2.5 Sustainability Assessment of the Portuguese
Forest Sector
This poster spotlight was provided by Ms. Ana Dias from the Centre for
Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the Department of Environment
and Planning of University of Aveiro (Portugal).
Authors of this contribution introduced the audience to Sustain For, a project
aiming at assessing the possible effects of a transition to a bio-economy in Portugal
[5].
The project will select environmental, economic and social indicators to evaluate
the sustainability of the forest sector and apply them to evaluate current impacts of
two Portuguese forest sectors (eucalypt and maritime pine); and will also identify
opportunities for improving the sustainability of these sectors.
The full value chain of a representative basket of products (paper, solid wood
products, fuels and bio-based chemical products) will be assessed. Trade-offs
between sustainability pillars, sectors, subsectors and impacts will be identified.
The authors wisely point out that a transition to a bio-economy, despite its
opportunities and advantages, could reduce the availability of wood resources for
other applications. This is already a reality in some countries as Portugal. Different
management and policy strategies for using wood resources more efficiently should
be adopted.
2.6 Panel Discussion
A panel discussion was opened after the five presentations. The first aspects discussed related to the comparison of bio-based and conventional products. It is clear
that trade-offs exist. Raw materials and land use were pointed out by several presenters as hot-spots, which need to be carefully evaluated in the case of bio-based
products. A consistent assessment should moreover include the end of life stage,
which is quite often neglected.
A second point of discussion was related to the decision making process and
what should be done to achieve practical effects. The main barrier seems to be the
lack of LCA data. Improving data sharing could have positive effects. Another
driver could be increasing the interest of industry. A presenter reported that environmental assessments conducted by industry are often driven by external factors
rather than by real company interests. This calls for enhancing the interaction
between research and industrial sectors, also to make clearer which are the data
needs and the added value of outcomes. Another presenter raised the attention also
to the importance of consumer behaviour and perception.
Sustainability of Bio-based Products …
473
Forest Sector
This poster spotlight was provided by Ms. Ana Dias from the Centre for
Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the Department of Environment
and Planning of University of Aveiro (Portugal).
Authors of this contribution introduced the audience to Sustain For, a project
aiming at assessing the possible effects of a transition to a bio-economy in Portugal
[5].
The project will select environmental, economic and social indicators to evaluate
the sustainability of the forest sector and apply them to evaluate current impacts of
two Portuguese forest sectors (eucalypt and maritime pine); and will also identify
opportunities for improving the sustainability of these sectors.
The full value chain of a representative basket of products (paper, solid wood
products, fuels and bio-based chemical products) will be assessed. Trade-offs
between sustainability pillars, sectors, subsectors and impacts will be identified.
The authors wisely point out that a transition to a bio-economy, despite its
opportunities and advantages, could reduce the availability of wood resources for
other applications. This is already a reality in some countries as Portugal. Different
management and policy strategies for using wood resources more efficiently should
be adopted.
2.6 Panel Discussion
A panel discussion was opened after the five presentations. The first aspects discussed related to the comparison of bio-based and conventional products. It is clear
that trade-offs exist. Raw materials and land use were pointed out by several presenters as hot-spots, which need to be carefully evaluated in the case of bio-based
products. A consistent assessment should moreover include the end of life stage,
which is quite often neglected.
A second point of discussion was related to the decision making process and
what should be done to achieve practical effects. The main barrier seems to be the
lack of LCA data. Improving data sharing could have positive effects. Another
driver could be increasing the interest of industry. A presenter reported that environmental assessments conducted by industry are often driven by external factors
rather than by real company interests. This calls for enhancing the interaction
between research and industrial sectors, also to make clearer which are the data
needs and the added value of outcomes. Another presenter raised the attention also
to the importance of consumer behaviour and perception.
Sustainability of Bio-based Products …
473