Screening LCA of 11 GIANCE Use Cases – Preliminary results

As part of the GIANCE project, a screening Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been conducted to evaluate the environmental performance of Graphene-Related Materials (GRM) across 11 use cases (UCs). This preliminary analysis was based on UC’s Key Performance Indicators and their main differences and improvements expected from GIANCE new solutions. The environmental impact of each UC was compared to conventional technologies and materials, identifying key impact drivers and areas for improvement. The aim was to verify potential benefits, assess the significance of the impacts, and identify key areas (hotspots) for further improvement during the UC design phase along the project. The main environmental impact categories affected include Ecotoxicity freshwater organics, Climate change fossil, Resource use fossils, and Water Use. These impacts are largely attributed to the high energy and water consumption in graphene production and the wastewater treatment process. Despite these challenges, graphene-based solutions demonstrate a potential reduction in environmental footprint when compared to reference results based on low Technology Readiness Level and literature data. However, for most UCs, the inclusion of graphene and modifications in the bill of materials resulted in higher environmental impacts than the reference parts, mainly due to the intensive production impacts of GRM. In cases where changes in the use phase were considered, some UCs showed a positive trend, indicating a potential reduction in the environmental footprint. Taking environmental aspects into account at an early stage of advanced materials is an essential step in ensuring responsible innovation. These insights will guide future development towards sustainable innovations in the application of graphene.