Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely recognised methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle. Guided by ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, LCA plays a key role in supporting more informed and sustainable decision-making in the seafood sector.
However, traditional life cycle inventory approaches are often time-consuming and rely on averaged datasets, which may fail to capture regional variations in fishing practices and production systems. This can limit the accuracy, representativeness, and broader applicability of findings.
Smart4Sea leverages advances in digital tools to enhance environmental traceability across the seafood value chain. By integrating real-time data into LCA, the project aims to strengthen the robustness and credibility of assessments. Key environmental indicators — including carbon and water footprints, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity — will be evaluated. The project will also quantify food loss and waste and assess the plastic footprint, including impacts from macro- and microplastic leakage.
The University of Aveiro contributes to this work in close collaboration with partners experienced in LCA, including the University of Cantabria, IPMA, ANFACO-CYTMA, and the University of Galway.
