Life Cycle Assessment Flashcards
Functional Unit: Definition
The reference unit in LCA used to compare different products or services
LCA: Phases
- Goal and Scope
- Inventory
- Impact Assessment
- Interpretation
Goal and Scope
Defines the purpose and boundaries of the assessment.
Inventory
Identifies and quantifies inputs and outputs.
Impact Assessment
Assess the potential environmental impacts based on the inventory data.
Interpretation
Evaluates the results and identifies areas for improvement.
Midpoint indicators: Definition
Assess environmental impacts based on common environmental challenges (e.g., climate change potential, resource depletion).
Midpoint indicators: Goal
Convert elementary flows to common measure
Endpoint indicators: Definition
Measure the ultimate effects on human health, ecosystems, or resource availability.
Endpoint indicators: Goal
Aggregate midpoint indicators into measures of overall human and planetary health
Multifunctionality: definition
Systems or processes that serve multiple functions
Multifunctionality: Challenges
Requires determining how to allocate impacts and benefits among different functions.
Allocation methods: ISO hierarchy
Methods include separating processes, system expansion/ displacement, causality, physical properties, and alternative allocation approaches
Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)
Involves transitioning from the inventory analysis phase to assessing potential environmental impacts
LCIA: Characterization
Convert elementary flows into potential impacts by linking them to environmental categories
