Abstract

The UNEP/LCI-funded Biogenic Carbon Project was launched to harmonize biogenic carbon accounting in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by addressing inconsistencies in current practices across sectors and standards. Between March and November 2024, a consortium of multidisciplinary stakeholders from around the globe were organized into four distinct working groups: Temporal Aspects, End-of-Life, Reuse and Recycling, System Boundaries, and Standards and Adoption Barriers. These groups engaged in periodic meetings, workshops, and analyses to identify key challenges and propose preliminary solutions. The findings from this collaborative effort have been consolidated into a progress report marking the project’s Phase 1. This report serves as an open invitation for global feedback to refine and guide the development of consistent and best practices for biogenic carbon accounting. This session will share the key insights from the project to date, highlighting challenges, proposed solutions, and their implications for global LCA practices. Participants will engage in interactive discussions to provide input, helping to expand the perspective of the project as it transitions into Phase 2, which aims to develop actionable guidance for consistent application across sectors and practitioners of all experience levels. The session aligns with the ISSST 2025 thematic area of Agroecology, Industrial Ecology, and the Bioeconomy, offering critical understanding into biogenic carbon flows in agriculture, forestry, and bio-based systems. It also contributes to Innovative Tools and Methods in LCA and Sustainability Analysis by addressing advancements in dynamic carbon inventories and counterfactual scenarios.

Session Structure

The session will begin with an overview of the UNEP/LCI Biogenic Carbon Project, including its objectives, stakeholder engagement, and the scope of its work. Key findings from Phase 1, such as identified gaps and inconsistencies in current practices, will be presented. The discussion will then shift to the proposed best practices and their implications, exploring options for harmonizing accounting methods and offering practical insights on implementation challenges across sectors. An interactive feedback session will follow, providing an open dialogue to gather participants input on the proposals, focusing on addressing ambiguities and improving cross-sector consistency. The session will conclude with a discussion of the project’s next steps and future collaboration opportunities.

Target Audience

This session is designed for sustainability researchers, LCA practitioners, policymakers, and industry professionals focused on bioeconomy and climate change mitigation. Attendees will contribute to advancing global standards for biogenic carbon accounting, ensuring their applicability and relevance across diverse contexts.

Expected Outcomes

1. Refinement of proposed best practices based on participant feedback.

2. Increased stakeholder awareness and engagement in the UNEP/LCI project.

3. Strengthened collaboration toward harmonized LCA guidelines for biogenic carbon.