Harnessing Life Cycle Assessments for Sustainable Algae Solutions: The AlgaeProBANOS Approach

Algae-based products are becoming increasingly recognized for their potential to replace traditional, resource-intensive materials across various industries—from food and feed to textiles and cosmetics.

However, the shift to algae-based solutions requires a clear understanding of their environmental impacts and sustainability. This is where Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) play a critical role.

What Does AlgaeProBANOS Do with LCAs?

Our project is taking a comprehensive approach to ensure that algae-based products are as sustainable as possible. Through the development and application of LCA frameworks, APB is aiming to measure the environmental, social, and economic impacts of algae products throughout their entire value chain.

How LCAs are integrated into APB’s efforts:

• Framework Development: APB is developing an LCA framework that evaluates algae-based products from both microalgae and seaweed applications. This includes measuring the carbon footprint, resource use, and environmental impact at every stage of production, from cultivation to processing.
• Real-World Pilot Projects: APB is conducting LCA appraisals based on six real-world pilot cases across industries such as food, feed, cosmetics, biostimulants, and more. These cases provide valuable data that help optimize processes and reduce negative environmental impacts.
• Circular Economy Focus: One of APB’s goals is to create algae products that contribute to a circular economy, and LCA is an essential tool in assessing how effectively these products are recycled and reused, minimizing waste and improving sustainability.
• Decision Support Tools: APB is also working to develop decision support tools based on LCA data, helping businesses optimize their algae supply chains for both environmental and economic efficiency.

Want to learn more? Don’t Miss an Upcoming Webinar: A Deep Dive into LCA for Algae Products

Join us on February 4, 2025, for a webinar together with 4 other algae projects on Harmonising Algae-based LCAs!

What to expect from the webinar:

• Insights from LCA experts working on real-world algae projects.
• A deep dive into the challenges of process selection and data collection.
• Practical examples from the AlgaeProBANOS project and other algae-focused initiatives.
• 🔗 Register Now! https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5ae4742c-cc83-4d53-b102-c0e70df9be82@65abbde7-6454-4b99-ad6a-1fae1cf80ced