Life Cycle Assessment of Biocomposite Production in Development Stage from Coconut Fiber Utilization

Viviana Cecilia Soto-Barrera (), Fernando Begambre-González (), Karol Edith Vellojín-Muñoz, Daniel Fernando Fernandez-Hoyos and Franklin Manuel Torres-Bejarano ()
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Viviana Cecilia Soto-Barrera: Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 # 77–305, Montería 230002, Colombia
Fernando Begambre-González: Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 # 77–305, Montería 230002, Colombia
Karol Edith Vellojín-Muñoz: Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 # 77–305, Montería 230002, Colombia
Daniel Fernando Fernandez-Hoyos: Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 # 77–305, Montería 230002, Colombia
Franklin Manuel Torres-Bejarano: Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 # 77–305, Montería 230002, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-24

Abstract: Agricultural biowaste poses a major environmental challenge when improperly disposed of. An alternative to this is their utilization for producing natural fibers (NFs) to manufacture biocomposites, promoting a circular economy. However, the fact that a product is classified as renewable does not necessarily imply that its environmental performance is superior when compared to its conventional market counterpart. For this reason, this study conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of biocomposites reinforced with coconut fiber and a polyester resin matrix, using a “cradle-to-gate” approach. Six scenarios were evaluated, grouped into S1 (2–5% fiber) and S2 (20–30% fiber), with and without chemical treatment, plus a reference scenario without fiber utilization. The IPCC 2021 GWP 100 and ReCiPe Midpoint (H) 2016 methods were applied. The results show that the scenarios without chemical treatment (RF-CCT) were environmentally more optimal, reducing CO 2 emissions by up to 7.4% (RF-CCT/H) and 1.70 kg CO 2 -eq (RF-CCT/L) compared to conventional practices. The main reasons for these reductions are the avoidance of emissions associated with disposal, decreased reliance on conventional materials, and the omission of chemical treatment, which in turn mitigates critical impacts such as ozone depletion potential (ODP) linked to N 2 O emissions from fertilizers (93% contribution) and terrestrial/marine toxicity.

Keywords: biowaste; environmental impact; natural fibers; circular economy; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); carbon footprint; composite material (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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