Issue 5, 2024

Unraveling the climate neutrality of wood derivatives and biopolymers

Abstract

Bio-based materials are widely perceived as climate-neutral. To validate this perception, we conduct a lifecycle scenario analysis for biopolymers, namely lignin and cellulose nanofibrils, derived from wood. The resulting carbon footprints vary between climate-positive and climate-negative values: −2.06 to 14.95 kg CO2 eq. per kg for lignin and −1.57 to 12.20 kg CO2 eq. per kg for cellulose nanofibrils. In contrast, the carbon footprints for conventional fossil-based polymers have lower variability but do not exhibit climate positivity. This variability in carbon footprints is a result of: (i) the specificities of the material lifecycle, i.e., the extraction processes, duration of the use phase, and end-of-life management; (ii) accounting of biogenic carbon; (iii) biodegradability. In order to leverage the potential climate benefits of bio-based materials, efficient production pathways have to be established, their duration of use should be maximized, and EoL mismanagement leading to unintended greenhouse gas emissions should be avoided.

Graphical abstract: Unraveling the climate neutrality of wood derivatives and biopolymers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jan 2024
Accepted
19 Mar 2024
First published
02 Apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 1487-1497

Unraveling the climate neutrality of wood derivatives and biopolymers

A. Sudheshwar, K. Vogel, G. Nyström, N. Malinverno, M. Arnaudo, C. E. Gómez Camacho, D. Beloin-Saint-Pierre, R. Hischier and C. Som, RSC Sustain., 2024, 2, 1487 DOI: 10.1039/D4SU00010B

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