A Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate the Environmental Benefits of Applying the Circular Economy Model to the Fertiliser Sector

Daniel El Chami, Raffaella Santagata, Stefania Moretti, Luca Moreschi, Adriana Del Borghi () and Michela Gallo
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Daniel El Chami: TIMAC AGRO Italia S.p.A., S.P.13, Località Ca’ Nova, 26010 Ripalta Arpina, Italy
Raffaella Santagata: TIMAC AGRO Italia S.p.A., S.P.13, Località Ca’ Nova, 26010 Ripalta Arpina, Italy
Stefania Moretti: TIMAC AGRO Italia S.p.A., S.P.13, Località Ca’ Nova, 26010 Ripalta Arpina, Italy
Luca Moreschi: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy
Adriana Del Borghi: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy
Michela Gallo: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: In recent years, the world has witnessed one of the most severe raw material crises ever recorded, with serious repercussions for maintaining its agri-food supply chain. This crisis risks dramatically impacting the poorest areas of the planet and poses profound reflections on global food security. In this complex geopolitical context, the recovery and recycling of renewable resources have become an obligatory path and, today, more than ever, essential in the fertiliser industry. To achieve these objectives, TIMAC AGRO Italia S.p.A. has undertaken a research activity to review the formulation of fertilisers by diversifying the raw materials used and introducing recycled raw materials. This article carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) on four fertilisers to identify and quantify whether the changes influenced the environmental impacts, highlighting how applying the circular economy within industrial processes can reduce the pressure on natural resources. The results demonstrate that the global warming potential (GWP) impacts of the different reformulated fertilisers show a considerable variation of 4.4–9.2% due to the various raw materials used, the nitrogen content, and related emissions deriving from environmental dispersion. This study shows the importance of the LCA methodology to analyse and quantify the impact categories generated on the life cycle of fertiliser production and to identify the optimal by-products and end-of-waste for the fertiliser industry to find a synergy between environmental and agronomic performance. It also highlights the relevance of the transition to circular production and consumption systems to reduce environmental pressures and their effects on communities and ecosystems without compromising yields. Finally, the positive results encourage accelerating the circular transition and finding alternatives to virgin-mined raw materials.

Keywords: global warming potential (GWP); life cycle assessment (LCA); fertiliser; circular economy; secondary raw materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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