SIST EN ISO 14044:2006
(Main)Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines (ISO 14044:2006)
Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines (ISO 14044:2006)
ISO 14044:2006 specifies requirements and provides guidelines for life cycle assessment (LCA) including: definition of the goal and scope of the LCA, the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase, the life cycle interpretation phase, reporting and critical review of the LCA, limitations of the LCA, relationship between the LCA phases, and conditions for use of value choices and optional elements.
ISO 14044:2006 covers life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies.
Umweltmanagement - Ökobilanz - Anforderungen und Anleitungen (ISO 14044:2006)
Diese Internationale Norm legt Anforderungen an eine Ökobilanz fest und liefert Anleitungen für deren Erstellung, einschließlich
a) der Festlegung des Ziels und des Untersuchungsrahmens der Ökobilanz;
b) der Sachbilanz-Phase;
c) der Phase der Wirkungsabschätzung;
d) der Auswertungsphase;
e) der Berichterstattung über die Ökobilanz und deren Kritische Prüfung;
f) der Grenzen der Ökobilanz;
g) der Beziehungen zwischen den Phasen einer Ökobilanz und
h) der Bedingungen der Anwendung von Werthaltungen und optionalen Bestandteilen.
Diese Norm umfasst Ökobilanz-Studien und Sachbilanz-Studien.
Die vorgesehene Anwendung der Ergebnisse von Öko- oder Sachbilanzen wird bei der Festlegung des Ziels und des Untersuchungsrahmens berücksichtigt, die Anwendung selbst fällt jedoch nicht in den Anwendungs-bereich dieser Internationalen Norm.
Diese Internationale Norm ist nicht für vertragliche oder regulative Zwecke oder für Zulassung und Zerti-fizierung vorgesehen.
Management environnemental - Analyse du cycle de vie - Exigences et lignes directrices (ISO 14044:2006)
L'ISO 14044:2006 spécifie les exigences et fournit les lignes directrices pour la réalisation d'analyses du cycle de vie (ACV) comprenant: la définition des objectifs et du champ de l'étude, la phase d' inventaire du cycle de vie, la phase d'évaluation de l'impact du cycle de vie, la phase d'interprétation du cycle de vie, la communication et la revue critique de l'analyse du cycle de vie, les limitations de l'analyse du cycle de vie, la relation entre les phases de l'analyse du cycle de vie et les conditions d'utilisation des choix de valeur et des éléments facultatifs.
L'ISO 14044:2006 traite des études d'analyse du cycle de vie et des études d'inventaire du cycle de vie.
Ravnanje z okoljem - Ocenjevanje življenjskega cikla – Zahteve in smernice (ISO 14044:2006)
Ta mednarodni standard določa zahteve in podaja smernice za ocenjevanje življenjskega cikla (LCA), kar vključuje a) opredelitev cilja in področja uporabe LCA, b) fazo popisa življenjskega cikla (LCI), c) fazo ocenjevanja vplivov življenjskega cikla (LCIA), d) fazo razlage življenjskega cikla, e) poročanje in kritični pregled LCA, f) omejitve LCA, g) razmerje med fazami LCA in h) pogoje za uporabo vrednostnih izbir in izbirnih elementov. Ta mednarodni standard zajema študije ocenjevanja življenjskega cikla (LCA) in študije popisa življenjskega cikla (LCI). Načrtovana uporaba rezultatov LCA in LCI je obravnavana v opredelitvi cilja in področja uporabe, sama uporaba pa ni zajeta v področje uporabe tega standarda. Ta mednarodni standard ni predviden za pogodbene ali regulatorne namene ali registracijo in certificiranje.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2006
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN ISO 14040:2000
SIST EN ISO 14041:2000
SIST EN ISO 14042:2001
SIST EN ISO 14043:2001
Ravnanje z okoljem - Ocenjevanje življenjskega cikla – Zahteve in smernice (ISO
14044:2006)
Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines (ISO
14044:2006)
Umweltmanagement - Ökobilanz - Anforderungen und Anleitungen (ISO 14044:2006)
Management environnemental - Analyse du cycle de vie - Exigences et lignes directrices
(ISO 14044:2006)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14044:2006
ICS:
13.020.10 Ravnanje z okoljem Environmental management
13.020.60 Življenjski ciklusi izdelkov Product life-cycles
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 14044
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2006
ICS 13.020.60; 13.020.10 Supersedes EN ISO 14040:1997, EN ISO 14041:1998,
EN ISO 14042:2000, EN ISO 14043:2000
English Version
Environmental management - Life cycle assessment -
Requirements and guidelines (ISO 14044:2006)
Management environnemental - Analyse du cycle de vie - Umweltmanagement - Ökobilanz - Anforderungen und
Exigences et lignes directrices (ISO 14044:2006) Anleitungen (ISO 14044:2006)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 19 June 2006.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels
© 2006 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14044:2006: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Foreword
This document (EN ISO 14044:2006) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207
"Environmental management" in collaboration with CMC.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of
an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2007, and conflicting national
standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by January 2007.
