Cut-off criteria

Atsushi Inaba

Chapter 34 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 114-116 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates inputs, outputs, and potential environmental impacts of a product system, with cut-off criteria determining which material and energy flows are included or excluded. Guidelines exist for establishing cut-off criteria based on mass, energy, and environmental significance, requiring transparency and sensitivity analysis in comparative studies. Additional refinements emphasize cumulative contributions to the system. The concept of cut-off criteria has evolved with advancements in LCA databases, which now offer proxy data to reduce exclusions, minimizing reliance on cut-off thresholds. Some frameworks adopt the cut-off definition for greenhouse gas emissions but focus less on detailing mass or energy criteria. While cut-off criteria remain essential for outputs, their importance has diminished due to detailed datasets in modern LCA software. Contrastingly, certain standards and protocols lack cut-off rules for organizational or product-level assessments.

Keywords: Cut-off criteria; LCA; Sensitivity Analysis; ISO14044:2006; GHG Protocols; LCA databases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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