|
|
| (34 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| ==Overview== | | == Overview == |
| Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects and potential impacts of a product or service.
| |
|
| |
|
| === Objectives of LCA ===
| | '''Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)''' is a systematic methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life—from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and end-of-life (disposal, recycling, or reuse). |
| * '''Identify Improvement Opportunities''': Pinpoint areas within the product life cycle where environmental impacts can be reduced.
| |
| * '''Support Decision Making:''' Inform policymakers and industry leaders in making more environmentally conscious decisions.
| |
| * '''Enhance Product Design:''' Aid in the development of more sustainable products by understanding their environmental footprints.
| |
|
| |
|
| LCA Indicators | | LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects and potential impacts of a product, service, or process. It is foundational in sustainability data exchange and supports compliance with global frameworks such as ISO 14040/44, the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and corporate ESG reporting. |
| Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product, service, or process from its beginning to end. It encompasses various indicators which are often aligned with the environmental factors in ESG:
| |
|
| |
|
| * '''Carbon Footprint:''' Measures greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, CH4, and N2O, across the life cycle of a product or process.
| | == Objectives of LCA == |
| * '''Water Footprint:''' Assesses the total volume of freshwater used, considering both direct and indirect water use.
| |
| * '''Energy Use:''' Evaluates the amount and type of energy consumed at each stage of the life cycle.
| |
| * '''Resource Consumption:''' Quantifies the use of natural resources like minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.
| |
| * '''Waste Generation:''' Assesses the amount and type of waste produced, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
| |
| * '''Ecosystem Quality:''' Evaluates impacts on biodiversity, including effects on flora and fauna.
| |
| * '''Land Use:''' Measures the change in land use, including habitat destruction or alteration.
| |
| * '''Air Pollution:''' Assesses emissions that affect air quality, including particulate matter, VOCs, and NOx.
| |
| * '''Toxicological Impact:''' Evaluates the impact of toxic substances on human health and the environment.
| |
| * '''Acidification and Eutrophication''': Measures the potential for acid rain formation and nutrient enrichment in water bodies, affecting ecosystems.
| |
|
| |
|
| ==List of LCA impact indicators==
| | * '''Identify Improvement Opportunities''': Pinpoint stages in the product life cycle where environmental impacts can be reduced. |
| | * '''Support Decision-Making''': Inform policy, procurement, and design decisions with scientifically grounded data. |
| | * '''Enhance Product Design''': Optimize products and processes for environmental performance and circularity. |
|
| |
|
| {| class="wikitable"
| | == LCA's Role in ESG Reporting == |
| |+ Indicator overview
| |
| |-
| |
| ! Group !! IndicatorKey !! Indicator(eng) !! Definition !! ValueUnits
| |
| |-
| |
| | [[GHG_Emissions_(Greenhouse_gasses)|GHG Emissions]] || LcaGghEmissions|| Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions|| Measures the emissions of GHGs, expressed in terms of CO2 equivalents|| kgCO2e
| |
| |-
| |
| | || LcaCo2Emissions|| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions|| Measures the emissions of CO|| kgCO2
| |
| |-
| |
| | Water || LcaBluewaterFootprint|| Blue Water Footprint|| Quantifies the consumption of surface and groundwater resources || CBM
| |
| |-
| |
| | Energy|| LcaEnergyUse || Energy Use|| Assesses the total energy consumption, often distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable sources || MJ or KWH
| |
| |-
| |
| | Eutrophication Potential || LcaNitroEmissions|| H+ Nitrogen Emissions|| Indicates the impact on aquatic ecosystems due to excess nutrients|| MOL
| |
| |-
| |
| | Eutrophication Potential || LcaPhospEmissions|| H+ Phosphorus Emissions|| Indicates the impact on aquatic ecosystems due to excess nutrients|| MOL
| |
| |-
| |