This document supersedes EN ISO 14040:1997, EN ISO 14041:1998, EN ISO 14042:2000, EN
ISO 14043:2000.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of
the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14044:2006 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 14044:2006 without any
modifications.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14044
First edition
2006-07-01
Environmental management — Life cycle
assessment — Requirements and
guidelines
Management environnemental — Analyse du cycle de vie — Exigences
et lignes directrices
Reference number
ISO 14044:2006(E)
©
ISO 2006
ISO 14044:2006(E)
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ii © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Methodological framework for LCA. 6
4.1 General requirements. 6
4.2 Goal and scope definition. 7
4.3 Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI). 11
4.4 Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) . 16
4.5 Life cycle interpretation . 23
5 Reporting . 27
5.1 General requirements and considerations . 27
5.2 Additional requirements and guidance for third-party reports. 28
5.3 Further reporting requirements for comparative assertion intended to be disclosed to the
public. 30
6 Critical review. 31
6.1 General. 31
6.2 Critical review by internal or external expert. 31
6.3 Critical review by panel of interested parties .31
Annex A (informative) Examples of data collection sheets . 33
Annex B (informative) Examples of life cycle interpretation . 36
Bibliography . 46
ISO 14044:2006(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 14044 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, Subcommittee
SC 5, Life cycle assessment.
This first edition of ISO 14044, together with ISO 14040:2006, cancels and replaces ISO 14040:1997,
ISO 14041:1998, ISO 14042:2000 and ISO 14043:2000, which have been technically revised.
iv © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
Introduction
The increased awareness of the importance of environmental protection, and the possible impacts associated
1)
with products , both manufactured and consumed, has increased interest in the development of methods to
better understand and address these impacts. One of the techniques being developed for this purpose is life
cycle assessment (LCA).
LCA can assist in
⎯ identifying opportunities to improve the environmental performance of products at various points in their
life cycle,
⎯ informing decision-makers in industry, government or non-government organizations (e.g. for the purpose
of strategic planning, priority setting, product or process design or redesign),
⎯ the selection of relevant indicators of environmental performance, including measurement techniques,
and
⎯ marketing (e.g. implementing an ecolabelling scheme, making an environmental claim, or producing an
environmental product declaration).
2)
LCA addresses the environmental aspects and potential environmental impacts (e.g. use of resources and
environmental consequences of releases) throughout a product's life cycle from raw material acquisition
through production, use, end-of-life treatment, recycling and final disposal (i.e. cradle-to-grave).
There are four phases in an LCA study:
a) the goal and scope definition phase,
b) the inventory analysis phase,
c) the impact assessment phase, and
d) the interpretation phase.
The scope, including system boundary and level of detail, of an LCA depends on the subject and the intended
use of the study. The depth and the breadth of LCA can differ considerably depending on the goal of a
particular LCA.
The life cycle inventory analysis phase (LCI phase) is the second phase of LCA. It is an inventory of
input/output data with regard to the system being studied. It involves the collection of the data necessary to
meet the goals of the defined study.
The life cycle impact assessment phase (LCIA) is the third phase of the LCA. The purpose of LCIA is to
provide additional information to help assess a product system’s LCI results so as to better understand their
environmental significance.
1) In this International Standard, the term “product” includes services.
2) The “potential environmental impacts” are relative expressions, as they are related to the functional unit of a product
system.
ISO 14044:2006(E)
Life cycle interpretation is the final phase of the LCA procedure, in which the results of an LCI or an LCIA, or
both, are summarized and discussed as a basis for conclusions, recommendations and decision-making in
accordance with the goal and scope definition.
