Comparative analysis of manure treatment scenarios on climate change and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

This study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of manure management, identifying transportation as a major contributor to global warming and freshwater eutrophication impacts. Transporting substrates to the biogas plant was the main hotspot, highlighting a critical area for improvement. The findings emphasize the importance of method selection in geographically dependent assessments, especially in the Baltic Sea region. Characterization factors specific to Sweden revealed higher environmental impact values than those produced by the ReCiPe method, underscoring the need for regional differentiation in LCA. By optimizing manure management practices and enhancing nutrient distribution, impacts on both climate change and eutrophication can be significantly reduced, thereby lowering nutrient flow to the Baltic Sea. Combining these optimizations with transportation impact reductions further amplifies these environmental benefits, demonstrating that geographically tailored approaches in LCA offer essential insights for managing regional-scale effects.

Keywords

Decision-making; Environmental burden; Nutrient recovery

Published in

Resources, Conservation and Recycling
2025, volume: 212, article number: 108017

SLU Authors

• de Morais Lima, Priscila

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

• Aronsson, Helena

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nordberg, Åke

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Environmental Management

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.108017

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139423