Endpoint impact category

Andrea Paulillo

Chapter 58 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 204-207 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), an endpoint impact category quantifies impacts via indicators that are placed at the end of the environmental mechanism, and that represent environmental attributes of the natural environment or human health whose impacts give society cause for concern. The category endpoints are clustered together within so-called Areas of Protection (AoPs); notable examples include human health, natural resources, and ecosystem quality. Endpoint impact categories are widely used in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods, with recent research efforts directed at developing spatially differentiated endpoint characterization factors. Endpoint impact categories (and indicators) are contrasted to midpoint ones; the choice between endpoint and midpoint involves considering a trade-off between modelling uncertainty and relevance of the LCA results.

Keywords: Cause-effect chain; Impact pathway; Category endpoint; Damage modelling; Value choices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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