Books
otherwise purely technical LCI, but lay at the core of system
modeling and attributing environmental interventions to prod-
uct systems. There is no unique way to deal with allocation and
no objective one with the exception of avoiding. In this guide,
avoidance is recommended only by step la (ISO 14041 ), i.e. "tak-
ing a closer look at empirical relationships ". System expansion
(step lb) is not recommended for simplified and detailed LCAs
but constitutes an option for extended LCAs. 'Physical relation-
ships', also recommended by ISO 14041, may contribute to allo-
cation in some cases (e.g. in waste management) but also enter
into improved inventory modeling. The recommended allocation
method is economic allocation at the unit process level.
Finally, a few words to the book as a physical and aesthetic ob-
ject: the hard bound edition I have at hand is a nicely looking,
well printed book. The text seems to be identical with the report
made available last year in the internet [5], including a few typo-
graphical errors. It is irritating, however, that at many occasions
(especially in Part 2B, see p. 129 for an extreme example) some
sections consist of the heading and the three words 'To be in-
serted'. This can be seen, as indicated in the reading guidance, as
a sign for the wish of the authors to complement the guide in the
future and a second, revised edition may contain this informa-
tion. Thus, hopefully, it may not be a sign for the tendency to-
ward 'zero editing' which recently has been observed even in repu-
table publishing houses. This being said, I should add that Kluwer
deserves thanks for its commitment to LCA-related publications.
References
[1] HeijungsR, Guin~eJB, HuppesG, LamkreijerRM, Udo de Haes HA, Wegener
Sleeswijk A, Ansems AMM, Eggels PG, van Duin R, de Goede HP (1992):
EnvironmentalLife Cycle Assessmentof Products.Guide (Part 1) and Back-
grounds (Part 2), prepared by CML, TNO and B&G. Leiden October 1992.
English Version 1993
Pratiquer l'] co-Conception. Lignes Directrices
Authors: Laurent Grisel and Georges Duranthon
Publisher: Collection AFNOR pratique, #dition 2001. ISBN 2-12-463019-9
Association Frangaise de Normalisation (AFNOR), Paris 2001. 130 pages, price: EUR 36,97
This book is a guide to the French document FD X 30-310 and
its international pendant ISO TR 14062. It is a book about
ecodesign, not a standard, and gives advice in general terms. It
is easy to understand (for those who can read a French text) by
using pictures and metaphors. Of course, the book cannot ad-
vise designers how to deal with specific products. The central
idea behind the approach is LCA (in French: Analyse de cycle
de vie - ACV), but it is not LCA according to the strict rules of
ISO 14040 ft. Life-cycle thinking, however, is strongly recom-
mended. It is furthermore suggested that more than one method
of evaluation (roughly corresponding to the component 'Im-
pact assessment' of LCA) is used.
There are five principles which are first addressed in section
2.2, and treated in more detail in the chapters 3 to 7:
1. Taking into account the global environment;
2. Integration of the environment into the methods of design;
3. Using evaluation methods and tools;
Int J LCA 7 (5) 2002
Reviews
[2] Society of EnvironmentaIToxicologyand Chemistry (SETAC)(1993): Guide-
lines for Life-Cycle Assessment: A 'Code of Practice'. From the SETAC
Work-shop held at Sesimbra, Portugal, 31 March-3 April 1993. Edition 1,
Brussels and Pensacola (Florida)
[3] International Standard Organization (ISO) (1997): Environmental manage-
ment - Life cycle assessment - Principles and framework. ISO 14040,
June 1997
[4] Habersatter K, Widmer F (1991): Oekobilanzen von Packstoffen. Stand
1990. In: Bundesamt for Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft (BUWAL), Bern
(Hrsg): Schriftenreihe Umwelt Nr 132
[5] Guin6e J (2001): Handbook on Life Ccyle Assessment- Operational Guide
to the ISO Standards. Editorial in Int J LCA 6 (5) 255
[6] Marsmann M (2000): The ISO 14040 Family. Editorial in Int J LCA 5 (6)
317-318
[7] Kl~ppel H-J (2002): The ISO Standardization Process: Quo Vadis? Edito-
rial in IntJ LCA 7 (1) 1
[8] Udo de Haes HA, Jolliet O, Finnveden G, Goedkoop M, Hauschild M,
Hertwich EG, Hofstetter P, KI6pffer W, Krewitt W, Lindeijer EW, Mueller-
Wenk R, Olson SI, Pennington DW, Potting J, Steen B (eds) (2002): Life
Cycle Impact Assessment: Striving TowardsBest Practice.ISBN 1-880611-
54-6. SETAC Press, Pensacola (Florida, USA)
[9] T6pfer K (2002): The Launch of the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative.
Editorial in Int J LCA 7 (4) 191 and following papers in this issue
[10] Frische R, KI6pffer W, Esser G, Sch6nborn W (1982): Criteria for Assess-
ing the Environmental Behavior of Chemicals: Selection and Preliminary
Quantification. Ecotox Environ Safety 6 283-293
[11] KI6pfferW (1997): In Defense of the Cumulative Energy Demand. Editorial
in No 2, Int J LCA 2 61
[12] Frischknecht R (1997): The Seductive Effect of Identical Physical Units. Int
J LCA 2,125-126
[13] Frischknecht R, Heijungs R, Hofstetter P (1998): Einstein's Lessons for
Energy Accounting in LCA. Int J LCA 3 266-272
[14] Eganhouse RP, Pontolillo J (2002): Assessing the Reliability of Physico-
Chemical Property Data (Kow,Sw) for Hydrophobic Organic Compounds:
DDT and DDE as a Case Study. SETAC Globe 3 (4) 34-35
[15] Barnthouse L, FavaJ, Humphreys K, Hunt R, Laibson L, Noesen S, Norris
G, Owens J, Todd J, Vigon B, Weitz K, Young J (eds) (1998): Life-Cycle
Impact Assessment: The State-of-the-Art. Report of the SETAC Life-Cycle
Assessment (LCA) Impact Assessment Workgroup. 2nd edition. Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Pensacola, Florida, USA
Walter KI6pffer
Editor-in-Chief, Int J LCA
4. Combining strategies of reduction of potential impacts;
5. Dialogue and partnership.
From the whole text it is evident that a maximum of flexibility
for the users is attempted. It therefore fits well into broader
concepts such as Life Cycle Management (LCM), Sustainable
Development and Industrial Ecology. Since most decisions about
material use, recyclability, etc. have to be taken during the (short)
design phase, any encouragement to use modern, life-cycle based
assessment methods in design is highly welcome.
There are 4 annexes, including the text of X 30-310, and a
glossary (which does not explain the acronymes so popular in
France; what signifies ACT, ACCV, see p. 43?).
Laurent Grisel was a member of the board of editors of 'The
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment' for many years,
in addition to leading positions in t~cobilan, Paris.
Walter KI6pffer
Editor-in-Chief, Int J LCA
313