Page 43 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition
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               2
               Goal and Scope Definition


               2.1
               Goal Definition


               The ‘Definition of goal and scope’ must be present in any standard life cycle
                                                    1)
               assessment (LCA) study as the first component. Here, the fundamental concepts
               of the study are specified within the framework of the standard. While an iterative
               approach within the standard is explicitly intended (see double arrows in Figure 1.4),
               any change of goal and scope must be documented during the conduct of an LCA.
                                          2)
                The International Standard 14044 reads:
                  The goal and scope of an LCA shall be clearly defined and shall be consistent with
                  the intended application. Due to the iterative nature of LCA, the scope may have
                  to be refined during the study.

                The goal definition is a declaration made by the organisation (such as companies,
               industry or trade associations, environmental offices, NGOs, etc.) commissioning
                                                       3)
               an LCA, by providing an explanation to the following :
               • Range of application: What is the objective of the study?
               • Interest of realisation: Why is an LCA study conducted?
               • Target group(s): For whom will an LCA study be conducted?
               • Publication or other accessibility for the public: Are comparative assertions intended
                in the study? 4)
               The depth and accuracy of the study have to be considered during the goal definition.
               The fundamental standard ISO 14040 explicitly points out that the goal definition
               and therefore also the application of an LCA represent the commissioner’s free
               will decision and as such shall not be challenged by the critical review (see
                                       5)
               Section 2.2.7.3 and Chapter 5). Thus, a multiplicity of possible applications (for

               1)  ISO (2006a).
               2)  ISO (2006b, Section 4.2.1).
               3)  SETAC (1993), DIN NAGUS (1994), Neitzel (1996) and ISO (2000b,c).
               4)  Comparative assertions in the sense of ISO standards mean that product A under environmental
                  aspects is alike or better than product B; products in the sense of LCA standards are any goods
                  and services.
               5)  This of course will not apply for ethically non-acceptable goals!

               Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A Guide to Best Practice, First Edition.
               Walter Kl¨ opffer and Birgit Grahl.
               c   2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Published 2014 by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
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