The chemical industry considers synthesizing chemical products from carbon dioxide a promising, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approach. This process involves replacing fossil fuels with renewable raw materials, reusing waste, and optimizing mass and energy flows within the industry. Following in the same direction, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is an appealing technology that allows for the valorization of CO2, enabling its use in various processes. However, a more comprehensive assessment beyond the CCU influence is necessary to realize the anticipated benefits – particularly
environmental ones. This study investigated the environmental feasibility of using CO2 emitted from stationary sources as a feedstock for acetic acid synthesis. To achieve this, we compared the environmental performance of this alternative route, assessed through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique, with a conventional method for manufacturing the organic acid. As this is an exploratory assessment, the evaluation focused on estimating impacts regarding Primary Energy Demand (PED) and Global Warming Potential (GWP). The study also discussed the potential implications of utilizing renewable energy for CH3COOH production and examined suggestions for environmental improvements based on Carbon Capture and Utilization. The research findings indicate that the alternative approach could lead to a 64% reduction in PED contributions and a 47% decrease in GWP effects compared to the performance achieved through the conventional method.