Life cycle assessment: data quality and databases practitioner survey

Vigon, Bruce; Jensen, Allan Astrup

doi:10.1016/0959-6526(94)00001-h

Cited by 40 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…LCAs are very dependent on the data quality and sensitive to data variability because the quality of an LCA is directly related to the inventory upon which it is based [18]. Although practitioners have been long aware of improving the data quality, the validity and uncertainty of final LCA reports still exist and cannot be totally eliminated due to the inherent variations in the inventory data [19].…”

Section: Variability and Uncertainty In Life Cycle Assessment Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar versus Metal Catalysts Used in Syngas Cleaning

2015

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Abstract:Biomass gasification has the potential to produce renewable fuels, chemicals and power at large utility scale facilities. In these plants catalysts would likely be used to reform and clean the generated biomass syngas. Traditional catalysts are made from transition metals, while catalysts made from biochar are being studied. A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was performed to analyze the sustainability, via impact assessments, of producing a metal catalyst versus a dedicated biochar catalyst. The LCA results indicate that biochar has a 93% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and requires 95.7% less energy than the metal catalyst to produce. The study also estimated that biochar production would also have fewer impacts on human health (e.g., carcinogens and respiratory impacts) than the production of a metal catalyst. The possible disadvantage of biochar production in the ecosystem quality is due mostly to its impacts on agricultural land occupation. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess environmental impacts of variability in the two production systems. In the metal catalyst manufacture, the extraction and production of nickel (Ni) had significant negative effects on the environmental impacts. For biochar production, low moisture content (MC, 9%) and high yield type (8 tons/acre) switchgrass appeared more sustainable.

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Section: Variability and Uncertainty In Life Cycle Assessment Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar versus Metal Catalysts Used in Syngas Cleaning

2015

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“…Analysis based on the application of LCA studies on waste management claim that the waste management should be conducted so that the risk to human health is minimized and on recognition that the waste is actually a resource [8]. A prerequisite to create LCA studies for product or waste is good input data [11]. The requirements in terms of data quality are defined by the standard ISO 14044 and should include the following [9]:…”

Section: Life Cycle Assessment Model As a Tool For Planning Solid Wasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Municipal Waste Data Reliability in Decision Making Process Using LCA Model- Case Study Conducted in Timok County (Serbia)

Stevanovic¹,

Jasna²

2014

Int J Waste Resources

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This paper presents the consequences of using various waste management data for the municipal waste management planning process in the Timok County (Serbia) using life cycle analysis. Life cycle analysis was performed using the integrated waste management model which is designed to analyze different waste management options for the implementation of integrated waste management system. The results of this model are presented through two indicators: global warming potential and costs of selected waste management system. The aim of this paper is to examine and to discuss contribution of life cycle analysis in decision making process in waste management sector and to emphasize importance of waste data in waste management planning as well as prediction of the environmental performance and economic cost of an integrated waste management system. The application of data analysis on the evaluation of life cycle solid waste management system in the Timok County (Serbia) is an innovative approach to this problem, necessary to make the right, professional decisions in the field of waste management not only in the Republic of Serbia, but also in European union candidate, potential candidate countries as well as any other countries in the world. Results indicate significant differences in global warming values, respectively the impact of waste disposal options on global warming and the costs of such system, depending on the data source that was used. Bearing in mind the implications of waste data can play in a variety of sectors and decision making process, this research refers to the need for reliable data.

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“…Both internal applications for clean product and process development within companies and external application for environmental labelling and information dissemination are common. A full life cycle begins with extraction of raw materials, proceeds through production and use, and ends with waste treatment (Vigon and Jensen, 1995). LCA is often used to compare products with the same function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

LCA as a tool for environmental management: a life cycle inventory case study from the Greek market

Georgakellos

2013

Issue 2

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Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a technique for holistic environmental assessments of products and processes. The unique feature of this methodology is its focus on the entire life cycle of a product, from raw material extraction to final disposition. In order to assess the role of LCA in environmental management, a comprehensive overview of its theoretical background (including recent aspects of its principles and framework) is presented in this paper. From this overview it is obvious that, in spite of its drawbacks, LCA is recognized as a valuable methodology in environmental management, capable of analysing and assessing in a scientifical way the environmental consequences of various products and activities. Complementary to this analysis, a life cycle inventory (LCI) case study from the Greek market is also presented. In this LCI application, all the methodological issues and guidelines are taken into consideration in order to calculate the resource requirements and the environmental loadings of ten alternative packaging products while some of them are presented by each life cycle stage. The results of this LCI case study cover a long list of inflows and outflows. Notwithstanding that these results are difficult to interpret, they are very detailed and not affected by uncertainties introduced by impact assessment.

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Life cycle assessment: data quality and databases practitioner survey

Cited by 40 publications

References 1 publication

Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar versus Metal Catalysts Used in Syngas Cleaning

Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar versus Metal Catalysts Used in Syngas Cleaning

Importance of Municipal Waste Data Reliability in Decision Making Process Using LCA Model- Case Study Conducted in Timok County (Serbia)

LCA as a tool for environmental management: a life cycle inventory case study from the Greek market

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