There are cases where the goal of an LCA may be satisfied by performing only an inventory analysis and an
interpretation. This is usually referred to as an LCI study.
This International Standard covers two types of studies: life cycle assessment studies (LCA studies) and life
cycle inventory studies (LCI studies). LCI studies are similar to LCA studies but exclude the LCIA phase. LCI
are not to be confused with the LCI phase of an LCA study.
Generally, the information developed in an LCA or LCI study can be used as part of a much more
comprehensive decision process. Comparing the results of different LCA or LCI studies is only possible if the
assumptions and context of each study are equivalent. Therefore this International Standard contains several
requirements and recommendations to ensure transparency on these issues.
LCA is one of several environmental management techniques (e.g. risk assessment, environmental
performance evaluation, environmental auditing, and environmental impact assessment) and might not be the
most appropriate technique to use in all situations. LCA typically does not address the economic or social
aspects of a product, but the life cycle approach and methodologies described in this International Standard
may be applied to these other aspects.
This International Standard, like other International Standards, is not intended to be used to create non-tariff
trade barriers or to increase or change an organization's legal obligations.
vi © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14044:2006(E)
Environmental management — Life cycle assessment —
Requirements and guidelines
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies requirements and provides guidelines for life cycle assessment (LCA)
including
a) the goal and scope definition of the LCA,
b) the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase,
c) the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase,
d) the life cycle interpretation phase,
e) reporting and critical review of the LCA,
f) limitations of the LCA,
g) relationship between the LCA phases, and
h) conditions for use of value choices and optional elements.
This International Standard covers life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies.
The intended application of LCA or LCI results is considered during the goal and scope definition, but the
application itself is outside the scope of this International Standard.
This International Standard is not intended for contractual or regulatory purposes or registration and
certification.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references,
only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
ISO 14040:2006, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
NOTE These terms and definitions are taken from ISO 14040:2006 and are repeated for the convenience of users of
this International Standard.
ISO 14044:2006(E)
3.1
life cycle
consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation from
natural resources to final disposal
3.2
life cycle assessment
LCA
compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system
throughout its life cycle
3.3
life cycle inventory analysis
LCI
phase of life cycle assessment involving the compilation and quantification of inputs and outputs for a product
throughout its life cycle
3.4
life cycle impact assessment
LCIA
phase of life cycle assessment aimed at understanding and evaluating the magnitude and significance of the
potential environmental impacts for a product system throughout the life cycle of the product
3.5
life cycle interpretation
phase of life cycle assessment in which the findings of either the inventory analysis or the impact assessment,
or both, are evaluated in relation to the defined goal and scope in order to reach conclusions and
recommendations
3.6
comparative assertion
environmental claim regarding the superiority or equivalence of one product versus a competing product that
performs the same function
3.7
transparency
open, comprehensive and understandable presentation of information
3.8
environmental aspect
element of an organization's activities, products or services that can interact with the environment
[ISO 14001:2004; definition 3.6]
3.9
product
any goods or service
NOTE 1 The product can be categorized as follows:
⎯ services (e.g. transport);
⎯ software (e.g. computer program, dictionary);
⎯ hardware (e.g. engine mechanical part);
⎯ processed materials (e.g. lubricant);
2 © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
NOTE 2 Services have tangible and intangible elements. Provision of a service can involve, for example, the following:
⎯ an activity performed on a customer-supplied tangible product (e.g. automobile to be repaired);
⎯ an activity performed on a customer-supplied intangible product (e.g. the income statement needed to prepare a tax
return);
⎯ the delivery of an intangible product (e.g. the delivery of information in the context of knowledge transmission);
⎯ the creation of ambience for the customer (e.g. in hotels and restaurants).
Software consists of information and is generally intangible and can be in the form of approaches, transactions or
procedures.
Hardware is generally tangible and its amount is a countable characteristic. Processed materials are generally tangible
and their amount is a continuous characteristic.
NOTE 3 Adapted from ISO 14021:1999 and ISO 9000:2005.
3.10
co-product
any of two or more products coming from the same unit process or product system
3.11
process
set of interrelated or interacting activities that transforms inputs into outputs
[ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.4.1 (without notes)]
3.12
elementary flow
material or energy entering the system being studied that has been drawn from the environment without
previous human transformation, or material or energy leaving the system being studied that is released into
the environment without subsequent human transformation
3.13
energy flow
input to or output from a unit process or product system, quantified in energy units
NOTE Energy flow that is an input may be called an energy input; energy flow that is an output may be called an
energy output.
