Lecture 11-12: Key Learnings Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is Life Cycle Thinking (LCT)?
LCT is a conceptual approach that promotes a holistic view of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a product or process throughout its life cycle—from raw material extraction to disposal.
What are common examples of LCT applications?
Smartphone manufacturing analysis (e.g., cobalt mining impacts, energy use in chip production, e-waste) illustrates how each life cycle phase contributes differently to environmental burden.
What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
In short: Considering the whole life cycle of a product and then measuring the impact.
A comprehensive and systematic methodology used to evaluate and quantify the environmental impacts of products, processes, or services throughout their entire life cycle.
Do we have to start the assessment from extraction?
It depends on the goal of the assessment. If the product is made from recycled materials, these will be considered in the assessment. But it is more correct to start with the extraction.
Sometimes the assessment can start at the end of life.
How does Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) differ from Life Cycle Thinking?
LCA is a standardized, quantitative tool (e.g., ISO 14040/44) used to measure environmental impacts, whereas LCT is a qualitative mindset guiding sustainable decision-making.
Why is LCA important in supply chain management?
It enables the identification of environmental ‘hotspots,’ supports sustainability targets, guides design decisions, and prevents burden shifting across the supply chain.
Define some strengths and limitations of LCA.
Strengths:
- Comprehentive
- Holistic perspective
- Identifies burden shifts
- Help decision making
- Assesses consequences of decisions
Limitations:
- No risk assessment - only focus on effects
- Generalisations
- Challenging
Which standards govern LCA methodology?
Key standards include ISO 14040/44 (LCA methodology), ISO 14067 (carbon footprint), and ISO 14046 (water footprint), along with EU frameworks like ILCD and PEF.
What are the main phases of an LCA study (the framework of LCA)?
- Goal and Scope Definition: How? What stages? What processes?
- Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Analysis: Data collection
- Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA): Converting data into some environmental indicators.
Interpretation between steps.
Framework: Goal and Scope Definition.
First phase of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework.
The role of goal definition in LCA is to clarify the basis of the LCA and to allow defining its scope to match the demands set by the goal:
- Why was the study made (context)?
- Who is the customer?
- Which product/system is studied?
- Which alternative product/system is studied/compared?
The role of scope definition is to define the boundaries of the system model(s) that match the needs of the goal definition:
- Choose the type of LCA.
- Define a functional unit.
- Define the reference flows of the system.
- Delimit the system.
- Define/identify the spatial and temporal boundaries of the system.
- Identify the need for a critical review of the study for ISO LCA standards.
Explain “Understanding the system” in the ‘Goal and Scope Definition’ phase of the LCA Framework??
Clearly defining the product system to be studied.
A product system includes all the processes and activities required to deliver the product’s function - from cradle (raw material extraction) to grave (disposal or recycling).
Each of these processes is treated as a unit that transforms inputs (e.g., materials, energy) into outputs (e.g., emissions, products).
Differentiate foreground system and background system.
Foreground system: The specific system studied.
Background system: The background technosphere in which the foreground system exists.
Explain “Defining the system boundary” in the ‘Goal and Scope Definition’ phase of the LCA Framework?
Sets the limits of what is included and excluded from the LCA. It determines:
- Temporal boundary: Which time frame the data and processes represent (e.g., one production cycle, one year).
- Geographical boundary: The physical region covered (e.g., Denmark, Europe).
- Technological boundary: The level of technological development considered (e.g., current industry standard or future technology).
- Life cycle stages: Whether it is cradle-to-grave, cradle-to-gate, or gate-to-gate.
Differentiate a narrow boundary and a broad boundary.
Narrow boundary: Only includes processes up to the factory gate (e.g., cradle-to-gate), useful for intermediate products.
Broad boundary: Includes all downstream and upstream activities, including disposal (e.g., cradle-to-grave), providing a full environmental picture.
What is a functional unit in LCA? Why is it important?
Defines the qualitative aspects and quantifies the quantitative aspects of the function.
It is a quantified description of the system’s function (e.g., 1 t of grass protein concentrate).
It standardises comparisons and guides inventory and impact calculations.
It answers:
- What?
- How much?
- For how long/how many times?
- Where?
- How well?
What is a reference flow?
The material flow of product(s) and the derived physical flows of materials, chemicals and energy required to provide the functional unit.
Two types of properties:
- Obligatory properties: Properties that the product must have to deliver the main function.
- Positioning properties: Properties that make the product more popular on the market.
How to identify the function of the system?
- Define the obligatory and positioning properties.
- Define the functional unit.
- Define the reference flow.
- Complete comparison.
Summarise the steps of ‘Goal and Scope Definition’.
- Define the goal
- Understand the system and the system boundary
- Understand the function and functional unit
- Define the obligatory and positioning properties
- Understand the reference flow
- Understand the geographical (spatial) and temporal boundaries
Framework: Life Cycle Inventory Analysis.
Second phase of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework.
It involves the collection and quantification of input and output data for a given product system across all defined life cycle stages.
The goal is to gather measurable, accurate, and transparent data on the flows of energy, materials, and emissions within the system boundaries.
What type of data is required for LCA?
- Activity data: Quantitative input-output metrics (information) about the system’s operations (e.g., kWh, km).
- Primary (company-specific) data: Data measured or calculated from the actual production or processes under study, like energy use (meter readings and utility bills), emissions (calculations) etc.
- Secondary data: Data sourced from existing databases, literature, or industry reports (averages), like Average emissions from electricity production.
What methods are used to collect LCI data?
- Direct measurements
- Engineering models (e.g., stoichiometry)
- Interviews and surveys with operators
- Literature and technical reports
What are some common flows tracked?
Inputs:
- Raw materials (e.g., water, fertilizers, packaging materials)
- Energy carriers (electricity, diesel)
- Ancillary products (cleaning agents, chemicals)
Outputs:
* Emissions to air (e.g., CO₂, CH₄)
* Emissions to water and soil
* Co-products and by-products (e.g., heat, fiber residues)
* Wastes (e.g., wastewater, solid waste)
What are some challenges in LCI?
- Data availability and confidentiality (especially for proprietary processes)
- Temporal, geographical, and technological relevance of secondary data
- Ensuring completeness and consistency
Framework: Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
Third phase of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework.
LCIA translates inventory data into environmental impact indicators such as climate change, eutrophication, acidification, etc.
