Page 62 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

46 2 Goal and Scope Definition

Weighting … shall not be used in LCA studies intended to be used in comparative
assertions intended to be disclosed to the public.
The German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) developed
a valuation method on the basis of the then valid standards for LCIA, ISO 14042,
and Interpretation, ISO 14043. 49) This valuation method is mandatory for LCAs
commissioned on behalf of the environment agency. Details are discussed in
Chapter 4. It is essential for the phase ‘Definition of Goal and Scope’ to decide on
weighting type (if any) at the beginning of the study. This presupposes a definition
of the later use of the LCA study; it can, however, be changed in written form in
the sense of an iterative approach.
Frequently, the commissioner requests a weighting for internal communication
and decision making. If this is the case, the basic notions of value used have
to be described. An option to describe them exists by defining typical human
characters and behaviour patterns to be consulted for a (necessarily very schematic)
weighting. 50)

2.2.7.3 Critical Review
Comparative LCAs that are intended for publication in accordance with its goal def-
inition must, according to ISO 14040/44, be reviewed critically by an independent
panel. The critical reviewers have to answer the following questions:

• Are the methods used to carry out the LCA consistent with the international
standards ISO 14040/44?
• Are the methods used scientifically and technically valid?
• Is the data used appropriate and reasonable in relation to the goal of the study?
• Does the interpretation reflect the goal of the study and the limitations identified?
• Is the study report transparent and consistent?
51)
There are two options for the conduct of a critical review :
1. accompanying (interactive) critical review,
2. critical review ‘a posteriori’.
Option (1) has advantages regarding consent between commissioner, author (prac-
titioner) and review team and is therefore recommendable. The accompanying
critical review, proposed first by SETAC (1993) as ‘Interactive peer review’, usually
starts after conclusion of the phase ‘Definition of Goal and Scope’ on the basis of
an interim report of this phase.
Thedecisionfor publicationofanLCA canalsobemadeatanadvancedstate
of the study when an accompanying review is no longer possible (modification of
goal definition during the work-out of the project). In this case, it is advisable to
accomplish the critical review in the phase of the writing of the study report. For
this, a draft of the final report with the phases 1–3 (Definition of Goal and Scope,

49) UBA (1999) and ISO (2000b,2000c).
50) Hofstetter (1998).
51) SETAC (1993), Kl¨ opffer (2000, 2005, 2012) and ISO (2013).