ASTM E3256-20

Standard Practice for Reference Scenarios When Evaluating the Relative Sustainability of Bioproducts

SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides guidelines and criteria to follow when selecting reference scenarios, utilizing science-based measurable indicators, to facilitate a transparent and replicable comparison.  
1.1.1 It is a common desire for decision makers, researchers, and others to assess the effects of bioproducts. Such assessments inherently require the comparison of conditions under a system with the bioproduct (test scenario) to a system without the bioproduct (the reference scenario).  
1.1.2 This practice is applicable, but not limited to, life-cycle assessments (LCA), sustainability analyses, and techno-economic assessments (TEA).  
1.2 This practice provides consistent terminology for use with the test and reference scenario. The terminology used in this practice may be used in other documents and by other practitioners with alternate definitions.  
1.3 This practice is applicable whenever the test or reference scenario involves biomass directly or energy or industrial chemicals from biomass.  
1.4 This practice provides guidelines for developing and documenting reference scenarios that represent the best available data and projections for what is expected to occur in the absence of the biomass-based test scenario to be evaluated.  
1.5 The practice is applicable to:  
1.5.1 Reviews and evaluations of the suitability of the reference scenario selected for an existing study or comparison.  
1.5.2 All biomass-based production systems and materials, including forestry, agriculture, algae, co-products, and wastes.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-May-2020
• ICS: 13.020.55 - Biobased products
• Technical Committee: E48 - Bioenergy and Industrial Chemicals from Biomass
• Drafting Committee: E48.80 - Sustainability of Bioenergy and Industrial Chemicals from Biomass

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E3066-20 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Relative Sustainability Involving Energy or Chemicals from Biomass
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3256 − 20
Standard Practice for
Reference Scenarios When Evaluating the Relative
1
Sustainability of Bioproducts
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3256; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This practice provides guidelines and criteria to follow
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
when selecting reference scenarios, utilizing science-based
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
measurable indicators, to facilitate a transparent and replicable
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
comparison.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1.1 Itisacommondesirefordecisionmakers,researchers,
and others to assess the effects of bioproducts. Such assess-
2. Referenced Documents
ments inherently require the comparison of conditions under a
2
system with the bioproduct (test scenario) to a system without
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the bioproduct (the reference scenario).
E1705 Terminology Relating to Biotechnology
1.1.2 This practice is applicable, but not limited to, life-
E3066 Practice for Evaluating Relative Sustainability In-
cycle assessments (LCA), sustainability analyses, and techno-
volving Energy or Chemicals from Biomass
economic assessments (TEA).
3. Terminology
1.2 This practice provides consistent terminology for use
with the test and reference scenario. The terminology used in
3.1 For general terminology, refer to Terminology E1705.
this practice may be used in other documents and by other
NOTE 1—The user is advised that the definitions used by various
practitioners with alternate definitions.
industries, marketers, and regulatory bodies can differ from those in this
practice. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that terms used in a
1.3 This practice is applicable whenever the test or refer-
particular context are clearly understood.
ence scenario involves biomass directly or energy or industrial
chemicals from biomass. 3.2 Definitions:
3.2.1 baseline, n—clearly defined data for each of the
1.4 This practice provides guidelines for developing and
selectedindicatorsthatdocumenttrendsandconditionspriorto
documenting reference scenarios that represent the best avail-
the test period.
able data and projections for what is expected to occur in the
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Baselinesaredevelopedfromhistorical
absence of the biomass-based test scenario to be evaluated.
data and may include both observed and modeled conditions
1.5 The practice is applicable to:
that are relevant to the assessment. Baselines are associated
1.5.1 Reviews and evaluations of the suitability of the
with a period up to the defined starting point of the test period.
reference scenario selected for an existing study or compari-
3.2.1.2 Discussion—For assessment purposes, baselines
son.
should be examined for their relevance to the assessment
1.5.2 All biomass-based production systems and materials,
context. Baselines should be documented in source materials
including forestry, agriculture, algae, co-products, and wastes.
(verifiable data sets or published in peer-reviewed literature)
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
and represent historical evidence. Relevant socio-economic
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
conditions, such as economic growth, market demand, popu-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
lation dynamics as well as environmental conditions, such as
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
climatecanimpactindicatorsandmustbeincludedinbaselines
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
if available.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E48 on Bioenergy
and Industrial Chemicals from Biomass and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
2
mittee E48.80 on Sustainability of Bioenergy and Industrial Chemicals from For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Biomass. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved June 1, 2020. Published July 2020. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E3256-20. the ASTM website.
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