 Input–outputPatrick Haun Chapter 93 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 347-349 from Edward Elgar Publishing Abstract: In the Life Cycle Inventory phase of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the product system is modeled by a combination of unit processes. These unit processes are defined by the relation of inputs that enter the unit process and the respective outputs that leave the unit process. Unit processes are linked to each other by functional flows that are the output of one and input to the next process. Inputs and outputs can be classified in economic flows (goods, services, materials, energy, waste) and environmental interventions (e.g., resource extraction, emissions, land use). The sum of environmental interventions is translated into environmental impacts in the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) phase. This entry gives a brief classification of inputs and outputs and describes some practical challenges regarding allocation, aggregation, data acquisition, simplification, and modeling in software applications. A main challenge of inputs and outputs is that complexity and transparency, as well as efficiency and accuracy, stand in an inherent conflict with each other, and compromises must be considered according to the goal of the study. Keywords: Input; Output; Life Cycle Inventory; Allocation; Modeling; Data (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:22215_93 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing |
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