LAPSE:2026.0217
Published Article
LAPSE:2026.0217
Design and Assessment of Regional Symbiosis: A Case Study of Plant-oil Production in Japan
June 12, 2026
Abstract
This study conducted a life cycle assessment to assess and design regional symbiosis at plant-oil production. These industries face challenges including dependence on fossil fuels and the generation of underutilized by-products, while effective regional symbiosis requires the selection of diverse regional unused resources and assessment based on process models that consider future technological prospects. Mathematical models for plant-oil production were developed using industrial data from literature to calculate inventory data. The case study showed that introducing woody biomass combined heat and power reduced GHG emissions by 8% in the Cradle-to-Grave system boundary, while recycling technology for soap stock using Kolbe electrolysis achieved a 3% reduction. Regional analysis indicated that 33 prefectures in Japan could meet woody biomass demand through sustainable forestry management, potentially reducing GHG emissions in Japan by approximately 0.041%. These results suggest that regional symbiosis can enhance resource-use efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to sustainable regions.
This study conducted a life cycle assessment to assess and design regional symbiosis at plant-oil production. These industries face challenges including dependence on fossil fuels and the generation of underutilized by-products, while effective regional symbiosis requires the selection of diverse regional unused resources and assessment based on process models that consider future technological prospects. Mathematical models for plant-oil production were developed using industrial data from literature to calculate inventory data. The case study showed that introducing woody biomass combined heat and power reduced GHG emissions by 8% in the Cradle-to-Grave system boundary, while recycling technology for soap stock using Kolbe electrolysis achieved a 3% reduction. Regional analysis indicated that 33 prefectures in Japan could meet woody biomass demand through sustainable forestry management, potentially reducing GHG emissions in Japan by approximately 0.041%. These results suggest that regional symbiosis can enhance resource-use efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to sustainable regions.
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Watanabe Y, Kanematsu Y, Tabata H, Teah HY, Hiromori K, Kikuchi Y. Design and Assessment of Regional Symbiosis: A Case Study of Plant-oil Production in Japan. Systems and Control Transactions 5:125-130 (2026) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.128609
Author Affiliations
Watanabe Y: Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Kanematsu Y: Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tabata H: Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Teah HY: Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Hiromori K: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
Kikuchi Y: Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Bu
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Kanematsu Y: Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tabata H: Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Teah HY: Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Hiromori K: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
Kikuchi Y: Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society", The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Bu
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Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
5
First Page
125
Last Page
130
Year
2026
Publication Date
2026-06-12
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Original Submission
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PII: 0125-0130-369-SCT-5-2026, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2026.0217
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https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.128609
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References Cited
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