ALIGNED project presents a new framework

Aalborg, Denmark. May 28, 2024 – The ALIGNED project recently released its Description of Scientific Methods report, providing an accessible scientific framework for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies, specifically tailored to bio-based sectors.

The report outlines a comprehensive set of approaches, methods, and tools based on the latest scientific insights. The report includes guidelines on how to apply each method or tool, enabling LCA practitioners of any level to use these results in their own LCAs.

“This deliverable is an important milestone for the project.” explains the project coordinator Massimo Pizzol. “We have already received a lot of interest and we are looking forward to seeing how LCA practitioners will use our methods and guidelines.”

The project is working on different bio-based sectors such as construction, woodworking, textile, pulp and paper, and bio-chemicals. The project addresses crucial sustainability aspects of bio-based sectors, industries, and processes, providing tailored LCA methods to the specific bio-based context and testing them on real-world case studies. The ALIGNED approach goes beyond the project itself, offering a valuable tool for a wide range of industries to significantly improve their environmental performance.

The open-source model for LCA in the bio-based sectors consists of a free set of documents, tutorials, data, templates, and guides.

Key information of the Description of Scientific Methods report

This abovementioned framework includes methods to produce prospective background databases to model bio-based systems in future conditions, as well as methods to perform foreground inventory modelling to account for constraints in biomass and timing of emissions.

It also includes methods for time-dependent modelling of climate impacts in a life cycle perspective, and spatially specific impacts on biodiversity. Moreover, methods for including and solving trade-offs with socio-economic impacts and techno-economic assessment are included.

Guidance is provided for the application of the methods using tutorials, templates, and datasets, in a tiered approach with different levels of complexity depending on the level of experience of the user and the desired level of accuracy. Download freely available resources here.
Additional guidance including data templates, software and tutorials have been provided. Efforts have been made such that all resources are open, citable, accessible and interoperable.