Page 132 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

Chapter 9
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis

Anders Bjørn, Andreas Moltesen, Alexis Laurent, Mikołaj Owsianiak,
Andrea Corona, Morten Birkved and Michael Z. Hauschild

Abstract The inventory analysis is the third and often most time-consuming part
of an LCA. The analysis is guided by the goal and scope definition, and its core
activity is the collection and compilation of data on elementary flows from all
processes in the studied product system(s) drawing on a combination of different
sources. The output is a compiled inventory of elementary flows that is used as
basis of the subsequent life cycle impact assessment phase. This chapter teaches
how to carry out this task through six steps: (1) identifying processes for the LCI
model of the product system; (2) planning and collecting data; (3) constructing and
quality checking unit processes; (4) constructing LCI model and calculating LCI
results; (5) preparing the basis for uncertainty management and sensitivity analysis;
and (6) reporting.

Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter the reader should be able to:
• Collect and critically evaluate the data quality of an LCI.
• Construct a unit process from first-hand gathered data.
• Build an LCI model using either attributional or consequential approach and
explain the differences between the two approaches.
• Explain what data is required for uncertainty and sensitivity analyses and how to
collect these data.
• Document an LCI model, including unit processes and LCI results.

A. Bjørn (&) A. Moltesen A. Laurent
M. Owsianiak A. Corona M. Birkved M.Z. Hauschild
Division for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Management
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
e-mail: anders.bjoern@polymtl.ca
A. Bjørn
CIRAIG, Polytechnique Montréal, 3333 Chemin Queen-Mary, Montréal, QC, Canada
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018 117
M.Z. Hauschild et al. (eds.), Life Cycle Assessment,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3_9