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V. Arnold
Based on LCA there is created an EPD (environmental product declaration) for a
product to inform a consumer about its ecological properties. An EPD is created for
a particular product of a particular enterprise with all its features (location relative
to suppliers and final consumers, the efficiency of technological processes, selection
of raw materials, etc.). EPDs become publicly available and allow the consumer to
make a decision in choice of a sustainable product, comparing it with its competitors.
Due to a difficulty in understanding of EPDs, there are various voluntary certification
systems for enterprises as narrow (for example, CSC for concrete), and more universal
(as Blue Engel-ger. Blauer Engel). If a product is marked with this certificate, then
it means for the consumer that the company fulfills the strict requirements for the
protection of the environment in the production of this product.
5 LCA: Specialties of the Methodology
The life cycle assessment consists of four phases: goal and scope definition; inventory
analysis; impact assessment and interpretation (see Fig. 1).
First of all, when preparing the LCA calculation, it is necessary to determine the
goal—for what this calculation will be made (see above). It could be an increase of
energy efficiency or the reducing of raw materials using for its production.
Depending on the goal, the study scope is established. It is necessary in order to
simplify the calculation since it can take a lot of time to decompose the product into
Fig. 1 Phases of LCA (ISO 14040)
V. Arnold
Based on LCA there is created an EPD (environmental product declaration) for a
product to inform a consumer about its ecological properties. An EPD is created for
a particular product of a particular enterprise with all its features (location relative
to suppliers and final consumers, the efficiency of technological processes, selection
of raw materials, etc.). EPDs become publicly available and allow the consumer to
make a decision in choice of a sustainable product, comparing it with its competitors.
Due to a difficulty in understanding of EPDs, there are various voluntary certification
systems for enterprises as narrow (for example, CSC for concrete), and more universal
(as Blue Engel-ger. Blauer Engel). If a product is marked with this certificate, then
it means for the consumer that the company fulfills the strict requirements for the
protection of the environment in the production of this product.
5 LCA: Specialties of the Methodology
The life cycle assessment consists of four phases: goal and scope definition; inventory
analysis; impact assessment and interpretation (see Fig. 1).
First of all, when preparing the LCA calculation, it is necessary to determine the
goal—for what this calculation will be made (see above). It could be an increase of
energy efficiency or the reducing of raw materials using for its production.
Depending on the goal, the study scope is established. It is necessary in order to
simplify the calculation since it can take a lot of time to decompose the product into
Fig. 1 Phases of LCA (ISO 14040)