LCA methods
and methodology
Ireneusz Zbicinski
Lodz, Technical University
Molo, EMS Conference, 28th June-2 nd July 2006
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Introducing Life Cycle
Assessment in Companies
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Conditions for LCA Analysis
Introducing Life Cycle Thinking
In this chapter it is described how to set up an LCA analysis.
A general overview is given of the constraints in this process,
and how to deal with problems one may encounter.
It is also explained how to develop an LCA course project to be
used in educational workshops
Conceptual framework
for decision-making
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LCA should Support Sustainable Development
In practice this is approached very differently in different
sectors of society and in different subcultures.
We may distinguish between three different perspectives:
• Natural and physical sciences, including ecology and
thermodynamics: the physical laws and relationships that
shape ecosystems. Perspectives in this area are described
as scientific.
• Micro-economics and technology: the economic relationships,
structures and products that shape business
systems. Perspectives in this area can be described as
business-oriented.
• Social issues and macro-economics: the social structures
and issues that shape society, reflecting peoples’ values.
Perspectives in this area are described as societal.
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Supporting Decision-making
Figures describe the overall decision-making process.
Trajectories of decision-making
Example of a decision space
in the conceptual framework.
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Four Requirements
Four generic requirements are necessary for environmental
management:
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Human and environmental safety.
Regulatory compliance.
Efficient use of resources and waste management.
Addressing societal expectations and concerns.
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11.2 The Decision-making Process
Tools and Methods Used for Decision Making
Decisions are reached via an iterative process involving various
components, as outlined below, and resulting in action.
Components of environmental decision-making
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Distinguishing Between Tools and Methods
There are different ways in which LCA analyses are being
developed and used in practice.
On the one hand, there are LCA analyses developed to assess
potential environmental impacts without regard to site-specific
conditions, and in some cases using generic weighting factors.
This is analogous to using LCA as a tool or technique.
On the other hand, some practitioners argue that the more
sitespecific and subjective, evaluative components of an LCA
analysis are crucial to the results and this should be recognised
in the approach selected.
This is analogous to using LCA as a system approach.
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Product Development Process
It is presented to illustrate an example of how various tools and
elements may be integrated in a business process, such as
product development.
Product development incorporating various methods, tools and techniques
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Involvement of Stakeholders
By stakeholder we generally mean those with a direct interest
in the decision, that is those who are responsible for financing
it, those who are directly affected by it and those who are
responsible for its implementation.
A stakeholder is defined as: “Someone with a legitimate interest
in the decision”.
Involvement of stakeholders
at different stages in a
decision-making process.
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Setting Up an LCA Course Project
LCA for Raising Awareness or
for Decision-making
the objectives for a manageable
LCA analysis are:
• A clear and comprehensive
specification of the system
functionality.
• A determination of the design,
realisation, use and phaseout
of the intended system.
• An indication all logistical
processes, products and actors.
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11.3 Introducing LCA Projects in Industry
Starting an LCA Project
An LCA project in industry is most often initiated by someone
who commissions the project. This is often a middle-level
manager without specific LCA expertise. The LCA analyst,
with some expertise, will scope the project, and in fact say if it
is at all possible to conduct, or quite often rephrase it to make
it possible.
Outcomes are:
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Redesign of products.
Change of materials in products.
Find a different provider of materials.
Change packaging of products.
Change production processes.
Change logistics.
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Institutionalising LCA
LCA in most companies is not well established. Such a process
will not start unless some individuals see the regular need for
LCA and start the process.
There are several different incentives to establish an LCA
group or activity. Outside pressure is one. If other companies
in the same field are doing LCA, others will often follow.
LCA Today and in the Future
In the early 21st century LCA is fairly well established. One
report from 2000 (Frankl and Rubik) mentions that between
5% and 40% of industry uses LCA, depending on branch and
country.
The process is supported within the European Union’s IPP
(Integrated Product Policy) Directive.
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The project aims to promote and support more reliable
LCA studies by providing:
• Reference data and recommended methods for LCA, including
core Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data of European
business associations, including data on energy, transport
and waste management.
• Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) factors for estimating
the potential impacts on resource consumption, the
environment and human health.
• Handbook of Technical Guidance Documents for LCA, to
provide consensus on best practice.
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LCA Analysis of Systems
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12.1 How to Use LCA for Systems
LCA for Products or Systems
Here LCA is used as a tool. As a tool, LCA analysis is easier
since all factors of a potential environmental effect can be
evaluated in a “Do-It-Yourself LCA Manual”.
