Nunes, Óscar SoaresGaspar, Pedro DinisNunes, JoséQuinteiro, PaulaDias, Ana CláudiaGodina, Radu2021-05-032021-05-032020-09-181532-6950PURE: 26202603PURE UUID: 6ddf95f9-f90d-4dcc-bc43-b6e437ed863cScopus: 85092574770WOS: 000580411400001ORCID: /0000-0003-1244-5624/work/205572244http://hdl.handle.net/10362/116892UIDB/00151/2020 CEECIND/02174/2017 CEECIND/00143/2017 UIDB/50017/2020 UIDP/50017/2020 UIDB/00667/2020Nowadays, there is a growing promotion to label products ecologically in European markets. Knowing that daily products have relevant environmental impact associated with their production, it is of utmost importance to analyse all the related production processes for a better understanding of each process impact. The present study analysed the potential environmental impacts of a Portuguese regional product, the Beira Baixa cheese, coming from the largest national sheep milk region. So, a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used from -cradle-to -gate, including the supplying of the animal feedstock. Impact calculations are performed using the ReCiPe midpoint 2008 method, allowing an analysis of the environmental impacts contributing to climate change, terrestrial acidification, freshwater and marine eutrophication of all productive processes. The results have shown that the greatest impacts occur within the milk production process for all four selected impact categories. This happens mainly due to the fodder cultivation process, also necessary to produce animal feed, which contain processes of fertilization and land preparation. The enteric fermentation and manure management processes have also shown relevant contributions. The impact assessment also showed that the cheesemaking industry has practically insignificant impacts. Nonetheless, the cheesemaking industry can promote their business with these results, by advertising and marketing their product as environmentally friendly, with production processes causing reduced impacts, and therefore also their products.3283614engCheese production processCradle-to-gateDairy industryLife cycle assessmentReCiPe methodBioengineeringChemical Engineering (miscellaneous)Process Chemistry and TechnologySDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and ProductionSDG 13 - Climate ActionSDG 14 - Life Below Waterjournal article10.3390/PR8091182https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85092574770