Future-proofing our lives and our industries with sustainable, biobased solutions
When the lockdown is over, and industries begin to open up, there is a likelihood of a sudden spurt in the usage of carbon emitting substances. This, together with the pollution of air, land and water and the climate change that is being brought about by greenhouse gas emissions, will present another serious threat to the sustainability of our planet and all life forms on it. Much of the problem has to do with the choice and the utilization of raw materials for industrial activities. Many of these raw materials are non-replenishable. Moreover, their sourcing and their use tend to generate large amounts of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Against this challenging scenario, utilization of bio-based raw materials in production of environmentally responsible products looks a promising step towards sustainability. Currently, the whole world is dealing with a global pandemic bringing many industries to a halt. The need for all industries to adopt sustainability as a practice and not just a compulsion is more than ever.
Sustainable materials such as agro-residues can be fractionated in bio-refineries and processed further to yield high-value products that can serve as an alternative to fossil-based and other environmentally detrimental raw materials in many industry sectors. Fractionation of biomass separates it into lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose with high yields and purities. These intermediate products can be further refined into textiles, cosmetics, and industrial products.
Cellulose typically share 40-45 % in the total weight of dry biomass. With efficient technology, it can be processed further to produce high quality pulp which has high application in paper and textile industry. Textiles are fundamental to our society providing us essential clothing and home furnishing items and employing millions of workers. However, textile production and consumption cause significant environmental, climate and social impacts by using resources, water, land and chemicals and emitting greenhouse gases and pollutants. Cellulosic fibers can be used to produce sustainable textiles through which we can significantly improve resource efficiencies. Similarly the use of bio based cellulose fibers in Paper and Packaging industry can help reduce our dependence on traditional wood pulp significantly.
Hemicellulose, which is typically 25-35 % of dry biomass by weight, also finds wide range of commercial applications as a raw material in industries such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Lignin shares 20-30% of biomass and is proving to be a valuable resource. Presently, it is mainly used for generating energy, though it could also be used for many other higher value purposes. As per many research publications and successful lab level experiments, lignin has high potential applications in production of bio-resins, adhesives, concrete plasticizers, and thermoplastics.
In many developing countries, agricultural waste is burned in the fields. In India, stubble burning is one of the major contributors to air pollution during winter. This straw, instead of being burned, can be used to produce high value sustainable products. Moreover, such applications of biomass can create an additional stream of revenue for farmers.
The commercial biorefinery being set up in Assam uses bamboo as raw material to produce bioethanol, biochemicals and biocoal. The bioethanol is blended with petrol, while the biocoal is used to generate heat and power for the refinery. The excess power is used to replace fossil-based electricity production. Even a single biorefinery of this kind can generate employment and revenue at every stage, from bamboo cultivation to extraction to transportation.
Using bio-ethanol as a supplementary fuel in vehicles has measurable GHG emissions benefits when considering the life cycle steps required for petrol. Carbon dioxide (CO2) released when bio-ethanol is used in transport is offset by the CO2 captured when crops/plants used to produce bio-ethanol are cultivated. As a result, vehicles running on high-level blends of ethanol produce less net CO2 than conventional vehicles per mile traveled.
For a predominantly agrarian economy like India, it is essential for the farm economy to flourish for a positive impact on our GDP. This is the peak of rabi season in India and crops like wheat, gram, lentil, mustard, etc. (including paddy in irrigated tracts) are at the harvestable stage or almost reaching maturity but due to various constraints due to the ongoing pandemic, the farmers are facing disruption in functional activities. It would be prudent to transition to bio-based solutions as far as possible. Doing so will help us achieve positive outcomes on many fronts –environmental impact; sustainability of industrial operations; employment for the masses; and additional revenue for farmers. This economic stability will also help our farmers to mitigate the negative impact of COVID – 19 till some extent with generation of additional income.
The growing awareness about climate change will increase the demand for resource-efficient and eco-friendly solutions in the years ahead. Exploring economically, socially and ecologically viable biobased solutions to the issues we face today will help us build a strong and sustainable way of life post this pandemic.
