Environmental External Production Costs of Extracts Derived from Poplar-Containing Bioactive Substances

Ewelina Olba-Zięty, Michał Krzyżaniak and Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski ()
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Ewelina Olba-Zięty: Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
Michał Krzyżaniak: Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski: Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-25

Abstract: The bioeconomy needs new, economically feasible products obtained from biological raw materials via sustainable processes having the smallest possible impact on the environment. The objectives of our study have been: (i) to make an evaluation of the external costs of the production of a poplar extract containing bioactive substances by supercritical extraction; (ii) to make a comparison of the internal and external costs of extract production; (iii) to determine the total life cycle costs (LCCs) of the extract and the break-even prices (BEPs) in two business models. In the first business model (BM I), the only commercial product was the extract, while pellets were used for their own energy purposes. In the second business model (BM II), both the extract and pellets were marketable products. Out of the two analyzed business models, lower external costs and, consequently, lower total costs were achieved in BM I (LCC €259 kg −1 ) than in BM II (LCC €267 kg −1 ). However, the profitability analysis showed that BM II was more profitable (BEP €313 kg −1 ) than BM I (BEP €359 kg −1 ). The inclusion of the external costs of poplar extract production by supercritical extraction has a significant impact on increasing the production profitability threshold. An analysis of a situation where electricity was replaced with the EU mix (the European Union mix) generated with a higher share of RES (renewable energy sources) showed that the externalities were lowered. A substantial decrease in the external costs at the supercritical extraction stage was reflected in the lower values of the total cost of extract production, LCC, and BEP, hence, attesting to less damage to the natural environment.

Keywords: poplar extract; supercritical extraction; monetization; monetary value; environmental life cycle cost; economic assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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