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Abstract
preservations, and distribution require high amount of
Life cycle analysis is a technique utilized for
energy, eventually resulting in total CO2 emissions. In
assessment of impact of processes, products or an
the settled countries, the demand of consumers is to
activity regarding their environmental load/burden
provide them with food of high quality, produced from
during its life cycle. Now-a-day, LCA users are not
a process, having less environmental burden 1.
specific to a single field, instead are multi-
Awareness is increasing that while the selection of food
dimensional/multi-disciplined, who want to do an
products in future, the consumer will be more conscious
evaluation of their processes, products in terms of
about environment 2. Thus, it is necessary to assess
life cycle context. This study presents the studies of
environmental impact and resources utilization in the
LCA on industrial and agricultural food products,
production of food and its distribution for sustainable
modern day advancements in LCA and applicability
development. LCA is a powerful technique for evaluation
on food products. Literature survey indicates that the
of environmental load by processes, products or activity
in the LCA of food products, the hotspot is the
throughout its lifetime, also termed as Cradle to Grave
agricultural production, and LCA can help in
Analysis.
identification of more sustainable opportunities. As
a result of recent modifications/developments in Evolution of life cycle assessment took place in 1960`s
LCA, LCA usage is increasing in agricultural and and several efforts have been done for the development
industrial food products. Literature survey also of its methodology since 1970`s, got special attention in
suggests that LCA alone is not providing satisfactory the field of environmental sciences in 1990`s. Regarding
results, coupling with other techniques/tools result this concept, many terms are quoted i.e., eco-balancing
in providing more comprehensive and steadfast (Australia, Japan, Germany), resource and the
information to ecologically cognizant strategy environmental profile analysis of (USA), environmental
creators, producers and customers/consumers in profiling &the cradle to grave analysis. The Society of
selection of sustainable manufacture methods and Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) plays
products. its role in the enhancement of responsiveness and
considerate of LCA concept. In North of America, SETAC
Keyword: Life cycle analysis, Environmental load, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
steadfast information, Ecology, Sustainable funded workshop along with numerous projects for
manufacture. development and promotion of an agreement upon an
agenda regarding conduction of LCA and impact
1.INTRODUCTION assessment. Other international organizations also
played their role in enhancing awareness of LCA.
Among world`s largest industrial sectors, the food
industry is a bigger name there. This also reflects that Due to these exertions, consent obtained regarding the
this industry is a larger energy consumer. Greenhouse inclusive agenda on LCA and a definite method for
gases emissions have increased due to increased usage inventory 3. For industrialists, specialists and individuals,
of energy has resulted in increased global warming, LCA method is proving as a powerful tool. 4. Purpose of
possibly the severe problem, human being facing these using LCA can be described as follows:
days. Processes of production of food, its
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Goals and scope definition step is most crucial and Outputs generally comprise of the followings:
important step in the LCA as study is done in accordance
• Products and co-products
with the reports, developed in the stage. Goals defines
• Emissions to air (CO2, CO, SOx, NOx)
aim of study, intended applications, targeted audience,
• Solid waste generation (Municipal waste
unit of function while scoping defines boundaries,
generation [MSW])
assumptions and limitations of the study 5. Boundary of
• Water and soil (BOD, COD, TSS)
the system is depicted by the flow diagram comprising
of all the inputs and outputs. Operations contributing to 2.3. Impact Assessment
the activities, processes & products fall within the
boundaries of the system. Functional unit purpose is to This stage aims to comprehend and assess impact on
provide with the reference unit for normalization of the environment on the basis of inventory analysis as basis,
inventory data. keeping in view the defined goals and scope for the
study. In this stage, results obtained from inventory
Category of environmental influence and investigation analysis are allocated to various impact groups on the
targets are the variables on which functional unit basis of various types of impacts that could be done on
depends. Often, basis for functional unit is on the under- environment. In the LCA, following elements are part of
studied quantity. In most cases, product nutritious and the assessment of impact:
fiscal values and area of land underutilization are also
being considered for FU. • Classification
• Valuation
2.2. Life Cycle Inventory Analysis • Normalization
• Characterization
As compared to other stages of LCA, this stage is the
lengthiest, highly work demanding as it involves Regarding classification step, it deals with assigning and
collection of data. This stage can be optimized with initial accumulation of the life cycle inventory analysis
respect to time, if efficient databases are present, and if data into joint impact categories. Characterization deals
dealers and clients are enthusiastic to help. Several with analysis of the extent of probable influences of
databases related to LCA exist and can be brought separately inventory flows in respective influence on
together by means of LCA software. LCA databases can environment. Example includes modeling of the
be equipped with the following data`s: probable impact of CO2 and CH4 on global warming.