Practitioners may incorporate a defined set of impacts so that
trade-offs between alternatives in the final decision are more
transparent.
In some situations a more site-specific and subjective evaluation
of LCA is crucial to the results.
This is the case when LCA is used to evaluate more complex
situations than the production, use and scrapping of single
products. It is especially interesting to use life cycle
assessments for evaluating systems. By systems we will
understand processes where many different “products” are used
together to make possible a more complex operation.
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LCA Analysis Method on Systems
The LCA analysis method of systems introduced here is based
on the so-called integrated Logistics Process Cycle (LPC).
This is composed of eight different parts, as illustrated in Figure
The Logistics Process Cycle around the offshore crane ship “Balder”
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Logistics Process Cycle of the system contains the following
four material components:
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Resources.
Actors.
Activities.
Products and services
In addition to these the cycle has four logistical components:
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A budget to finance the resources.
An operational need to justify the budget.
Installation performance.
System functionality.
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The functional material part breakdown.
Life Cycle Management, LCM
An overall management of the entire logistics cycle is necessary
to maximize performance. When this is done in a life cycle
perspective it is called Life Cycle Management (LCM).
It is provided by a LCM team.
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Life Cycle Management, LCM
The Logistics Process Cycle (LPC) in Figure is seen as an “up
and running” logistics process broken down into eight entities.
When the asset life cycle is reviewed, from conception to phaseout, the LPC should be read in two directions.
For design, adjustment and evaluation it turns anti-clockwise.
For production, operations and phase-out, it turns clockwise.
The Logistics Process
Cycle related to the
Asset Management
Control Elements.
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12.2 Logistic Process (Life) Cycles
Analysis
A Four-step Procedure for Analysis of Systems
A general LPC analysis has been done to provide a basic analytic
framework for any (technical) system.
The aim has been to unearth the necessary logistic means for
each LPC element, beginning with the operational need.
To determine the overall environmental impact of the logistical
products and services analysed throughout the life cycle
of the system, the Eco-Indicator 95/99 approach is used.
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To specify the necessary logistical (management) information,
knowledge and skills, an analysis should be made for all life
cycle phases. The four phases to be discussed are:
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Planning the system – Specify System Functionality.
Setting up the system – Acquire System Functionality.
Running the system – Achieve Cost Effectiveness.
Scrapping the system – Justify Phase-Out.
Planning the System
The planning of the systems is called the Specify System
Functionality phase. It is the first objective in the LPC analysis
of any system. For each LPC phase, LCA analysis is composed
of the eight distinct components.
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For a capital asset it is assumed that the ILS Use Study is
the most relevant.
The aim of the Use Study is to identify and document the
pertinent supportability factors related to the intended use of
the new system, such as:
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Mobility requirements
Deployment scenarios
Mission frequency and duration
Basing concepts
Service life
Interactions with other systems
Human capabilities/limitations.
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Operational need
In this phase is to decide how good the performance should
be, that is, the advisable or required “degree of perfection”.
System functionality
is essential to ensure that the operational requirements can be
fulfilled. According to the ILS/LSA method system functionality
can be described by defining the system requirements and
characteristics.
Installation performance
defined in relation to the LCM objective “specify the system
functionality”, corresponds to the Logistical products
documentation and services to support system activities.
The Logistic actors (production units, departments, contractors,
etc.) can be found by looking not only at the organisation
but at the entire industry.
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In the Resources element a search is carried out to determine
possible resources, based on the logistic actor and product
and services specifications.
In the Budget and Environmental Impact element the cost
and environmental impact estimate is based on the insight
gained so far. The accuracy of this will greatly depend on the
available expertise and data.
Setting Up the System
Once the system functionality has been specified we move into
the setting-up or acquisition phase, called the Acquire System
Functionality phase.
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Operational need
System functionality
Installation performance
Logistical activities
Logistical activities
Resources
Budget and Environmental
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Examples of LPC Short List: Acquire System Functionality.
Examples of LPC Short List: Specify System Functionality.
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Running the System
The phase when the system is operating is called Achieve Cost
Effectiveness, since it is expected that the system operations
and maintenance (utilisation) will be performed with optimal
cost-effectiveness.
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Operational need
Operational requirements
Installation performance.
Logistical activities
Resources
Budget and Environmental Impact element
Scrapping the System
The end phase of the system operation is to scrap the system,
called system decommissioning, or phase-out.
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operational need
system functionality
logistical activities
Budget and Environmental Impact element
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Examples of LPC Short List:
Achieve Cost Effectiveness.