The Application of Circular Footprint Formula in Bioenergy/Bioeconomy: Challenges, Case Study, and Comparison with Life Cycle Assessment Allocation Methods
, Thiago Teixeira Matheus 1, Ricardo Musule Lagunes 2, Remo Filleti 3, Fabio Yamaji 4 and Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva 1Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
There are some formatting issues and typos in the manuscript. The entire manuscript should be carefully checked.
Equation 3 should be checked
The equations presented in Table are confusing, it is better to avoid the use of Cross Line, and modify the equations accordingly
In Table 1, what is the source of electricity
In-text citation for some references should be modified, see lines 396, 397
Author Response
Point 1. There are some formatting issues and typos in the manuscript. The entire manuscript should be carefully checked.
Response 1: The authors appreciate this feedback, and the entire manuscript was carefully reviewed to avoid formatting issues and typos.
Point 2. Equation 3 should be checked
Response 2: Thank you for pointing this out. We've improved the representation of Equation 3, please check lines 265 to 268.
Point 3. The equations presented in Table are confusing, it is better to avoid the use of Cross Line, and modify the equations accordingly.
Response 3: We appreciate the recommendation. In order to better indicate the null values in the formulas, we replaced the cross line with red letters and the bold parameters with blue. We expect that with this change the understanding got better. Please check table 2.
Pont 4. In Table 1, what is the source of electricity
Response 4: Thank you for pointing this out. In Brazil, most of the electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants, which is the source of this case study. So, Table 1 has been updated.
Point 5. In-text citation for some references should be modified, see lines 396,
Response 5: In-text citations were fully revised, please check lines 429 to 431.
Reviewer 2 Report
Elaborate on the various components of bioeconomy in the Introduction section.
Where is the error analysis with the tools for LCA analytics?
What is the Standard deviation in the analysis?
Use the following papers and cite them for bioenergy analysis and relate them to SDGs: https://doi.org/10.1089/sus.2019.0048, https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14018, https://doi.org/10.1089/scc.2022.0040
Pg 12: " recommend some closing 396 resource loop circular indicators for agriculture." Explain further.
What is meant by ecosystem service?
What are the assumptions and limitations of the present study? How can they influence overall bioenergy growth in broader spectrum?
Author Response
Point 1: Elaborate on the various components of bioeconomy in the Introduction section.
Response 1: The introduction section was improved to expand the main research context including more information on the Bioeconomy movement. Please read the following new sentences and paragraphs in the text (lines 40 to 45):
“In this context, biofuels can be used as substitutes for petrol or diesel in the automobile and the energy sectors; densified biomass can be used to power thermal power plants; and biodegradable wastes can play a role in energy recovery via biogas mechanisms (2020 Bose at. al). Also, biofuel popularization could drive the development of policies that would make it easier to carry out Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (2022 Bhattacharya et al.)
Point 2. Where is the error analysis with the tools for LCA analytics?
Response 2. We appreciate the recommendation. To better describe the error analysis, uncertainty analysis was performed. In this sense, the Monte Carlo stochastic simulation was applied for both impact categories (GWP and CED). Please check lines 358 to 374.
Point 3. What is the Standard deviation in the analysis?
Response 3: Please check table 3 (line 364).
Point 4. Use the following papers and cite them for bioenergy analysis and relate them to SDGs: https://doi.org/10.1089/sus.2019.0048, https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14018, https://doi.org/10.1089/scc.2022.0040
Response 4: The above-mentioned papers were selected and used in this new version of the manuscript. Please check lines 40-45; 348-349.
Point 5. Pg 12: " recommend some closing 396 resource loop circular indicators for agriculture." Explain further.
Response 5: In Circular Economy, Closing the loop means cutting down on waste and using resources by transforming the products' life cycles. In other words, today's products are tomorrow's raw materials, creating a resource-closed loop. Velasco-Munoz et al (2021) successfully applied CE indicators to agriculture systems. To improve the understanding we changed the manuscript, please check lines 429 and 430.