| | Acidification Potential || LcaAcidPotential || H⁺ Ion Acidification Potential || Measures the potential of substances to cause acid rain (measured in moles of H+ or equivalent) || MOL
| |
| |-
| |
| | Ozone Depletion Potential || LcaOzoneDepPot|| Ozone Depletion Potential || Assesses the impact on the ozone layer || KGCFC11E
| |
| |-
| |
| | Resource Depletion || LcaRenewResDep || Renewable Resource Depletions || Evaluates the depletion of renewable natural resources|| KG
| |
| |-
| |
| | Resource Depletion || LcaNonRenewResDep || Non-Renewable Resource Depletions || Evaluates the depletion of non-renewable natural resources|| KG
| |
| |-
| |
| | Waste || LcaWasteGenerate|| Waste Generation || Quantifies the amount and type of waste produced || KG or CBM
| |
| |-
| |
| | Toxicological Impact || LcaToxicImpact || Toxicological Impact || Assesses the potential toxic impacts on human health and ecosystems (measured in comparative toxic units) || CTU
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
|
| ===LCA's Role in ESG Reporting===
| | While ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks focus on company-wide sustainability, LCA adds precision by delivering product-level environmental data. By integrating LCA into ESG reporting, companies can move beyond high-level declarations to provide concrete, measurable evidence of environmental performance. |
| While [[ESG_(Environmental,_Social,_and_Governance)|ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)]] reporting predominantly addresses organizational-level sustainability performance, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) contributes detailed product-level environmental data, offering a granular perspective on the 'Environmental' component of ESG. In a data exchange framework, integrating LCA data into ESG reporting can significantly enhance the accuracy and depth of environmental disclosures. By multiplying LCA results with the number of transactions, shipments, or production runs, organizations can quantify the aggregate environmental impact of their products or services. | |
|
| |
|
| This integration allows businesses not only to report on broad organizational policies and goals but also to provide tangible, data-driven insights into the environmental footprint of specific products or processes. Consequently, LCA serves as a critical data source within the ESG framework, enabling organizations to make informed, sustainable decisions and to communicate their environmental stewardship in a more substantiated and transparent manner.
| | LCA data can be multiplied across volumes (e.g., transactions, shipments, production batches) to quantify total environmental impact, providing the bridge between operational data and sustainability reporting. |
|
| |
|
| ==LCA Data Levels== | | == LCA related terms == |
| For the context of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data management in your project, it's important to have distinct, clear terms that differentiate between
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Design-Level LCA Data (D-LCA Data)===
| | * '''[[LCA_System_Boundary_-_TX|LCA System Boundaries]]''' – Defines the life cycle scope covered by the assessment (e.g., Cradle to Gate, Cradle to End-of-Life). |
| | * '''[[LCA_Life_Cycle_Stages_-_TX|LCA Life Cycle Stages]]''' – Breaks down the life cycle into modular stages such as manufacturing, use, and end-of-life. |
| | * '''[[LCA_Environmental_Impact_Indicators_-_TX|LCA Environmental Impact Indicators]]''' – Lists and defines the environmental indicators used to measure impacts (e.g., Climate Change Potential, Water Use, Resource Depletion). |
| | * '''[[Value_unit_-_TX|Value Unit]]''' – Defines the unit in which the indicator value is expressed (e.g., kg CO₂eq, m³, MJ). |
| | * '''[[Reference_Unit_-_TX|Reference Unit]]''' – Defines the basis for the value (e.g., per kg, per functional unit, per sales unit), enabling contextual interpretation. |
|
| |
|
| Definition: This term refers to the foundational data structure that encompasses a comprehensive bill of materials. It includes all materials (raw, components, finished goods, handling/shipping units) and associated events (transformation, movement, storage). This level of data integrates LCA/ESG-related metrics such as emissions, origin, water usage, and weight. 'Master data' falls under this category, representing constants in the bill of materials for every product iteration.
