Sustainability in food production is often assessed through the analysis of the environmental footprint of products, primarily using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, such approaches tend to overlook the complexity and circularity of food systems, as in the case of beef production, where the synergies between production and the use of by-products are insufficiently considered. This study evaluates the limitations of the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI), developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), in the context of biological matrix products such as beef and proposes a detailed analysis to enhance the MCI's application in this sector. The research focuses on the real circular approach in the food industry, with a specific emphasis on beef in the European scenario. It underscores the necessity for a methodology that integrates all material flows throughout the entire supply chain. Using European statistical data, the study aims to provide a comprehensive view of circularity within the European beef industry and develop a broadly applicable methodology for beef products, beyond specific case studies. By employing software tools like GaBi and manual calculations, the study calculates and compares various MCI values for the beef sector, incorporating variables such as embedded water content. Findings indicate that the conventional MCI approach, originally designed for different contexts, tends to underestimate circularity. Indicator values vary significantly based on methodologies and parameters used. The research highlights that incorporating by-products and embedded water content leads to a more accurate assessment of circularity in biologically-based products. Additionally, the high sensitivity of the MCI to certain parameters emphasizes the need to prioritize specific variables to improve the circular impact of the product. The study concludes with recommendations for refining existing methodologies, optimizing software tools, and including additional factors to achieve a more comprehensive analysis of sustainability in the beef sector.
La sostenibilità nella produzione alimentare viene spesso valutata attraverso l’analisi dell’impronta ambientale dei prodotti, utilizzando principalmente l’Analisi del Ciclo di Vita (LCA). Tuttavia, tali approcci tendono a trascurare la complessità e la circolarità dei sistemi alimentari, come nel caso della produzione di carne bovina, dove le sinergie tra la produzione e l’uso dei sottoprodotti sono considerate in modo insufficiente. Questo studio valuta i limiti dell’indicatore di Circolarità dei Materiali (MCI), sviluppato dalla Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), nel contesto di prodotti di matrice biologica come la carne bovina e propone un’analisi dettagliata per migliorare l’applicazione dell’MCI in questo settore. La ricerca si concentra sull’approccio circolare reale nell’industria ali- mentare, con particolare attenzione alla carne bovina nello scenario europeo. Sottolinea la necessità di una metodologia che integri tutti i flussi di materiali lungo l’intera catena di approvvigionamento. Utilizzando dati statistici europei, lo studio mira a fornire una visione complessiva della circolarità all’interno dell’industria della carne bovina europea e a sviluppare una metodologia ampiamente applicabile per i prodotti a base di carne bovina, al di là di casi studio. Attraverso l’utilizzo del software GaBi e calcoli manuali, lo studio calcola e confronta vari valori dell’MCI per il settore della carne bovina, includendo variabili come il contenuto di acqua incorporata dall'animale. I risultati indicano che l’approccio convenzionale dell’MCI, originariamente progettato per contesti diversi, tende a sottostimare la circolarità. I valori dell’indicatore variano significativamente in base alle metodologie e ai parametri utilizzati. La ricerca evidenzia che l’inclusione dei sottoprodotti e del contenuto di acqua incorporata porta a una valutazione più accurata della circolarità nei prodotti di matrice biologica. Inoltre, l’elevata sensibilità dell’MCI a determinati parametri sottolinea la necessità di dare priorità a specifiche variabili per migliorare l’impatto circolare del prodotto. Lo studio si conclude con raccomandazioni per il miglioramento delle metodologie esistenti, l’ottimizzazione degli strumenti software e l’inclusione di fattori aggiuntivi per ottenere un’analisi più completa della sostenibilità nel settore della carne bovina.
Investigating material circularity in the European beef sector: An analytical approach
AMBROSINO, FEDERICA
2023/2024
Abstract
Sustainability in food production is often assessed through the analysis of the environmental footprint of products, primarily using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, such approaches tend to overlook the complexity and circularity of food systems, as in the case of beef production, where the synergies between production and the use of by-products are insufficiently considered. This study evaluates the limitations of the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI), developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), in the context of biological matrix products such as beef and proposes a detailed analysis to enhance the MCI's application in this sector. The research focuses on the real circular approach in the food industry, with a specific emphasis on beef in the European scenario. It underscores the necessity for a methodology that integrates all material flows throughout the entire supply chain. Using European statistical data, the study aims to provide a comprehensive view of circularity within the European beef industry and develop a broadly applicable methodology for beef products, beyond specific case studies. By employing software tools like GaBi and manual calculations, the study calculates and compares various MCI values for the beef sector, incorporating variables such as embedded water content. Findings indicate that the conventional MCI approach, originally designed for different contexts, tends to underestimate circularity. Indicator values vary significantly based on methodologies and parameters used. The research highlights that incorporating by-products and embedded water content leads to a more accurate assessment of circularity in biologically-based products. Additionally, the high sensitivity of the MCI to certain parameters emphasizes the need to prioritize specific variables to improve the circular impact of the product. The study concludes with recommendations for refining existing methodologies, optimizing software tools, and including additional factors to achieve a more comprehensive analysis of sustainability in the beef sector.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/227078