OSiD: opening the conceptual design of biobased processes to a context‐sensitive sustainability analysis

Abstract

Biobased production has been promoted as an alternative to fossil‐based production to mitigate climate change. However, emerging concerns over the sustainability of biobased products have shown that tensions can emerge between different objectives and concerns, like emission reduction targets and food security, and that these are dependent on local contexts. Here we present the Open Sustainability‐in‐Design (OSiD) framework, the aim of which is to integrate a context‐sensitive sustainability analysis in the conceptual design of biobased processes. The framework is illustrated, taking as an example the production of sustainable aviation fuel in southeast Brazil. The OSiD framework is a novel concept that brings the perspectives of stakeholders and considerations of the regional context to an ex ante sustainability analysis of biobased production. This work also illustrates a way to integrate methods from different scientific disciplines supporting the analysis of sustainability and the identification of tensions between different sustainability aspects. Making these tensions explicit early in the development of biobased production can make them more responsive to emerging sustainability concerns. Considering the global pressure to reduce carbon emissions, situating sustainability analyses in their socio‐technical contexts as presented here can help to explain and improve the impacts of biobased production in the transition away from fossil resources. © 2021 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Bioindicators for the Sustainability of Sugar Agro-Industry

“…Palmeros-Parada et al ( 2021 ) concluded that sustainability can be defined or evaluated through the identification of relevant issues or indicators in the socioeconomic and environmental interaction of the industry, crop fields, population, public policies, etc., to measure the level of sustainability which is based on stakeholder engagements but mainly within the application of established framework of the 2030 sustainable development agenda and its indicators, goals, and objectives.…”

Capability Approach and Inclusion: Developing a Context Sensitive Design for Biobased Value Chains

“…Involving local stakeholders in the set-up or design of biobased value chains can be a way of dealing with the many uncertainties surrounding the set-up of global biobased value chains (Rist et al, 2007); local producers often have valuable knowledge about land management, their natural environment and the associated biomass (Sumane et al, 2018). Such knowledge is important in understanding how to design biobased value chains that are sustainable (Parada et al, 2021). Involving local biomass producers can thus be expected to have both epistemic and moral benefits.…”

Sustainability tensions and opportunities for aviation biofuel production in Brazil

“…In view of these findings, we provide conclusions related to the case study and the followed methodology for a more sustainable biobased production. Note that the followed methodology and its contribution to the field of sustainable biobased production has been recently discussed by Palmeros Parada et al [22].…”