Allocation methods in life cycle assessments (LCAs) of agri-food co-products and food waste valorization systems: Systematic review and recommendations

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138488
• Publication Date: 2023-08-17T06:31:53Z
• Authors: Daniela Dominguez...; Florian Grassauer; Ying Zhu; Amir Ardestani-Ja...; Nathan Pelletier
• Keywords: Food Waste

Food waste represents one of the major problems in food industry, as it accounts for substantial social, economic, and environmental challenges due to resources along supply chain – such water, land, fertilizer, energy. Recovering transforming into valuable products is essential reduce impacts losses. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) a well-developed standardized tool evaluating potential product system throughout chain. However, benefits different valorization recycling pathways requires deeper understanding types substrates their applications consequent stages. Moreover, agri-food LCAs, inconsistencies are found regarding multifunctionality allocation approaches, especially contexts where differentiation between co-production generation unclear. Therefore, main goal this study was reconcile aforementioned by (1) analyzing current practices on decisions agricultural other food-related LCAs (2) providing practical recommendations decision-making methods specific co-products streams following ISO 14044 requirements. Results show that many LCA practitioners adopting zero-burden approach (40%) model biomass and/or waste, even if these materials do not conform definition waste. Only consequential consistently applied an adheres hierarchy. In attributional economic be most used (35%), followed mass-based (13%), suggesting much inconsistent with The results also indicate provide transparent justifications methodological choices, definitions wastes, cut-off criteria, procedures. Conclusively, criteria were identified pertinent factors consider when addressing multifunctional flows LCA: scope study; justified material flow type (co-product/waste); modeling (attributional/consequential); description processes (upstream/downstream); associated (compliant guidelines).