Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life. For the algae sector, LCA is essential to:
LCA is crucial for the algae sector because it:
Key challenges include:
A Functional Unit (FU) is a quantified measure of the function of a product or system, used as a reference for LCA calculations. For algae, examples include:
The FU ensures fair comparisons between systems with equivalent functions.
Multifunctionality occurs when a process produces multiple products (e.g., algae biorefineries generating food, biofuels, and fertilisers). To address this, LCA practitioners use:
LCA requires two types of data:
Data quality is critical, primary data should be prioritised for the foreground system, while secondary data can fill gaps.
To interpret LCA results from a published study on algae products:
Key standards and guidelines include:
For algae-specific guidance, refer to EABA’s information papers and EU projects such as ALIGNED.
You can:
Explore our Resources page for:
Our priorities include:
Stay connected and follow our progress: Join our LinkedIn Group: "EABA LCA Network" - A platform to showcase our work, share updates on LCA advancements in the algae sector, and engage with the broader algae community. Whether you're an LCA practitioner, researcher, entrepreneur, or simply interested in algae sustainability, this group is a space to learn, discuss, and stay informed about our initiatives.
