Tropical peatland stores a large amount of carbon. In the last 20 years, drainage of Asian peat soil has increased to satisfy the demand of land for plantation agricultures. Industrial oil palm plantations occupy large areas of peatland in Indonesia and Malaysia, with associated GHG emissions and biodiversity loss, here referred to as nature occupation impact. This study performs a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of 1 kg of palm oil for two case studies: PT SMART's Hanau and Sungai Rungau facilities in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The objective is to quantify the reduction in GHG emissions and nature occupation that has been achieved by implementing the following industry-driven measures: reducing the area of cultivated peat soil, reducing the peat drainage depth, and setting aside part of the land-bank for nature conservation. The results show that 1 kg of palm oil causes 2.72 and 2.25 kg CO2-eq./kg palm oil from Hanau and Sungai Rungau facilities respectively. These are 20%–34% lower than average RSPO certified palm oil and 49%–58% lower than average non-certified palm oil. Sungai Rungau achieves the reduction mainly due to a completely peat soil-free supply base. Hanau's peat emissions are instead 0.28 kg, compared to the 0.77 and 2.36 kg CO2-eq for RSPO certified and non-certified palm oil respectively, due to a very low drainage depth (18–25 cm compared to 57–73 cm in average of RSPO certified and non-certified respectively) and an overall lower share of oil palms on peat land. The impact on nature occupation is 24%–43% lower in Hanau and Sungai Rungau compared to non-certified oil and 4%–29% lower compared to RPSO certified respectively. About 8% of the total land bank of the Hanau supply-base has been set aside for nature conservation, reducing GHG emissions by 2% and nature occupation by 9%. Both Hanau and Sungai Rungau could also significantly reduce GHG emissions in the palm oil milling stage, by implementing biogas capture in palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment.
LCA is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the life cycle stages of a product or service from ‘cradle to grave’. Over the last decade, United Plantations Berhad has worked intensively to reduce their environmental impacts and this ongoing project is part of the underlying research.
The primary purpose of the project is to document and assess the environmental impacts from the production of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad. Secondly, the purpose is to follow over time the GHG emissions from the production of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad. Thirdly, to compare United Plantation Berhad’s production of palm oil with average Malaysian/Indonesian palm oil and other major vegetable oils, and fourthly, to analyse improvement options for United Plantation Berhad’s production of palm oil.
This project currently consists of eight studies carried out for United Plantations Berhad in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The study in 2008 was the first LCA of palm oil ever, which was fully compliant with and critical reviewed according to the international standards on LCA: ISO 14040 and 14044.
The environmental impact of palm oil is presented in the reports as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, i.e. carbon footprint, as well as for a number of other impact categories such as biodiversity, respiratory effects and toxicity. The environmental impacts relate to the life cycle of palm oil from cultivation to the gate of the refinery, including all upstream emissions, e.g. from the production of fertilisers, fuels and machinery.
Recent reports:
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2023 (Results 2004-2022)
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2022 (Results 2004-2021)
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2021 (Results 2004-2020)
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2020 (Results 2004-2019)
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2019 (Results 2004-2018)
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2017 (Results 2004-2016)
LCA of palm oil at United Plantations Berhad 2014 (Results 2004-2013)
Purpose
To estimate life cycle impacts from introducing the yield-enhancing inoculant containing the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum and the signal molecule lipochitooligosaccharide (LCO) in Argentinian soybean production. The study focuses on soybeans grown in rotation with corn in the Buenos Aires province. We also provide the life cycle impact assessment for the inoculant production. The study represents a novel scope in terms of the studied crop, inoculant type, and location.
Methods
Consequential LCA is used to assess the cradle-to-gate soybean production systems with and without inoculant use. Stepwise is used for quantification of 16 impacts at mid-point level. Also, the LCA-based guidance of Kløverpris et al. (2020) is followed, and we divide the change in impacts caused by the inoculant’s use into four effects. The field effect accounts for changes in field emissions. The yield effect accounts for additional soybean production in the inoculant system that displaces soybean production elsewhere (system expansion). The upstream effect covers the inoculant production and the downstream effect covers post-harvest changes such as soybean transport and drying. Small plot field-trials data is applied in the biogeochemical model DayCent to estimate field emissions, among others.
Results and discussion
The use of this inoculant reduces environmental impacts from soybean production in all studied impact categories. The main contributing factor is the yield effect, i.e., reduced impacts via avoided soybean production elsewhere including reduced pressure on land and thereby avoided impacts in the form of indirect land-use-change (iLUC). The field effect is the second-largest contributor to the overall impact reduction. Upstream and downstream effects only had minor influence on results. The yield and field effects are closely tied to the yield change from the inoculant use, which was not fully captured in the DayCent modeling. Thereby, a potential underestimation of the environmental benefits of roughly 10% can be expected, corresponding to the difference of empiric yield data and the modeled yield data in DayCent.
