Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of lipids extraction from insect biomass

This study conducts a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of producing refined mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) oil at both laboratory and theoretical industrial scales. The analysis adopts a cradle-to-gate perspective, examining the process from mealworm rearing to refined oil production. Results are obtained through Environmental Footprint 3.0 impact assessment methodology in Umberto 11, with support of the Ecoinvent 3.10 database. The goal of the laboratory-scale assessment is to identify environmental hotspots, while the up-scaled model offers insights into potential optimizations. Results show that laboratory-scale mealworm oil production has significant environmental impacts, particularly in the climate change category, with emissions reaching 76.4 kg CO₂-eq per kg of oil. These emissions are primarily attributed to energy-intensive rearing and oil extraction processes. However, upscaling the process reduces emissions to 33.2 kg CO₂-eq per kg of oil, driven by improved energy efficiency, solvent recycling, and general process optimization. A sensitivity analysis highlights the role of Feed Conversion Ratios (FCRs) in rearing, showing a potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by improving FCR. Additionally, incorporating food waste as feedstock can potentially reduce environmental burdens, aligning with circular economy principles. Limitations arise from linear scaling assumptions, batch processing constraints, and the treatment of by-products as waste. Addressing these factors and further integrating avoided-impact methodologies could enhance the environmental performance of refined mealworm oil production. The difficult comparison of results with alternative oils underscores the need for broader contextualization within LCA studies. This thesis advances the discourse on insect-derived lipids as a sustainable oil source, offering pathways for industrial implementation while identifying open questions for future research.