3.14
feedstock energy
heat of combustion of a raw material input that is not used as an energy source to a product system,
expressed in terms of higher heating value or lower heating value
NOTE Care is necessary to ensure that the energy content of raw materials is not counted twice.
3.15
raw material
primary or secondary material that is used to produce a product
NOTE Secondary material includes recycled material.
3.16
ancillary input
material input that is used by the unit process producing the product, but does not constitute part of the
product
ISO 14044:2006(E)
3.17
allocation
partitioning the input or output flows of a process or a product system between the product system under
study and one or more other product systems
3.18
cut-off criteria
specification of the amount of material or energy flow or the level of environmental significance associated
with unit processes or product system to be excluded from a study
3.19
data quality
characteristics of data that relate to their ability to satisfy stated requirements
3.20
functional unit
quantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit
3.21
input
product, material or energy flow that enters a unit process
NOTE Products and materials include raw materials, intermediate products and co-products.
3.22
intermediate flow
product, material or energy flow occurring between unit processes of the product system being studied
3.23
intermediate product
output from a unit process that is input to other unit processes that require further transformation within the
system
3.24
life cycle inventory analysis result
LCI result
outcome of a life cycle inventory analysis that catalogues the flows crossing the system boundary and
provides the starting point for life cycle impact assessment
3.25
output
product, material or energy flow that leaves a unit process
NOTE Products and materials include raw materials, intermediate products, co-products, and releases.
3.26
process energy
energy input required for operating the process or equipment within a unit process, excluding energy inputs for
production and delivery of the energy itself
3.27
product flow
products entering from or leaving to another product system
3.28
product system
collection of unit processes with elementary and product flows, performing one or more defined functions, and
which models the life cycle of a product
4 © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
3.29
reference flow
measure of the outputs from processes in a given product system required to fulfil the function expressed by
the functional unit
3.30
releases
emissions to air and discharges to water and soil
3.31
sensitivity analysis
systematic procedures for estimating the effects of the choices made regarding methods and data on the
outcome of a study
3.32
system boundary
set of criteria specifying which unit processes are part of a product system
NOTE The term “system boundary” is not used in this International Standard in relation to LCIA.
3.33
uncertainty analysis
systematic procedure to quantify the uncertainty introduced in the results of a life cycle inventory analysis due
to the cumulative effects of model imprecision, input uncertainty and data variability
NOTE Either ranges or probability distributions are used to determine uncertainty in the results.
3.34
unit process
smallest element considered in the life cycle inventory analysis for which input and output data are quantified
3.35
waste
substances or objects which the holder intends or is required to dispose of
NOTE The definition is taken from the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal (22 March 1989) but is not confined in this International Standard to hazardous waste.
3.36
category endpoint
attribute or aspect of natural environment, human health, or resources, identifying an environmental issue
giving cause for concern
3.37
characterization factor
factor derived from a characterization model which is applied to convert an assigned life cycle inventory
analysis result to the common unit of the category indicator
NOTE The common unit allows calculation of the category indicator result.
3.38
environmental mechanism
system of physical, chemical and biological processes for a given impact category, linking the life cycle
inventory analysis results to category indicators and to category endpoints
3.39
impact category
class representing environmental issues of concern to which life cycle inventory analysis results may be
assigned
ISO 14044:2006(E)
3.40
impact category indicator
quantifiable representation of an impact category
NOTE The shorter expression “category indicator” is used in this International Standard for improved readability.
3.41
completeness check
process of verifying whether information from the phases of a life cycle assessment is sufficient for reaching
conclusions in accordance with the goal and scope definition
3.42
consistency check
process of verifying that the assumptions, methods and data are consistently applied throughout the study and
are in accordance with the goal and scope definition performed before conclusions are reached
3.43
sensitivity check
process of verifying that the information obtained from a sensitivity analysis is relevant for reaching the
conclusions and giving recommendations
3.44
evaluation
element within the life cycle interpretation phase intended to establish confidence in the results of the life cycle
assessment
NOTE Evaluation includes completeness check, sensitivity check, consistency check, and any other validation that
may be required according to the goal and scope definition of the study
3.45
critical review
process intended to ensure consistency between a life cycle assessment and the principles and requirements
of the International Standards on life cycle assessment
NOTE 1 The principles are described in ISO 14040:2006, 4.1.
