Abstract
This chapter is dedicated to the third phase of an LCA study, the Life Cycle
Impact Assessment (LCIA)
where the life cycle inventory’s information on elementary flows
is translated into environmental impact scores. In contrast to the three other LCA
phases, LCIA is in practice largely automated by LCA software, but the underlying principles, models and factors should still be well understood by practitioners to ensure the insight that is needed for a qualified interpretation
of the results. This chapter teaches the fundamentals of LCIA and opens the black box of LCIA
with its characterisation models
and factors to inform the reader about: (1) the main purpose and characteristics of LCIA, (2) the mandatory and optional steps of LCIA according to the ISO standard, and (3)
the science and methods underlying the assessment for each environmental impact category
. For each impact category, the reader is taken through (a) the underlying environmental problem, (b) the underlying environmental mechanism
and its fundamental modelling principles, (c) the main anthropogenic sources causing the problem and (d) the main methods available in LCIA. An annex to this book offers a comprehensive qualitative comparison of the main elements and properties of the most widely used and also the latest LCIA methods for each impact category, to further assist the advanced practitioner to make an informed choice between LCIA methods.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and practice |
Publisher | Springer |
Publication date | 2018 |
Pages | 167-270 |
Chapter | 10 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783319564753 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783319564746 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Business and Management
- Sustainability Management
- Sustainable Development
- Renewable and Green Energy
- Manufacturing, Machines, Tools
- Operating Procedures, Materials Treatment