Guidelines for consistent reporting of exchanges/to nature within life cycle inventories (LCI)

Abstract

Data availability and data quality are still critical factors for successful LCA work. The SETAC-Europe LCA Working Group 'Data Availability and Data Quality' has therefore focused on ongoing developments toward a common data exchange format, public databases and accepted quality measures to find science-based solutions than can be widely accepted. A necessary prerequisite for the free flow and exchange of life cycle inventory (LCI) data and the comparability of LCIs is the consistent definition, nomenclature, and use of inventory parameters. This is the main subject of the subgroup 'Recommended List of Exchanges' that presents its results and findings here: 9 Rigid parameter lists for LCIs are not practical; especially, compulsory lists of measurements for all inventories are counterproductive. Instead, practitioners should be obliged to give the rationale for their scientific choice of selected and omitted parameters. The standardized (not: mandatory!) parameter list established by the subgroup can help to facilitate this. 9 The standardized nomenclature of LCI parameters and the standardized list of measurement bases (units) for these parameters need not be applied internally (e.g. in LCA software), but should be adhered to in external communications (data for publication and exchange). Deviations need to be clearly stated. 9 Sum parameters may or may not overlap-misinterpretations in either direction introduce a bias of unknown significance in the subsequent life cycle impact assessments (LCIA). The only person who can discriminate unambiguously is the practitioner who measures or calculates such values. Therefore, a clear statement of independence or overlap is necessary for every sum parameter reported. 9 Sum parameters should be only used when the group of emissions as such is measured. Individually measured emission parameters should not be hidden in group or sum parameters.

Life cycle approach to sustainability assessment: a case study of remanufactured alternators

“…The life cycle inventory for a LCA includes all exchanges or flows e.g., materials and energy between the technosphere (economy) and the nature (environment) crossing the system boundary [13,28]. However, due to the different flows to consider, method maturity and data access of the LCA, LCC and SLCA techniques, the use of the same life cycle inventory is difficult to realise.…”

Framework for LCI modelling of releases of manufactured nanomaterials along their life cycle

“…Information about the composition is usually given via the substance name (but also via related fields-like CAS number or molecular formula; a more comprehensive overview concerning the information content of LCI datasets can be found, e.g. in Hischier et al 2001). & Amount (mass amount and/or particle number concentration): Also the second property taken into account for bulk substances is of crucial importance when dealing with releases of MNM.…”

The ecoinvent database system: a comprehensive web-based LCA database

“…The names of elementary flows are based on the structure developed by the SETAC working group on data quality and data availability [14,15]. Category and subcategory are used to describe the compartment (air, water, soil and resources) and its specification (e.g., for air: stratosphere, high population density, low population density, protected area and unspecified).…”