Page 70 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

4.3 Pathway to standardization: The role of LCI/SETAC/UNEP in framework definition 65
guidance (2010), and to specific standards, i.e., ISO 14040 and 14044. The boundary limits for
the LCA include all the life cycle phases, from natural resources supply, raw materials
processing, components manufacturing, to the end-of-life steps, passing through the mainte-
nance phases and use.
It must be emphasized that LCA has been conceived, developed, and standardized to
quantify the potential environmental impacts of goods and services and that it is essentially
based on a linear stationary model, founded on technological and environmental relation-
ships. Comparing results of different studies, for instance, is only possible if the assumptions
and context of each study are the same. Since its first definitions, the International Standard
IS0 14040 series provided principles and framework and methodological requirements for
conducting LCA studies (IS0 14040, 1997). Whereas, LCA is already a standardized method
(ISO 14044, 2006) and widely used to investigate the potential environmental impacts, LCSA
has to be actually implemented and developed following a common recognized asset of
regulation.
As is commonly acknowledged (Neugebauer, 2015), LCSA can be considered as the inte-
gration, or better, as resulting from the addition of the three dimensions of sustainability
perspectives, i.e., economic, environmental, social, and according with several authors it
can be presented as the following easy equation:

LCSA ¼ LCA + LCC + SLCA
According particularly with Kloepffer (2006), LCA can represent a useful starting point to
develop an integrated methodology, combining the three aspects. LCA has shown that quan-
tification is possible and this advantage should be preserved in adding the economic and
social aspects and to develop an integrated LCSA.
In this context, for a useful and effective LSCA standardization, the already existing LCA
standardization approach can be applied; particularly rooted in some important pillars, use-
fully synthesized in the main few following definitions.
4.3.1.1 Glossary
First of all, such as in several other contexts, it is important to speak the same language. The
glossary of terminology in LCA has been created to provide a common vocabulary for people
around the world to use when they talk about LCA data and databases. The glossary uses the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) terminology, as far as it is available, and
provides additional explanation (LCI-UNEP, 2011). The same glossary has to be assumed and
improved also in LCSA.
4.3.1.2 Interfaces for data exchange
In order to communicate and share data, the database contents should be suitable for ex-
change via standard interfaces into other LCA software or systems. However, contents need
first to be harmonized to avoid misunderstanding, misinterpretations, and unintended
inconsistencies.
4.3.1.3 Basic methodological structure
As for any single assessment component (i.e., LCA, LCCA, SLCA), LCSA can also be car-
ried out in four steps in a processual and iterative manner, which are composed of: goal and