Conclusion and recommendations
The use of this inoculant shows environmental benefits and no trade-offs for the 16 impacts assessed. Results depend primarily on avoided soybean production (the yield effect) which entails iLUC impacts in Brazil and USA, and to a lesser degree on field emissions modelled with DayCent. Better data and parametrization of DayCent, to better capture the change in yields and estimate field emissions, economic modelling for the system expansion assumptions, and accounting for uncertainty in iLUC modelling could improve the assessment.
This report presents a detailed cradle-to-consumer life cycle assessment (LCA) screening of fish products sold by Kangamiut Seafood products. Kangamiut Seafood is a trading company and is not directly involved in fishing operations, however the activities of their suppliers and other affected systems are included in the product life cycles. In addition, carbon offsetting potential for Kangamiut Seafood is included as part of the assessment. The study covers a wide range of environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (i.e. carbon footprint), nature occupation, respiratory effects, eutrophication etc. The LCA addresses both direct land use changes (dLUC), indirect land use changes (iLUC), and in connection makes use of recent developments in land use changes (LUC) modelling to include GHG emissions. The primary focus is on GHG emissions. The LCA model has a flexible design, which allows future updates, such as calculating results every year in the future, to be carried out with a minimum of extra work.
The purpose of the study was to carry out a high-level cradle-to-consumer screening LCA of the Kangamiut Seafood’s product portfolio, with focus on greenhouse gas emissions. Further, the purpose was to identify and investigate improvement options and to provide recommendations on how Kangamiut Seafood can reduce the environmental impact per unit of product. The LCA results will be provided according to the following main life cycle stages: fishery, transport/wholesale, processing and distribution to end-user markets.
The LCA was carried out according to the standards ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006, using the same methodology as applied for the consequential model of the ecoinvent database. The LCA had a main focus on GHG emissions, but 13 other impact categories were also be included. The modelling approach linked the foreground data provided by Kangamiut Seafood to EXIOBASE hybrid as the background database.
The results were presented in the form of a detailed hotspot analysis and improvement options mapped according to the influence potential of Kangamiut Seafood. Further, a number of GHG reductions by use of offsetting were investigated.
Summary of themes addressed and presented in the report:
This study was commissioned by Kopenhagen Fur and performed by 2-0 LCA and resulted in a proprietary report.
This project entails a detailed cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of individual product portfolios and production lines for recycling of slaughter by-products and organic residues at SARIA across their European network of operations.
The life cycle framework allows for a quantitative assessment of the environmental impact associated with all stages of a product’s life. For all product portfolios the environmental impact of SARIA’s treatment of different slaughter by-products and organic residues are calculated.
A user-friendly SARIA Excel LCA tool was also developed, consisting of:
The purpose of the SARIA LCA Excel Tool is to allow an automation of the LCA, enabling strategic decision makings and actions to improve their footprint:
This report is carried out by Michele De Rosa and Jannick Schmidt (2-0 LCA, Denmark) for United Plantations Berhad (Teluk Intan, Malaysia). The study includes data collection and calculation of LCA results for United Plantations Berhad’s palm oil production 2004-2021. The study was undertaken during the period January to February 2022.
The current report updates the results of a series of previous studies, to include also the most recent 2021 results, and it summarises the main findings of a detailed life cycle assessment report of palm oil production at United Plantations in the period 2004-2021.
This report is carried out by Jannick Schmidt and Michele De Rosa (2.-0 LCA consultants, Denmark) for United Plantations Berhad (Teluk Intan, Malaysia). The study includes data collection and calculation of LCA results for United Plantations Berhad’s palm oil production 2004-2020. The study was undertaken during the period January to March 2021.
The current report updates the results of a series of previous studies, in order to include also the most recent 2020 results, and it summarises the main findings of a detailed life cycle assessment report of palm oil production at United Plantations in the period 2004-2020.
This study evaluates the environmental impact of replacing natural gas heating and peat use in the horticulture substrate market by means of biomass ga,sification towards co-production of syngas and biochar. The produced syngas can provide sustainable greenhouse heating; biochar is currently considered as a peat substitute while it offers carbon sequestration potential when disposed in the soil due to its higher carbon recalcitrance compared to peat. The carbon footprint of four feedstocks is followed, namely willow and pine from tree nurseries, grade A wood pellets produced from demolition wood and park residues. The CO2 emissions timing is taken into account (time delay between harvest, decay and growth rates of organic matter, peat and biochar). Emission calculations from indirect land use changes (iLUC) are included for the two wood feedstocks (willow and pine). The feedstock source and physical properties have a high share in the environmental impact of the bioenergy production (process heat) and biochar. Peat replacement by biochar reduces the current pressure on the environment caused by peat extraction and use. When biochar is stored permanently in the soil as a disposal option, the corresponding negative CO2 flux further reduces the total CO2 emissions acting as a carbon capture and storage mechanism.
