TY - JOUR
T1 - Area of Concern: A new paradigm in life cycle assessment for the development of footprint metrics
AU - Ridoutt, Bradley G.
AU - Pfister, Stephan
AU - Manzardo, Alessandro
AU - Bare, Jane
AU - Boulay, Anne-Marie
AU - Cherubini, Francesco
AU - Fantke, Peter
AU - Frischknecht, Rolf
AU - Hauschild, Michael Zwicky
AU - Henderson, Andrew
AU - Jolliet, Olivier
AU - Levasseur, Annie
AU - Margni, Manuele
AU - McKone, Thomas
AU - Michelsen, Ottar
AU - i Canals, Llorenç Milà
AU - Page, Girija
AU - Pant, Rana
AU - Raugei, Marco
AU - Sala, Serenella
AU - Verones, Francesca
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - As a class of environmental metrics, footprints have
been poorly defined, have shared an unclear relationship to
life cycle assessment (LCA), and the variety of approaches to
quantification have sometimes resulted in confusing and contradictory
messages in the marketplace. In response, a task
force operating under the auspices of the UNEP/SETAC Life
Cycle Initiative project on environmental life cycle impact
assessment (LCIA) has been working to develop generic guidance
for developers of footprint metrics. The purpose of this
paper is to introduce a universal footprint definition and related
terminology as well as to discuss modelling implications. The task force has worked from the perspective that
footprints should be based on LCA methodology,
underpinned by the same data systems and models as used
in LCA. However, there are important differences in purpose
and orientation relative to LCA impact category indicators.
Footprints have a primary orientation toward society and nontechnical
stakeholders. They are also typically of narrow
scope, having the purpose of reporting only in relation to
specific topics. In comparison, LCA has a primary orientation
toward stakeholders interested in comprehensive evaluation
of overall environmental performance and trade-offs
among impact categories. These differences create tension between footprints, the existing LCIA framework based on
the area of protection paradigm and the core LCA standards
ISO14040/44. In parallel to area of protection, we
introduce area of concern as the basis for a universal footprint
definition. In the same way that LCA uses impact category
indicators to assess impacts that follow a common causeeffect
pathway toward areas of protection, footprint metrics
address areas of concern. The critical difference is that areas of
concern are defined by the interests of stakeholders in society
rather than the LCA community. In addition, areas of concern
are stand-alone and not necessarily part of a framework
intended for comprehensive environmental performance assessment.
The area of concern paradigm is needed to support
the development of footprints in a way that fulfils their distinctly
different purpose. It is also needed as a mechanism to
extricate footprints from some of the provisions of ISO 14040/
44 which are not considered relevant. Specific issues are identified
in relation to double counting, aggregation and the
selection of relevant indicators. The universal footprint definition and related
terminology introduced in this paper create a foundation
that will support the development of footprint metrics in
parallel with LCA.
AB - As a class of environmental metrics, footprints have
been poorly defined, have shared an unclear relationship to
life cycle assessment (LCA), and the variety of approaches to
quantification have sometimes resulted in confusing and contradictory
messages in the marketplace. In response, a task
force operating under the auspices of the UNEP/SETAC Life
Cycle Initiative project on environmental life cycle impact
assessment (LCIA) has been working to develop generic guidance
for developers of footprint metrics. The purpose of this
paper is to introduce a universal footprint definition and related
terminology as well as to discuss modelling implications. The task force has worked from the perspective that
footprints should be based on LCA methodology,
underpinned by the same data systems and models as used
in LCA. However, there are important differences in purpose
and orientation relative to LCA impact category indicators.
Footprints have a primary orientation toward society and nontechnical
stakeholders. They are also typically of narrow
scope, having the purpose of reporting only in relation to
specific topics. In comparison, LCA has a primary orientation
toward stakeholders interested in comprehensive evaluation
of overall environmental performance and trade-offs
among impact categories. These differences create tension between footprints, the existing LCIA framework based on
the area of protection paradigm and the core LCA standards
ISO14040/44. In parallel to area of protection, we
introduce area of concern as the basis for a universal footprint
definition. In the same way that LCA uses impact category
indicators to assess impacts that follow a common causeeffect
pathway toward areas of protection, footprint metrics
address areas of concern. The critical difference is that areas of
concern are defined by the interests of stakeholders in society
rather than the LCA community. In addition, areas of concern
are stand-alone and not necessarily part of a framework
intended for comprehensive environmental performance assessment.
The area of concern paradigm is needed to support
the development of footprints in a way that fulfils their distinctly
different purpose. It is also needed as a mechanism to
extricate footprints from some of the provisions of ISO 14040/
44 which are not considered relevant. Specific issues are identified
in relation to double counting, aggregation and the
selection of relevant indicators. The universal footprint definition and related
terminology introduced in this paper create a foundation
that will support the development of footprint metrics in
parallel with LCA.
KW - Area of protection
KW - Environmental footprint
KW - Environmental labels and declarations
KW - Footprint definition
KW - Footprint indicator
KW - ISO 14044
KW - Life cycle impact assessment
KW - UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative
U2 - 10.1007/s11367-015-1011-7
DO - 10.1007/s11367-015-1011-7
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0948-3349
VL - 21
SP - 276
EP - 280
JO - International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
JF - International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
IS - 2
ER -