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Purpose <p>Insect cultivation on bio-residues exemplifies the circular bioeconomy (CBE) concept by integrating three core CBE strategies: the use of bio-residues, multi-output production chains, and cascading. The sustainability of CBE technologies using bio-residues needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account regional aspects and the technologies’ future potential. This study provides methodological guidance for assessing the environmental consequences of diverting a by-product from its current to a future utilization pathway through a prospective and consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) at a regional level.</p> Methods <p>We illustrate the developed methods with a case study of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) rearing on an apple pomace (AP)–based feed in Hesse, Germany. We analyze the regional AP situation regarding availability, seasonality, spatial distribution, and market situation, through an industry survey among Hessian press houses and integrate this information into our LCA model to scale it to the regional level, consider regional transport scenarios, and reflect regional market effects of diverting AP. Furthermore, we systematically upscale the process chain to an early industrial scale.</p> Results and discussion <p>The annual generation of 11,300 t<sub>FM</sub> AP in Hesse could supply a small industrial BSFL plant. AP occurs with high spatial density in the south of Hesse. Press houses are concerned that the cost of AP disposal will increase and that it will be difficult to find a recipient for AP in the future. These aspects support a new and centralized use of AP. However, its high seasonality and unstable nature is a hurdle. Diverting the AP annually generated in Hesse from its current utilization as biogas substrate or ruminant feed to insect farming results in a reduction compared to the status quo in land use by 6.4E + 05 to 6.8E + 05 m<sup>2</sup>a crop eq and in freshwater eutrophication by 3.7E + 03 to 3.8 E + 03 kg P eq when BSFL replace soybean meal. However, most environmental impacts show an increase, for example, global warming potential increases by 3.6E + 07 to 3.8E + 07 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq. The LCA results identify improvement options such as reducing the feed conversion rate and optimizing the use of feed additives.</p> Conclusion <p>This study shows how the regional situation of an industrial by-product can be investigated through a regional industry survey and how this information can be integrated into a cLCA model using a methodological framework. We show that the market situation of by-products can differ regionally, emphasizing the need of region-specific integration into cLCA models.</p>

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Integrating regional survey data into life cycle assessment: prospective environmental consequences of directing apple pomace to insect farming

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月5日

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  • Almut Güldemund,
  • Patrick Klüber,
  • Steffi Weyand,
  • Vanessa Zeller

摘要

Purpose

Insect cultivation on bio-residues exemplifies the circular bioeconomy (CBE) concept by integrating three core CBE strategies: the use of bio-residues, multi-output production chains, and cascading. The sustainability of CBE technologies using bio-residues needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account regional aspects and the technologies’ future potential. This study provides methodological guidance for assessing the environmental consequences of diverting a by-product from its current to a future utilization pathway through a prospective and consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) at a regional level.

Methods

We illustrate the developed methods with a case study of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) rearing on an apple pomace (AP)–based feed in Hesse, Germany. We analyze the regional AP situation regarding availability, seasonality, spatial distribution, and market situation, through an industry survey among Hessian press houses and integrate this information into our LCA model to scale it to the regional level, consider regional transport scenarios, and reflect regional market effects of diverting AP. Furthermore, we systematically upscale the process chain to an early industrial scale.

Results and discussion

The annual generation of 11,300 tFM AP in Hesse could supply a small industrial BSFL plant. AP occurs with high spatial density in the south of Hesse. Press houses are concerned that the cost of AP disposal will increase and that it will be difficult to find a recipient for AP in the future. These aspects support a new and centralized use of AP. However, its high seasonality and unstable nature is a hurdle. Diverting the AP annually generated in Hesse from its current utilization as biogas substrate or ruminant feed to insect farming results in a reduction compared to the status quo in land use by 6.4E + 05 to 6.8E + 05 m2a crop eq and in freshwater eutrophication by 3.7E + 03 to 3.8 E + 03 kg P eq when BSFL replace soybean meal. However, most environmental impacts show an increase, for example, global warming potential increases by 3.6E + 07 to 3.8E + 07 kg CO2 eq. The LCA results identify improvement options such as reducing the feed conversion rate and optimizing the use of feed additives.

Conclusion

This study shows how the regional situation of an industrial by-product can be investigated through a regional industry survey and how this information can be integrated into a cLCA model using a methodological framework. We show that the market situation of by-products can differ regionally, emphasizing the need of region-specific integration into cLCA models.