CEN/TR 16957:2016
(Main)Bio-based products - Guidelines for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for the End-of-life phase
Bio-based products - Guidelines for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for the End-of-life phase
This Technical Report provides guidance on how to compile an inventory for the end-of-life phase in LCA of bio-based products. All the end-of-life treatments here addressed are shown in Figure 1.
NOTE The order of the end-of-life options indicated in Figure 1 respect the Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. This list is not exhaustive, but illustrates the content of this Technical Report.
Biobasierte Produkte - Leitlinien für die Sachbilanzierung von Produkten in der Nachnutzungsphase
Produits biosourcés - Lignes directrices relatives à l'inventaire du cycle de vie (ICV) pour la phase de fin de vie
Bioizdelki - Smernice za popis življenjskega cikla (LCI) za fazo po izteku življenjske dobe
To tehnično poročilo podaja smernice o tem, kako izdelati popis za fazo po izteku življenjske dobe pri analizi življenjskega cikla (LCA) bioizdelkov. Vsi načini obdelave po izteku življenjske dobe, opisani v tem standardu, so prikazani na sliki 1.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST-TP CEN/TR 16957:2016
01-november-2016
Bioizdelki - Smernice za popis življenjskega cikla (LCI) za fazo po izteku življenjske
dobeBio-based products - Guidelines for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for the End-of-life phase
Produits biosourcés - Lignes directrices relatives à l'inventaire du cycle de vie (ICV) pour
la phase de fin de vieTa slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 16957:2016
ICS:
13.020.55 Biološki izdelki Biobased products
13.020.60 Življenjski ciklusi izdelkov Product life-cycles
SIST-TP CEN/TR 16957:2016 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
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CEN/TR 16957
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
September 2016
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 13.020.60
English Version
Bio-based products - Guidelines for Life Cycle Inventory
(LCI) for the End-of-life phase
Produits biosourcés - Lignes directrices relatives à Biobasierte Produkte - Leitlinien für die
l'inventaire du cycle de vie (ICV) pour la phase de fin Sachbilanzierung von Produkten in der
de vie NachnutzungsphaseThis Technical Report was approved by CEN on 22 May 2016. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 411.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 16957:2016 E
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Contents Page
European foreword ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
2 Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 5
3 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 6
4 Modelling end-of-life options for bio-based products ....................................................................... 6
4.1 General ................................................................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Documentation requirements .................................................................................................................... 8
4.3 Reuse and/or preparation for reuse ........................................................................................................ 8
4.4 Recycling ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
4.4.1 Mechanical recycling ...................................................................................................................................... 9
4.4.2 Organic recycling .......................................................................................................................................... 10
4.5 Recovery .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
4.5.1 Chemical recovery ....................................................................................................................................... 13
4.5.2 Energy recovery ............................................................................................................................................ 14
4.6 Incineration .................................................................................................................................................... 14
4.6.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 14
4.6.2 Parameters specific for bio-based waste ............................................................................................. 15
4.6.3 Parameters specific for incineration models ..................................................................................... 15
4.6.4 Documentation requirements ................................................................................................................. 16
4.7 Landfill ............................................................................................................................................................. 16
4.7.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 16
4.7.2 Parameters specific for bio-based waste ............................................................................................. 16
4.7.3 Parameters specific for landfill model ................................................................................................. 16
4.7.4 Documentation requirements ................................................................................................................. 19
4.8 Wastewater treatment (WWT) ............................................................................................................... 19
4.8.1 Wastewater aerobic treatment ............................................................................................................... 19
4.8.2 Parameters specific for aerobic WWT models .................................................................................. 20
4.8.3 Product specific parameters .................................................................................................................... 20
4.8.4 Anaerobic primary sludge treatment ................................................................................................... 20
4.9 Release of bio-based products in nature ............................................................................................. 21
Annex A (informative) Examples of pathways ................................................................................................ 22
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................. 24
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European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 16957:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 411 “Bio-
based products”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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Introduction
Bio-based products from forestry and agriculture have a long history of application, such as paper,
board and various chemicals and materials. The last decades have seen the emergence of new bio-based
products in the market. Some of the reasons for the increased interest lie in the bio-based products’
benefits in relation to the depletion of fossil resources and climate change. Bio-based products may also
provide additional product functionalities. This has triggered a wave of innovation with the
development of knowledge and technologies allowing new transformation processes and product
development.Acknowledging the need for common standards for bio-based products, the European Commission
issued mandate M/492, resulting in a series of standards developed by CEN/TC 411, with a focus on
bio-based products other than food, feed and biomass for energy applications.The standards of CEN/TC 411 “Bio-based products” provide a common basis on the following aspects:
— Common terminology;— Bio-based content determination;
— Life Cycle Assessment (LCA);
— Sustainability aspects;
— Declaration tools.
