User-Friendly, Real-Time LCA Tool for Dynamic Sustainability Assessment and Support of EPD Schemes Towards Circular Bioenergy Pathways

Christodoulos Savva, Christos Koidis, Charisios Achillas, Christos Mertzanakis, Dimitrios-Aristotelis Koumpakis, Alexandra V. Michailidou and Christos Vlachokostas ()
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Christodoulos Savva: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Koidis: Engineers for Business S.A. (EFB), 17is Noemvriou 79, 55534 Thessaloniki, Greece
Charisios Achillas: Department of Supply Chain Management, International Hellenic University, Kanelopoulou 2, 60100 Katerini, Greece
Christos Mertzanakis: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios-Aristotelis Koumpakis: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Alexandra V. Michailidou: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Vlachokostas: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-23

Abstract: This study presents FARMBENV, a user-friendly, real-time, and web-based LCA tool developed specifically for the agricultural sector, enabling dynamic environmental impact assessments and supporting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). To demonstrate its functionality, three wheat production systems in Greece—differing in harvest frequency and the use of green manure through the addition of vetch—were assessed using primary data. Environmental impacts were calculated using a cradle-to-gate approach, with a functional unit of 1000 kg of wheat. Results from FARMBENV were validated with OpenLCA v2.4.1, confirming the tool’s accuracy. The addition of vetch in wheat production significantly reduced the Global Warming Potential (GWP), while the single-harvest systems applying green manure present better environmental sustainability performance. In addition, lab-scale experiments were conducted to process wheat residues via three waste-to-energy (WtE) pathways—pellet, biodiesel, and bioethanol production—and their environmental performance was assessed under multiple electricity sourcing scenarios. The source of electricity for the production systems is crucial for minimizing the impact on the GWP for the WtE pathways. The integration of WtE pathways and wheat production scenarios reduces the GWP by up to 49%. Overall, this study demonstrates FARMBENV’s capacity to deliver real-time, scenario-specific LCA results and highlights the potential of circular bioenergy strategies in sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment; circular economy; agricultural; real-time LCA; wheat production; waste-to-energy; biofuel production; bioenergy; environmental certification; case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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