Life Cycle Assessment
Posted on Wed 06 September 2023 in Student Resources
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Free to access resources
- Other resources
- Impact categories and impact assessment method
- Online courses
1. Introduction
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology used to quantify the potential impacts a product-system might have on the environment. A product-system includes the use of energy and resources as well as the emissions to the environment throughout the life cycle of a product or service delivering a defined function. Additionally, the fact that an LCA quantifies potential impacts means that the actual effects are not captured as in other environmental management methodologies such as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), whereby the actual impact from a specific facility or activity is measured for a specific location and time. In contrast, an LCA aims at accounting all the possible effects from the acquisition of raw material, the processing and transformation of raw material into the product or service, its distribution, use, and end-of-life. Furthermore, an LCA not only evaluates the potential impact a system can have on climate change; it considers other environmental impacts such as eutrophication, human toxicity, ozone depletion, ionising radiation, and fossil fuel depletion, among others. Through this comprehensive and systematic approach an LCA looks to avoid impact shifting between life cycle stages or environmental impact categories. LCA evolved from accounting methods for energy and resource consumption developed during the 1960s and is nowadays globally recognised as a powerful environmental management tool. Although the LCA methodology is in continuous development, several guidelines are available to lead practitioners and researchers to a harmonized application of the framework.
2. Free to access resources
The International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook, developed by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission is a free access resource that provides detailed description on the concepts and how to fulfil the requirements set in the international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044: On the other hand, the Life Cycle Initiative was launched in 2022 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). The Life Cycle Initiative is a multi-stakeholder partnership that looks to promote life cycle thinking, build international consensus for LCA application, and provide access to science-based knowledge to support decision making. A general training kit as well as specific training material and is available and free to download at the Life Cycle Initiative website:
3. Other resources
An open access book by Jolliet et al. (2015) can be used as reference for general knowledge on LCA methodology. Additionally, other books are available for general guidance on how to apply LCA:
- Life Cycle Assessment - Theory and Practice
- Handbook on Life Cycle Assessment - Operational Guide to the ISO Standards
- Life cycle Assessment
- Life Cycle Assessment Handbook: A Guide for Environmentally Sustainable Products
Several books have been developed on how to apply the LCA methodology in specific contexts e.g., the (built environment)[https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203868171/life-cycle-assessment-built-environment-robert-crawford], biorefineries, or as a tool for circular economy.
On the other hand, it is worth to mention that LCA can be applied with an attributional or a consequential approach. While the attributional approach tries to describe the environmental impacts directly related to the life cycle of a product-system (i.e., an environmental footprint), the consequential approach looks at the possible effects a change in the demand of the analysed function might generate in the global environment. For a general explanation of the difference between the two approaches the following books can be consulted:
- Attributional and Consequential Life Cycle Assessment
- Goal and Scope Definition in Life Cycle Assessment
4. Impact categories and impact assessment method
For a detailed description of impact categories (e.g., climate change, eutrophication, acidification, etc.) it is advisable to read the ILCD Handbook on impact assessment models and indicators. Also, the latest recommendations regarding impact assessment indicators developed by UNEP can be found in the website of the Global Guidance on Environmental Life Cycle Impact Assessment Indicators (GLAM).
5. Online courses