It is important to understand what the term bio-based product covers and how it is being used. The
term ‘bio-based’ means 'derived from biomass'. Bio-based products (bottles, insulation materials, wood
and wood products, paper, solvents, chemical intermediates, composite materials, etc.) are products
which are wholly or partly derived from biomass. It is essential to characterize the amount of biomass
contained in the product by for instance its bio-based content or bio-based carbon content.
The bio-based content of a product does not provide information on its environmental impact or
sustainability, which may be assessed through LCA and sustainability criteria. In addition, transparent
and unambiguous communication within bio-based value chains is facilitated by a harmonized
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1 Scope
This Technical Report provides guidance on how to compile an inventory for the end-of-life phase in
LCA of bio-based products. All the end-of-life treatments here addressed are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 — End-of-life treatments addressed in this TR and related clausesNOTE The order of the end-of-life options indicated in Figure 1 respect the Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.
This list is not exhaustive, but illustrates the content of this Technical Report.
2 Normative referencesThe following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 16575, Bio-based products - VocabularyEN 16760, Bio-based products - Life Cycle Assessment
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3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 16575, EN 16760 and the
following apply.3.1
chemical recovery
process to recover valuable chemical substances by chemical treatment of used materials by hydrolysis,
glycolysis, methanolysis, catalytic reaction, thermal reaction, and other chemical processes
[SOURCE: ISO 18601:2013, definition 3.1, modified - “packaging” replaced by “materials”, “process to
substitute used packaging for natural resources” deleted.]4 Modelling end-of-life options for bio-based products
4.1 General
The end-of-life options for bio-based products are in general the same as the options available for non
bio-based products. Each end-of-life option has different environmental impacts to be evaluated as part
of the LCA.Life cycle inventory data (e.g. emissions to air, water and soil) related to the bio-based product end-of-
life option depends on the type of treatment technology, processing conditions, the local infrastructure
for collection (e.g. separate collection of biodegradable waste for composting), sorting and processing,
the location (i.e. the contribution of for example the electricity used) and the physical-chemical
characteristics of the disposed material such as the chemical composition and the biodegradation
behaviour.The end of life options recycling (mechanical or organic) and chemical recovery can lead to secondary
materials, and consequently saving primary materials, keeping the bio-based carbon fixed in the
material or preserving nutrients.NOTE 1 Collection, transportation and sorting of the waste from bio-based products are considered under the
LCA but are not detailed in this Technical Report. Regardless of the origin of the process module applied in the
LCA study (generic modules from LCA databases, other public data, or modules developed by the practitioner of
the LCA study), the parameters shown in Table 1 need to be defined in order to reflect the material properties of
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Table 1 — Properties of waste from bio-based products
Parameters Unit
Combustion characteristics
Lower Heating Value (LHV) MJ/kg
Share of biodegradable carbon actually decomposed
into inorganic components within a defined time
period
In composting %
In landfill %
years
Time period covered
In incineration %
In anaerobic digestion %
Water content %
(weight)
Chemical composition (in dry mass)
Carbon (fossil) (C) g/kg
Carbon (biogenic) (C) g/kg
Hydrogen (H) g/kg
Oxygen (O) g/kg
Sulphur (S) g/kg
Nitrogen (N) g/kg
Fluorine (F) g/kg
Chlorine (Cl) g/kg
Magnesium (Mn) g/kg
Potassium (K) g/kg
Calcium (Ca) g/kg
Arsenic (As) g/kg
Cadmium (Cd) g/kg
Nickel (Ni) g/kg
Cobalt (Co) g/kg
Chromium (Cr) g/kg
Copper (Cu) g/kg
Mercury (Hg) g/kg
Manganese (Mg) g/kg
Lead (Pb) g/kg
Zinc (Zn) g/kg
Other elements (e.g. Se and Mo) g/kg
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NOTE 2 Very low concentrations (ppm) of some of these elements may have a high impact and therefore need
to be included in the LCI.The quantity of energy contained in a material is generally expressed through the Lower Heating Value
(LHV). This parameter points out the maximum energy obtainable from the complete combustion of the
material, without considering the heat of the water vapour generated by the combustion. The lower
heating value of bio-based product waste can be measured according to EN 15359.LHV can be estimated using the following formula, based on the chemical composition of the bio-based
material.LHV MJ /kg HHV−H O×2,2−×H 2,2×9
[ ]
where
HHV= O×9,83+H×124,27+C×34,02+S×19,07+N×6,28
where
HHV is Higher Heating Value (MJ/kg material);
O is oxygen (without O from H O) (kg/kg of material);
H is hydrogen (without H from H O) (kg/kg of material);
C is carbon (kg/kg of material);
N is nitrogen (kg/kg of material);
S is sulphur (kg/kg of material).
