[EN] The E-factor has become an important measure for the environmental impact of (bio)chemical reactions. However, summing up the obvious wastes generated in the laboratory neglects energy-related wastes (mostly greenhouse gases) which are generated elsewhere. To estimate these wastes, we propose to extend the E-factor by an energy-term (E-factor). At the example of a lab-scale enzyme fermentation, we demonstrate that the E-factor can constitute a multiple of the classical E-factor and therefore must not be neglected striving for a holistic estimation of the environmental impact.

This workwas supported by the European Union Project H2020-BBI-PPP-2015-2-720297-ENZOX2 and F.H. gratefully acknowledges funding by European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant No. 648026) and the for financial support through a Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research VICI grant (no. 724.014.003). J.M.R, B.R and A.S.B. gratefully acknowledge support from the United States National Science Foundation grant IIP-1540017.