2.4 Environmental Evaluation Based on the Life Cycle
In the environmental evaluation, a life cycle assessment of current and future
systems was performed. Life cycle assessment with focus on valorisation options
was used to analyse if the current biogas production or the future production of SA
had the lowest environmental impacts as valorisation option for mixed food waste.
The process description of biogas is based on an existing biogas facility in
Heljestorp [9]. The process description used of food waste to succinic acid is based
on lab-scale data with mixed food waste [10]. The results show that current biogas
production has a better environmental performance on all main impacts categories
used (global warming potential, energy use, acidification potential, eutrophication
potential) than future production of SA with mixed food waste. In parallell, a life
cycle assessment with focus on feedstocks was performed to adress the question:
Do mixed food waste have a better environmental performance than current feedstocks for SA production? The process description of Corn to succinic acid has
been chosen based on Reverdia Direct Crystallization process described in Cok
et al. [11] and Smidt et al. [12]. The results show that a future use of mixed food
waste likely would have a better environmental performance than current
corn-based feedstocks. Further details on the comparison and evaluation can be
found in related work of Carlson [13] and Brunklaus et al. [14].
2.5 Multiple Evaluations Show Complementing Results
As seen from above, multiple perspectives and methods are involved in the different
evaluations and show complementing results. The results of the case study show
that, even though from a technical and resource system perspective, production
seems possible, from a social system perspective SA production currently lacks
institutional support and actor commitment and alignment for realizing development in Sweden. From an environmental and life cycle perspective, the scoping of
the analysis is decisive for the results: SA production from mixed food waste is
environmentally beneficial if compared with the SA production from corn, but from
a pure waste handling perspective, it is environmentally better to produce biogas
than SA from mixed food waste.
3 Potentials and Limitations of Combined Systems
Approaches
Different systems approaches provide guidance about current and future industrial
systems. Each of the method approaches are based on different questions and
provide different answers. To take this further, one has to understand some general
The Value of Transdisciplinary …
331
In the environmental evaluation, a life cycle assessment of current and future
systems was performed. Life cycle assessment with focus on valorisation options
was used to analyse if the current biogas production or the future production of SA
had the lowest environmental impacts as valorisation option for mixed food waste.
The process description of biogas is based on an existing biogas facility in
Heljestorp [9]. The process description used of food waste to succinic acid is based
on lab-scale data with mixed food waste [10]. The results show that current biogas
production has a better environmental performance on all main impacts categories
used (global warming potential, energy use, acidification potential, eutrophication
potential) than future production of SA with mixed food waste. In parallell, a life
cycle assessment with focus on feedstocks was performed to adress the question:
Do mixed food waste have a better environmental performance than current feedstocks for SA production? The process description of Corn to succinic acid has
been chosen based on Reverdia Direct Crystallization process described in Cok
et al. [11] and Smidt et al. [12]. The results show that a future use of mixed food
waste likely would have a better environmental performance than current
corn-based feedstocks. Further details on the comparison and evaluation can be
found in related work of Carlson [13] and Brunklaus et al. [14].
2.5 Multiple Evaluations Show Complementing Results
As seen from above, multiple perspectives and methods are involved in the different
evaluations and show complementing results. The results of the case study show
that, even though from a technical and resource system perspective, production
seems possible, from a social system perspective SA production currently lacks
institutional support and actor commitment and alignment for realizing development in Sweden. From an environmental and life cycle perspective, the scoping of
the analysis is decisive for the results: SA production from mixed food waste is
environmentally beneficial if compared with the SA production from corn, but from
a pure waste handling perspective, it is environmentally better to produce biogas
than SA from mixed food waste.
3 Potentials and Limitations of Combined Systems
Approaches
Different systems approaches provide guidance about current and future industrial
systems. Each of the method approaches are based on different questions and
provide different answers. To take this further, one has to understand some general
The Value of Transdisciplinary …
331