156
3.2 Attributes
Hotspots analysis studies tend to cover a wide range of attributes depending on
the scope and scale of application. Broadly hotspots analysis can cover single or
multiple attributes.
Single attributes would cover only one attribute, such as environmental or
economic or social sustainability or the governance issues and challenges associated with the use of natural resources (e.g., water, biodiversity). Most of the existing
single attribute hotspots analysis studies cover environmental issues, with some
focusing on single impact categories, like carbon management or greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. Examples of such studies include: GHG Protocol’s Product
Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard , Japan Environmental Management
Association for Industry (JEMAI)’s Carbon Footprint Program
9 and the Water
Footprint Assessment Methodology.
10
Multiple attribute studies would cover more than one attribute such as
environmental- social or economic-environmental-social or economic-environmentalsocial-governance, etc. Many of the existing hotpots analysis cover multiple attributes.
Examples of multiple attributes hotspots analysis study include: SASB Materiality
Map, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), WRAP’s Product Sustainability Forum
(PSF), AHAM hotspots analysis, etc.
3.3 Commonalities and Differences Among Methodologies
The UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative Flagship Project 3a report documents some
general commonalities and differences among the 21 hotspots analysis methodologies analyzed during the project’s initial phase (Barthel et al. 2014 ). The fi ndings
are summarized below:
Commonalities
• All of the key methodologies engage several stakeholders in their development.
• All (with the exception of two) methodologies include environmental impacts.
• All methodologies, at a minimum, utilize a quantitative life cycle approach.
Some exclusively, others also incorporate qualitative elements.
• The majority of approaches address multiple impacts.
Differences
• National-level methodologies all exclusively utilize a quantitative approach
which addresses environmental impacts, while sectoral- and product-level
9 More information on Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI)’s
Carbon Footprint Program, may be accessed at: http://www.cfp-japan.jp/english/
10 More information on the Water Footprint Assessment Methodology may be accessed at: http://
www.waterfootprint.org/downloads/TheWaterFootprintAssessmentManual.pdf
M. Barthel et al.
3.2 Attributes
Hotspots analysis studies tend to cover a wide range of attributes depending on
the scope and scale of application. Broadly hotspots analysis can cover single or
multiple attributes.
Single attributes would cover only one attribute, such as environmental or
economic or social sustainability or the governance issues and challenges associated with the use of natural resources (e.g., water, biodiversity). Most of the existing
single attribute hotspots analysis studies cover environmental issues, with some
focusing on single impact categories, like carbon management or greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. Examples of such studies include: GHG Protocol’s Product
Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard , Japan Environmental Management
Association for Industry (JEMAI)’s Carbon Footprint Program
9 and the Water
Footprint Assessment Methodology.
10
Multiple attribute studies would cover more than one attribute such as
environmental- social or economic-environmental-social or economic-environmentalsocial-governance, etc. Many of the existing hotpots analysis cover multiple attributes.
Examples of multiple attributes hotspots analysis study include: SASB Materiality
Map, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), WRAP’s Product Sustainability Forum
(PSF), AHAM hotspots analysis, etc.
3.3 Commonalities and Differences Among Methodologies
The UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative Flagship Project 3a report documents some
general commonalities and differences among the 21 hotspots analysis methodologies analyzed during the project’s initial phase (Barthel et al. 2014 ). The fi ndings
are summarized below:
Commonalities
• All of the key methodologies engage several stakeholders in their development.
• All (with the exception of two) methodologies include environmental impacts.
• All methodologies, at a minimum, utilize a quantitative life cycle approach.
Some exclusively, others also incorporate qualitative elements.
• The majority of approaches address multiple impacts.
Differences
• National-level methodologies all exclusively utilize a quantitative approach
which addresses environmental impacts, while sectoral- and product-level
9 More information on Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI)’s
Carbon Footprint Program, may be accessed at: http://www.cfp-japan.jp/english/
10 More information on the Water Footprint Assessment Methodology may be accessed at: http://
www.waterfootprint.org/downloads/TheWaterFootprintAssessmentManual.pdf
M. Barthel et al.