ArticlePloS one2026
Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of sisal/PLA biocomposite: Uncovering the dominance of transport and burden-shifting trade-offs in sustainable material design.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Natural fibre-reinforced biocomposites are increasingly recognised as promising alternatives for reducing the high carbon footprint of the construction sector; however, the environmental implications of transcontinental supply chains remain insufficiently understood. This study presents a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of a sisal yarn-reinforced polylactic acid biocomposite plate manufactured in Denmark using sisal fibres cultivated and spun in Tanzania. Environmental impacts were assessed for a performance-based functional unit using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method, normalising values through a structural bending stiffness index to enable benchmarking against conventional window frame materials. Under baseline pilot-scale conditions, the biocomposite exhibited a global warming potential of 17.52 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent, with intercontinental air freight accounting for 62.53% of total emissions. Scenario optimisation involving ocean freight, 100% wind energy, and a 60:40 polylactic acid-to-sisal ratio reduced the global warming potential to 9.82 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 43.97% reduction. When normalised for structural performance, the optimised biocomposite demonstrated a lower global warming potential than conventional polyvinyl chloride and aluminium window frame materials. Nevertheless, these improvements resulted in significant shifts in environmental burdens, with human non-carcinogenic toxicity increasing by 125.91% and freshwater ecotoxicity by 322.88%, primarily due to heavy fuel oil combustion during marine transport and the use of synthetic phosphate fertiliser in sisal cultivation. The findings indicate that although transcontinental sisal/polylactic acid biocomposites can offer competitive structural and climate performance, their long-term sustainability depends on holistic multi-indicator assessments and the adoption of cleaner logistics and sustainable agricultural practices to avoid transferring environmental burdens across impact categories.
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