Authors: Elisa Uhlig, Anna Sadzik and Mara Strenger, Sustainable Packaging Institute SPI, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University
In December 2023, the EU-funded project BioSupPack organised a workshop alongside the European Bioplastics Conference – EBC23 on the topics: “The next challenge in packaging: How to choose between different bio-based polymers? How can Life Cycle Assessments be used to evaluate their ecological sustainability? What are the challenges of sustainability assessments for bio-based polymers and how can they be overcome? With an open discussion involving several participants, the workshop was led by BioSupPack’s project experts, Mara Strenger, Anna Sadzik, and Elisa Uhlig (ASU), with the support from Chiara Bearzotti and Estela Lopez-Hermoso (European Bioplastics).
The BioSupPack project aims to develop new, competitive, high-performance and biobased packaging solutions based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), obtained from brewer’s spent grains, and to produce them on a large scale. As part of the project, a workshop was held to identify challenges in implementing sustainability assessments for biobased polymers and to develop strategies to overcome them. The challenges (in italics) have been identified per category. Potential solutions were suggested during the interactive workshop and are provided in the text below.
General factors of sustainability assessment: Sustainability assessments are time-consuming, costly snapshots and isolated observations. The initial investment in resources may be higher, but the payback is worth it, as results can lead to longer-term reductions in resource use, e.g., by identifying hot spots across the life cycle and opportunities for improvement. Less time-consuming activities include screening assessments or hotspot analyses.
Methodology: Sustainability assessments are often based on assumptions. Assumptions should be as close to reality as possible (e.g., for packaging, consider its functionality in terms of product protection) and documented transparently. The methodology of social life cycle assessment, in particular, is still in its early stages. New regulations such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are raising awareness of social issues and forcing companies to address them. Intensive research is also proceeding in this area.
Standardisation and comparison: Existing standards, such as ISO 14040 and 14044, only provide a broad framework, which can lead to misunderstandings between users and a lack of comparability of results. A solution could be the development of harmonised standards for a consistent and clear nomenclature that can be easily understood. These standards should cover, e.g. material functionality and the treatment of biogenic carbon.
Data quality and availability: Lack of (reliable primary) data leads to unreliable results. Wherever possible, it is advisable to collect and use primary data. An infrastructure for data collection needs to be created, e.g., by collaborating with actors along the value chain. Data collectors need to be sensitised through training. General legislation and/or incentive systems could help to collect data.
Land use, cultivation and raw material: Producing food and bio-based polymers compete for space. Production competition for land for bio-based polymers and food production is extremely low and can be further reduced by using byproducts and side streams for polymer production. Biodiversity and individual cultivation components (e.g., fertiliser production or fuel) must be included in sustainability assessments.
Use phase: The use phase is often excluded from the sustainability assessment, partly because of its high variability and poor predictability. Empirical studies could be conducted to assess, e.g., users’ disposal and separation behaviour.
End of life (EoL): Different EoL options may apply to the same material, e.g. because it is disposed of in different countries. The modelling of scenarios to cover different EoL options should consider the local systems. Pollution/littering is not yet a standardized environmental impact category, but is the subject of intensive research.
Presentation at the workshop: https://zenodo.org/records/18847928
A similar workshop will be organised again with the BioSuPack experts in the second half of 2024. Get to know more about the project at www.biosuppack.eu
BioSupPack has received funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101023685. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Bio-based Industries Consortium.
