Verification of Circular Economy solutions and sustainability of products with life cycle assessment

The process of transition from linear to circular economy through the delivery of sustainable products has already started while its environmental consequences are not clearly investigated yet. Life cycle assessment could be a perfect tool to verify whether the promises of emission and waste free circular manufacturing processes are true. The objective of the chapter is to present the methodological choices within LCA study and practical example of LCA application for the assessment of circular solutions. The objective is achieved through focusing on the sector of biopolymers and production of mcl-PHA and P(3HB). On the basis of biopolymer production from waste oil the chapter illustrates also the requirements of LCA tool with regard to its information supply. As the results of the study shows, different approaches to LCA methodology end up with significant changes in the results. This is related to the decisions on using attributional or consequential approaches as well as to the allocation of environmental burdens and benefits from circular solution