New assessment shows significant decrease in carbon footprint of US soybean oil

A recent lifecycle assessment conducted by Sustainable Solutions Corp. for the United Soybean Board and the National Oilseed Processors Association reveals a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of U.S. soy throughout its cultivation, harvesting, transportation and processing stages.

The assessment highlights a notable 22 percent decrease in the carbon footprint associated with U.S. production of crude soy oil, which is a key feedstock for U.S. biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF producers.

Soybean production and oil processing constitute more than 40 percent of the carbon intensity (CI) score for soy biodiesel.

The improvements documented in this report are expected to translate into reductions in CI across the clean-fuels industry.

Clean Fuels Alliance America assisted USB and NOPA in ensuring the data collected for processors in the report aligns with data specifications for GREET, so it could be easily integrated into the GREET-model updates.

“We look forward to working with Argonne National Laboratory through the data quality-assessment process to update the GREET model to reflect the latest improvements in the industry,” said Veronica Bradley, an environmental scientist with Clean Fuels.

The report, titled, “The Life Cycle Assessment of U.S. Soybeans, Soybean Meal, and Soy Oil,” can be found here.