Life-Cycle Analysis/Assessment
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Weighted Singular Metrics
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Module Objective
Having read this, you should know the following:
1. Pros and cons for single LCA units/metrics/scores
2. Background and philosophy of the Eco-Points,
Environmental Priority System, and Eco-Indicator
methods
3. How to apply the Eco-Indicator 99 indicator
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
A Single Figure for Environmental Impact
• A single figure is often needed or preferred for
comparison purposes
• Several methods exists, but it is still a controversial
issue and no singular widely accepted method exists
• ISO 14040 prohibits use of a single score for
comparison with competitors products
– It emphasizes openness and reproducibility of LCA results
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Sample Single Score Metrics
• A number of attempts have been made in the
international community to reach agreement on a
single LCA metric.
• Three well-documented and used single score methods
are:
– The Eco-Points method
– The Environmental Priority System
– The Eco-Indicator (95 & 99)
• We will discuss these because they are based on very
different fundamental principles and philosophy
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Eco-Points Method
• The eco-points method was developed in Switzerland and is
based on the use of national government policy objectives.
• Environmental impacts are evaluated directly and there is
no classification step.
• The evaluation principle is the distance to target principle,
or the difference between the total impact in a specific area
and the target value.
– The target values in the original Ecopunkten method were derived from
target values of the Swiss government.
– A Dutch variant has been developed on the basis of the Dutch policy
objectives.
• The use of policy objectives is controversial given that a
policy does not express the true seriousness of a problem.
– Various political, economic, and social considerations also play a role when
formulating these objectives.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
The Eco-Points Evaluation Method
• A low number of eco-points is preferred.
Impacts Normalization Evaluation Result
In: 1 / target value current / target value
energy
Out: 1 / target value current / target value
CO2 Eco-
1 / target value current / target value points
SO2
1 / target value current / target value
lead
CFC 1 / target value current / target value
waste 1 / target value current / target value
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Eco-Points Method (cont.)
• The Eco-Points methods has been accepted as a useful
instrument, even though objections can be raised against
using politically established target levels.
– The lack of a classification step is also regarded as a disadvantage - only
a very limited number of impacts can be evaluated.
• Eco-points method was/is widely used in Switzerland and
Germany.
– It is also used in Norway, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands.
– Since 1993, it has been included in the SimaPro software.
• The Eco-Points method is notsi much an environmental
indicator as an indicator “in conformity with policy”
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
The Environmental Priority System (EPS)
• The EPS system was used first for Volvo in Sweden.
• It is not based on governmental policy, but on
estimated financial consequences of environmental
problems.
• It attempts to translate environmental impact into a
sort of social expenditure.
– The first step is to establish the damage caused to a number of
“safeguard objects” - objects that a community considers valuable.
– The next step is to identify how much the community is prepared to
pay for these things, i.e., the social costs of the safeguard objects are
established.
– The resulting costs are added up to a single figure.
• The EPS system includes neither classification or
normalization.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
The EPS Evaluation Method
Impacts Safeguard objects Evaluation Result
In: stocks
oil future costs for
zinc extraction
production
value in
Out: health direct losses
ECU
CO2
SO2 biodiversity willingness to
lead pay
CFC aesthetics
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
The Eco-Indicator (95 and 99)
• The Eco-Indicator 95 was developed in a joint project carried out by
companies, research institutes and the Dutch government.
• The aim was to develop an easy to use tool for product designers and the
main outcome was a list of 100 indicators for te most significant materials
and processes.
– By using these indicators a designer can easily make combinations and carry out
his/her own LCA. No outside expert or software are needed.
• Indicators have been drawn up for all life-cycle phases
– the production of materials such as steel, aluminum, thermo-plastics, paper, glass
– production processes, such as injection molding, rolling, turning, welding
– transport by road, rail, and sea
– energy generating processes
– waste processing processes, such as incineration, dumping, recycling.
• The most recent revised version is called Eco-Indicator 99.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Eco-Indicator 95
• The evaluation method for calculating the Eco-Indicator 95
strongly focuses on the effects of emissions on the ecosystem.
• For the valuation, the distance to target principle is used,
but the targets are based on scientific data on environmental
damage and not on policy statements.
• The targets values are related to three types of
environmental damage:
– deterioration of ecosystems (a target level has been chosen at which “only”
5% ecosystem degradation will still occur over several decades)
– deterioriation of human health (this refers in particular to winter and
summer smog and the acceptable level set is that smog periods should hardly
ever occur again)
– human deaths (the level chosen as acceptable is 1 fatality per million
inhabitants per year)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Eco-Indicator 95 Evaluation Method
• Normalization is performed, but excluded in this
figure for the sake of simplification.
Impact Effect Damage Valuation Result
Ozone layer depl.
CFC
Pb Heavy metals
Cd Carcinogenics Fatalities
PAH Summer smog
Dust Health Subjective
Winter smog damage Eco-indicator
VOC impairment value
DDT Pesticides assessment
CO2 Ecosystem
Greenhouse effect impairment
SO2
NO Acidification
x
P Eutrophication
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Weighting Factors Used in Eco-Indicator 95
• Setting equivalents for these damage levels is a subjective
choice.
– The current choice (see below) came about after consultation with various
experts and a comparison with other systems.
Env i ro nmental Wei g hti ng Cri teri o n
effect facto r
Greenhouse effect 2.5 0.1C rise every 10 years, 5% ecosystem degradation
Ozone layer depletion 100 Probability of 1 fatality per year per million inhabitants
Acidification 10 5% ecosystem degradation
Eutrophication 5 Rivers and lakes, degradation of an unknown number of
aquatic ecosystems (5% degradation)
Summer smog 2.5 Occurrence of smog periods, health complaints, particularly
amongst asthma patients and the elderly, prevention of
agricultural damage
Winter smog 5 Occurrence of smog periods, health complaints, particularly
amongst asthma patients and the elderly
Pesticides 25 5% ecosystem degradation
Airborne heavy metals 5 Lead content in children’s blood, reduced life expectancy and
learning performance in an unknown number of people
Waterborne heavy metals 5 Cadmium content in rivers, ultimately also impacts on people
(see airborne)
Carcinogenic substances 10 Probability of 1 fatality per year per million people
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Some Comments
• The preceding table reveals that
– High priority must be given to limiting substances causing ozone layer
damage and the use of pesticides. The latter is becoming a very serious
problem in The Netherlands in particular.
– Furthermore, a great deal of consideration must be given to the
diffusion of acidifying and carcinogenic substances.
• A number of effects that are generally regarded as
environmental problems have not been included:
– Toxic substances that are only a problem in the workplace.
– Exhaustion (depletion) of raw materials.
– Waste.
• As a result of these differences the Eco-indicator can be
seen as an indicator of emissions.
• Raw materials depletion and the use of space by waste
must be evaluated separately at present.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Eco-Indicator 99 Evaluation Method
Three spheres are considered:
• Techno-sphere
• Eco-sphere See: http://www.pre.nl/eco-indicator99/
• Value-sphere
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory
Eco-Indicator 99
• More info on Eco-Indicator 99 can be found at Pre-
Consultants web site www.pre.nl
• Eco-Indicator Tables can be found in the “Eco-
Indicator 99 - Manual for Designers”
– http://www.pre.nl/download/EI99_Manual.pdf
• Eco-Indicator 99 scores are also included in the Eco-It
and Simapro LCA software
Georgia Institute of Technology
Copyright 2006, Dr. Bert Bras, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Systems Realization Laboratory