LCA of biomass-based food packaging materials

Using biomass to produce materials is an alternative possibility to its disposal for energy production or to its composting. This can provide more value, also in economic terms, especially in presence of large amounts of biomass available due to massive agricultural production systems, so that the exploitation of secondary raw materials might become of stringent interest. Food packaging is increasingly in search for more sustainable materials, able to be effective in terms of communication and preservation of their content, a sector in which the possible use of secondary raw material is becoming a plus. In a number of cases, the use of lignin, cellulose or oil-based seeds has been proposed for the purpose. This chapter presents the difficulties in performing life cycle analysis (LCA) studies that would allow evaluating and comparing use of food packaging obtained from biomass with conventional one obtained from oil-derived plastics. This means concentrating for a start on establishing reasonable system boundaries that would enable this comparison, especially as regards the origin of biomass employed as secondary raw material.