Page 87 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

LIFE CYCLE IMPACT ASSESSMENT 69

Instead of trying to connect direct hazard and harm, LCIA seeks to establish
a linkage between a system and potential impacts. The key concept in this
component is that of Stressors - a set of conditions that may lead to one or
multiple impacts.

4.2 Life Cycle Impact Assessment According to
ISO 14040-44 Requirements

4.2.1 Overview
1
According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040 and
14044 standards on LCA, LCA addresses the environmental aspects and potential
environmental impacts (e.g. depletion of resources and the environmental conse-
quences of releases) throughout a product's life cycle from raw material acquisi-
tion through production, use, end-of-life treatment, recycling and final disposal
(i.e. cradle-to-grave). LCIA is the third out of four inter-related phases in an LCA
study (the other phases are Goal & Scope (G&S) definition, Life Cycle Inventory
(LCI) analysis, and Interpretation). While this latter step is transversal to the other
three, the LCIA is subsequent to the first two steps (see Figure 4.1).

Life cycle assessment framework

Goal and scope
definition ^
. Al J

u Direct applications:
- Product development
and improvement
Inventory Interpretation - Strategic planning
analysis - Public policy making
J - Marketing
- Other
u Λ

Impact W\
accpccrnpnt

Figure 4.1 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is comprised of four inter-related phases (ISO 2006a;
ISO 2006b).

ISO is also referred to as the International Standards Organization.