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The document examines fiber-based packaging as a renewable alternative to plastic, detailing its composition from wood and agricultural waste. It highlights the significant environmental footprint of the pulp and paper industry, particularly regarding water intensity, energy use, and chemical pollution. The paper advocates for a sourcing hierarchy prioritizing FSC Recycled-certified materials and provides a framework for mitigating end-of-life impacts through circular economy principles and the formalization of informal waste collection systems.

The document examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of palm oil, noting that emissions range from -0.3 to over 20 kgCO2e/kg CPO, with an average of approximately 6 kgCO2e/kg CPO. The primary drivers of these emissions are land-use change (LUC), particularly the conversion of tropical forests and peatlands, and the degradation of palm oil mill effluent (POME). The report highlights that emissions are highly spatially heterogeneous, with peat-based production being significantly more carbon-intensive than mineral-soil production. Mitigation strategies focus on preventing further deforestation and peatland development, managing water tables in existing peatlands, and implementing POME treatment technologies such as biogas capture and composting. The document also compares production characteristics across key regions, noting that Southeast Asia has the highest yields and production volumes, while West Africa has the lowest.

The report examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of beef production, highlighting that emissions vary drastically by region and production system, ranging from 16 to 360 kg CO2e/kg edible meat. It identifies enteric fermentation, feed production, and land-use change as the primary emission drivers, while noting that well-managed grazing lands can act as carbon sinks. The document outlines mitigation strategies including improved feed digestibility, rotational grazing, and feed additives, estimating a total global mitigation potential between 0.67 and 2.55 GtCO2e/yr.

The document examines GHG emissions from the wild-caught tuna supply chain, noting that emissions typically range from 8–9 kgCO2e/kg of edible weight or tuna product. Fishing fuel use is the dominant emission source, with significant variation based on the method used: purse seining is the least intensive (1.7–4.1 kgCO2e/kg EW), while longlining and trolling can be much higher. Other contributors include packaging—specifically metal cans—and air transport, which can exceed 10 kgCO2e/kg EW. Proposed mitigation strategies include rebuilding fish stocks to improve catch-per-unit-effort, switching to low-fuel fishing methods, streamlining packaging, reducing air freight, and decreasing seafood loss and waste.

The document analyzes the GHG footprint of salmon, noting that emissions are dominated by feed, with total retail emissions typically between 7 and 10 kgCO2e/kg edible weight. It highlights significant variability based on production methods, feed composition, and transport modes, while identifying land-use change in feed and air freight as primary targets for mitigation.

The report analyzes the GHG emissions of maize production, noting an average on-farm emission of 0.6 kgCO2e/kg maize. It identifies land-use change, nitrogen fertilizer application, and tillage practices as primary emission drivers. The document highlights significant regional variability, with high emissions intensity often correlating with low yields in countries like Nigeria. Proposed mitigation efforts include preventing habitat conversion, adopting no-till or strip-till farming, and optimizing nitrogen fertilizer use through nitrification inhibitors.

Trend Asia challenges PT PLN's claim that biomass co-firing facilitates an energy transition and reduces emissions. The report argues that the massive land requirements for energy plantation forests (HTE) to supply wood pellets would lead to significant deforestation, resulting in net carbon emissions rather than reductions. It finds that biomass has become a complement to, rather than a substitute for, coal, with total coal consumption continuing to rise.

An executive summary by the Union of Concerned Scientists finding that the average new battery electric vehicle in the US produces over 50% less lifetime global warming pollution than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. While EV manufacturing is more carbon-intensive due to battery production, the operational emissions savings quickly offset this 'debt,' with a mean breakeven point of 21,300 miles for cars. The report advocates for cleaner electricity grids, battery recycling, and increased EV accessibility to accelerate climate benefits.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States produce significantly lower lifetime global warming emissions than gasoline vehicles, with the average EV reducing total lifetime emissions by 52% for sedans and 57% for pickup trucks. While EV manufacturing is more carbon-intensive due to battery production, the operational savings quickly offset this 'debt,' with breakeven points occurring between 17,500 and 21,300 miles. The report emphasizes that the emissions benefit of EVs increases as the electricity grid decarbonizes and recommends policies to accelerate renewable energy deployment, improve battery circularity, and increase vehicle efficiency.

The study assesses the environmental performance of incorporating bakery byproduct meal, chemically-processed grocery food waste feed, and Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) meal into laying hen diets in the US. Results indicate that while all alternative diets can reduce land use and marine eutrophication by replacing agricultural ingredients like soybean meal, they often introduce trade-offs, particularly increasing global warming potential and water consumption. Bakery meal showed the most modest impacts, whereas BSFL meal caused the highest increases in greenhouse gas emissions. The report concludes that the environmental benefits of waste-to-feed systems are modest and highly dependent on energy use, suggesting that renewable energy is essential to ensure positive outcomes and that preventing food waste remains the top priority.

