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Case study: Environmental hotspots identification of GECCO bio-diesel production from cooked oil within an ecodesign approach
Gecco is a social solidarity-based enterprise that aims collecting and recycling
used oils and fats into bio-diesel or bio-lubricant. More generally, Gecco collects all
waste food from catering such as coffee grounds, bio-waste or used plastic always
in a perspective of local value within different sectors such as biogas or
manufacturing fuel bricks / pellets / splint.
Description of
the company
The project plans to conduct a LCA on a new
biodiesel industry and on the existing biodiesel
industry obtained by chemical and
petrochemical means.
Short
description of
the project
Key
Objectives of
the Project
There are three objectives within this study
during the project. The first is to extract in the
value chain established by Gecco, the most
impacting processes or flow. The aim is to
implement corrective actions within the value
chain even to change it. For example, one of
the first results allowed us to see that the use
of petrochemical production of alcohol is
detrimental and need to work on an
appropriate choice of alcohol. The second
objective is to compare Gecco with the
existing value chains of fuels and biofuels in
order to, once again, be able to act on the
value chain to change the processes or the
most impacting flow. Finally, Gecco wants to
communicate these results through scientific
communication (scientific publications,
conferences) but also to the general public in
order to promote its business model to
potential new customers.
Timeline
Life Cycle Assessment and ecodesignLC Approach
used in the
Project
SectorOctober 2015
–
February 2016
The environmental approach through eco-
design and LCA is part of the DNA of Gecco.
Since the beginning, the choice was made not
to rely on a model taking into account the only
economic factor but the three economic, social
and environmental factors for the future
development of the company. Gecko has
quickly set up circular economy thinking and an
environmental approach using LCA as a
decision tool. Furthermore, it allows opening up
new market opportunities, and demonstrating
competitive advantage over other companies
or existing value chain.
Motivation
Factors
• LCiP partner : Aubin ROY and Naeem
ADIBI – (plateforme [avniR]);
• Life Cycle Champion : Marc Haquette
(Cd2e)
• Entreprise : Cedric His (Research
engineer) and Michel Millares
(Innovation, Quality Safety and
Environment Management)
Project team
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At the time of writing this report, two main findings arise from the study. The major two impacts on the entire value
chain have been identified, the main one being a product used to synthesize the biodiesel and the second being the
collection of the waste.
In terms of communication, the project starts promoting information of our approach thanks to the video we started
broadcasting.
Case studies: Environmental hotspots identification of GECCO bio-diesel production from cooked oil within an ecodesign approach
The LCA has been subjected to several issues. First of
all, the lack of internal knowledge of the tool within the
company. Secondly, the lack human resources, with
only 8 employees, none of which could be mobilized
full-time or even a sufficient time to carry out the
project. The last obstacle was the access to certain
data included specific products of the process which
none LCA had been conducted or published yet.
Currently, if the study should be done again, a half-
time job should be allocated to it.
Implementation
challenges /
lessons learnt
Expected
Impact
Results of the
project
The BIOHEC-LCA project aims to experience the life cycle assessment to evaluate the biodiesel production chain,
from collecting waste oil and fat from catering to biodiesel mixed with B30 type and petroleum diesel as fuel for
buses. In this context, the life cycle analysis will be carried out on the current biodiesel industry (synthesis of methyl
esters of waste food oils and fats obtained by chemical means) and the industry that wants to set up Gecco. For thatpurpose, a prospective study has already been carried out. This study will be supplied by the data fromthe simultaneously pilot project.
Description of
the Project
Environmental impacts
In terms of environmental impact, the expected results are a 85%
reduction of GHG, decreased consumption of non-renewable energy by
70%, improved effects on human toxicity impact of 100% and a decrease
of oxidation and eutrophication of soil and water respectively of 20% and
10% compared to conventional diesel industry.
Social impacts
In the long term, for the same volume of fuel produced, the industry set up
by Gecco will create 10 additional FTEs compared to conventional diesel
industry. Moreover, these jobs will be located in each development region that cannot be relocated.
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Case studies: Environmental hotspots identification of GECCO bio-diesel production from cooked oil within an ecodesign approach
Description of
maturity in LC
approaches
before the
project
Gecco had prior the start of project an
ecodesign approach but mainly focused
on the process that was being developed
and implemented. In addition, three main
impacts, social impacts, economic
impacts and environmental impacts
although present in the company's DNA
was not yet linked in a coherent
commercial speech.
Description of
maturity in LC
approaches
after the
project
Maturity and Strategy
Life Cycle Thinking is now applied to the
entire value chain of the biodiesel industry
that Gecco wishes to implement. A new
coherent discourse between the various
impacts has been found. Moreover, Life
Cycle Thinking will be applied more
naturally to new activities Gecco will
develop such as collecting coffee grounds
or biowaste.
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Case studies: Environmental hotspots identification of GECCO bio-diesel production from cooked oil within an ecodesign approach
The project is well advanced but incomplete for the moment. The two main strengths of the project are the
environmental and social gains that it will generate. By collecting waste in one territory, transforming and recovering
within the same territory and finally using the product in local authorities, the circular economy aims implicative loop
and gives regional or local meaning to every action conducted:
Environmental Standpoint The direct distribution decrease immediately the impacts related to transportation of
materials and products. In addition, each supplier within the process was seleted on the basis of its local situation
(Brabant company in Tressin, Equinox in Wavrin, etc.) to further minimize the transportation, which has an effect on
GHG emissions and consumption of non-renewable energy.
Economic Standpoint The weakness of the project is the complexity of implementation as each new franchise
establishment, at least two local stakeholders must be involved: a collector and a local authority.
Social Standpoint The creation of 10 additional FTEs and upgrading of the local authority’s actions are one of the
great strengths of the project.
Evaluation of
the project
Economic
feasibility:
expected ROI
and payback
periods
During the LCA project, the economic feasibility started to be evaluated but is unfinished. Although not measurable,
the LCA conducted provides the basis of the arguments on the environmental interest of the model developed by
Gecco for new territories.
For Gecco, each new franchise could generate income through the economic model in place (Diagnostics, machine sales, training, etc.), which amount is estimated at € 200k per franchise.
• For the LCiP consortium: Aubin ROY
• Life Cycle Champion : Marc Haquette
• Entreprise : Cedric His
• Website of the projet :
http://www.lifelcip.eu/
www.lifelcip.eu
Planned follow
up activitiesThe project is beginning to mature. The next
steps that will be undertaken are the biodiesel
synthesis process validation and its use in
vehicles of the city of Lille (buses, washer /
sweeper) for technical validation and feasibility.
Subsequently, a large-scale validation of the
entire circular economy loop will be made
(BIOHEC-Life project).
During these steps, the LCA study will continue
to be implemented and matured to give the real
impacts of the Gecco’s business model within a
territory.
Links and
contacts for
further
information
This project has been funded with support from the LIFE+ Programme of the EU. The views expressed here
are purely the authors’ own and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made
of the information contained herein.
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