Comparing biobased products from oil crops versus sugar crops with regard to non-renewable energy use, GHG emissions and land use

Non-renewable energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and land use of two biobased products and biofuelfrom oil crops is investigated and compared with products from sugar crops. In a bio-based economychemicals, materials and energy carriers will be produced from biomass. Next to side streams, also veg-etable oils and sugars are expected to become important resources for these products. Application ofthese resources calls for effective resource use, with minimal environmental impacts. In this paper westudy a number of available options and their trade-offs. Use of vegetable oils in a chemical and a resinresults in a higher reduction of non- renewable energy use and greenhouse gas emissions than their useas biodiesel. Furthermore, similar savings in environmental impact per unit of land can be reached byproducts from either oil or sugar crops as transportation fuel, but the sugar crops, applied in chemicalsor bioplastics outcompete the oil crops