Life-cycle sustainability assessment for the production of bio-based polymers and their post-consumer materials recirculation through industrial symbiosis

Abstract

Sustainability assessment should be considered as a decision-making framework for the development of circular processes. Techno-economic, environmental and social metrics should be integrated and interrelated (e.g., through life-cycle costing) to achieve sustainable and circular processes. Industrial symbiosis is a key strategy that promotes the physical exchange of resources, energy and/or by-products among different industries in an effort to achieve competitive and sustainable production. By-products and waste streams from conventional linear value chains can be considered as feedstock for the future sustainable chemical industry. This review elaborates on the state-of-the-art sustainability and circularity assessment methodology and indicators focusing on the life-cycle of biopolymer production, including end-of-life alternatives for their post-consumer valorisation.