NOTE 2 The requirements are described in this International Standard.
3.46
interested party
individual or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance of a product system, or by
the results of the life cycle assessment
4 Methodological framework for LCA
4.1 General requirements
See ISO 14040 for the principles and framework to be used to conduct an LCA.
LCA studies shall include the goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and
interpretation of results.
LCI studies shall include definition of the goal and scope, inventory analysis and interpretation of results. The
requirements and recommendations of this International Standard, with the exception of those provisions
regarding impact assessment, also apply to life cycle inventory studies.
An LCI study alone shall not be used for comparisons intended to be used in comparative assertions intended
to be disclosed to the public.
It should be recognized that there is no scientific basis for reducing LCA results to a single overall score or
number.
6 © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
4.2 Goal and scope definition
4.2.1 General
The goal and scope of an LCA shall be clearly defined and shall be consistent with the intended application.
Due to the iterative nature of LCA, the scope may have to be refined during the study.
4.2.2 Goal of the study
In defining the goal of an LCA, the following items shall be unambiguously stated:
⎯ the intended application;
⎯ the reasons for carrying out the study:
⎯ the intended audience, i.e. to whom the results of the study are intended to be communicated:
⎯ whether the results are intended to be used in comparative assertions intended to be disclosed to the
public.
4.2.3 Scope of the study
4.2.3.1 General
In defining the scope of an LCA, the following items shall be considered and clearly described:
⎯ the product system to be studied;
⎯ the functions of the product system or, in the case of comparative studies, the systems;
⎯ the functional unit;
⎯ the system boundary;
⎯ allocation procedures;
⎯ LCIA methodology and types of impacts;
⎯ interpretation to be used;
⎯ data requirements;
⎯ assumptions;
⎯ value choices and optional elements;
⎯ limitations;
⎯ data quality requirements;
⎯ type of critical review, if any;
⎯ type and format of the report required for the study.
In some cases, the goal and scope of the study may be revised due to unforeseen limitations, constraints or
as a result of additional information. Such modifications, together with their justification, should be
documented.
Some of the items above are specified in detail in 4.2.3.2 to 4.2.3.8.
ISO 14044:2006(E)
4.2.3.2 Function and functional unit
The scope of an LCA shall clearly specify the functions (performance characteristics) of the system being
studied. The functional unit shall be consistent with the goal and scope of the study. One of the primary
purposes of a functional unit is to provide a reference to which the input and output data are normalized (in a
mathematical sense). Therefore the functional unit shall be clearly defined and measurable.
Having chosen the functional unit, the reference flow shall be defined. Comparisons between systems shall be
made on the basis of the same function(s), quantified by the same functional unit(s) in the form of their
reference flows. If additional functions of any of the systems are not taken into account in the comparison of
functional units, then these omissions shall be explained and documented. As an alternative, systems
associated with the delivery of this function may be added to the boundary of the other system to make the
systems more comparable. In these cases, the processes selected shall be explained and documented.
4.2.3.3 System boundary
4.2.3.3.1 The system boundary determines which unit processes shall be included within the LCA. The
selection of the system boundary shall be consistent with the goal of the study. The criteria used in
establishing the system boundary shall be identified and explained.
Decisions shall be made regarding which unit processes to include in the study and the level of detail to which
these unit processes shall be studied.
The deletion of life cycle stages, processes, inputs or outputs is only permitted if it does not significantly
change the overall conclusions of the study. Any decisions to omit life cycle stages, processes, inputs or
outputs shall be clearly stated, and the reasons and implications for their omission shall be explained.
Decisions shall also be made regarding which inputs and outputs shall be included and the level of detail of
the LCA shall be clearly stated.
4.2.3.3.2 It is helpful to describe the system using a process flow diagram showing the unit processes and
their inter-relationships. Each of the unit processes should be initially described to define
⎯ where the unit process begins, in terms of the receipt of raw materials or intermediate products,
⎯ the nature of the transformations and operations that occur as part of the unit process, and
⎯ where the unit process ends, in terms of the destination of the intermediate or final products.
