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Comprehensive Review of Life Cycle Carbon Footprint in Edible Vegetable Oils: Current Status, Impact Factors, and Mitigation Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Shuang Zhao

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Sheng Yang

    (Shanghai Light Industry Research Institute, Shanghai 200031, China)

  • Qi Huang

    (Shanghai Light Industry Research Institute, Shanghai 200031, China)

  • Haochen Zhu

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Junqing Xu

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Dan Fu

    (Shanghai Light Industry Research Institute, Shanghai 200031, China)

  • Guangming Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

Amidst global climate change, carbon emissions across the edible vegetable oil supply chain are critical for sustainable development. This paper systematically reviews the existing literature, employing life cycle assessment (LCA) to analyze key factors influencing carbon footprints at stages including cultivation, processing, and transportation. It reveals the differential impacts of fertilizer application, energy structures, and regional policies. Unlike previous reviews that focus on single crops or regions, this study uniquely integrates global data across major edible oils, identifying three critical gaps: methodological inconsistency (60% of studies deviate from the requirements and guidelines for LCA); data imbalance (80% concentrated on soybean/rapeseed); weak policy-technical linkage. Key findings: fertilizer emissions dominate cultivation (40–60% of total footprint), while renewable energy substitution in processing reduces emissions by 35%. Future efforts should prioritize multidisciplinary integration, enhanced data infrastructure, and policy scenario analysis to provide scientific insights for the low-carbon transformation of the global edible oil industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuang Zhao & Sheng Yang & Qi Huang & Haochen Zhu & Junqing Xu & Dan Fu & Guangming Li, 2025. "Comprehensive Review of Life Cycle Carbon Footprint in Edible Vegetable Oils: Current Status, Impact Factors, and Mitigation Strategies," Waste, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-27, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jwaste:v:3:y:2025:i:3:p:26-:d:1718710
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Orlando Corigliano & Pietropaolo Morrone & Angelo Algieri, 2025. "Navigating the Challenges of Sustainability in the Food Processing Chain: Insights into Energy Interventions to Reduce Footprint," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-40, January.
    2. Anda Fridrihsone & Francesco Romagnoli & Ugis Cabulis, 2020. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Rapeseed and Rapeseed Oil Produced in Northern Europe: A Latvian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-21, July.
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    4. Magdalena Scherer & Piotr Milczarski, 2021. "Machine-Learning-Based Carbon Footprint Management in the Frozen Vegetable Processing Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Magdalena Karwacka & Agnieszka Ciurzyńska & Andrzej Lenart & Monika Janowicz, 2020. "Sustainable Development in the Agri-Food Sector in Terms of the Carbon Footprint: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Sara Rinaldi & Emanuele Bonamente & Flavio Scrucca & Maria Cleofe Merico & Francesco Asdrubali & Franco Cotana, 2016. "Water and Carbon Footprint of Wine: Methodology Review and Application to a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Robert Beyer & Tim Rademacher, 2021. "Species Richness and Carbon Footprints of Vegetable Oils: Can High Yields Outweigh Palm Oil’s Environmental Impact?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, February.
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