A History of LCA & LCA Standards

Olivier Jolliet, PhD

Learning Objectives

► Recognize that the history of LCA and LCA standards is

short and has been rapidly evolving and progressing

► List the main LCA-based standards

 LCA Short historical review

Recent progress in data availability has increased access to Life Cycle Inventory and to Life Cycle Impact Assessment approaches
Among the first ISO 14000 environmental standard (LCA)
ISO 14040 Environmental management – Life cycle assessment:
Two main Principles and framework (2006)
LCA
standards Environmental management – Life cycle assessment:
ISO 14044

Requirements and guidelines (2006)

LCA-based Environmental management – Water footprint:
water footprint ISO 14046
Principles, requirements and guidelines (2014)
standard
Environmental management – Life cycle assessment:
ISO 14048
Other LCA Data documentation format (2002)
related
standards Environmental management – Life cycle assessment:
ISO 14049 Examples of application of ISO 14041 to goal and scope definition
& inventory analysis (2000)

LCA-based carbon footprint Product Life Cycle GHG Accounting and Reporting from World Resource
standard (not ISO) Institute and World Business Council on Sustainable development
Life Cycle Assessment

 Relates environmental GOAL & SCOPE

impacts to the DEFINITION
product/service function

 Quantified balance over

INVENTORY OF
the whole life cycle, EXTRACTIONS
INTERPRETATION
from cradle to grave & EMISSIONS

 Multiple impacts:
greenhouse effect,
IMPACT
toxicity, resources, etc.
ASSESSMENT
Summary

► LCA is a relatively recent tool

► Rapid evolution and progress in terms of method development,

standardization and data availability

► One of the first tools that has been standardized

► Standards only provide a frame for good practice

► They need to be complemented by recognized methods

and high quality data