Ideally, the product system should be modelled in such a manner that inputs and outputs at its boundary are
elementary and product flows. It is an iterative process to identify the inputs and outputs that should be traced
to the environment, i.e. to identify which unit processes producing the inputs (or which unit processes
receiving the outputs) should be included in the product system under study. The initial identification is made
using available data. Inputs and outputs should be more fully identified after additional data are collected
during the course of the study, and then subjected to a sensitivity analysis (see 4.3.3.4).
For material inputs, the analysis begins with an initial selection of inputs to be studied. This selection should
be based on an identification of the inputs associated with each of the unit processes to be modelled. This
effort may be undertaken with data collected from specific sites or from published sources. The goal is to
identify the significant inputs associated with each of the unit processes.
Energy inputs and outputs shall be treated as any other input or output to an LCA. The various types of
energy inputs and outputs shall include inputs and outputs relevant for the production and delivery of fuels,
feedstock energy and process energy used within the system being modelled.
4.2.3.3.3 The cut-off criteria for initial inclusion of inputs and outputs and the assumptions on which the
cut-off criteria are established shall be clearly described. The effect on the outcome of the study of the cut-off
criteria selected shall also be assessed and described in the final report.
8 © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
Several cut-off criteria are used in LCA practice to decide which inputs are to be included in the assessment,
such as mass, energy and environmental significance. Making the initial identification of inputs based on mass
contribution alone may result in important inputs being omitted from the study. Accordingly, energy and
environmental significance should also be used as cut-off criteria in this process.
a) Mass: an appropriate decision, when using mass as a criterion, would require the inclusion in the study of
all inputs that cumulatively contribute more than a defined percentage to the mass input of the product
system being modelled.
b) Energy: similarly, an appropriate decision, when using energy as a criterion, would require the inclusion
in the study of those inputs that cumulatively contribute more than a defined percentage of the product
system’s energy inputs.
c) Environmental significance: decisions on cut-off criteria should be made to include inputs that
contribute more than an additional defined amount of the estimated quantity of individual data of the
product system that are specially selected because of environmental relevance.
Similar cut-off criteria may also be used to identify which outputs should be traced to the environment, e.g. by
including final waste treatment processes.
Where the study is intended to be used in comparative assertions intended to be disclosed to the public, the
final sensitivity analysis of the inputs and outputs data shall include the mass, energy and environmental
significance criteria so that all inputs that cumulatively contribute more than a defined amount (e.g.
percentage) to the total are included in the study.
All of the selected inputs identified through this process should be modelled as elementary flows.
It should be decided which inputs and outputs data have to be traced to other product systems, including flows
subject to allocation. The system should be described in sufficient detail and clarity to allow another
practitioner to duplicate the inventory analysis.
4.2.3.4 LCIA methodology and types of impacts
It shall be determined which impact categories, category indicators and characterization models are included
within the LCA study. The selection of impact categories, category indicators and characterization models
used in the LCIA methodology shall be consistent with the goal of the study and considered as described in
4.4.2.2.
4.2.3.5 Types and sources of data
Data selected for an LCA depend on the goal and scope of the study. Such data may be collected from the
production sites associated with the unit processes within the system boundary, or they may be obtained or
calculated from other sources. In practice, all data may include a mixture of measured, calculated or estimated
data.
Inputs may include, but are not limited to, use of mineral resources (e.g. metals from ores or recycling,
services like transportation or energy supply, and use of ancillary materials like lubricants or fertilisers).
As part of emissions to air, emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, etc.
may be separately identified.
Emissions to air, and discharges to water and soil, often represent releases from point or diffuse sources, after
passing through pollution control devices. These data should also include fugitive emissions, when significant.
Indicator parameters may include, but are not limited to,
⎯ biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),
⎯ chemical oxygen demand (COD),
ISO 14044:2006(E)
⎯ absorbable organic halogen compounds (AOX),
⎯ total halogen content (TOX), and
⎯ volatile organic chemicals (VOC).
In addition, data representing noise and vibration, land use, radiation, odour and waste heat may be collected.