Point 6. What is meant by ecosystem service?
Response 6: Ecosystem Services can be defined as contributions of ecosystem structure and function (in combination with other inputs) to human well-being (Burkhard et al. 2012).To better describe, we changed the manuscript with the description of ES, please check lines 489 to 492.
Point 7. What are the assumptions and limitations of the present study? How can they influence overall bioenergy growth in broader spectrum?
Response 7: The CFF contains a high level of complexity since the method is characterized by having multiple parameters, covering the quality of the material used, marketing, energy, and other aspects. In this sense, the application of the CFF to solid biofuels from residual biomass highlighted the need to adapt and match some parameters of the formula. In a broader spectrum, improving the CFF application to biofuels can help in the development of effective public policies that could boost the entire bioenergy production chain.
We hope that these changes to the manuscript will facilitate the decision to publish this study. We have made a considerable effort to take into account the interesting suggestions proposed by the reviewers. In any case, we are open to consideration of any further comments.
Yours sincerely,
The Authors
Reviewer 3 Report
1. First of all, I’d recommend the manuscript title change. The work does not propose new solutions, based on research results or analyze specific proposals for changes, whether in GWP, CFF calculations, or the approach to LCA. That is why “… directions for future research on supporting the bioeconomy” is an unnecessary part of the title. When possible changes in the LCA approach are discussed, they are based on literature data. Please re-thing the title of the manuscript.
2. The authors focused on the analysis of solid biomass and point out that it is very important whether we prepare calculations for a solid or liquid product is important. I agree. In that case, why the Authors compared their calculation results with bioethanol? Why there is no comparison of the obtained calculation results (3 scenarios) with the calculation obtained for similar raw materials (literature data)?
2. Please correct the indexes (super/subscript) throughout the manuscript (e.g. lines 25, 172). The correction request applies to the entire manuscript
3. Several abbreviation were not described, as BPX (line 211)
4. Figure 5 &6 - please decide whether the figure should have a frame or not and standardize it in the manuscript
Author Response
Point 1. First of all, I’d recommend the manuscript title change. The work does not propose new solutions, based on research results or analyze specific proposals for changes, whether in GWP, CFF calculations, or the approach to LCA. That is why “… directions for future research on supporting the bioeconomy” is an unnecessary part of the title. When possible changes in the LCA approach are discussed, they are based on literature data. Please re-thing the title of the manuscript.
Response 1: The authors agree, and the new title is “The application of Circular Footprint Formula in Bioenergy/Bioeconomy: challenges, case study, and comparison with life cycle assessment allocation methods”
Point 2. The authors focused on the analysis of solid biomass and point out that it is very important whether we prepare calculations for a solid or liquid product is important. I agree. In that case, why the Authors compared their calculation results with bioethanol? Why there is no comparison of the obtained calculation results (3 scenarios) with the calculation obtained for similar raw materials (literature data)?
Response 2: We appreciate your suggestion. There is no comparison between liquid biofuels because we understand that they are products that are not competitors since they are used for different applications. Liquid biofuel is mostly used for vehicles while solid biofuel is used primarily for burning, heat generation, and home heating when exported to Europe.
Point 3. Please correct the indexes (super/subscript) throughout the manuscript (e.g. lines 25, 172). The correction request applies to the entire manuscript
Response 3: The authors appreciate this feedback and the entire manuscript was carefully reviewed to correct the indexes issues.
Point 4. Several abbreviation were not described, as BPX (line 211)
Response 4: Thank you for this comment. The abbreviation was checked. BPX means the Best Practices approach from French Association for Normalization. Such information was included in the manuscript, please check lines 221 and 222.
Point 5. Figure 5 &6 - please decide whether the figure should have a frame or not and standardize it in the manuscript
Response 5: The figures have been standardized with frames in the entire manuscript.
We hope that these changes to the manuscript will facilitate the decision to publish this study. We have made a considerable effort to take into account the interesting suggestions proposed by the reviewers. In any case, we are open to consideration of any further comments.
Yours sincerely,
The Authors
