Skip to main content
Erschienen in: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 5/2019

22.10.2018 | POLICIES AND SUPPORT IN RELATION TO LCA

Consistency check for life cycle assessments

verfasst von: Bo P. Weidema

Erschienen in: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment | Ausgabe 5/2019

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a detailed procedural description for performing a consistency check for LCA as required by the ISO 14044 standard.

Methods

Consistency is defined as freedom from logical contradictions. The requirements of ISO 14044 are reviewed, and detailed guidance is provided for these and other related consistency issues.

Results and discussion

The procedural guidance reflects the iterative nature of the phases of LCA. Some inconsistencies can be of a more fundamental nature that does not allow a single consistent solution. Instead, more than one separately consistent solution can then be found and applied as separate “scenarios” presented to the decision maker with appropriate explanation of the fundamental differences of the scenarios, and their respective strengths and weaknesses for the decision context.

Conclusions

Revisiting and correcting inconsistencies can avoid most consistency problems. However, lack of resources may prohibit such adjustments, and the inconsistencies and their implications for the conclusions may then simply be stated and the conclusions modified accordingly.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Fußnoten
1
This confusion is due to an unfortunate rewording during the 2006 revision (which was explicitly not intended to change the original requirements of the standards), in which the list in Clause 4.3.4.3.1 was given the status of a hierarchy, a status it did not have in the original ISO 14041 text.
 
2
An LCSA is a combination of an LCA and an Environmental LCC as defined by Hunkeler et al. (2008). If fully monetarised, Hunkeler et al. (2008) calls such an LCSA a “societal LCC”.
 
3
In combined production, the amount of one co-product can be changed independently of the amount of the other co-products. In joint production, the amount of co-products cannot be changed independently, i.e. their amounts are always produced in the same fixed proportion.
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Hunkeler D, Lichtenvort K, Rebitzer G (2008) Environmental life cycle costing. SETAC, PensacolaCrossRef Hunkeler D, Lichtenvort K, Rebitzer G (2008) Environmental life cycle costing. SETAC, PensacolaCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat ISO (2006) International Standard ISO 14044. Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Requirements and guidelines. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva ISO (2006) International Standard ISO 14044. Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Requirements and guidelines. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva
Zurück zum Zitat ISO (2012) Technical report ISO 14049. Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Illustrative examples on how to apply ISO 14044 to goal and scope definition and inventory analysis. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva ISO (2012) Technical report ISO 14049. Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Illustrative examples on how to apply ISO 14044 to goal and scope definition and inventory analysis. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva
Zurück zum Zitat Laurent A et al (2018) Methodology review and detailed guidance for life cycle interpretation. Manuscript from a sub-group of the Task Force on cross-cutting issues under the SETAC-UNEP Life Cycle Initiative flagship project on ‘Global guidance for life cycle impact assessment’. Submitted to the International Journal of LCA. [Reference to be updated] Laurent A et al (2018) Methodology review and detailed guidance for life cycle interpretation. Manuscript from a sub-group of the Task Force on cross-cutting issues under the SETAC-UNEP Life Cycle Initiative flagship project on ‘Global guidance for life cycle impact assessment’. Submitted to the International Journal of LCA. [Reference to be updated]
Zurück zum Zitat Pizzol M, Laurent A, Sala S, Weidema BP, Verones F, Koffler C (2017) Normalisation and weighting in life cycle assessment: quo vadis? Int J Life Cycle Assess 22(6):853–866CrossRef Pizzol M, Laurent A, Sala S, Weidema BP, Verones F, Koffler C (2017) Normalisation and weighting in life cycle assessment: quo vadis? Int J Life Cycle Assess 22(6):853–866CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Sonnemann G, Vigon B (2011) Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases. UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, Paris/Pensacola Sonnemann G, Vigon B (2011) Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases. UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, Paris/Pensacola
Zurück zum Zitat Technical Report ISO (2006) International Standard ISO 14040. Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Principles and framework. International Organization for Standardization, Technical Report Technical Report ISO (2006) International Standard ISO 14040. Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Principles and framework. International Organization for Standardization, Technical Report
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP (2014) Has ISO 14040/44 failed its role as a standard for LCA? J Ind Ecol 18(3):324–326CrossRef Weidema BP (2014) Has ISO 14040/44 failed its role as a standard for LCA? J Ind Ecol 18(3):324–326CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP (2017) Short procedural guideline to identify the functional unit for a product environmental footprint and to delimit the scope of product categories. Aalborg: 2.-0 LCA consultants. Report to the Nordic Council of Ministers. http://lca-net.com/p/2527 Weidema BP (2017) Short procedural guideline to identify the functional unit for a product environmental footprint and to delimit the scope of product categories. Aalborg: 2.-0 LCA consultants. Report to the Nordic Council of Ministers. http://​lca-net.​com/​p/​2527
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP (2018) In search of a consistent solution to allocation of joint production. J Ind Ecol 22(2):252–262CrossRef Weidema BP (2018) In search of a consistent solution to allocation of joint production. J Ind Ecol 22(2):252–262CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP, Wenzel H, Petersen CC, Hansen K (2004) The product, functional unit and reference flows in LCA. Miljøstyrelsen. (Environmental News 70), København Weidema BP, Wenzel H, Petersen CC, Hansen K (2004) The product, functional unit and reference flows in LCA. Miljøstyrelsen. (Environmental News 70), København
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP, Bauer C, Hischier R, Mutel C, Nemecek T, Reinhard J, Vadenbo CO, Wernet G (2013) Overview and Methodology Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. Ecoinvent Report 1(v3). St. Gallen: The ecoinvent Centre Weidema BP, Bauer C, Hischier R, Mutel C, Nemecek T, Reinhard J, Vadenbo CO, Wernet G (2013) Overview and Methodology Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. Ecoinvent Report 1(v3). St. Gallen: The ecoinvent Centre
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP, Grbeš A, Brandão M (2015) The implicit boundary conditions of attributional and consequential LCA. Presentation to the ISIE Conference, Guildford, 7th–10th July 2015 Weidema BP, Grbeš A, Brandão M (2015) The implicit boundary conditions of attributional and consequential LCA. Presentation to the ISIE Conference, Guildford, 7th–10th July 2015
Zurück zum Zitat Weidema BP, Pizzol M, Schmidt JH, Thoma G (2018) Attributional or consequential life cycle assessment: a matter of social responsibility. J Clean Prod 174:305–314CrossRef Weidema BP, Pizzol M, Schmidt JH, Thoma G (2018) Attributional or consequential life cycle assessment: a matter of social responsibility. J Clean Prod 174:305–314CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Consistency check for life cycle assessments
verfasst von
Bo P. Weidema
Publikationsdatum
22.10.2018
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment / Ausgabe 5/2019
Print ISSN: 0948-3349
Elektronische ISSN: 1614-7502
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-1542-9

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 5/2019

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 5/2019 Zur Ausgabe