Life cycle assessment of products from agro-based companies in Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Abstract
Despite the fact that life cycle assessment (LCA) is a very vital tool, it has not been used in Uganda most likely because very
little is known about it. In an attempt to initiate and promote LCA in Uganda, a partnership among Makerere University, selected agrobased
companies, and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) was initiated with the broad aim of promoting life cycle thinking
for improved agricultural products competitiveness on regional and international market. Specifically, the study focused on assessing
and quantifying the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of selected products.
Methods Life cycle assessment toolwas used to quantify environmental impacts including globalwarming, ecological toxicity, human
toxicity, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion. A detailed, process-based gate-to-gate (core process) LCA approach in
accordance with ISO 14040, 14044 (ISO 2006a, b), PCR 2012:07 CPC 013 Fruits and nuts together with PCR 2011:08, CPC 2143
Fruit juices was conducted. The functional units have been redefined to; 1 litre of packaged juice ready for consumption and 1 kg of
packaged dried fruits including the non-edible parts. Calculations at the farm stage involved calculations of net emission from land
cover changes using; ΔC = (activity data * emission factor). Calculations of N2O from manure management were obtained.
Results and discussion Carbon dioxide emissions mainly result from the change of tree cover to crop fields and use of fossil fuel.
The other impact categories (ecological toxicity, human toxicity, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion) were brought
about by the packaging material used. Results also showed that energy consumption was highest at the agricultural stage of dried
pineapples processing and production/factory life cycle stage of sweet bananas. The main challenge during assessment was lack
of records.
Conclusions There is need for avoiding or minimizing the conversion of forest-covered land into agricultural land use due to the
high-carbon emissions associated with the change, and for switching to renewable energy sources. There is need for a national
database to support LCA efforts.
Description
Keywords
Agro-based, Dried, Juice, Mango, Pineapples, Sweet bananas
Citation
Mfitumukiza, D., Nambasa, H., & Walakira, P. (2019). Life cycle assessment of products from agro-based companies in Uganda. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 24, 1925-1936. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-019-01629-3