NOTE 3 Source: Ecoinvent [15].
The share of biodegradable carbon actually decomposed into inorganic components, along with,
chemical composition of the bio-based material guarantee, for example, a closed biogenic carbon
balance in the LCA system model of the bio-based product.4.2 Documentation requirements
The properties of the waste from bio-based products (Table 1) need to be documented along with their
data sources to ensure transparency and enable comparability. This is especially relevant in case of
cradle-to-grave studies, where those properties are of key importance to correctly model the end-of-life
process along the value chain.Biogenic carbon content in any LCA study of bio-based products/materials should be documented.
Biogenic carbon emissions (carbon dioxide, methane), originating from decomposition or combustion,
of bio-based material need to be documented separately from non-bio-based carbon emissions in order
to allow a consistent biogenic carbon balance over the full lifecycle of a bio-based product.
4.3 Reuse and/or preparation for reuseReuse means any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the
same purpose for which they were conceived. Preparing for reuse means checking, cleaning or
repairing recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste
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Important aspects to consider in the LCA study are the energy use from transportation to collection and
logistic points and the use of resources for the preparation for reuse (e.g. water use, cleaning agents,
energy, etc.).NOTE See also Annex C of ILCD Handbook [17].
4.4 Recycling
4.4.1 Mechanical recycling
4.4.1.1 General
In mechanical recycling, waste material is reclaimed in order to enable use of the material in
manufacture of a new product. During mechanical recycling, waste for example is ground, cleaned and
eventually recycled (e.g. for plastics recycled into flakes or pellets). The quality of the recycled materials
differs depending on original material properties and recycling processes applied.
This waste treatment pathway is open to bio-based materials. Prerequisite for a valuable mechanical
recycling of bio-based material is (a source-separated) waste collection and subsequent sorting.
Recycled bio-based material maintains the CO2 fixed from the atmosphere during plant growth within
the technical material cycle. This might be accountable as a type of carbon sequestration. In such case
bio-based carbon may therefore be considered as sequestered in the recycled bio-based material until
the recycled material (after one or more recycling “loops”) ends up in a final treatment (incineration,
composting or anaerobic digestion process).4.4.1.2 Parameters specific for bio-based waste
The key parameters for modelling bio-based waste recycling are listed in Table 2.
Table 2 — Parameters required for recycling modelEnergy demand – electrical kWh/t waste input
Energy demand – thermal kWh/t waste input
Energy demand – mechanical kWh/t waste input
Operating supplies (e.g. water, detergents)
Recycling efficiency (dry weight of waste) (%) kg output materials/ kg input materials x 100
Amount of non-recycled fraction (kg) and itsend-of-life
Depending on the LCA modelling approach to be used, information on what is substituted, the end use
market or the quality of the recycled material may be needed.4.4.1.3 Documentation requirements
Bio-based carbon content that is fixed in recycled material needs to be documented in order to
guarantee a consistent biogenic carbon balance over the lifecycle.Inventory and impact assessment results need to be presented transparently, separately indicating
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4.4.2 Organic recycling
4.4.2.1 General
During organic recycling, biodegradable materials are exposed to the action of microorganisms. A
fundamental change in the molecular structure of the materials occurs. The process can be aerobic
(with air) or anaerobic (without air). In the first case, which corresponds to composting operations,
biodegradable materials will be degraded into CO , water and other components. In the second case,
methane will be also produced.Organic recycling can provide valuable materials such as soil amendment and biogas.
