The main methodological references are the standards UNI EN ISO 14040 (Environmental management – Life Cycle Assessment – Principles and framework) and UNI EN ISO 14044 (Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment, Requirements and Guidelines).

 

LCA is divided into four phases:

1. Goal and scope definition: the scope and goals of the analysis are confirmed, functional unit and system boundaries are defined (scope of the analysis), assumptions and any limitations are discussed;

2. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI): data collection is carried out by quantifying the relevant input and output flows of the system;

3. Impact Assessment (LCIA): the results of the inventory are used to calculate the potential environmental impact in relation to the impact categories selected in phase 1;

4. Interpretation: the results are verified, evaluated and interpreted to present the conclusions of the study and consequent recommendations.

 

The system boundaries also set out the life cycle phases to be examined: it is possible to choose between a cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-gate approach.

 

Life Cyle Assessment (LCA) is a multicriteria methodology because it can yield the environmental footprint of a product, service, process or event in multiple impact indicators (e.g. greenhouse effect, eutrophication, consumption of natural resources, land use, effects of human health, etc.) which cover different environmental compartments.

 

In this sense a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) can be considered a subset of an LCA study because it investigates one single indicator – Global Warming Potential (GWP) – which on the basis of the quantity of emissions of CO2 equivalent measures the impact on global warming.

 

An LCA study can be verified and certified by third parties and to date constitutes a crucial tool for the development of environmental labelling schemes (e.g. EPD – Environmental Product Declaration) and claims of an environmental nature.

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