How leading LCA standards address renewable carbon: An RCI study
The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) has released a comprehensive study analyzing how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint standards address renewable carbon sources, including carbon from biomass, carbon capture, or recycling. Conducted by nova-Institute on behalf of RCI, the study provides a comparative evaluation of sustainability frameworks, highlighting key areas of agreement and divergence in methodology.
Importance of LCA for renewable carbon-based solutions
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely recognized as the standard methodology for evaluating the environmental impact of products and materials. However, its complexity and methodological variability create challenges for policy implementation and industrial application. As renewable carbon-based solutions gain traction as alternatives to fossil- based materials, understanding existing LCA provisions is essential to ensure fair and transparent sustainability assessments.
This is particularly relevant for innovative solutions competing with established fossil-based systems. These new products often face higher scrutiny, methodological gaps, varying levels of data quality, and challenges related to economies of scale.
Structure of the study
The study is presented in three detailed reports:
- Report 1: Evaluates methodological choices in existing LCA frameworks, examining similarities and differences across key sustainability standards.
- Report 2: Focuses specifically on challenges related to renewable carbon in recycling scenarios and their implications for LCA studies.
- Report 3: A non-technical summary highlighting key insights and takeaways for policymakers.
Key LCA frameworks analyzed
The study assesses major LCA frameworks based on their industry, academic, and policy relevance. These include:
- ISO Standards: ISO 14040/44, ISO 14067
- GHG Protocol Product Standard
- PACT’s Pathfinder Framework
- PCF Guideline for the Chemical Industry (Together for Sustainability - TfS)
- EPD for the Construction Industry (ISO 14025, EN 15804)
- Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
- Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)
- JRC’s Plastics LCA Methodology
Consensus and divergence in LCA methodologies
The study identifies both areas of alignment and key differences in how these frameworks approach LCA methodologies.
Consensus areas
- Most frameworks agree on the method to assess the impacts of biogenic carbon uptake and emissions (except PEF and RED).
- Although the treatment of recycling varies, all frameworks provide multiple methodological options, leading to a wide range of results.
Areas of divergence
- Frameworks differ on how processes with multiple outputs are handled, specifically whether avoided production of co-products can be credited through system expansion with substitution.
- Some frameworks permit substitution, others have strict requirements, while some prohibit it entirely in carbon footprint calculations.
Policy recommendations: Ensuring fair assessment for renewable carbon
Policymakers must recognize the methodological flexibility in LCA frameworks to ensure a level playing field for renewable carbon-based solutions. Since LCA results can vary significantly even within the same framework, simply following a standard does not guarantee comparability.
Biogenic Carbon Accounting: -1/+1 vs. 0/0 Approaches
Most frameworks apply the -1/+1 approach, where biogenic CO2 uptake is counted as negative emissions and biogenic CO2 emissions are counted as positive emissions. However, PEF and RED III use the 0/0 approach, where biogenic carbon removals and emissions are counted as neutral (net-zero). Notably, a shift from 0/0 to -1/+1 is currently being discussed within the E.F
Further clarifications needed
Several key methodological aspects require further discussion, ideally involving stakeholders from the LCA community, industry, and policymakers (such as JRC). Areas requiring additional clarification include:
- Mass Balance and Attribution methodologies
- Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)
Shaping the future of LCA methodologies
The RCI study provides critical insights into the evolving landscape of LCA and carbon footprint standards for renewable carbon. It serves as a valuable resource for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and LCA practitioners, helping them navigate the complexities of sustainability assessments.
As the transition towards a circular carbon economy accelerates, the findings of this study will play a crucial role in shaping future LCA methodologies and enabling informed decision-making across industries and policy frameworks.