NOTE If LCA studies are performed including composting as a possible end-of-life option then the study
should not focus on the isolated packaging or food service items (cutlery, plates, cups), but on the complete waste
stream, so also including the food waste. With this the actual benefits of composting will be captured.
4.4.2.2 Composting4.4.2.2.1 General
Composting is a waste treatment option for biodegradable/compostable waste. The biodegradable
waste is typically converted into carbon dioxide, methane, water, Non Methane Volatile Organic
Compounds (NMVOC) and a residual fraction (the latter is the compost product). The compost product
can serve as a soil amendment, maintaining the soil carbon stock and can replace fertilizers.
Composting is an aerobic biodegradation process. It can be classified into a) home composting and b)
industrial composting. Home composting is a simple, one-stage, open-pile composting process of which
the parameters (temperature, humidity, availability of microorganisms and oxygen, residence time) can
vary widely, resulting in a process of which the average composting rate and performance is less
predictable. On top of this, emission control does not exist at home composting. In contrast to this,
industrial composting is typically is a two-stage process (main composting step and an after-
composting step) of which the conditions (oxygen availability, temperature, humidity, availability of
microorganisms and residence time) are controlled leading to a process of which the composting
performance is much more stable and guaranteed.Often, e.g. in case of biodegradable polymer waste materials, the degradation process is started by a
chemical/physical degradation (e.g. hydrolysis). In a second step, hydrolyzation products (monomers in
case of hydrolyzed polymers) are subject to biodegradation by microorganisms present in the
composting environment.Industrial composting offers options for emission control measures, as one or two composting stages
may take place in encapsulated systems instead of open piles. In encapsulated systems, air emission
abatement can be achieved, e.g. by the installation of biofilters.Prerequisite for a composting treatment is the compostability of the bio-based material under study.
The property may be assessed using, e.g. EN 13432 and EN 14995.4.4.2.2.2 Parameters specific for bio-based waste
Regardless of the origin of the process module applied in the LCA study (from LCA databases, other
public data, or modules developed by the practitioner of the LCA study), the mineralization rate in
composting process and chemical composition (i.e. Table 1) need to be adjusted to material properties
of the studied bio-based waste. If default composting modules are used, as a minimum requirement
they should at least allow adaptation of (biogenic) carbon content of waste material. The latter is
required to guarantee a consistent biogenic carbon balance over the full lifecycle of the bio-based
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4.4.2.2.3 Parameters specific for composting models
Regardless of the origin of the process module applied in the LCA study (from LCA databases, other
public data, or modules developed by the practitioner of the LCA study), those parameters need to be
adjusted as far as possible to scope of the LCA study (regarding geographical, technical scope and time
period under study).Table 3 specifies relevant parameters for composting models.
Table 3 — Parameters required for composting models
Specification/description of composting technology
used
Emissions to air
CO g/kg of dry waste
CH g/kg of dry waste
NMVOC g/kg of dry waste
N O g/kg of dry waste
NH g/kg of dry waste
Emissions to water
N g/kg of dry waste
BOD g/kg of dry waste
P g/kg of dry waste
Energy demand (waste handling, capture installations
etc.)
electrical kWh/t waste
thermal kWh/t waste
mechanical kWh/t waste
Fertilising value of compost
C, N, P, K and ash content g/kg of dry weight
Conversion ratio kg output compost (dry
content) / kg input waste
(dry content)
NOTE 1 The time frame for the compost handling should be 100 years so the field emissions also need to be
taken into account.For home composting, the parameters in Table 3 should be considered and adapted in the light of the
different conditions including:— composting is done in one step, with lower temperatures (typically at 20 °C to 30 °C) than in
industrial composting, the actual biodegradation rate should reflect this; and— home composting is an open composting process, which means there are no emission abatement
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NOTE 2 A French standard on home composting of plastics has been published (NF T51–800).
