Biotech & research
Life-cycle assessment
Bio-based solutions
DTU Biosustain: LCA for biotech and bio-based solutions
DTU Biosustain uses life-cycle assessments to evaluate bio-based solutions at low to mid TRLs, support start-ups and consortiums, and integrate with Absolute Environmental Impact Assessments. With Dawn, they run LCAs faster and empower experimental colleagues to perform assessments themselves.
“We found Dawn to be very intuitive. I think this is how an LCA tool's UI must be to perform a preliminary and quick LCA. Especially with our experimental colleagues in mind, who are creating new solutions but are new to impact assessments. Such tools can empower them to perform the assessment themselves.”
Sumesh Sukumara, Senior Researcher, DTU Biosustain
The full story
We spoke with Sumesh Sukumara, Senior Researcher at DTU Biosustain, about how they use LCAs for bio-based solutions, support start-ups and consortiums, and why they chose Dawn to run assessments faster and empower more colleagues to do LCA work.
NB: The answers are an expression of the personal opinion of Sumesh Sukumara, and do not necessarily reflect the views of DTU Biosustain.
Sumesh Sukumara
Senior Researcher, DTU Biosustain
What role do life-cycle assessments play at DTU Biosustain? How are they used internally?
LCAs are used to evaluate various bio-based solutions that are at low to mid technology readiness levels. Typically, we transform the inventories obtained from the lab to represent a scaled-up process using process simulations, and then we perform the LCA. Often, we also integrate it with Absolute Environmental Impact Assessments.
How are they used externally?
In projects with start-ups, they use it to identify and optimize their process based on hotspots. We also use it in collaborative EU, Nordic, and Danish consortiums to optimize the processes.
Why did you decide to implement Dawn?
We found Dawn to be very intuitive. I think this is how an LCA tool's UI must be to perform a preliminary and quick LCA. Especially with our experimental colleagues in mind, who are actually creating new solutions but are new to impact assessments. Such tools can empower them to perform the assessment themselves.
What are some of the biggest benefits you found implementing Dawn?
LCAs in shorter time, quick visualizations.
How do you think Dawn can support biotech start-ups?
We found Dawn to be very intuitive. Having a web-based tool should make the assessments easy as well, as long as it works flawlessly.
What advice would you give to biotech start-ups that are about to get started?
It's a tough journey that start-ups take. Hence knowing the production hotspots, pain points, and opportunities is valuable to have; the sooner the better. If claiming environmental sustainability of the product is part of your value proposition, it's better to assess it than not.
What is your advice to academic colleagues that might be hesitant to try out new LCA software?
If you are planning to contribute with a solution that claims to be environmentally sustainable, LCA must be done. Also, a sidenote: it is equally important to do it with accurate datasets. Not all datasets are representing reality.
What are your thoughts on implementing the AI co-pilot, since it's still a controversial topic?
We are open to trying it. While I agree with this direction, I need to still be convinced that it can predict the impacts accurately for a range of products in biotechnology. AI can help set up an intial structure, but of course we need to carefully review the selection and results.
Key outcomes
Faster LCAs
Run life-cycle assessments in shorter time with quick visualizations and an intuitive interface.
Empowering experimental teams
Colleagues who create new solutions but are new to impact assessments can perform the assessment themselves.
Support for start-ups and consortiums
Use LCAs to identify hotspots and optimize processes in projects with start-ups and in EU, Nordic, and Danish consortiums.
AI as a potential backbone
Open to using the AI co-pilot to set up a decent backbone, with careful review of the selection.
