For biobased-products, a core matter of concern is the carbon footprint, expressing the impact on climate change, especially in comparison to fossil-based alternatives. In the ecosystems that provide the biological raw material, e.g. forest for wood products, there is a sequestration of CO2, which among else ends up as stored carbon in the product itself. Yet, there are also other greenhouse gas fluxes. At the end-of-life of the product, the way of waste handling, will be crucial to consider since e.g. through incineration CO2 is released again, while e.g. through recycling or reuse it can be further stored. To evaluate the impact on climate change through a carbon footprint, the whole life cycle needs to be evaluated spread over time, whereas the latter is not considered in conventional carbon footprint calculations.
In CALIMERO, LIST and other partners, aim to improve the carbon footprint assessment into a fully-fledged dynamic carbon footprint, by taking into account the timing of these greenhouse gas fluxes, considering in particular the duration of usage and the further loops in recycling & reuse. Hereto, LIST will build further on its expertise with dynamic LCA, most notably using the DyPLCA tool and database co-developed in the past (https://dyplca.list.lu/ ). Unique about this approach is that it allows to cover the full life cycle over time, incl. all background processes that are indirectly needed (e.g. electricity production). When it comes to the characterization of the climate change impact, the conventional Global Warming Potential as well as indicators that are based on induced temperature change, shall be apprehended.
This improved method will then be applied to the case studies, considering later on as well how to then further optimize cases based on sustainability scoring methods, such as the carbon footprint, developed or improved in the course of the CALIMERO project.