Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) A Guide to Best Practice

This first hands-on guide to ISO-compliant LCA makes this powerful tool immediately accessible to both small and large companies. Following a general introduction on the philosophy and purpose of LCA, this practical volume takes readers through all the stages of a complete LCA analysis, with each step exemplified by real-life data from a major LCA project on beverage packaging. Special sections cover such globally important sustainability measures as carbon and water footprints, based on the most recent international standards and definitions. Written by one of the pioneers of LCA, this book is targeted at first-time LCA users but equally makes a much-valued reference for more experienced practitioners.

Walter Kl?pffer is a consultant for life cycle and chemicals assessment based in Frankfurt (Germany). He is also a Professor of physical chemistry at the University of Mainz (ever since the habilitation in 1995). After his studies of chemistry at the University of Graz he was (1964-1922) researcher and manager (1981-1985) at the Battelle Institute e.V. in Frankfurt. Professor Kl?pffer is the founding editor and current editor-in-chief of 'The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment'.

Birgit Grahl studied Chemistry at University of Hamburg (Germany) and headed the chemistry department of the ?ko-Institut Freiburg, followed by several years at a commercial research laboratory. She is now working as a consultant in the field of industrial ecology, in addition to serving as a professor for Industrial Ecology at the University of Applied Sciences in L?beck. She was involved in the development of the ISO 14040 series and is a member of the editorial board of 'The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment'.

1 Introduction
What is Life Cycle Assessment?
History of LCA
The Framework of an LCA Analysis
Standards and Regulations
Literature and Other Information Sources
References

2 Goal and Scope
Definition of the Goal
Definition of the Scope
Case Study: Beverage Packaging (PET Bottle versus Drink Carton)
References

3 Inventory Analysis
Fundamentals
Energy Analysis
Allocation
Data Collection, Origin and Quality
Data Aggregation and Units
Presentation of the Results
Case Study: Beverage Packaging (PET Bottle versus Drink Carton)
References

4 Impact Assessment
Fundamentals
Critical Volume Approach
Assessment According to ISO 14040 and 14044
Environmental Impact Categories Approach
Impact Categories, Indicators, and Characterization Factors
Case Study: Beverage Packaging (PET Bottle versus Drink Carton)
References

5 Interpretation, Reporting, and Critical Review
Importance of Interpretation
Interpretation According to ISO
Analysis of Results
Reporting
Critical Review
Case Study: Beverage Packaging (PET Bottle versus Drink Carton)
References

6 From LCA to Sustainability Analysis
Sustainability
The Three Dimensions of Sustainability
Comparison of Methods: LCA, LCC, SLCA
How Many Assessments Do We Need?
Conclusions
References

APPENDIX
Solutions to Problems
List of Acronyms
Subject Index