BioEnergy Systems LLC (BES) provides analyses of agricultural and bioenergy systems and products using:

  • life cycle analyses
  • carbon footprint analyses
  • ecological footprints

 

A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a set of standardized procedures used to measure the potential environmental impacts associated with all aspects of a product’s generation, transportation and disposal.

  • LCAs are considered to be the most comprehensive method for analyzing sustainability measures and are now internationally standardized via ISO 14040.
    • Companies can realize multiple benefits from the knowledge generated by a LCA. 
  • LCAs typically consider Cradle-to-Grave (product generation through disposal) or Cradle-to-Cradle (product generation to use to recycling/reuse to new product) approaches but are not the only measures of environmental impact. 

 

Other sustainability measures include:

  • Carbon Footprint Analysis...an analysis limited to carbon flows—primarily greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide or methane.

 

 

 

  • Ecological Footprints...an analysis of the equivalent land area necessary to produce the product(s) in question.