unesco desire – net project introduction to life cycle assessment, a sustainability...
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UNESCO UNESCO Desire – Net projectDesire – Net project
Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment,Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment,
a sustainability decision-supporting toola sustainability decision-supporting tool
Paolo Masoni Paolo Masoni ENEA – LCA & Ecodesign Lab (PROT – INN)ENEA – LCA & Ecodesign Lab (PROT – INN)
[email protected]@bologna.enea.it
UNESCOUNESCORome, 2006 27Rome, 2006 27thth June June
Table of Content• Why do life-cycle assessment?• How is life-cycle assessment used?• What is life-cycle assessment?• LCA as standard procedure• Planning an LCA Project• Functional Unit and reference flow• Inventory analysis• Impact assessment• Interpretation• Conclusions
Why do life-cycle assessment?
• Support sustainability decision-making both at macro and micro economy level
• Develop and utilize green products/services and cleaner technologies – Minimize the magnitude of pollution– Conserve non-renewable resources– Conserve ecological systems– Maximize recycling of materials and reduce waste– Apply the most appropriate pollution prevention
and/or abatement techniques
How is life-cycle assessment used?
• By public policymakers:– environmental labelling– develop long-term policy – procurement decisions – developing regulations– evaluating resource effects associated with
source reduction and alternative waste management
How is life-cycle assessment used?
• By manufacturers:– product development– product improvement– product comparison
What is life-cycle assessment?
Source: CML
What is a “product life-cycle?”
Source: CML
LCA as standard procedure• ISO 14040
Source: ISO
Stages of life cycle assessment
• Scope and goal definition– what is the purpose of the study and what
does it need to cover to achieve this.– define the system
• Life cycle inventory
• Impact assessment
• Interpretation
• Iterative process
Peer review
Planning an LCA Project
• Determine objectives– Why is LCA being conducted?
• Define product/service under study and its alternatives– What is its function?– What is an appropriate functional unit?
• Choose system boundaries– What inputs and outputs will be studied?– How will data be collected?
Functional Unit and reference flow
• Functional unit is what will be compared– careful thought
• Paper versus. plastic grocery sacks – function is to carry groceries so the functional unit
could be the transport of a defined volume of groceries --one plastic sack does not hold the same volume of groceries as a paper sack
• watch for hidden differences• Reference flow is what is used in the
inventory.
The Functional Unit
Source: CML
Inventory analysis
• The second phase of an LCA, in which the relevant inputs and outputs of the product system(s) under study throughout the life cycle are, as far as possible, compiled and quantified:– economy-environment system boundary– flow diagram– data collection and relating data to unit
processes
Example flow diagram
[CP2] Bottle chipping
[CP3] Washing and sorting
[CP4] Extrusion & Packaging
PackedHDPE pellets
HDPE bottles
Reject Material
Use of HDPE Pellets
Disposal in landfill
Grid electricity
Mains Water
Waste Water to sew er
Recycling System boundary
Packaging Materials sew er
[CP1]Transport
[CP5]Transport
Bottle collection
Clean HDPEFlake
[CP6]Transport
Flake
Source: EA
Data issues
• Assumptions made when choosing system boundaries and data sources
• Acceptability - source, type• Aggregation - degree• Precision - variability of data• Representative - one product/average of 3, UK,
EU• Comparability - with other values• Reproducibility
Impact assessment• Impact assessment• The third phase of an LCA, concerned with
understanding and• evaluating the magnitude and significance of the
potential• environmental impacts of the product system(s) under
study:– selection of impact categories– selection of characterisation methods– classification– characterisation– normalisation– grouping– weighting
OPTIONAL
Characterisation methods
Sou
rce:
CM
L
Example of an environmental profile
Source: CML
Interpretation
• Fourth phase of an LCA, in which results of Inventory analysis and/or Impact assessment are interpreted in light of Goal and scope definition in order to draw up conclusions & recommendations
Conclusions
• The advantages of a life cycle approach:
HolisticUpstream effects (back to raw materials)Downstream effects (to final release into the environment)
ObjectiveTransparent
Source: EA
Conclusions
• Difficulties:– Capable of abuse
– Doesn’t cover everything (traffic, health etc.)
– Doesn’t make decisions
– Complex
– Results can be difficult to understand