New LCA Theses

Abstract

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The progression towards greater industrial sustainability involves the analysis of biotechnology as a means of achieving clean or cleaner products and processes. Because living systems manage their chemistry more efficiently than man-made factories, and their wastes tend to be recyclable and biodegradable, they can be expected to be more environmentally clean. Industry has be-gun to use enzymes instead of traditional catalysts in many industrial production processes. The future holds obstacles as well as opportunities for biotechnological applications. A greater ability to manipulate biological materials and processes will have significant impact on manufacturing industries. A growing proportion of biotechnology-derived processes and products is based on the use of genetically
modified microorganisms. This extends the analysis from the aspect of cleanliness to the aspect of safety.