SETAC Proposes A Framework For LCA That Is Deemed To Be The Most Widely: Ecosystem Services Research Paper, UCC, Ireland

LCA Framework

SETAC proposes a framework for LCA that is deemed to be the most widely recognized and used. Likely to be the most critical component of LCA is goal definition and scoping (ISO 14040).

The specific chosen goals will determine decisions that are made throughout the assessment process, in every phase of the LCA method. Goals are usually determined by   ISO 14041 – the inventory; is an analysis of the resources required, and emissions produced within the entire life cycle of the product and/or service. This analysis can be represented as either qualitative or quantitative; or both. ISO 14042 – impact assessment; can be subdivided into: classification, characterization and valuation (Andersson et al., 1994).

These assessed impacts cover three different categories – human health, ecological health and resource use (Tansey and Worsley, 1995). Characterization involves the gathering of all relevant data associated to the impact categories through the utilization of comparable factors. This is primarily a quantitative procedure, that evaluates how numerous inputs/outputs (specific to each category), either adds to or takes from the assessment process (Tansey and Worsley, 1995).