Life cycle assessment of a straw-based fiberboard without binders produced at laboratory scale

Abstract This study presents a preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a straw-based fiberboard produced at laboratory scale, aiming to identify environmental hotspots and explore potential improvements. The assessment adopts a cradle-to-gate approach, covering raw material extraction and the individual production processes of the fiberboard. As a widely available and inexpensive by-product, straw holds promise for reducing the environmental impact of fiberboards, particularly when no chemical binders are used. Given that a substantial share of a product’s environmental impact is determined during its development phase, conducting LCAs early in product development is crucial. To provide a more realistic representation of potential environmental impacts, two upscaling scenarios are evaluated: linear extrapolation and industrial scale using proxy data. The results reveal that upscaling can significantly reduce environmental impacts, with potential reductions in Global Warming Potential (GWP) of up to 99%. At laboratory scale, the steps involving chemical treatment, pre-heating, and hot pressing emerge as major contributors to environmental impact, primarily due to high electricity consumption. However, at industrial scale, the environmental hotspots shift to straw and chemical treatment. Notably, at both production scales, straw offers carbon storage benefits, leading to negative GWP values in certain allocation scenarios. This study highlights the shift in environmental hotspots when transitioning from laboratory to industrial scale production. The findings emphasize the importance of conducting LCAs during the research and development phase to address and mitigate environmental impacts before industrial production begins.