Environmental and Economic Assessment of Baltic Sea Reed as a Local Bio-based Material for Resources Security

Abstract

The growing dependency on imported and fossil-based raw materials has created risks in the environment, economy, and supply chain of industrial systems. Enhanced resource security by using locally accessible and renewable options has thus turned into a major goal in the strategy of the circular economy and sustainability. This thesis examines the opportunities of the Baltic Sea reed (Phragmites australis) to serve as a locally grown bio-based material to enhance resource security. In this research study, the reed-based materials are compared with fossil-based polypropylene and cultivated bio-based hemp fiber in terms of both environmental and economic-based aspects. A mixed research methodology is used. The material level of polypropylene, hemp fiber, and bio-composite of hemp and polypropylene are compared using quantitative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) data from peer-reviewed literature because there is no harmonized LCA data of Baltic Sea reed. Regarding Baltic Sea reeds, environmental and economic performance is determined qualitatively using scientific literature, project report, and ecosystem service evaluations. Moreover, the semi-structured interview is done with one of the experts from Trifilon AB industry about the perception of industrial feasibility, processing difficulties, and market views.

These findings show that a partial replacement of polypropylene with natural fibers can reduce global warming potential and cumulative energy demand, but there are trade-offs that occur in some indicators such as acidification and eutrophication because of agricultural inputs. Baltic Sea reed has further environmental benefits over hemp such as removal of nutrients, no agricultural inputs, and benefits of restoring the ecosystem. Economically, polypropylene is the cheapest material because of industrial production that has already been in place whereas the hemp fiber costs more based on the agricultural and processing factors. The hemp-polypropylene composite comes in as a somewhat balance of cost transition as it minimizes energy requirement at a moderate cost increment. Although Baltic Sea reed also does not have a standardized market price, it is a low-input resource and regionally resilient material, which has potential for sustainable, regional material value chains. As a low input resource, which is regionally resilient, reed shows a promising future when combined with environmental management activities, in its economic aspect. In general, research has been discussed as a finding that Baltic Sea reed is a promising bio-based material that could be used to secure resources and development of the circular bioeconomy.