Characterization step helps in providing a way for
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comparing the results of inventory analysis within each products quality, incorporating bio-diesel and bio-
group. Normalization step articulates probable impacts ethanol.
in the ways that could be compared. Example includes
LCA for industrial food products
CO2 and CH4 global warming impact comparison.
Valuation is the analysis of the comparative importance Several researchers have carried out research on most
of the burden on environment identified in impact important industrial food product i.e., Bread. The studies
assessment previous stages. This stage can also be incorporate traditional and organic production methods
termed as weighing. Impact groups include following: of crop to milling strategies, processes of bread
manufacturing, packing and washing means. A situation
• Local Effects (Working conditions, nuisance,
joining biological manufacturing of wheat, industrialized
Effect of solid and hazardous wastes etc.)
refining techniques and workshop for bread production
• Global Effects (Ozone Depletion, Global
is described as the most beneficial way of bread
Warming etc.)
manufacturing. A stronger difference between
• Regional Effects (Photo-oxidant formation,
industrialized and domestic product restraints than
eutrophication, acidification etc.)
between traditional and organic ways.
2.4 Interpretation and Actions
In comparison of organic and traditional methods,
LCA purpose is to make conclusions that can be helpful former method required more area of land. Analysis of
in supporting a decision or can be helpful in provision the results was done on the bread`s mass basis (kg).
of an LCA`s actively comprehensible results. For life cycle Primary manufacturing and transportation phases were
inventory assessment, inventory and impact analysis are observed as highly important for maximum impact
done simultaneously, or in case of life cycle inventory groups. The stage for processing i.e., baking, is
analysis, only inventory analysis is considered. important for photo-oxidant generation and use of
Substantial issues related to environment are energy 5, 6.
recognized for conclusions and recommendations in
For beer manufacturing process, highest emission
accordance with goals and scope defined. This is a
reported in case of production of wort, followed by
methodical tool for identification, quantification,
purification, packing, fermentation and storing. It has
checking and assessment of the info collected from the
been observed that production of bottles, followed by
results of the assessment of inventory of life cycle.
packing and production of beer, is the subsystem
Communication of these results is also an important
causing maximum emissions.
step. This stage can incorporate quantitative and
qualitative measurements for improvement; examples LCA for Agricultural products
include product modification, designing of new
processes and activities, usage of raw materials, Among world, rice is one of the biggest products. Life
industrial dispensation, customer usage and waste cycle analysis suggest following phases:
managing.
• Rice production
LCA analysis • Rice post harvesting
Increasing disquiet about sustainable manufacture of For assessment of greenhouse gases emissions, paddy
food and consumption provoked various activities of production was studied by Breiiling et al. in Japan. Study
research regarding food`s manufacture and its suggests that emissions are dependent on the following
distribution system incorporating agricultural parameters:
production. Also, food products trade continues to rise
• Dimension of farms
internationally. LCA methodology is increasing attention
• Site of farms
for products, processes and activities. Several LCA
• Rice selection 7
studies have been carried out agricultural products,
industrial manufacturing processes and finished food Life cycle of locally manufactured parboiled rice
production at small scale was done by Roy et al. Results
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