4.2.3.6 Data quality requirements
4.2.3.6.1 Data quality requirements shall be specified to enable the goal and scope of the LCA to be met.
4.2.3.6.2 The data quality requirements should address the following:
a) time-related coverage: age of data and the minimum length of time over which data should be collected;
b) geographical coverage: geographical area from which data for unit processes should be collected to
satisfy the goal of the study;
c) technology coverage: specific technology or technology mix;
d) precision: measure of the variability of the data values for each data expressed (e.g. variance);
e) completeness: percentage of flow that is measured or estimated;
f) representativeness: qualitative assessment of the degree to which the data set reflects the true
population of interest (i.e. geographical coverage, time period and technology coverage);
g) consistency: qualitative assessment of whether the study methodology is applied uniformly to the various
components of the analysis;
h) reproducibility: qualitative assessment of the extent to which information about the methodology and data
values would allow an independent practitioner to reproduce the results reported in the study;
i) sources of the data;
j) uncertainty of the information (e.g. data, models and assumptions).
Where a study is intended to be used in comparative assertions intended to be disclosed to the public, the
data quality requirements stated in a) to j) above shall be addressed.
4.2.3.6.3 The treatment of missing data shall be documented. For each unit process and for each reporting
location where missing data are identified, the treatment of the missing data and data gaps should result in
⎯ a “non-zero” data value that is explained,
⎯ a “zero” data value if explained, or
⎯ a calculated value based on the reported values from unit processes employing similar technology.
Data quality should be characterized by both quantitative and qualitative aspects as well as by the methods
used to collect and integrate those data.
Data from specific sites or representative averages should be used for those unit processes that contribute the
majority of the mass and energy flows in the systems being studied, as determined in the sensitivity analysis
performed in 4.3.3.4. Where possible, data from specific sites should also be used for unit processes that are
considered to have environmentally relevant inputs and outputs.
10 © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved
ISO 14044:2006(E)
4.2.3.7 Comparisons between systems
In a comparative study, the equivalence of the systems being compared shall be evaluated before interpreting
the results. Consequently, the scope of the study shall be defined in such a way that the systems can be
compared. Systems shall be compared using the same functional unit and equivalent methodological
considerations, such as performance, system boundary, data quality, allocation procedures, decision rules on
evaluating inputs, and outputs and impact assessment. Any differences between systems regarding these
parameters shall be identified and reported. If the study is intended to be used for a comparative assertion
intended to be disclosed to the public, interested parties shall conduct this evaluation as a critical review.
A life cycle impact assessment shall be performed for studies intended to be used in comparative assertions
intended to be disclosed to the public.
4.2.3.8 Critical review considerations
The scope of the study shall define
⎯ whether a critical review is necessary and, if so, how to conduct it,
⎯ the type of critical review needed (see Clause 6), and
⎯ who would conduct the review, and their level of expertise.
4.3 Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI)
4.3.1 General
The definition of the goal and scope of a study provides the initial plan for conducting the life cycle inventory
phase of an LCA. When executing the plan for the life cycle inventory analysis, the operational steps outlined
in Figure 1 should be performed. (It should be noted that some iterative steps are not shown in Figure 1.)
4.3.2 Collecting data
4.3.2.1 The qualitative and quantitative data for inclusion in the inventory shall be collected for each unit
process that is included within the system boundary. The collected data, whether measured, calculated or
estimated, are utilized to quantify the inputs and outputs of a unit process.
When data have been collected from public sources, the source shall be referenced. For those data that may
be significant for the conclusions of the study, details about the relevant data collection process, the time
when data have been collected, and further information about data quality indicators shall be referenced.
If such data do not meet the data quality requirements, this shall be stated.
To decrease the risk of misunderstandings (e.g. resulting in double counting when validating or reusing the
data collected), a description of each unit process shall be recorded.
Since data collection may span several reporting locations and published references, measures should be
taken to reach uniform and consistent understanding of the product systems to be modelled.
4.3.2.2 These measures should include the following:
⎯ drawing unspecific process flow diagrams that outline all the unit processes to be modelled, including
their interrelationships;
⎯ describing each unit process in detail with respect to factors influencing inputs and outputs;
⎯ listing of flows and relevant data for operating conditions associated with each unit process;
⎯ developing a list that specifies the units used;
⎯ describing the data collection and calculation techniques needed for all data;
⎯ providing instructions to document clearly any special cases, irregularities or other items associated with
the data provided.
ISO 14044:2006(E)
Examples of data collection sheets are provided in Annex A.
4.3.2.3 The major headings under which data may be classified include
⎯ energy inputs, raw material inputs, ancillary inputs, other physical inputs,
⎯ products, co-products and waste,
⎯ releases to air, water and soil, and
⎯ other environmental aspects.
Within these headings, in
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