The Methodological Framework of LCA

A cross-cutting aspect is the procedural framework of LCA for the assessment of biobased studies. Numerous studies investigate the influence of methodological choices on the results of LCA, for example, as to the functional unit, allocation procedures, and differences in impact assessment, for example, Kim et al. [55], Landis ct al. [56], Gnansounou et al. [57], Davis et al. [58]. Generally, surveys of LCA studies conclude that different studies cannot be compared directly due to different framework conditions, even if all apply to the ISO standards, for example [17, 49]. Consequently, a need for further standardization is perceived as... 

This already points to a basic methodological issue as to accounting for land use in LCA regarding only the fact that a certain amount of, for example, farmland is used for the production of a feedstock, land use may be treated in the framework of LCA simply as a quantitative information in the phase of LCl. The acknowledgment of the environmental relevance of different ways how land may be used, however, is closely related to environmental safeguards, which makes the assessment of land use a native part of impact assessment. Given this double-fold nature, several conceptual ways to treat land use in LCA have been developed. 

Advisory Group are considering different facets of LCA. In 1993, they developed the Code of Practice ,the first worldwide accepted technical framework for LCA. This was an important step towards the harmonisation of the method and has initiated and supported the standardisation process by ISO. Between 1997 and 2000, ISO produced the international series of standard defining the different stages of the LCA methodology (ISO 14040 1997, ISO 14041 1998, ISO 14042 2000 ° as well as ISO 14043 2000° ). As mentioned above, these standards were replaced by two improved editions of life cycle assessment standards in 2006 (ISO 14040 2006 and ISO 14044 2006°). 

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodological tool used to quantitatively analyze the life cycle of a product or an activity with a generic framework provided by ISO Standards (14040, 14044, and 14047). When analyzing environmental impacts, LCA takes into account the complete life cycle of a product delivering a functional unit. 

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodological framework for estimating and assessing the environmental impacts attributable to the life cycle of a product, such as climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, tropospheric ozone (smog) creation, eutrophication, acidification, toxicological stress on human health and ecosystems, the depletion of resources, water use, land use, noise, and others [3,4]. 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology for estimating the environmental impacts associated with a given product, process or activity [15]. Being an accepted and widely used tool in this area, it was employed in this study to map the environmental impact potential of any given alternative for the selected process in the optimisation framework. 

ISO 14040 2009 is an international standard of the LCA with a focus on principles and framework. ISO 14040 provides a summary of the LCA practice and applications for LCA. It also includes limitations of the LCA process. ISO 14040 describes the four-step process to develop an LCA that includes goal, LCI, LCA, and interpretation. ISO 14040 also provides reporting aspects of an LCA and the critical review and limitations of the LCA. ISO 14040 does not specify methodologies of the individual LCI and LCA phases of the LCA (ISO 14040 2006). 

In reality, this assessment hinges on four clearly defined phases the definition of the goals and scopes of the LCA lifecycle inventory, evaluation of the impacts of the lifecycle and finally interpretation of the lifecycle. The assessment is based on a scientific methodology, which employs software toolkits, within the framework laid down by the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. 

CALCAS is a framework proposed by the EU 6th Framework Co-ordination Action. The development of LCSA methodology is based on the ISO 14040—14044 frameworks for E-LCA by enhancing E-LCA with LCC and S-LCA. It expands the concept of E-LCA to include physical, social, economic, cultural, institutional, and political aspects, and broadens the boundary of a product system to assess the sustainability of a product system in which one product system can induce impacts on other product systems over time and space, and eventually impact the whole economy [11],... 

Most recently, another methodology development with an emphasis on causal relationships, PROSUITE, was introduced under the EC 7th framework program. On the foundation of the (ISO) E-LCA framework, PROSUITE sustainability assessment is based on evaluating 16 midpoint and five endpoint impacts as shown in Fig. 14.1 [13]. 

Being recognised and internationally accepted, the LCA methodology is employed in this developed framework to map the environmental impact potential of any given alternative. Moreover, LCA provides the decision-makers an accurate and clear picture of the interactions of the examined activity with the environment and identifies opportunities for environmental improvements. 

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