Towards harmonizing natural resources as an area of protection in Life Cycle Impact Assessment
dc.contributor.author
Sonderegger, Thomas
dc.contributor.author
Dewulf, Jo P.
dc.contributor.author
Fantke, Peter
dc.contributor.author
Maia de Souza, Danielle
dc.contributor.author
Pfister, Stephan
dc.contributor.author
Stoessel, Franziska
dc.contributor.author
Verones, Francesca
dc.contributor.author
Vieira, Marisa
dc.contributor.author
Weidema, Bo
dc.contributor.author
Hellweg, Stefanie
dc.date.accessioned
2024-03-21T13:23:44Z
dc.date.available
2017-06-12T19:58:54Z
dc.date.available
2018-06-12T12:05:33Z
dc.date.available
2020-08-20T14:46:37Z
dc.date.available
2020-08-21T05:26:36Z
dc.date.available
2024-03-21T13:23:44Z
dc.date.issued
2017-12
dc.identifier.issn
0948-3349
dc.identifier.issn
1614-7502
dc.identifier.other
10.1007/s11367-017-1297-8
en_US
dc.identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/128792
dc.identifier.doi
10.3929/ethz-b-000128792
dc.description.abstract
Purpose
In this paper, we summarize the discussion and present the findings of an expert group effort under the umbrella of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative proposing natural resources as an Area of Protection (AoP) in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA).
Methods
As a first step, natural resources have been defined for the LCA context with reference to the overall UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) framework. Second, existing LCIA methods have been reviewed and discussed. The reviewed methods have been evaluated according to the considered type of natural resources and their underlying principles followed (use-to-availability ratios, backup technology approaches, or thermodynamic accounting methods).
Results and discussion
There is currently no single LCIA method available that addresses impacts for all natural resource categories, nor do existing methods and models addressing different natural resource categories do so in a consistent way across categories. Exceptions are exergy and solar energy-related methods, which cover the widest range of resource categories. However, these methods do not link exergy consumption to changes in availability or provisioning capacity of a specific natural resource (e.g., mineral, water, land etc.). So far, there is no agreement in the scientific community on the most relevant type of future resource indicators (depletion, increased energy use or cost due to resource extraction, etc.). To address this challenge, a framework based on the concept of stock/fund/flow resources is proposed to identify, across natural resource categories, whether depletion/dissipation (of stocks and funds) or competition (for flows) is the main relevant aspect.
Conclusions
An LCIA method—or a set of methods—that consistently address all natural resource categories is needed in order to avoid burden shifting from the impact associated with one resource to the impact associated with another resource. This paper is an important basis for a step forward in the direction of consistently integrating the various natural resources as an Area of Protection into LCA.
en_US
dc.format
application/pdf
en_US
dc.language.iso
en
en_US
dc.publisher
Springer
en_US
dc.rights.uri
http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/
dc.subject
Abiotic resources
en_US
dc.subject
Biotic resources
en_US
dc.subject
Land
en_US
dc.subject
LCA
en_US
dc.subject
LCIA
en_US
dc.subject
Method review
en_US
dc.subject
Soil
en_US
dc.subject
Water
en_US
dc.title
Towards harmonizing natural resources as an area of protection in Life Cycle Impact Assessment
en_US
dc.type
Review Article
dc.rights.license
In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
dc.date.published
2017-03-23
ethz.book.title
1927
en_US
ethz.journal.title
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
ethz.journal.volume
22
en_US
ethz.journal.issue
1912
en_US
ethz.journal.abbreviated
Int J Life Cycle Assess
ethz.pages.start
192
en_US
ethz.size
16 p.; 37 p. accepted version
en_US
ethz.version.deposit
publishedVersion
en_US
ethz.notes
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher.
en_US
ethz.identifier.wos
ethz.identifier.scopus
ethz.identifier.nebis
010846476
ethz.publication.place
Berlin; Heidelberg
en_US
ethz.publication.status
published
en_US
ethz.leitzahl
ETH Zürich::00002 - ETH Zürich::00012 - Lehre und Forschung::00007 - Departemente::02115 - Dep. Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik / Dep. of Civil, Env. and Geomatic Eng.::02608 - Institut für Umweltingenieurwiss. / Institute of Environmental Engineering::03732 - Hellweg, Stefanie / Hellweg, Stefanie
en_US
ethz.leitzahl.certified
ETH Zürich::00002 - ETH Zürich::00012 - Lehre und Forschung::00007 - Departemente::02115 - Dep. Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik / Dep. of Civil, Env. and Geomatic Eng.::02608 - Institut für Umweltingenieurwiss. / Institute of Environmental Engineering::03732 - Hellweg, Stefanie / Hellweg, Stefanie
ethz.relation.isPartOf
10.3929/ethz-b-000409207
ethz.date.deposited
2017-06-12T19:59:40Z
ethz.source
ECIT
ethz.identifier.importid
imp5936554861f0c60965
ethz.ecitpid
pub:191719
ethz.eth
yes
en_US
ethz.availability
Open access
en_US
ethz.rosetta.installDate
2018-06-12T12:05:36Z
ethz.rosetta.lastUpdated
2022-03-29T02:57:16Z
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true
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true
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