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Purpose <p>The European Union has emphasized the reduction of inorganic fertilizer consumption and the expansion of organic farming as key strategies toward sustainability and a circular economy. However, the production of organic fertilizers does not necessarily result in lower environmental impacts compared to mineral fertilizers. This review aims to summarize Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on both mineral and bio-based fertilizers to identify the main key environmental impact drivers, highlight methodological gaps, and guide future research.</p> Methods <p>A systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database to identify publications on LCA of fertilizers. Specific keyword combinations were applied, yielding 96 articles published between 2001 and 2025. Bibliometric analysis was performed to evaluate temporal publication trends, research domains, journal impact, and keyword co-occurrence using VOSviewer software. From the 96 identified publications, 91 were classified as research articles, of which 22 were subsequently selected based on their methodological robustness in LCA. Studies focusing solely on the application phase were excluded. The selected studies topics were categorized into two groups: inorganic fertilizers (including organo-mineral) and bio-based fertilizers. Key methodological parameters, such as goal and scope, functional unit, system boundaries, regional context, and principal findings, were systematically extracted, compared, and critically evaluated.</p> Results and discussion <p>The environmental performance of mineral and bio-based fertilizers has rarely been evaluated within a common assessment framework, hindering robust comparisons of their sustainability profiles. Existing LCA studies consistently identify climate change as a major environmental hotspot for mineral fertilizers, mainly due to upstream raw material extraction and energy-intensive production processes. Conversely, the impacts associated with bio-based fertilizers are highly context-dependent, varying according to feedstock origin, conversion technology, and regional factors.</p> Conclusions <p>Overall, the environmental performance of bio-based fertilizers is strongly influenced by the availability and proximity of raw materials. Future research should focus on comparative assessments of mineral and organic fertilizers to better determine which options are most environmentally favorable under specific conditions.</p> Recommendations <p>Future LCA studies on fertilizing products should adopt clearly defined functional units aligned with the specific agronomic function, preferably nutrient-based metrics. Harmonization of methodological choices is essential to improve comparability. A two-step method is recommended, starting with a production focused LCA, then evaluating agronomic performance using field data. Better emission models and less uncertainty should also be prioritized.</p>

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Toward sustainable fertilization: life cycle assessment of bio-based and mineral fertilizer production

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月20日

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  • Patrícia V. Almeida,
  • Andreia F. Santos,
  • Margarida J. Quina

摘要

Purpose

The European Union has emphasized the reduction of inorganic fertilizer consumption and the expansion of organic farming as key strategies toward sustainability and a circular economy. However, the production of organic fertilizers does not necessarily result in lower environmental impacts compared to mineral fertilizers. This review aims to summarize Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on both mineral and bio-based fertilizers to identify the main key environmental impact drivers, highlight methodological gaps, and guide future research.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database to identify publications on LCA of fertilizers. Specific keyword combinations were applied, yielding 96 articles published between 2001 and 2025. Bibliometric analysis was performed to evaluate temporal publication trends, research domains, journal impact, and keyword co-occurrence using VOSviewer software. From the 96 identified publications, 91 were classified as research articles, of which 22 were subsequently selected based on their methodological robustness in LCA. Studies focusing solely on the application phase were excluded. The selected studies topics were categorized into two groups: inorganic fertilizers (including organo-mineral) and bio-based fertilizers. Key methodological parameters, such as goal and scope, functional unit, system boundaries, regional context, and principal findings, were systematically extracted, compared, and critically evaluated.

Results and discussion

The environmental performance of mineral and bio-based fertilizers has rarely been evaluated within a common assessment framework, hindering robust comparisons of their sustainability profiles. Existing LCA studies consistently identify climate change as a major environmental hotspot for mineral fertilizers, mainly due to upstream raw material extraction and energy-intensive production processes. Conversely, the impacts associated with bio-based fertilizers are highly context-dependent, varying according to feedstock origin, conversion technology, and regional factors.

Conclusions

Overall, the environmental performance of bio-based fertilizers is strongly influenced by the availability and proximity of raw materials. Future research should focus on comparative assessments of mineral and organic fertilizers to better determine which options are most environmentally favorable under specific conditions.

Recommendations

Future LCA studies on fertilizing products should adopt clearly defined functional units aligned with the specific agronomic function, preferably nutrient-based metrics. Harmonization of methodological choices is essential to improve comparability. A two-step method is recommended, starting with a production focused LCA, then evaluating agronomic performance using field data. Better emission models and less uncertainty should also be prioritized.