Industries are changing rapidly towards bio-based production to reduce fossil fuel dependence and enhance sustainability. However, all plant-based feedstocks are not appropriate to give a good cost-effectiveness vs. sustainability balance. This study evaluates various feedstocks used by bio-based industries to determine the most suitable compromise between cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Researchers consider various aspects, including economic feasibility (the cost and availability of each feedstock) and environmental sustainability (carbon emissions, resource intensity, and future resilience). The study ranks the materials to help policymakers and the private sector make choices that will help green industries without crossing over into financial profligacy.
The key findings show that while some feedstocks are low in cost, they might be high in land use, water, or carbon footprint environmental intensity. On the other hand, very sustainable feedstocks might not be the most economically viable. The study ultimately identifies the material that best offers a balance of being green and profitable for the industries to adopt.
By choosing the right bio-based feedstocks, business can go a more sustainable route, minimizing their impact on the environment while retaining affordability.
Full text: Dania Muhieddine Orfali, Samir Meramo, Sumesh Sukumara, Ranking economic and environmental performance of feedstocks used in bio-based production systems, Current Research in Biotechnology, Volume 9, 2025, 100275, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100275