The document examines the critical materials required for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), highlighting the risks associated with concentrated mineral reserves and the environmental and human rights impacts of mining. It argues that while BEVs significantly reduce life cycle global warming emissions compared to gasoline vehicles, scaling their production requires a transition toward a circular economy. The author emphasizes that widespread recycling could meet 30% to 40% of the US material demand for passenger BEVs by 2035. The text identifies significant barriers to this transition, including a lack of recycling infrastructure—with fewer than a dozen global facilities—and a lack of comprehensive regulatory frameworks. It recommends policy actions such as setting recycled content targets, standardizing battery labeling, and enforcing international labor and environmental standards for mining.

The document introduces a high-spatial-resolution life cycle assessment approach to quantify greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural supply chains. Applying this method to Brazilian soy exports between 2010 and 2015, the authors found significant variability in carbon footprints based on sourcing areas and destinations. The highest emissions were linked to soy from Pará and the MATOPIBA states due to natural vegetation loss, with exports to the European Union showing the highest carbon footprint per ton. Total GHG emissions for Brazilian soy exports in this period were estimated at 223.46 million tons, with China as the largest importer.

The report details how plastic pollution constitutes a global public health crisis, affecting humans at every stage of the plastic life cycle. It examines the toxic emissions from fracking and petrochemical refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors from packaging, and the health risks associated with microplastics and incineration. The document emphasizes that current fragmented regulatory approaches are insufficient and calls for a global reduction in plastic production to protect human rights and health.

The study compares a hybridised synthesis technique for alkyl polyglucosides (APG) using wheat straw against a commercial palm kernel and wheat grain pathway. The wheat straw-derived process significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, water use, and fossil energy consumption, addressing the 'food vs. chemical' sustainability conflict.

The document examines biomethane derived from landfills, wastewater treatment centers, and dairies as a replacement for diesel and natural gas in California's heavy-duty vehicle fleets. While acknowledging its climate benefits over fossil fuels, the authors highlight that California's total biomethane potential from waste would meet only 3% of the state's natural gas demand and 15% of its diesel consumption. The report warns that promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles could inadvertently increase reliance on fossil natural gas due to this supply gap. It concludes that biomethane provides the greatest emissions reductions when used to generate electricity or hydrogen for electric vehicles, but that battery electric vehicles powered by the grid remain the most effective path for meeting climate goals.

The report evaluates a proposed wood biorefinery in Estonia with a projected capacity of 750,000 tonnes per year. Using the CEPI methodology, the study finds that the plant would have a negative fossil carbon footprint of -0.39 tonnes of CO2-e per tonne of finished product, primarily because the renewable electricity it exports to the grid replaces oil shale-based power. The plant is also estimated to sequester 1.3 tonnes of biogenic CO2-e per tonne of product. Compared to a 'zero scenario' where wood is exported to Nordic countries, the project is expected to reduce Estonia's overall greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1.6% and increase the share of renewable electricity in national consumption to 26%.

The study finds that ethanol produced from cane molasses in Indonesia results in a 67% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline, with emissions estimated at 29 gCO2e per MJ. While the Net Energy Value is -7 MJ/l, the Net Renewable Energy Value is 17.7 MJ/l and the energy yield ratio is 6.1. The analysis indicates that results are highly sensitive to molasses price, ethanol yield, and sugarcane yield, and suggests that energy and environmental gains can be improved through biogas recovery from wastewater and surplus bioelectricity generation via efficient cogeneration using sugarcane biomass residues.

A Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) generate approximately 50 percent fewer lifetime global warming emissions than comparable gasoline cars in the U.S., despite higher initial manufacturing emissions. The report highlights that the emissions benefits of EVs increase as the electricity grid shifts toward renewable energy, noting that the average EV currently produces emissions equivalent to a gasoline vehicle achieving 68 MPG.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that driving on electricity produces lower global warming emissions than the average new gasoline car in every U.S. region. While battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have higher manufacturing emissions due to lithium-ion battery production, this is offset by lower operational emissions, resulting in lifetime emissions approximately 50% lower than gasoline counterparts. The analysis highlights that the electricity source used for charging and manufacturing is the most critical factor in determining an EV's total emissions impact.

The report finds that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) produce significantly lower lifetime global warming emissions than comparable gasoline cars, despite higher emissions during the manufacturing process. On average, BEVs sold in the U.S. produce less than half the emissions of gasoline vehicles, with the extra manufacturing burden offset within 6 to 16 months of driving. The environmental benefit of EVs increases as the U.S. electricity grid shifts from coal to renewable energy sources.