Page 213 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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Fig. 10.5 Comparing two products, which alternative would you choose? Examples of footprints
are indicated in green shading; impact categories commonly assessed in LCA are indicated in blue
shading

auspices of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative defined footprint as “Metric
used to report life cycle assessment results addressing an area of concern [the latter
specified as an] Environmental topic defined by the interest of society” (Ridoutt
et al. 2016). This definition underpins a footprint’s focus on environmental issues
particularly perceived by society (e.g. climate change or water scarcity) and allows
for a clear distinction to LCA, which is primarily oriented “toward stakeholders
interested in comprehensive evaluation of overall environmental performance and
trade-offs among impact categories” (Ridoutt et al. 2016) and related areas of
protection. This definition also recognises the inherent complexity of an environ-
mental performance profile resulting from an LCA study, which requires a certain
expertise to be correctly interpreted.
In conclusion, footprints are life cycle-based, narrow-scoped, environmental
metrics focusing on an area of concern. They are widely and easily applicable, as
well as easily understood by non-environmental experts and therefore straightfor-
ward to communicate. They are particularly useful for communication of envi-
ronmental problems or achieved improvements, as long as their use is restrained to
their coverage of environmental concerns and care is taken when interpreting them
(burden-shifting), particularly when results are disclosed to non-expert audiences
(e.g. public opinion). A footprint’s life cycle perspective can be an inspiring first
contact with the concept of life cycle thinking for the general public, and for policy
and decision-makers it often serves as an entry-door into the concept and