Life cycle assessment of hemp hurds use in second generation ethanol production

► Hemp hurds are a by-product from dedicated fibre crops. ► The environmental performance of two ethanol fuel blends, E10 and E85, was analyzed and compared with the conventional gasoline. ► The influence on the results of the allocation procedure assumed in the study was also evaluated. ► The results show that ethanol-based fuels can offer improved environmental performance in some impact categories. ► The choice of allocation approach significantly affects the environmental performance.