Page 77 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

L1644_C02.fm Page 54 Tuesday, October 21, 2003 3:07 PM

∑ IP v ⋅ m,IP i ∑ IE v i,IE i ∑ W v
+
−
v = i i i m,W i (2.6)
m,p
P
In the next section, we present a simple example to learn how to calculate an
LCI of a product. Nevertheless, many LCA tools in the market can help the user
carry out an LCI of a big variety of systems and products. The following section
briefly describes some of these existing software packages.

2.5 LCA-BASED SOFTWARE TOOLS

We are concerned with LCA-based software tools developed for relatively easy
application because they may be applied by a wider range of users. Since it is not
the objective of this book to present an exhaustive list of all the existing tools in the
market, we have only selected some considered representatives of different applica-
tion fields. We have divided the tools into four sections:
1. Life-cycle inventory tools. Given the data for a product, these tools will
create the LCI. Thus, the life stages of the product that contributes mostly
to the environmental loads considered can be identified. However, in some
cases a small amount of one type of environmental load can prove to be
more harmful than large amounts of others. An LCI will only provide the
raw data; it will not help to identify which emissions are most significant.
To do so, a full LCA is required. The LCI tools included are:
• The Boustead Model is a basic MS DOS-based software package, one
of the largest database available. All information is collected from
industry through questionnaires. Data from over 23 countries are avail-
able, which makes Boustead a very internationally oriented tool.
Contact details:
Dr. Ian Boustead
Boustead Consulting
Tel: +44 1403 864561
Fax: +44 1403 865284
http://www.boustead-consulting.co.uk
• The Euklid developers followed the methodology of the ISO standards
and therefore limited the process to an inventory. The software package
is based on an SQL database with object-oriented program structure.
Contact details:
Frauenhofer-Institut für Lebensmitteltechnologie und Verpackung
Tel: +498161 491 300
Fax: +498161 491 33
http://www.ilv.fhg.de
• JEM-LCA is an inventory tool aimed at the electronics sector with a
limited database developed at NEC. This software system is based on
an inventory and process tree principle.
Contact details:

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