221
As described in Sect. 2.1 , in a second step the identifi ed policy options were
prioritized. The following four policy options were selected:
• Mandatory-performance-direct
• Mandatory-performance-indirect
• Mandatory-process-direct
• Voluntary-performance-direct
These policy options cover the whole range of policy option features defi ned in
Table 15.1 : mandatory and voluntary options, options with and without effects on
the product design as well as options which use full LCA or LCA as “backoffi ce”
for legislation. For these four options, further detailed analyses were conducted.
The high level results are summarized in the next section.
3.2 Characteristics of the Prioritized Policy Options
The different policy options require different solutions for implementation, which
depend on their particular characteristics. The characteristics of the four prioritized
policy options were described taking into account the technical requirements,
methodology, models, tools, data, quality assurance and communication.
It was found that the differences between the policy options are partly not very
signifi cant and that some technical requirements are the same for both voluntary and
mandatory policies. For example, all direct policy options, which consider the full
LC, have some technical requirements, which are similar for all of them, e.g. the
need of LCA data and LCA tool(s) and the need to specify the product system
Table 15.6 Voluntary-performance-direct and -indirect and voluntary-process based options –
theoretical and practical examples (market role: only incentive)
Policy options
Theoretical example (LC CO 2
legislation of cars)
Examples from practice (EU)
Voluntary-performancedirect
(a) Recommendation to show LC
CO 2 emissions, e.g. using a label
(LC CO 2 label)
GPP:
Allows including full LC
performance criteria in GPP
(b) Recommendation to use
performance criteria documented
in EPDs for GPP
Voluntary-performanceindirect
Recommendation to show CO 2
emissions which occur in relevant
phases, e.g. the use phase of a
car, e.g. by using a label
EU fl ower:
LCA is used to develop criteria
Voluntary-process
Recommendation to present
CO 2 -emissions as part of e.g.
EMAS/inclusion of information
on CO 2 emissions in
environmental program
EMAS:
Recommends using LCA
in the process of continuously
improving the company’s
environmental performance
15 Policy Options for Life Cycle Assessment Deployment in Legislation
As described in Sect. 2.1 , in a second step the identifi ed policy options were
prioritized. The following four policy options were selected:
• Mandatory-performance-direct
• Mandatory-performance-indirect
• Mandatory-process-direct
• Voluntary-performance-direct
These policy options cover the whole range of policy option features defi ned in
Table 15.1 : mandatory and voluntary options, options with and without effects on
the product design as well as options which use full LCA or LCA as “backoffi ce”
for legislation. For these four options, further detailed analyses were conducted.
The high level results are summarized in the next section.
3.2 Characteristics of the Prioritized Policy Options
The different policy options require different solutions for implementation, which
depend on their particular characteristics. The characteristics of the four prioritized
policy options were described taking into account the technical requirements,
methodology, models, tools, data, quality assurance and communication.
It was found that the differences between the policy options are partly not very
signifi cant and that some technical requirements are the same for both voluntary and
mandatory policies. For example, all direct policy options, which consider the full
LC, have some technical requirements, which are similar for all of them, e.g. the
need of LCA data and LCA tool(s) and the need to specify the product system
Table 15.6 Voluntary-performance-direct and -indirect and voluntary-process based options –
theoretical and practical examples (market role: only incentive)
Policy options
Theoretical example (LC CO 2
legislation of cars)
Examples from practice (EU)
Voluntary-performancedirect
(a) Recommendation to show LC
CO 2 emissions, e.g. using a label
(LC CO 2 label)
GPP:
Allows including full LC
performance criteria in GPP
(b) Recommendation to use
performance criteria documented
in EPDs for GPP
Voluntary-performanceindirect
Recommendation to show CO 2
emissions which occur in relevant
phases, e.g. the use phase of a
car, e.g. by using a label
EU fl ower:
LCA is used to develop criteria
Voluntary-process
Recommendation to present
CO 2 -emissions as part of e.g.
EMAS/inclusion of information
on CO 2 emissions in
environmental program
EMAS:
Recommends using LCA
in the process of continuously
improving the company’s
environmental performance
15 Policy Options for Life Cycle Assessment Deployment in Legislation