Life-Cycle Analysis/Assessment - Weighted Singular Metrics

1. Life-Cycle Analysis/Assessment-Weighted Singular Metrics

2. Module Objective Having read this, you should know the following: • Pros and cons for single LCA units/metrics/scores • Background and philosophy of the Eco-Points, Environmental Priority System, and Eco-Indicator methods • How to apply the Eco-Indicator 99 indicator

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Impacts Normalization Evaluation Result In: energy Out: CO2 SO2 lead CFC waste 1 / target value current / target value 1 / target value current / target value Eco-points 1 / target value current / target value 1 / target value current / target value 1 / target value current / target value 1 / target value current / target value The Eco-Points Evaluation Method • A low number of eco-points is preferred.

7. 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”

8. 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.

9. stocks future costs for extraction production direct losses health biodiversity willingness to pay aesthetics The EPS Evaluation Method Impacts Safeguard objects Evaluation Result In: oil zinc Out: CO2 SO2 lead CFC value in ECU

10. 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.

11. 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)

12. Eco-Indicator 95 Evaluation Method • Normalization is performed, but excluded in this figure for the sake of simplification.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Eco-Indicator 99 Evaluation Method Three spheres are considered: • Techno-sphere • Eco-sphere • Value-sphere See: http://www.pre.nl/eco-indicator99/

16. 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