Carbon footprint accounting of traditional Chinese medicine extracts based on life cycle assessment: a case study of mulberry leaf extract from an enterprise.
10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20241014.301
- Author:
Zhi-Min CI
1
;
Jian-Xiang OU
1
;
Qiang YU
1
;
Chuan ZHENG
2
;
Zhao-Qing PEI
3
;
Li-Ping QU
1
;
Ming YANG
4
;
Li HAN
1
;
Ding-Kun ZHANG
5
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu 611137, China.
2. Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Innovative Re-development of Famous Classical Formulas, Tianfu TCM Innovation Harbour, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu 611930, China TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu 610072, China.
3. Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Innovative Re-development of Famous Classical Formulas, Tianfu TCM Innovation Harbour, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu 611930, China.
4. National Key Laboratory for the Modernization of Classical and Famous Prescriptions of Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine Nanchang 330004, China.
5. State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu 611137, China Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Innovative Re-development of Famous Classical Formulas, Tianfu TCM Innovation Harbour, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu 611930, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
carbon footprint;
green manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine;
life cycle assessment(LCA);
mulberry leaf extract;
new quality productivity
- MeSH:
Morus/chemistry*;
Plant Leaves/chemistry*;
Carbon Footprint;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*;
Plant Extracts/analysis*;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
- From:
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
2025;50(1):120-129
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Under the background of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with 15 national ministries and commissions, has formulated the Implementation Plan on Establishing a Carbon Footprint Management System, and it is urgent for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) pharmaceutical enterprises to carry out research on carbon footprint accounting methods of related products. Based on the life cycle assessment(LCA) theory, taking mulberry leaf extract produced by a certain enterprise as an example, this study analyzed the carbon footprint of TCM extracts during the life cycle. The results show that for every 1 kg of product produced, the carbon emissions from the stages of raw material acquisition, transportation, and extract production are-20.569, 1.205, and 173.577 kgCO_2eq(CO_2 equivalent), respectively. The carbon footprint of the product is 154.213 kgCO_2eq·kg~(-1). In addition, the carbon emission is the highest in the production stage, in which the consumption of ethanol solvents makes the greatest contribution to the carbon footprint, accounting for 25.71%, more than one-fourth of the total carbon footprint. The second contribution was from the treatment process of TCM residues, accounting for 19.67%, closely followed by wastewater treatment(17.71%), the consumption of hot steam(17.43%), and drinking water(16.90%). The consumption of electric power and packaging materials has a smaller carbon emission of 2.58%. In particular, the carbon emission caused by the consumption of packaging materials is only 0.04%, which is negligible. The results of the study are expected to provide a reference for TCM enterprises to carry out research on the carbon footprint of products, offer ideas for collaborative innovation in reducing pollution and carbon emissions throughout the entire industry chain of TCM, and develop new quality productivity of modern TCM industry based on green and low-carbon manufacturing.
