LCA Environmental Impact Indicators - TX
From imde.io
LCA Environmental Impact Indicators
Environmental Impact Indicators are standardized metrics used in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify the potential environmental effects of a product, process, or system. These indicators translate inventory data (inputs and emissions) into environmental relevance, supporting data-driven decision-making in sustainability, compliance, and product design.
These indicators are central to methodologies such as ISO 14040/44, Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), EN 15804, and are integrated in data exchange models like IMDE to enable modular, interoperable LCA reporting.
Purpose
Environmental impact indicators:
- Provide a quantified understanding of sustainability performance.
- Enable comparability across products and life cycle stages.
- Support regulatory and corporate sustainability goals (e.g., CSRD, EU Green Deal, GHG Protocol Scope 3).
Standardized Indicators
The table below lists the most common indicators used in LCA, their unique IMDE taxonomy keys, and their formal definitions.
| Indicator Name | Key | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Change Potential | CFP | Measures greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) across the life cycle, expressed in CO₂-equivalents (GWP). |
| Water Use | WFP | Assesses total freshwater use, including direct and indirect consumption of blue, green, and grey water. |
| Primary Energy Demand | EFP | Quantifies total energy consumption (renewable and non-renewable) throughout the product life cycle. |
| Resource Use | RCP | Measures the depletion of abiotic resources such as metals, minerals, and fossil fuels. |
| Waste Production | WGP | Quantifies total waste generated, categorized as hazardous, non-hazardous, or inert. |
| Biodiversity Impact | EQI | Evaluates potential impacts on ecosystem quality, species diversity, and natural habitats. |
| Land Use Change | LUC | Assesses impacts from land occupation and transformation, including habitat destruction or degradation. |
| Air Emissions | API | Measures emissions that affect air quality, such as NOₓ, VOCs, SO₂, and particulate matter (PM). |
| Human & Ecotoxicity | TOX | Evaluates harmful effects of toxic substances on human health and ecological systems. |
| Acidification & Eutrophication | AEI | Assesses the potential for acid rain formation and nutrient enrichment in ecosystems (e.g., water bodies). |
See Also
References
- ISO 14044:2006 - Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines
- ILCD Handbook (JRC)
- PEFCR Guidance v3.0 - European Commission
- EN 15804:2012+A2:2019 - Sustainability of construction works
