Increasing concerns regarding human-driven effects on the biosphere have led to the development and adoption of environmentally friendly “green” composites. Unlike conventional synthetic composites, green composites are made of natural materials in either the matrix or the fiber reinforcement (or both). They are claimed to have lower negative environmental effects due to their sustainability and easier recyclability. To assess the environmental impacts associated with any product, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is needed. This literature review summarizes the individual steps undertaken in an LCA study and discusses their relevance within the field of green composites. Similarly, an outline of life cycle costing (LCC), a type of study which determines the economic implications of a product, is incorporated. Since some phases of a product’s life cycle can have significant environmental effects, parameters affecting the time-dependant degradation of green composites and their significance in LCA studies were also explored. Finally, criteria for choosing natural fibers and biopolymers for green composites in engineering applications were considered, and case studies of hemp and flax as candidates for fiber cultivation in Alberta, Canada are provided throughout.

对人为驱动对生物圈影响的日益关注导致开发和采用环保的“绿色”复合材料。与传统的合成复合材料不同，绿色复合材料由基体或纤维增强材料（或两者）中的天然材料制成。据称，由于它们的可持续性和更容易回收利用，它们对环境的负面影响较小。为了评估与任何产品相关的环境影响，需要进行生命周期评估 (LCA)。这篇文献综述总结了 LCA 研究中采取的各个步骤，并讨论了它们在绿色复合材料领域的相关性。同样，生命周期成本 (LCC) 大纲也包括在内，这是一种确定产品经济影响的研究类型。由于产品生命周期的某些阶段会对环境产生重大影响，因此还探讨了影响绿色复合材料随时间降解的参数及其在 LCA 研究中的意义。最后，考虑了在工程应用中为绿色复合材料选择天然纤维和生物聚合物的标准，并提供了大麻和亚麻作为加拿大艾伯塔省纤维种植候选者的案例研究。