Assessing environmental impacts of biofuels using lifecycle‐based approaches

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform decision makers about the data and information generated by commonly‐used, holistic environmental assessment approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptions of eight types of lifecycle‐based methods are provided: Carbon/Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management, Ecological Footprint, Energy Assessments, Fuel Cycle Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Risk Management (LCRM), Material Flow Analysis (MFA), and Sustainability Indicators. Example assessments of bio‐based products are provided because of the current environmental and socio‐economic relevance of bio‐feedstocks.

Findings

Assessment methods that focus on single impact indicators, such as air emissions (Carbon Management and Fuel Cycle Analysis) and energy, typically show biofuels in a favorable light compared to conventional gasoline (petrol). Ecological Footprint addresses land use implications; LCRM addresses possible impacts to human and ecological health due to chemical contaminant exposure; and MFA identifies areas to improve resource management and decrease the use of natural resources. LCA and Sustainability Indicators cover a wider range of environmental factors.

Research limitations/implications

This study of environmental assessment approaches that incorporate a life cycle perspective revealed the importance of integrating the data and information generated by these disparate evaluations to make quality decisions. Developing such synergies is identified as a research need.

Practical implications

The growing need by decision makers to look broadly at engineered systems led to a proliferation of approaches that are holistic and wide reaching. This paper provides clear descriptions of them to help dispel the potential confusion regarding what the various approaches cover when applying a lifecycle perspective.

Originality/value

The paper bridges the gap between science and the decision‐making process by describing what the various lifecycle‐based methods for environmental assessment can and cannot do. Moreover, it provides evidence that no single tool encompasses all possible environmental impacts.

Citation

Curran, M.A. (2013), "Assessing environmental impacts of biofuels using lifecycle‐based approaches", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 34-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831311291122