Errors in Decision Making, Using Ecobalance …
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3 LCA: Definition
Ecobalance or Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool for estimating the potential
environmental impacts of a product, process or company. The entire life cycle is
taken into account from the cradle to cradle. Products are compared on the basis of
their benefits. It is a standardized method and provides quantitative results (DIN EN
ISO 14040 2009).
When LCA is made, two main principles must be taken into account:
• Cross-media consideration: All relevant potential adverse effects on the environmental media of soil, water, and air must be taken into account
• Flow-integrated analysis: All material flows associated with the system under
consideration (raw material inputs and emissions from pre-and disposal processes, from energy generation, from transports, etc.) must be taken into account
(UBA 2018).
LCA was mainly conceived for enterprises: their products and production processes.
The main goals for this calculation are:
• Increasing the resource and energy efficiency of materials and constructions
• Cost reduction for required raw materials, product manufacturing, its using,
material recycling and final disposal of waste-life cycle cost optimization
• Identification and implementation of competitive advantages (process selection,
location, etc.)
• Identification and reducing of potential risks
• Optimization of material selection
• Avoiding problems during the life cycle
• Support in marketing and sales, etc.
4 LCA: Introduction of Norms
The framework and methods of ecobalance are summarized in regulations—ISO
14000 series (ISO 14040: 2006 and 14044: 2006 standards) and applied worldwide.
Based on these standards, in Germany are issued the national standards DIN EN ISO
14040 and 14044.
On the basis of these norms, many tools and documents have been developed
that simplify the use of ecobalance in practice. In Germany it is a responsibility
of the German Environment Agency (ger. Umweltbundesamt-UBA), which continues to actively improve and facilitate the implementation of this methodology. For
example, they are created an Internet portal ProBas (Process-related basic data for
environmental management instruments) and updating its database for calculations
constantly (UBA 2018).
377
3 LCA: Definition
Ecobalance or Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool for estimating the potential
environmental impacts of a product, process or company. The entire life cycle is
taken into account from the cradle to cradle. Products are compared on the basis of
their benefits. It is a standardized method and provides quantitative results (DIN EN
ISO 14040 2009).
When LCA is made, two main principles must be taken into account:
• Cross-media consideration: All relevant potential adverse effects on the environmental media of soil, water, and air must be taken into account
• Flow-integrated analysis: All material flows associated with the system under
consideration (raw material inputs and emissions from pre-and disposal processes, from energy generation, from transports, etc.) must be taken into account
(UBA 2018).
LCA was mainly conceived for enterprises: their products and production processes.
The main goals for this calculation are:
• Increasing the resource and energy efficiency of materials and constructions
• Cost reduction for required raw materials, product manufacturing, its using,
material recycling and final disposal of waste-life cycle cost optimization
• Identification and implementation of competitive advantages (process selection,
location, etc.)
• Identification and reducing of potential risks
• Optimization of material selection
• Avoiding problems during the life cycle
• Support in marketing and sales, etc.
4 LCA: Introduction of Norms
The framework and methods of ecobalance are summarized in regulations—ISO
14000 series (ISO 14040: 2006 and 14044: 2006 standards) and applied worldwide.
Based on these standards, in Germany are issued the national standards DIN EN ISO
14040 and 14044.
On the basis of these norms, many tools and documents have been developed
that simplify the use of ecobalance in practice. In Germany it is a responsibility
of the German Environment Agency (ger. Umweltbundesamt-UBA), which continues to actively improve and facilitate the implementation of this methodology. For
example, they are created an Internet portal ProBas (Process-related basic data for
environmental management instruments) and updating its database for calculations
constantly (UBA 2018).