Volume 11 Issue 3
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Article Navigation >  Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts  > 2026  >  11(3): 100264
Jhonny Alejandro Poveda-Giraldo, Hae Min Jo, Myeong Rok Ahn, June-Ho Choi, Hoyong Kim, Sunkyu Park. Environmental life cycle assessment of hemp hurd-based biocomposites for packaging and mulch film applications[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(3): 100264. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100264
Citation: Jhonny Alejandro Poveda-Giraldo, Hae Min Jo, Myeong Rok Ahn, June-Ho Choi, Hoyong Kim, Sunkyu Park. Environmental life cycle assessment of hemp hurd-based biocomposites for packaging and mulch film applications[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(3): 100264. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100264
shu

Environmental life cycle assessment of hemp hurd-based biocomposites for packaging and mulch film applications

doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100264
  • a.

    Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, NC 27695, USA

  • b.

    Center for Bio-based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, South Korea

More Information
  • Corresponding author: E-mail address: hykim03@krict.re.kr (H. Kim); E-mail address: sunkyu_park@ncsu.edu (S. Park)
  • Received Date: 2025-12-27
  • Accepted Date: 2026-04-20
  • Rev Recd Date: 2026-03-05
    • Available Online: 2026-04-25
  • Publish Date: 2026-06-01
    Abstract
  • This study evaluated the environmental performance of producing biocomposites (packaging and mulch films) from hemp hurd-based microfibers as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, with emphasis on the influence of end-of-life (EoL) scenarios in South Korea. Mechanical testing confirmed that the biocomposites exhibited mechanical properties comparable to those of fossil-based and reference materials, such as the tensile strength increase of ~20% and 33% for packaging and mulch films, respectively. At the same time, their enhanced biodegradability contributes to the improved carbon outcomes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) results showed that anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most favorable EoL scenario, yielding the lowest global warming potential (GWP). These benefits stem from credits associated with electricity generation from biogas and the use of digestate as a soil conditioner, mitigating 6.1 kg CO2 per 1 kg of mulch film relative to current waste management practices in South Korea. The potential for carbon footprint reduction increased further with high microfiber content and the incorporation of biopolyesters during biocomposite manufacturing, saving up to 4.25 kg CO2 per 1 kg of mulch film in both cases. Overall, the findings demonstrate that biobased composites provide robust environmental advantages under current conditions and are positioned to deliver even greater benefits as the energy system continues to decarbonize in South Korea. This work offers practical insights into sustainable production pathways and waste management strategies for emerging bioplastic systems, supporting their integration into a circular and low-carbon materials economy.

     

    • Author contributions
    Methodology: Jhonny Alejandro Poveda-Giraldo.
    Investigation: Jhonny Alejandro Poveda-Giraldo, Hae Min Jo, Myeong Rok Ahn, June-Ho Choi, Hoyong Kim.
    Formal analysis: Jhonny Alejandro Poveda-Giraldo.
    Writing-original draft: Jhonny Alejandro Poveda-Giraldo.
    Conceptualization: Hae Min Jo, Myeong Rok Ahn, June-Ho Choi, Hoyong Kim.
    Writing-review and editing: Hae Min Jo, June-Ho Choi, Hoyong Kim, Sunkyu Park.
    Project administration: Hoyong Kim, Sunkyu Park.
    Supervision: Hoyong Kim, Sunkyu Park.
    Funding acquisition: Hoyong Kim, Sunkyu Park.
    Data availability
    Data supporting the results of this study are available upon request from the corresponding authors.
    Declaration of competing interest
    The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
    Supplementary materials
    Supplementary material associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100264.
    Peer review under the responsibility of Editorial Office of Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.
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