Measuring environmental impact of cassava peel waste conversion into glucose syrup using life cycle assessment

Abstract Cassava is one of the most widely produced agricultural commodities; however, its utilization has primarily focused on the tuber flesh, while the peels remain underutilized and are treated as waste. Cassava peel waste, with their low glycemic index, has a great potential as raw material for glucose syrup production. Sustainability is demonstrated through product development that considers social, economic, and environmental impacts. This study uses the Life Cycle Assessment technique with the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint H Assessment method and eco-efficiency calculations for investigating the economic and environmental effects towards the manufacturing of glucose syrup from cassava peel waste. The data analysis results show that the total environmental cost was IDR 336.93 while the eco-efficiency ratio rate was 93.492%. This glucose syrup production has low environmental impacts; however, these numbers can be reduced by minimizing water consumption by employing microbubble wash faucet, supplementing it with quicklime, and installing air filters.