meier MS, Stolze M (2014) Scope and precision of sustainability assessment approaches to food systems. Ecol Soc 19(3):42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Schmid E, Sinabell F (2006) Modelling organic farming at sector level—an application to the reformed CAP in Austria. In: paper presented to international association of agricultural economists conference, Gold Coast, 12–18 August

    Google Scholar 

  78. Sen B, Kucukvar M, Onat NC, Tatari O (2020) Life cycle sustainability assessment of autonomous heavy-duty trucks. J Ind Ecol 24(1):149–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Sua B, Heshmatia A, Gengb Y, Yu X (2013) A review of the circular economy in China: moving from rhetoric to implementation. J Clean Prod 42:215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  80. Tarne P, Traverso M, Finkbeiner M (2017) Review of life cycle sustainability assessment and potential for its adoption at an automotive company. Sustainability 9(4)

    Google Scholar 

  81. UNEP (2009) Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products. United Nations Environment, Kenya

    Google Scholar 

  82. UNEP (2011) Towards life cycle sustainability assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  83. UNEP (2016) Integrated environmental assessment training manual: a training manual on integrated environmental assessment and reporting. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  84. WCED (1987) Report of the world commission on environment and development: our common future. World Commission on Environment and Development Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  85. Wiedemann S, Davis R, McGahan E, Murphy C, Redding M (2017) Resource use and greenhouse gas emissions from grain-finishing beef cattle in seven Australian feedlots: a life cycle assessment. Anim Prod Sci 57(6):1149–1162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Williams AG, Audsley, E, Sandars DL (2006) Determining the environmental burdens and resource use in the production of agricultural and horticultural commodities. Cranfield University and Defra, Bedford

    Google Scholar 

  87. Yu M, Halog A (2015) Solar photovoltaic development in Australia—a life cycle sustainability assessment study. Sustainability 7:1213–1247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Zamagni A (2012) Life cycle sustainability assessment. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17(4):373–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  89. Zamagni A, Pesonen H-L, Swarr T (2013) From LCA to life cycle sustainability assessment: concept, practice and future directions. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:1637–1641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Van Zanten HHE, Van Ittersum MK, De Boer IJM (2019) The role of farm animals in a circular food system. Glob Food Sec 21:18–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Zurek M, Hebinck A, Leip A, Vervoort J, Kuiper M, Garrone M, Havlík P, Heckelei T, Hornborg S, Ingram J, Kuijsten A, Shutes L, Geleijnse JM, Terluin I, Veer P, Wijnands J, Zimmermann A, Achterbosch T (2018) Assessing sustainable food and nutrition security of the EU food system—an integrated approach. Sustainability 10:4271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  92. Zwiers J, Jaeger-Erben M, Hofmann F (2020) Circular literacy. A knowledge-based approach to the circular economy. Cult Organ 26(2):121–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Murilo Pagotto, Anthony Halog & Tianchu Lu

  2. Institute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Diogo Fleury Azevedo Costa

Authors
  1. Murilo Pagotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anthony Halog
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Diogo Fleury Azevedo Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tianchu Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murilo Pagotto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Head of Sustainability, SgT Group and API, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Pagotto, M., Halog, A., Costa, D.F.A., Lu, T. (2021). A Sustainability Assessment Framework for the Australian Food Industry: Integrating Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Circular Economy. In: Muthu, S.S. (eds) Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4562-4_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation