From Wood to Resin—Identifying Sustainability Levers through Hotspotting Lignin Valorisation Pathways

Miriam Lettner, Pia Solt, Björn Rößiger, Daniela Pufky-Heinrich, Anna-Stiina Jääskeläinen, Peter Schwarzbauer and Franziska Hesser
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Miriam Lettner: Wood K Plus (Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH), Market Analysis and Innovation Research Team, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Pia Solt: Wood K Plus (Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH), WMT—Wood Materials Technologies, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Björn Rößiger: Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP, 06237 Leuna, Germany
Daniela Pufky-Heinrich: Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP, 06237 Leuna, Germany
Anna-Stiina Jääskeläinen: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Peter Schwarzbauer: Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Marketing and Innovation, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Franziska Hesser: Wood K Plus (Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH), Market Analysis and Innovation Research Team, 1180 Vienna, Austria

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: The concept of bioeconomy supports the diversification strategies of forest-based industries to create new value chains and contribute to economic growth and sustainability. The use of side streams or by-products of the pulp and paper industry (PPI) is seen as a promising approach. In line with this, the idea of substituting fossil-based materials and products is frequently discussed. One such example is the use of lignin as a bio-based alternative for fossil-based phenols. Lignin-based products not only have to fulfil identical technical requirements as their fossil-based counterparts, they are also expected to be more sustainable. This study conducts an integrated hotspot analysis of two lignin valorisation pathways during R&D. The analysis considers the provision of technical kraft lignin as a by-product of a state-of-the-art kraft pulp mill, followed by valorisation, either via solvent fractionation or via base-catalysed depolymerisation (BCD), and the final application of the valorised lignins in phenol formaldehyde resins. As a two-step approach, first of all, the environmental hotspots (e.g., energy-intensive process steps) along the valorisation pathways are identified. Secondly, a variation analysis is carried out, which involves the identification of sustainability levers (e.g., selection of solvents). Identifying those levers at an early research stage helps to support the R&D process towards sustainable product development.

Keywords: hotspot analysis; early-stage assessment; lignin valorisation; prospective LCA; bioeconomy; pulp and paper (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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