Life Cycle Analysis

Apart from product performance, the environmental aspects and production costs are key determinants for the commercial viability of a product.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an assessment of environmental impacts and techno-economic analyses can help to shed light on these aspects.

LCA is used by EPNOE to support ongoing R&D, to underpin the need for new research and possibly also to support decisions about directions in R&D.

Three studies were conducted by EPNOE partners:

1. General prospective study on bioplastics at the 2020 horizon called "Product overview and market projection of emerging bio-based plastics", performed by Martin Patel’s group (Utrecht University), financed together with European Bioplastics. This study is downloadable below (PROBIP 2009 study). The previous study called "Techno-economic Feasibility of Large-scale Production of Bio-based Polymers in Europe" (PRO-BIP 2005) is also downloadable below.
2. Market study on main polysaccharides, performed by Danuta Ciechanska’s group (IBWCh, Lodz) and Hans Schepers (University of Wageningen). Not yet available.
3. Description and market study on less common polysaccharides, performed by Jan van Dam (University of Wageningen). Study only available for Business and Industry Club members.

Download below:
- "Techno-economic Feasibility of Large-scale Production of Bio-based Polymers in Europe" (PRO-BIP 2005)
- "Product overview and market projection of emerging bio-based plastics" (PRO-BIP 2009)