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Data for the Carbon Footprinting of Rendering Operations
Author(s) -
Gooding Charles H.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of industrial ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.377
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1530-9290
pISSN - 1088-1980
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00430.x
Subject(s) - footprinting , rendering (computer graphics) , business , environmental science , computer science , chemistry , computer graphics (images) , biochemistry , transcription factor , gene
Summary This article presents a tool and data for calculation of the carbon footprint of rendering operations in North America, quantifying Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect) greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 3 (life cycle) emissions are not included. According to the sample data, in one year an average‐size rendering plant in North America processes 100,000 tonnes (t) of meat by‐products, fallen animals, and restaurant grease and produces 40,000 t of marketable fats and proteins. A plant of this size emits directly about 20,000 t of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), mostly by burning fuels to operate cookers that destroy pathogens, drive off moisture, and separate the fat and protein. Another 4,000 t of CO 2 is emitted by utility companies to provide electricity for the rendering process. These direct and indirect emissions are equivalent to about 30% of the CO 2 that would be released if all of the carbon in the rendered raw material were decomposed into CO 2 .