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5%

4%
Contribution to Total Environmental Impact 3%

2%
1%

0%
10000 Industrial Processes
(only 3 processes > 1%)

FIGURE 6.1 Full LCA studies of complex products with a huge number of industrial pro-
cesses, e.g., a computer. In this example fewer than three processes contribute to more than
1% of the total environmental impact

50%
45%
Contribution to Total Environmental Impact 35%
40%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1 100
100 Industrial Processes
(20 processes together > 90% of total)
FIGURE 6.2 LCA methodology applied to industrial process chains with a small number of
industrial processes, e.g., waste treatment. In this example, 20 processes together contribute
to more than 90% of the total environmental impact.

Based on these considerations a methodology has been developed that allows
estimating environmental damages for industrial process chains. These chains are
understood here as chains of industrial processes with less than 100 processes. A
framework is needed that allows evaluating environmental damages as accurately
as possible because today’s damage assessment methods generate results different
from those of the evaluation of potential impacts. This is demonstrated, for instance,
in the study undertaken by Spirinckx and Nocker (1999) that compares both
approaches. This methodology is useful for certain life-cycle management (LCM)
applications such as end-of-life strategies and supply chain management. Possible
applications are further discussed in Section 6.6 of this chapter.

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