| | These components allow for precise, interoperable data exchange and enable detailed declarations per product, stage, and indicator. |
| Usage Context: Use this term when discussing or documenting the baseline environmental and sustainability parameters of products, which are inherent to the product design and are not influenced by batch-specific or individual item circumstances.
| |
| ===Operational LCA Data (O-LCA Data)===
| |
|
| |
|
| Definition: This term is designated for the data related to specific batches or individual items, capturing the actual, real-time data on events and composition. This includes variations in energy consumption, transportation emissions, and other factors influenced by situational or environmental conditions, like weather or global logistics challenges.
| | == LCA Data Standards and Frameworks == |
| Usage Context: Employ this term when focusing on the LCA data pertinent to the operational or logistical aspects of product life cycles. It's particularly relevant for tracking, tracing, and analyzing the environmental impact of products during the storage, transportation, and usage phases, where real-world variables come into play.
| |
|
| |
|
| By distinguishing between "Design-Level LCA Data (D-LCA Data)" and "Operational LCA Data (O-LCA Data)," you can effectively communicate the different scopes and specifics of LCA data being analyzed or discussed in projects and documents. This will help ensure clarity, precision, and a structured approach to handling LCA and ESG data in and between organizations.
| | * ISO 14040:2006 – Principles and framework |
| | * ISO 14044:2006 – Requirements and guidelines |
| | * Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) – European Commission initiative for harmonized footprinting |
| | * EN 15804 – LCA standard for construction products |
| | * ILCD Handbook – European Commission’s reference for LCA data quality and modeling |
|
| |
|
| ==Related==
| |
| * [[ESG_(Environmental,_Social,_and_Governance)|ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)]]
| |
| * [[Environmental_Factors_(part_of_ESG)|Environmental Factors (part of ESG)]]
| |
| * [[LCAterms|LCAterms]]
| |
|
| |
|
| [[Category: Glossary of Terms]] | | [[Category: Taxonomy]] |
Overview
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life—from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and end-of-life (disposal, recycling, or reuse).
LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects and potential impacts of a product, service, or process. It is foundational in sustainability data exchange and supports compliance with global frameworks such as ISO 14040/44, the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and corporate ESG reporting.
Objectives of LCA
- Identify Improvement Opportunities: Pinpoint stages in the product life cycle where environmental impacts can be reduced.
- Support Decision-Making: Inform policy, procurement, and design decisions with scientifically grounded data.
- Enhance Product Design: Optimize products and processes for environmental performance and circularity.
LCA's Role in ESG Reporting
While ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks focus on company-wide sustainability, LCA adds precision by delivering product-level environmental data. By integrating LCA into ESG reporting, companies can move beyond high-level declarations to provide concrete, measurable evidence of environmental performance.
LCA data can be multiplied across volumes (e.g., transactions, shipments, production batches) to quantify total environmental impact, providing the bridge between operational data and sustainability reporting.
LCA related terms
- LCA System Boundaries – Defines the life cycle scope covered by the assessment (e.g., Cradle to Gate, Cradle to End-of-Life).
- LCA Life Cycle Stages – Breaks down the life cycle into modular stages such as manufacturing, use, and end-of-life.
- LCA Environmental Impact Indicators – Lists and defines the environmental indicators used to measure impacts (e.g., Climate Change Potential, Water Use, Resource Depletion).
- Value Unit – Defines the unit in which the indicator value is expressed (e.g., kg CO₂eq, m³, MJ).
- Reference Unit – Defines the basis for the value (e.g., per kg, per functional unit, per sales unit), enabling contextual interpretation.
These components allow for precise, interoperable data exchange and enable detailed declarations per product, stage, and indicator.
LCA Data Standards and Frameworks
- ISO 14040:2006 – Principles and framework
- ISO 14044:2006 – Requirements and guidelines
- Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) – European Commission initiative for harmonized footprinting
- EN 15804 – LCA standard for construction products
- ILCD Handbook – European Commission’s reference for LCA data quality and modeling
