Life-cycle assessment of tomato value chain—from farms to upcycling waste

Abstract

Tomato production and processing represent an important agri-food system with substantial environmental relevance, yet integrated evidence for the Croatian context remains limited. This study addresses that gap by applying life cycle assessment (LCA) to the full tomato value chain, including primary production in open fields and greenhouses, tomato processing, and different end-of-life scenarios of tomato pomace. The study uses a cradle-to-gate and gate-to-grave LCA framework, with data collected from Croatian producers and processors and modeled in accordance with ISO 14040/14044 principles. Environmental performance is evaluated with the ReCiPe midpoint method across climate change, acidification, eutrophication, toxicity, water use, land occupation, and fossil resource depletion indicators. The results show that open-field tomato production has a lower environmental burden than greenhouse production, while processing and waste management are strongly influenced by energy demand. Among end-of-life scenarios, composting performs better than disposal and incineration, and microwave-assisted pectin extraction shows a lower environ mental footprint than conventional extraction, demonstrating the environmental potential of valorizing tomato pomace as a by-product. The study provides primary data and a system-wide perspective on the Croatian tomato sector, highlighting the general importance of integrating agricultural production, processing, and circular waste management in sustainability assessments. Its findings support more informed decision-making for tomato production and processing in Croatia and provide evidence for the environmental value of upcycling tomato residues rather than landfill disposal.