4.4.2.2.4 Documentation requirementsInventory and impact assessment results need to be presented transparently, separately indicating
contributions of compost and any associated credits with its use (e.g. replaced peat, replaced mineral
fertilizers, organic matter in soil and carbon sequestration, biodiversity).4.4.2.3 Anaerobic digestion
4.4.2.3.1 General
Anaerobic digestion is a biological waste treatment process suitable for biodegradable waste, but in
contrast to composting it is an anaerobic process.The waste material is converted into biogas (a mix of methane, carbon dioxide, NMVOC, N and H S),
2 2water, and a residual fraction called digestate. The main components of biogas are carbon dioxide and
methane. Due to its high greenhouse gas potential, biogas needs to be managed in order to avoid its
release to the atmosphere. Energy may be recovered from generated methane gas. The digestate may
undergo a subsequent (aerobic) composting process (in this case, statements above related to
composting are also valid for composting of digestate). Emission abatement in encapsulated digestion
plants may be achieved by biofilters and scrubbers.NOTE Depending on the input material's composition, biogas can contain H S which needs to be captured and
treated.Prerequisite for a digestion treatment is at least the biodegradability of the bio-based waste. The
property may be assessed by, e.g. biodegradability standards such as ISO 15985, ISO 14853 and OECD
No. 311 or composting standards (such as EN 13432 and EN 14995) (the latter also include the
biodegradability requirements).4.4.2.3.2 Parameters specific for bio-based waste
Regardless of the origin of the process module applied in the LCA study (from LCA databases, other
public data, or modules developed by the practitioner of the LCA study), the mineralization rate in
anaerobic digestion process and chemical composition (i.e. Table 1) need to be adjusted to material
properties of the studied bio-based material. If default anaerobic digestion modules are used, as a
minimum requirement they should at least allow adaptation of (biogenic) carbon content of waste
material. The latter is required to guarantee a consistent biogenic carbon balance over the full lifecycle
of the bio-based product.4.4.2.3.3 Parameters specific for biogas models
Regardless of the origin of the process module applied in the LCA study (from LCA databases, other
public data, or modules developed by the practitioner of the LCA study), those parameters need to be
adjusted as far as possible to the individual LCA study.Table 4 specifies relevant parameters for biogas models.
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Table 4 — Parameters required for biogas models
Specification/description of AD technology used
Total methane production g/kg of dry input weight
Energy content of the biogas MJ/m biogas
Biogas composition
CO %
CH %
H S %
N %
NMVOC %
Emissions to air
e.g. CH , CO , N O NH ) g/kg of dry input weight
4 2 2 , 3
Fertilizing value of digestates
C, N, P, K and ash content g/kg of dry weight
Energy demand (waste kWh/t waste
handling, capture installations,
etc.)
NOTE 1 The products of anaerobic digestion are biogas and digestates. The digestate can be converted to
fertilizer by composting. The biogas can be upgraded for use together with natural gas, converted to fuel or used
for electricity production.NOTE 2 When biogas is converted to electricity at the biogas plant, then the energy recovery refers to the net
energy produced by the biogas plant.NOTE 3 The time frame for the biodigestate handling should be 100 years so the field emissions also need to be
taken into account.4.4.2.3.4 Documentation requirements
Energy recovery efficiency a) as electric energy and b) as thermal energy are critical parameters to be
documented.Inventory and impact assessment results need to be presented transparently, separately indicating
contributions of anaerobic digestion (e.g. emissions to air and water during process, storage and
application e.g. NO , NH , CH ) and any associated credits (recovered energy that replaces electricity
2 4 4and/or thermal energy).
4.5 Recovery
4.5.1 Chemical recovery
Chemical recovery may be a suitable process to recover valuable chemical substances from used bio-
based materials. For example, this treatment is appropriate for plastic waste where polymers are
broken down to its monomer building blocks, which can then be used to replace virgin polymers or in
other materials.The chemical recovery parameters, specific for bio-based waste, and the documentation requirements
are identical to the mechanical recycling parameters and requirements, described in 4.4.1.2 and 4.4.1.3.
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NOTE Fu
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