Tools for assessing sustainability of bio-sourced products

Claude Villeneuve Full professor Chair in co-advising Université du Québec à Chicoutimi ABC Conference, Maastricht April 20 2018

Planetary boundaries

Source: Steffen et al., 2015

Safe

Uncertain

High level of rissk

Unknown

World population growth

Global warming

Bio-sourced products as a solution?

• Photosynthesis feedstock is atmospheric CO2

• Using more bio-based products in replacement for fossil fuel carbon may contribute to reduce CO2 induced global warming

• But is it sustainable?

Sustainability principles • Normativity: SD is a social construction that must

be reviewed periodically

• Equity: intergeneration, intra-generation, geographical, procedural and inter-specific

• Integration: All sustainability principles must be considered together in a holistic way

• Dynamic : SD is a process directed change, not a end-state thus it is cybernetic by essence

Waas, 2011 in Villeneuve et al. 2017

A dynamic model with 6 dimensions

Governance

Social

Ecological

Economical

Cultural

Ethical

Selected by United Nations in 2017

SDAG characteristics

• Free download Excel™ spreadsheet with User’s guide

• 6 dimensions, 40 themes, 166 objectives

• Fully automated for easy teamwork

SDAG functions

• Screening : achieved by computer word recognition and validation with promoters

• Weighting : consensus of stakeholders

• Evaluation : performed by a team of analysts

• Improvements listing : open process

• Priority setting : analysts + stakeholders

• Indicator selection : analysts

• Follow-up promoter + stakeholders

Method

• Check Quebec’s sustainability governance and indicators in the forest sector

• Screen Sustainable Forest Management Strategy

• Use 4 LCAs conducted on boreal forest bio-sourced products

• Confirm the impact of the loss of carbon sink for producing hydroelectricity

• Compare with NewBellagioSTAMP principles for sustainability assessment

Quebec’s SD record sheet Gouvernance du Développement durable

Profil national

I . Présentation générale du pays ou gouvernement membre

Canada-Québec Continent Amérique

Sous-région géographique Amérique-du-Nord

Superficie (km2) 1 667 712

Population (2016)1 8 287 800 hab

Densité de population (habitants/km2)2 6,4

Taux de croissance démographique (2015)1 6,1 pour1000

Indice de développement humain NA

PIB/habitant exprimé en PPA (2016) 37 888 $US

Empreinte écologique (hectares globaux/habitant)

Émissions de GES/habitant3 10 tonnes/hab

Pourcentage aires protégées4 9,35%

Coefficient de Gini (2014) 0,360

1bilan démographique du Québec 2016 2Institut de la Statistique du Québec

3Inventaire québécois des émissions de GES 2014 4http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/aires_quebec.htm

Second edition 2017 Developed by UQAC Chair in eco-advising Documented for the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie for reporting to United Nations High Level Political Forum Highlights SD law since 2006 SD governmental strategy 2015-2020 in force Verified annually by SD Commissioner Harmonized with Agenda 2030 SDGs

Quebec’s Sustainable Forest Management Strategy screening

• 98% Boreal forests grow on crown’s land

• SFMS have been developed with stakeholders consultation since 2009

• Stakeholders are still represented on consultation table prior to management plans

• Forest possibility is determined by an independent Chief forester bureau

Quebec’s forested lands

760 000 Km2 of forested landacape Approximately 1% of manageable boreal forest is allocated each year (250 Kha)

Quebec’s Sustainable Forest Management Strategy screening

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%Sociale

Écologique

Économique

Culturelle

Éthique

Gouvernance

Mating 70/166 objectives Designed on a 3 pillars model It is a sectorial strategy

Screening (themes/dimension)

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Institutions

Instruments et…

Participation et…

Subsidiarité

Intégration locale

Information

Innovation

Gestion durisque et…

(0/4)

(0/2)

(5/7)

(2/3)

(1/2)

(5/5)

(5/5)

(2/5)

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Responsabilité

Paix

BienveillancePartage

Démarcheéthique

(1/6)

(2/4)

(2/4)

(2/3)

(1/4)

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Transmission du

patrimoineculturel

Pratiquesculturelles

etartistiques

Diversitéculturelle

Contribution de la

culture audévelopp…

(0/3)

(1/5)

(2/4)

(1/3)

Governance

Ethical

Cultural

Screening (themes/dimension)

Economic

Ecological

Social

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Production…

Consommation…

Viabilitééconomi…

Travail

Richesseset…

Énergie

Entrepreneuriat

Modèleséconomi…

(

(0/3)

(2/4)

(1/2)

(3/4)

(0/3)

(3/3)

(1/4)

0%20%40%60%80%

100%Écosystèmes

Biodiversité

Ressources

Extrants

Usages duterritoire

Changementsclimatiques

(4/6)

(3/3)

(3/5)

(0/5)

(3/3)

(3/5)

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Luttecontre la…

Eau

Alimentation

Santé

SécuritéÉducation

Collectivitéet…

Établissements…

Genre

(1/3)

(0/4) (

0/5)

(0/6)

(0/3)

(1/5)

(3/6)

(1/6)

(0/3)

LCAS AND CARBON FOOTPRINTS

Carbon balance of plantation

Main processes

Net carbon uptake per ha 280 tonnes CO2 for 70 years

Cradle to gate carbon footprint of a paperback book

Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2012, vol 16 #2, p.212-222

Cradle to gate carbon footprint of a paperback book

Cradle to grave LCA of Quebec’s boreal forest glulam

Cradle to grave LCA of Quebec’s boreal forest glulam

Sensitivity test for an hospital furnace

0

20

40

60

80

100

kg C

O2

éq

/GJ

Changements climatiques

Source: Analyse de cycle de vie réalisée pour le Réseau biomasse Matapédia, Chaire en éco-conseil (2015)

Sustainability indicators for Quebec’s boreal forest HWP

• Low carbon electricity procurement (99% renewable)

• Biodiversity conservation

– Vast area covered with redundant and resilient species

– Significant protected areas

– Certified forest procurement (FSC, SFI)

• Stakeholder’s consultation

The New BellagioSTAMP Principles

• Guiding vision

• Essential considerations

• Adequate scope

• Framework and indicators

• Effective communications

• Broad participation

• Continuity and capacity Pintér, L.; Hardi, P.; Martinuzzi, A.; Hall, J. Bellagio STAMP: Principles for sustainability assessment and measurement. Ecol. Indic. 2012, 17, 20–28

Conclusion

• Sustainability assessment is a process and Quebec’s boreal forest management is on its way to sustainability

• Different tools and indicators helps to point out hotspots in a life cycle perspective

• For forest bio-sourced products transport, electricity procurement and end-of-life scenarios are sensitive processes in a LCA perspective

• Existing tools for sustainability assessment are helpful to design, evaluate and improve policies, strategies and other management

More information?