Life cycle impact assessment

Roland Meyer

Chapter 101 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 373-376 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is a critical phase within the broader framework of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). During this phase, data obtained from the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) are categorized and quantified into various impact categories, which include important metrics such as global warming potential, human toxicity, or acidification potential. Emissions are systematically grouped based on their environmental impacts, followed by classification and characterization in relation to reference substances like carbon dioxide (CO2). This process not only aids in understanding individual contributions to environmental issues but also enhances comparability among different products. Additionally, LCIA can incorporate optional steps such as standardization, ranking, and weighting. These steps facilitate more nuanced comparative assessments across multiple products or processes. Advanced methodologies like CML, Ecoindicator, and ReCiPe provide structured frameworks for conducting LCIA effectively. Some of these methodologies offer integrated approaches that assess impacts at both midpoint levels—focusing on specific impact categories—and endpoint levels—addressing damage categories. By utilizing these comprehensive frameworks, practitioners can derive meaningful insights that inform decision-making toward more sustainable practices while minimizing negative environmental consequences across various industries.

Keywords: Life Cycle Impact Assessment; Impact categories; Classification; Characterization; Midpoint (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035309894.00106 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:22215_101

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().