Page 348 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

332 5 Life Cycle Interpretation, Reporting and Critical Review

Frame of an LCA

Phase 4: Interpretation
Phase 1:

Goal and scope
definition Evaluation by:
- Completeness
check
Identification of
- Sensitivity check
significant issues
Phase 2: - Consistency
check
Inventory - Other checks
analysis

Phase 3:
Conclusions
limitations
Impact recommendations
assessment

Figure 5.1 Interrelations of constituents in the interpretation and other phases of an LCA
(according to ISO 14040).

Owing to the iterative approach of LCAs, the evaluation requires some experience.
This is taken into account in Supplement B of ISO 14044 ‘Examples for an
Interpretation’. It is meant as a support for practitioners to understand how to
conduct an interpretation.

5.2.3
Identification of Significant Issues
The standard does not provide prerequisites for materiality thresholds for the
identification of significant parameters. Every study therefore needs to articulate,
depending on data quality, the significance criteria that are valid. The identifi-
cation of significant issues is aimed at identifying result parameters for which
a significant quantitative difference, involving data uncertainties, really exists. A
careful identification of significant parameters is aimed at preventing over- and
misinterpretations.
Significant issues can have a varying background. ISO 14044:2006 provides
examples of the following in Section 4.5.2.2:
• Inventory data
• Impact categories