Life Cycle Analysis Lecture Notes PDF

Life cycle Analysis Step 2: Life Cycle Inventories (LCI) 53 LCA – STEP 2: LIFE CYCLE INVENTORIES Basically, an LCI is: ‒ A list of quantified elementary flows (inputs resources and outputs emissions), as well as secondary flows (intermediate and final product...

Life cycle Analysis Step 2: Life Cycle Inventories (LCI) 53 LCA – STEP 2: LIFE CYCLE INVENTORIES Basically, an LCI is: ‒ A list of quantified elementary flows (inputs resources and outputs emissions), as well as secondary flows (intermediate and final products or waste between actors), needed to fulfil the FU; ‒ Based on a process diagram; ‒ Done with respect to the goals and scope definition. 54 LCA – STEP 2: LIFE CYCLE INVENTORIES 55 Bill of activities data Unit process inventory data Airblade aluminium MIT example http://environmental- management.ca/lca/LCA_MIT_Hand- 56 Dryers_2011.pdf Life cycle Analysis Step 3: Impact Assessment (LCIA) 57 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT Objectives of the Impact Assessment (LCIA): ‒ Understanding and evaluating the magnitude and significance of the potential environmental impacts of the studied system; Choice of a database and of a specific impact assessment method; 58 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT How to choose the database and the impact assessment method: ‒ Mostly based on the impact categories (midpoint and endpoint); ‒ Product and/or process, the industry; ‒ Specific environmental regulation, ecolabel or ecoprofile; ‒ Company’s environmental agenda; ‒ Consistency with other studies; ‒ Etc. 59 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT Midpoint impact categories Vs. Endpoint categories of protection Example: IMPACT 2002+ http://environmental- management.ca/lca/LCA_MIT_Hand-Dryers_2011.pdf 60 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT 61 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT Three main steps to reconciliate different flow quantities into specific impact categories: 1. Classification All flows (from LCI) are linked to the or their corresponding impact category/ies; FLOWS Inflows Outflows One flow can operate on different impacts Many flows can act on the same impact category IMPACTS Resources Pollutions 62 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT CO2 Ozone destruction NO3 NO2 Global warming CFC Acidification C2H4 PO4 Eutrophication CH4 Photochemical Oxidation smog SO2 N2O 63 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT Three main steps to reconciliate different flow quantities into specific impact categories: 2. Characterization Expression of flows (from LCI) in equivalent quantity of a reference substance based on the characterization factor; 3. Normalization and Weighting Normalization: use of an exposure of reference (average annual impact) – create a relative impact; Each impact result is given a « weight » (a relative and subjective importance), then the different scores can be added to give a single score, expressed in « points » (Pt). 64 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT 65 LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT http://www.solidworks.com/sustaina bility/sustainable-design-guide/lca- detailed-overview.htm 66  Environmental impact Impact assessment method Airblade aluminium IMPACT Airblade impact on Global Warming 2002+ GWP results of different systems to dry “one pair of hand” http://environmental- management.ca/lca/LCA_MI 67 T_Hand-Dryers_2011.pdf LCA – STEP 3: IMPACT ASSESSMENT 68  Life cycle Analysis Step 4: Interpretation & Conclusion 69 LCA – STEP 4: INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Objectives of the interpretation and conclusion: ‒ Analyze the results (main contributors of the analyzed impacts); ‒ Proceed to a sensitivity and uncertainty analysis; ‒ Give recommendations. 70 LCA – STEP 4: INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Sensitivity analysis: ‒ The extent to which the variation of an input parameter or a choice leads to a variation of the results; Uncertainty analysis: ‒ Relates to baseline (scenario) assumptions (multi-parameters variations) and/or bill of activities data (estimated by software); ‒ Allows to quantify and improve the precision of a study and the robustness of its conclusions; Both must be communicated. 71 LCA – STEP 4: INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The impact score estimate option A is 4 (mean result) and option B is 6 (mean result) which may suggest that option A is preferable (less impacting). But considering the uncertainties: the more the distributions overlap, the higher the chances that option A may not be preferable to option B. 72 LCA – STEP 4: INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION 73 LCA – STEP 4: INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Decision tree: Combination of sensitivity analysis and uncertainty information to focus improvement of the LCA data 74 Life Cycle Analysis Main limitations 75 LIMITATIONS: DECISION MAKING Many decisions are made during a LCA : ‒ Functional unit and scope definition; ‒ Type of LCA; ‒ Cut-offs; ‒ Impact categories; ‒ Allocations; ‒ Weighting, etc. 76 LIMITATIONS: DATA AND MODEL QUALITY “All models are wrong, but some are useful” George Box Uncertainties related to: ‒ Parameters: data quality, gaps, unrepresentative, etc.; ‒ Scenario: usually managed through sensitivity and uncertainty analyses; ‒ Model: insufficient knowledge of the mechanisms of the system, steady-state assumption. 77 LIMITATIONS: DATA AND MODEL QUALITY Examples of uncertainty sources for the IT sector Life cycle stage Important uncertainty sources Raw material Complex supply chain acquisition Variations in geographical location World market variations Production Large supplier base which changes continuously Allocation of facility data Use Lifetime, geographical location, traffic scenario model Network design and energy use variation Variations in electricity and power production supply EoL Treatment Future processes principally unknown Variation between suppliers and regions Allocation of facility data European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) 78 LIMITATIONS: LCA ≠ SUSTAINABILITY! LCA cannot tells us if a product/service is sustainable! Why? ‒ Information about best option, not environmental sustainability; ‒ Environmental impacts are just part of the answer; Two methods to try and fill this gap (aligned with ISO 14040): ‒ Environmental Life Cycle Costing (eLCC); ‒ Social Life Cycle Analysis (S-LCA); Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment 79 LIMITATIONS: LCA ≠ SUSTAINABILITY! Rödger et al. (2018) Life cycle costing: An introduction. In Hauschild et al. (Eds) Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Practice 80 LIMITATIONS: LCA ≠ SUSTAINABILITY! Table 16.1 An overview of Worker-related issues social impacts included in Non-discrimination S-LCA approaches Freedom of association and collective bargainning Child labour, including hazardous child labour Forced and compulsory labour Level and regularity of wages and benefits Physical working conditions Psychological working conditions Training and education of employees Society-related issues Corruption Development support and investments in society Local community acceptance of company's activities Company commitment to sustainability issues Product user-related issues Integration of consumer health and safety concerns in product Moltesen et al. (2018) Social life cycle assessment: An Availability of product information to users introduction. In Hauschild et al. (Eds) Life Cycle Ethical guidelines for advertisements of product Assessment: Theory and Practice 81 MAIN CHALLENGES TO LCA DEVELOPMENT Main barriers for implementation of sustainability management tools (including LCA) by SMEs: 1. Lack of awareness of sustainability issues; 2. Absence of perceived benefits; 3. Lack of knowledge and expertise on sustainability issues; 4. Lack of human and financial resources; 5. Insufficient external drivers and incentives; 6. Changes in workplace routines; 7. Unsuitability of formal management tools to fit the often informal and flexible SME structure; and 8. Complexity of tools. 82 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT QUIZ K2!!! 83