Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) — Quo vadis?

183 Pages·1996·4.852 MB·English

by  Stefan Schaltegger (auth.), Dr. S. Schaltegger, A. Braunschweig, K. Büchel, F. Dinkel, R. Frischknecht, C. Maillefer, M. Ménard, D. Peter, C. Pohl, M. Ros, A. Sturm, B. Waldeck, P. Zimmermann (eds.)

CHWERPUNKTPROGRAMM UMWELT
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SCHWEIZ NATIONALFONDS ZIJR FOfIDERUMJ WISSENSCHAFT1JCHEN FffiSCHUNG
ROGRAMME PR/OR/TAIRE ENVIRONNEMENT
F(JIDS NATIONAL SUISSE DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENT/ROUE
RIORITY PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT
SWISS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) -
Quo vadis?
S. Schaltegger (Ed.)
A. Braunschweig
K. Buchel
F. Dinkel
R. Frischknecht
C. Maillefer
M. Menard
D. Peter
C. Pohl
M. Ros
A. Sturm
B. Waldeck Birkhauser Verlag
P. Zimmermann Basel · Boston· Berlin
Editor
Dr. S. Schaltegger
Wirtschaftliches Zentrum (WWZ) der Universitat Basel
Petersgraben 51
CH-4003 Basel
Switzerland
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress,
Washington D.C., USA
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Eiriheitsaufnahme
Life cycle assessment (LeA) - quo vadis? / S. Schaltegger (ed.)
... - Basel; Boston; Berlin: Birkhauser, 1996
(Synthesebucher SPP Umwelt)
ISBN- 13: 978-3-0348-9871-3 e-ISBN- 13: 978-3-0348-9022-9
DOl: 10.1007/978-3-0348-9022-9
NE: Schaltegger, Stefan [Hrsg.)
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© Birkhauser Verlag, PO Box l33, CH-4010 Basel, Schweiz
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 18t edition 1996
Printed on acid-free paper produced from chlorine-free pulp. TCF
00
ISBN-13:978-3-0348-9871-3
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Preface , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X. I. . . . . .
A Introduction 1
1 Two Paths ......... . ..... .... . 3
Stefan Schaltegger, WWZ, University of Basel
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
B Overarching Topics of LeA 9
2 System Boundaries ..... 11
Klaus Biichel, FAT Tanikon
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . 11
2.2 Choosing the System Boundaries 12
2.2.1 Basic Considerations . . . . . . 12
2.2.2 The Time Aspect-Period of Analysis 15
2.2.3 Space or Geographical Aspects. . . 18
2.2.4 Subject Aspects . .. . ...... 19
2.3 How to Proceed in Defining System Boundaries. 20
2.3.1 Rules for the Definition of System Boundaries 20
2.3.2 System Boundary Definition in the Case Study
«Beer Production» 22
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3 Allocation of Environmental Interventions 27
Christiane Maillefer, EMPA St. Gallen
3.1 Requirement for Allocation . 27
3.2 Allocation Procedures . . . . . 28
3.2.1 Products and Co-Products? . 29
3.2.2 What Should Be Allocated? 29
3.2.3 Allocation Rules . . . . . . 30
3.3 Allocation for Different Process Types 32
3.3.1 Multi-Output Processes. 32
3.3.2 Multi-Input Processes 33
3.3.3 Open-Loop Recycling 33
3.3.4 Special Cases . . . 35
3.3.5 Case Study KOPO 35
3.4 Conclusions. 36
References . . . . . . 37
v
Contents
4 Background Inventory Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .3 9.
Martin Menard, Rolf Frischknecht & Peter Zimmermann,
ETH Ziirich
4.1 Introduction ...................... . 39
4.2 What Are Background Inventory Data
and Why Are they Needed? .. . .... . ..... . 39
4.3 Requirements ............... . ... . . . 42
4.3.1 What Are the Most Important Requirements for BID? 42
4.3.2 What Are the Requirements for Institutions Publishing BID? 43
4.4 BID Established by KOPO Projects. 44
4.4.1 Agriculture. . 45
4.4.2 Food Products 46
4.4.3 Transport . 46
4.4.4 Downstream 47
4.5 Conclusions. 47
References . . . 49
5 Imprecision and Uncertainty in LeA . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. 1
Christian Pohl, Matjaz Ros, Beate Waldeck & Fredy Dinkel,
Carbotech Ltd. Basel
5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
5.2 Types of Imprecision and Uncertainties in LCA . 52
5.2.1 Stochastic (Statistical) Errors . . . . . . 52
5.2.2 Exact Error Intervals . . . . . . . . . . 53
5.2.3 Vague Error Intervals (Fuzzy Intervals) 54
5.2.4 Systematic Errors ........... 54
5.2.5 Intrinsically Vague Data (Intrinsic Fuzzy Data) . 54
5.2.6 Missing Data . . . . . . . . . 55
5.3 Sources of Imprecision in LCA 56
5.3.1 Inventory Analysis 56
5.3.2 Classification. . . . . . . . . 58
5.3.3 Valuation .... . ..... 59
5.4 Handling of Imprecision and Uncertainty. 62
5.4.1 Handling of Systematic Errors 62
5.4.2 Handling of Stochastic Errors. . . . 62
5.4.3 Handling of Error Intervals. . . . . 63
5.4.4 Handling of Intrinsically Vague Data 64
5.5 Conclusions. 66
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Contents
6 Relevant Environmental Interventions . . . . . . . . . . 6.9
Arthur Braunschweig, IWO, HSG St. Gallen
6.1 Introductory Remarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 9. . .
6.2 Basic Approaches for Selecting
the «Relevant Interventions» . 70
6.2.1 Issue Based ......... 70
6.2.2 Legally Based ........ 71
6.2.3 Based on the Relations Between Antropogenic and Geogenic
