Life Cycle Analysis Step 1: Goal and Scope

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Questions and Answers

What defines a product’s function in the context of LCA?

The materials used in manufacturing the product.

The market demand for the product.

An action describing the product’s purpose or components’ purposes. (correct)

The physical characteristics of the product.

What is an example of a basic function of a Node chair?

Store personal belongings.

Facilitate quick movement in the classroom.

Support ergonomic comfort.

Allow students to sit. (correct)

What is a functional unit in an LCA study?

The total weight of physical materials in a product.

The total production cost of the product.

A quantified performance of a system of products used as a reference unit. (correct)

A measure of the environmental impact of a product.

Which of the following represents an additional function of a Node chair?

Fitting to student’s ergonomics and comfort needs. Signup and view all the answers

Who is primarily interested in understanding the drivers of environmental impact for hand-drying systems?

Engineers analyzing product lifecycle. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of defining the goal in a life cycle analysis?

To set specific objectives related to sustainability impacts Signup and view all the answers

Which question is not typically addressed in the first step of life cycle analysis?

What are the estimated sales figures? Signup and view all the answers

In the context of life cycle analysis, which of the following is a potential goal to define?

Assess environmental and health impacts Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is included in identifying the target audience for a life cycle analysis?

Identifying who is interested in the investigation's findings Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following could be considered a specific goal in the example study on hand dryers?

Evaluate the environmental impact under different scenarios Signup and view all the answers

When establishing the scope of a life cycle analysis, what is a relevant consideration?

The design complexities of the product Signup and view all the answers

In the MIT LCA study on hand dryers, who is the intended audience for the results?

The general public and any interested parties Signup and view all the answers

Which question does not belong to the four foundational questions for defining the goal of a life cycle analysis?

What alternatives are being considered? Signup and view all the answers

What is one main step in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology?

Impact assessment Signup and view all the answers

Which life cycle phases can be considered in a study?

Cradle to Cradle Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a direct application of Life Cycle Assessment?

Risk assessment Signup and view all the answers

What is a criterion for defining cut-off rules in life cycle analysis?

Cost or revenue contribution Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Dyson Airblade hand dryer, how are smaller parts accounted for?

They are aggregated into a single part Signup and view all the answers

What does the boundary decision of exclusion involve?

Physical properties Signup and view all the answers

Which stage follows the inventory analysis (LCI) in the LCA methodology?

Impact assessment Signup and view all the answers

In the MIT LCA study on hand dryers, what was the primary region of focus?

The United States Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 'Critical review' step in the LCA methodology?

To evaluate the reliability of the data used Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does not represent a system boundary in life cycle analysis?

Laboratory Testing Signup and view all the answers

What is a common measure used to define the level of scrutiny in a life cycle study?

Concentration of materials (% total mass) Signup and view all the answers

Which material was assumed to be manufactured in China in the MIT LCA study?

All systems except paper towels Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of establishing system boundaries in life cycle analysis?

To limit the scope of environmental impact Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant mistake when defining functional units in terms of product functionality?

Assuming the same physical quantity of a product equals the same function. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of being overly restrictive when defining functional units?

Defining functionality with strict numerical limits. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes incorrect use of technical standards or legal requirements?

Citing standards that do not apply to the product category. Signup and view all the answers

What are system boundaries in the context of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

The boundaries between the product system, technosphere, and ecosphere. Signup and view all the answers

What are elementary flows in the context of LCA?

Resources taken or emissions rejected into the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What are non-elementary flows in Life Cycle Assessment?

Intermediary materials, components, or wastes among actors. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'cradle to gate' refer to in LCA?

The scope of assessment from making raw materials to the end of manufacturing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of determining unit processes in LCA?

It quantifies environmental impacts from specific activities. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) - Step 1: Goal and Scope

The first step in an LCA requires answering four main questions: Why, Who, What, Where?
The "Why" defines the specific objectives of the study, relating to sustainability-related decisions such as assessing environmental and health impacts, improving design, making procurement decisions, achieving compliance, and enhancing brand value.
The "Who" identifies the target audience for the LCA study, determining whether it is for internal use, design teams, suppliers, the public, or other stakeholders.
The "What" defines the function of the product being analyzed and clarifies the purpose of the product or its components.
- Functions are expressed as a verb followed by complements.
- Two levels of function are distinguished:
  - Basic functions: The primary purpose of the product (e.g., sitting, writing, reading).
  - Additional functions: Secondary or supplemental functionalities (e.g., moving quickly, storing belongings, ergonomic comfort).
The "What" also defines the functional unit (FU), which quantifies the performance of the product system being analyzed. The FU should relate to a quantity of service provided rather than a physical quantity of the product.
Common mistakes when defining the FU include:
- Assuming that the same physical quantity equals the same function.
- Being overly restrictive.
- Incorrectly using technical standards or legal requirements.
The "Where" defines the system boundaries, which distinguish the studied product system from the surrounding economy (technosphere) and environment (ecosphere).
- System boundaries determine the unit processes used to quantify environmental impacts.
The "Where" also defines:
- LC phases: Cradle to Gate, Cradle to Grave, and Cradle to Cradle.
- The level of scrutiny: Cut-off rules, which can be based on physical measure (weight), cost or revenue contribution, or environmental aspects contribution.
- The location of the study.

Example of an LCA Study on Hand Dryers

"Why": To compare the life cycle environmental impact of hand-drying systems under different manufacturing and use scenarios, identify impact drivers, and inform product design decisions.
"Who": The target audience is Dyson engineers and the general public, with the study commission by Dyson to inform public claims about their Airblade hand dryer.
"What": The function is to "dry hands" and the FU is the number of hand-drying cycles.
"Where": The study considers a cradle-to-grave perspective, with manufacturing in China and use in the United States, making specific assumptions about the location of processes and transportation.

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Description

This quiz explores the first step in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), focusing on defining the goals and scope of the study. Participants will learn to answer critical questions such as 'Why, Who, What, Where?' to effectively assess environmental and health impacts. Aimed at professionals and students, this quiz highlights the importance of understanding the purpose of products in sustainability efforts.