Impact categories

Question 1

What is LCIA?

Answer 1

Asseses enviromental impacts in different impact categories of a chosen product system

Question 2

What ISO is used for the report?

Answer 2

ISO 14040

Question 3

Which hotspots are included in climate change?

Answer 3

Biogenic, CO” uptake, Fossil, Land use, Land transformation

Question 4

What is the definition of climate change?

Answer 4

The impact on global warming potential for a period of 100 years - the potential is due to emissions of greenhouse gasses such as CO2 and methane

Question 5

What is the unit for climate change?

Answer 5

kg CO2 equivalent

Question 6

What was our main two hotspots for Biogenic?

Answer 6

Cowhide & linerboard production

Question 7

What is CO2 uptake?

Answer 7

The process of how much CO2 has been absorbed by a material during its lifetime

Question 8

What is the two biggest contributor for CO2 uptake?

Answer 8

Cowhide & cork

Question 9

What is fossil?

Answer 9

The impact on climate change due to the extraction, processing and combustion of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

Question 10

What are fossil fuels?

Answer 10

Fossil fuels are made from decomposing plants and animals. These fuels are found in Earth’s crust and contain carbon and hydrogen, which can be burned for energy. Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels.

Question 11

What are the biggest contributors to fossil?

Answer 11

Cowhide & latex

Question 12

What is abiotic depletion? (elements & fossil fuels)

Answer 12

The use of natural non-biotic/nonrenewable resources such as minerals, metals and fossil fuels

Question 13

How is Abiotic depletion (elements) measured?

Answer 13

kg Sb-ept (equivalents of
kilograms of antimony )

Question 14

How is abiotic depletion (fossil fuels) measured?

Answer 14

MJ (megajoule)

Question 15

What is the biggest contributor to Abiotic depletion (elements) and why?

Answer 15

Stainless steel, as it contributes due to the extraction and processing of the raw material,
which affects the depletion of steel.

Question 16

Why do we have a Declared unit and not a functional unit?

Answer 16

Based on the scope, we want to make recommendations for Birkenstock to reduce their impact. We do not want to compare the product system to another, which is where a functional unit makes more sense. Additionally we are not looking at the use phase of the product, and therefor is does not need to include a quantified performance

Question 17

What is Eutrophication?

Answer 17

Eutrophication impacts ecosystems due to
substances containing nitrogen (N) (nitrification) or phosphorus (P). The availability of one of these nutrients will be a limiting factor for growth in the ecosystem, and if this nutrient is added, the growth of algae or specific plants will be increased. - This can cause oxygen depletion at the bottom layers of lakes and coastal waters

Question 18

What is acidification?

Answer 18

Happens when hydrogen ions are released into water - these ions will create a acidic enviroment. Fx. Acid lakes, where wildlife is eliminated due to the acidic waters or acid rain which damage the built enviroment by its corrosive nature

Question 19

what is photochemical ozone formation?

Answer 19

Indicates the emissions of gases, which affect the development of photochemical ozone in the lower atmosphere (ground level ozone) (Ozone (O3, on the ground (in the troposphere)
is harmful)

Question 20

What is ozone depletion?

Answer 20

Measures emissions which causes depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Question 21

What is the biggest contributor to photochemical ozone formation?

Answer 21

Cowhide

Question 22

What is the biggest contributor to photochemical ozone depletion?

Answer 22

cowhide

Question 23

What does EPD mean?

Answer 23

Enviromental Product Declaration