Emission Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . 7.1 .
6.2.4 Based on Availability of Process Data ..... .. ... 72
6.3 The Importance of the Assessment Method for
Selecting the «Relevant» Interventions . . . . . 72
6.4 How to By-Pass the Limits of an Assessment System 73
6.5 Practical Considerations for Dealing with Limited
Resources: An Estimation Procedure ...... ' . . . . 74
6.6 A Simple Example of the Estimation Procedure . . . 75
6.7 Application of this Procedure as Cut-Off Criteria for
Selecting the Relevant Processes. 77
6.8 Outlook.. 78
References . . . . . 78
7 The Software Tool EMIS ....... 81
Fredy Dinkel & Matjaz Ros, Carbotech Ltd. Basel
7.1 Software Tools Necessary . . ... 82
7.2 Requirements for LCA Software 82
7.2.1 Performance Requirements . 83
7.2.2 System Requirements 86
7.3 The Software Chosen . 87
7.3.1 Basic Functionality .. 87
7.3.2 Literature Database . 88
7.3.3 Compilation of an LCA 89
7.3.4 Desirable Developments 89
7.4 Summary . 90
References 91
C Case Study. . 93
8 Case Study «FeldschlOsscheR>~ 95
Daniel Peter, INFRAS Zurich
8.1 Goal Definition .. . . 95
8.2 Inventory Analysis. . . 96
8.2.1 System Boundaries . 96
II
Contents
8.2.2 Allocation . . . . . . . . . 98
8.2.3 Background Inventory Data 99
8.2.4 Data Quality . . . . . . . . 99
8.3 Impact Assessment ...... . 100
8.3.1 Environmental Scarcity Method (UBP-Method) . 100
8.3.2 CML Method ................. . 104
8.4 Conclusions..................... . 106
Appendix 1: Processes of the LCA «FeldschlOsschen»
Beer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Appendix 2: Inventory Table . . 111
References . . . . . . . . . . . .129
D Environmental Management
of Production Sites . . . . . . . .131
9 Eco-Efficiency of LCA. The Necessity of a Site-Specific
Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 33. . .
Stefan Schaltegger, WWZ, University of Basel
9.1 Efficiency of Environmental Management Tools . 133
9.2 The Ecological Leverage Effect . . . . . . . . .135
9.3 Eco-Efficiency of LCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 .
9.3.1 Recording, Uncertainty and Lack of Precision . 136
9.3.2 Aggregation, Assessment and Other Problems . 140
9.3.3 Inefficiency of the Present Approach of LCA . . 141
9.4 Possible Strategies to Improve the Present Approach
of Life Cycle Assessment . . 142
9.5 Summary and Conclusions .146
References . . . . . . . . 148
10 Managerial Eco-Controlling . 151
Stefan Schaltegger, WWZ, University of Basel &
Andreas Sturm, Ellipson Ltd. Basel
10.1 The Concept of Eco-Controlling . . . . . . .151
10.2 Module 1: Formulation of Goals and Policies . 153
10.3 Module 2: Information Management . . . . . .1 55
10.3.1 Environmental Information ......... . 155
10.3.2 Financial and Environmentally-Induced Financial
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
10.4 Module 3: Decision Support . . . . . . . . . . 159
10.4.1 Assessment of Environmental Interventions . 159
10.4.2 The Eco-Efficiency Portfolio . . . . . . . 161
10.5 Module 4: Piloting and Implementation. . 163
VIII
Contents
10.6 Module 5: Communication .165
10.7 Conclusion and Outlook .165
References . . . . . . . . . .166
E Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
11 Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Stefan Schaltegger, WWZ, University of Basel
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Appendices .177
Appendix A: Publications of KOPO Research Groups . 179
Appendix B: Authors . . . . . . 182
Abbreviations and Acronyms . 183
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Preface
"LCA - Quo Vadis?" attempts stimulate discussion of LCA among
researchers and practicioners by challenging current practices, provid
ing solutions and indicating new paths.
This book is designed as an integrated concept despite the fact that
many authors have contributed contradictory texts reflecting their per
sonal opinion. It summarizes results of the coordinated project LCA
and eco-controlling (Koordiniertes Projekt Okobilanzen und Oko
Controlling: KOPO) of the Priority Programme Environment of the
Swiss National Science Foundation.
Seven research groups consisting of scientists from various discip
lines such as natural sciences, engineering, and economics have con
tributed to KOPO. Each single group dealt with one important part of
LCA or eco-controlling (cf. Figure 1).
Coordinated Project LCA (EcobaJance) and Eco-Controlling (KOpb)
Supporting Evaluation-Information and Management Activities
(Impact Assessment I Improvement Assessment)
I mpact Assessment Funy SCI Analy i Eco-Controlling
(Comparison. (Calculalion of Error>, (Management-
Development. ---. onsidcmtion of ---. Tool and
Applicalion) Qualilative Impaci ) Procedures)
H G. ETH. EMPA Carbolcch WWZ. Ellipson
Primary Recording Activities (Inventory)
'".11\ ironmental
Impaci Addcd
Agricultunol Food Production Food Downstream Tmn'portation
Cultiv;'tion -.. (Mail, -.. Production -.. procc >cs -.. (Rail. Road,
and Produclion Flour. CIC.) Managemcnt (sewage plants. CIC.)
(Com. Milk. cle.) (Company) Incineralion.
etc.)
Ellipson
FAT EMPA Fcld\ehlihsehcll ETH ZH Inrra,
Figure 1
Research groups and topics of KOPO
XI