LCA as a decision-support tool for product optimization

Since the end of the 1980s Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) has been the most frequently discussed methodological tool for assessing and improving the environmental performance of products and production processes, see [1]–[4]. Life-cycle Assessment is a process for evaluation of the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying energy materials used and wastes released to the environment; to assess the impact of those energy and material uses and releases to the environment; and to identify and evaluate opportunities to affect environmental improvements. The assessment includes the entire life cycle of the product, process or activity, encompassing extracting and processing raw materials; manufacturing, transportation and distribution; use, reuse and maintenance; and recycling and final disposal [5]. From this, it follows that LCAs can help in making more reliable decisions related to ecological improvements of products ([1], [4] and [6]). But LCA is only one tool in the multi-dimensional decision process which until now has been dominated by technical and economical criteria, see [1] and [7]. Using it during development of a product means adding ecological aspects to the traditional decision process ([7], [8]). However, LCA is only suitable for that purpose if concrete computational procedures for performing Life-cycle Inventory (LCI) and Lifecycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) exist [9]. This chapter focuses on aspects of the calculation of LCIs.