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Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Rapeseed and Rapeseed Oil Produced in Northern Europe: A Latvian Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Anda Fridrihsone

    (Polymer Department, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia)

  • Francesco Romagnoli

    (Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, 12-1 Azenes, LV-1039 Riga, Latvia)

  • Ugis Cabulis

    (Polymer Department, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia)

Abstract

There is a major international effort to improve the availability of data for life cycle assessment (LCA), as these assessments have become one of the main pillars driving European policy with respect to the sustainable use of resources. However, there is still a lack of data even for Europe. This study presents a cradle-to-farm gate assessment, or LCA, of winter and spring rapeseed produced in the northern European country of Latvia. The LCA model is based on an in-depth and up-to-date agricultural practice used in the region and covers the time span of 2008–2016. An LCA of rapeseed oil produced by cold pressing was carried out. The environmental impact assessment was calculated with the ReCiPe impact assessment method version 1.03, a hierarchical (H) perspective, along with the cumulative energy demand method v1.11. Cultivation of winter rapeseed has a lower environmental impact than cultivation of spring rapeseed due to higher agricultural inputs and higher yield. The greatest impact is on human health. Mineral fertilizers (production and application) and agricultural machinery are responsible for the greatest environmental impact. The results for the mill stage of rapeseed oil demonstrated that the choice of the allocation method has a significant impact on the environmental performance results.

Suggested Citation

  • Anda Fridrihsone & Francesco Romagnoli & Ugis Cabulis, 2020. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Rapeseed and Rapeseed Oil Produced in Northern Europe: A Latvian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5699-:d:384913
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rabiee, Mohammad & Majidian, Majid & Alizadeh, Mohammad Reza & Kavoosi, Masoud, 2021. "Evaluation of energy use efficiency and greenhouse gas emission in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) production in paddy fields of Guilan province of Iran," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
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    7. Piotr Bórawski & Lisa Holden & Marek Bartłomiej Bórawski & Bartosz Mickiewicz, 2022. "Perspectives of Biodiesel Development in Poland against the Background of the European Union," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, June.
    8. Arifa Jannat & Yuki Ishikawa-Ishiwata & Jun Furuya, 2022. "Does Climate Change Affect Rapeseed Production in Exporting and Importing Countries? Evidence from Market Dynamics Syntheses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-26, May.
    9. Kamil Czwartkowski & Arkadiusz Wierzbic & Wojciech Golimowski, 2022. "Quality, Key Production Factors, and Consumption Volume of Niche Edible Oils Marketed in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, February.
    10. Lauri Leppäkoski & Miika P. Marttila & Ville Uusitalo & Jarkko Levänen & Vilma Halonen & Mirja H. Mikkilä, 2021. "Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Biochar from Willow Grown on Marginal Lands in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    11. Parkhomets, Mykola & Uniiat, Liudmyla & Chornyi, Roman & Chorna, Nelia & Hradovyi, Vasyl, 2023. "Efficiency of production and processing of rapeseed for biodiesel in Ukraine," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 9(2), June.

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