How environmentally friendly are biobased materials?

Just how environmentally friendly are biobased materials compared to their petroleum-based counterparts? To answer that question, researchers at Wageningen UR embarked in 2012 on the Biobased Performance Materials (BPM) project SUSTAIN. 3 years later, their most important conclusion: biobased materials production must become more energy efficient. Dr. Li Shen (Utrecht University) evaluated the CO₂ emission and energy consumption rates throughout the complete production chain of the biobased chemicals and materials. Shen also looked at the source of the raw materials and the land use aspect. She then carried out life cycle assessments – LCAs (Article Bioplastics Magazine, 14 August 2015).
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