Life Cycle Assessment of Olive Pomace as a Reinforcement in Polypropylene and Polyethylene Biocomposite Materials: A New Perspective for the Valorization of This Agricultural By-Product

The main environmental impact of olive oil production is the disposal residues such as pomace and water vegetation. During extraction process, stone milled discharged within pomace. However, flour can be valorized filler for polymeric composites. A life cycle assessment valorization was carried out by focusing on manufacturing process a biocomposite made two different thermoplastic matrices, i.e., polyethylene polypropylene. functional unit 1 m2 lath an pomace-based biocomposite. analysis with SimaPro PhD 9.1.1.1 software, database used modeling Ecoinvent 3.6. obtained results reveal that hotspot whole twin-screw compounding fraction, matrix coupling agent, human health most affected damage category. It represents 89% both scenarios studied: fraction/polypropylene (OSF/PP) fraction/polyethylene (OSF/PE). Further research directions include use biosourced polymer which could reduce composite manufacturing.