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Valuing Biodiversity in Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Author

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  • Jan Paul Lindner

    (Department of Life Cycle Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, 70563 Stuttgart, Germany
    Department Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, 44801 Bochum, Germany)

  • Horst Fehrenbach

    (ifeu—Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Lisa Winter

    (Chair of sustainable engineering, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Judith Bloemer

    (ifeu—Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Eva Knuepffer

    (Department of Life Cycle Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, 70563 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

In this article, the authors propose an impact assessment method for life cycle assessment (LCA) that adheres to established LCA principles for land use-related impact assessment, bridges current research gaps and addresses the requirements of different stakeholders for a methodological framework. The conservation of biodiversity is a priority for humanity, as expressed in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing biodiversity across value chains is a key challenge for enabling sustainable production pathways. Life cycle assessment is a standardised approach to assess and compare environmental impacts of products along their value chains. The impact assessment method presented in this article allows the quantification of the impact of land-using production processes on biodiversity for several broad land use classes. It provides a calculation framework with degrees of customisation (e.g., to take into account regional conservation priorities), but also offers a default valuation of biodiversity based on naturalness. The applicability of the method is demonstrated through an example of a consumer product. The main strength of the approach is that it yields highly aggregated information on the biodiversity impacts of products, enabling biodiversity-conscious decisions about raw materials, production routes and end user products.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Paul Lindner & Horst Fehrenbach & Lisa Winter & Judith Bloemer & Eva Knuepffer, 2019. "Valuing Biodiversity in Life Cycle Impact Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-24, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5628-:d:275851
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bradley J. Cardinale & J. Emmett Duffy & Andrew Gonzalez & David U. Hooper & Charles Perrings & Patrick Venail & Anita Narwani & Georgina M. Mace & David Tilman & David A. Wardle & Ann P. Kinzig & Gre, 2012. "Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity," Nature, Nature, vol. 486(7401), pages 59-67, June.
    2. Lisa Winter & Markus Berger & Nikolay Minkov & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2017. "Analysing the Impacts of Various Environmental Parameters on the Biodiversity Status of Major Habitats," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Keller, Heiko & Rettenmaier, Nils & Reinhardt, Guido Andreas, 2015. "Integrated life cycle sustainability assessment – A practical approach applied to biorefineries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1072-1081.
    4. Vanessa Gabel & Robert Home & Sibylle Stöckli & Matthias Meier & Matthias Stolze & Ulrich Köpke, 2018. "Evaluating On-Farm Biodiversity: A Comparison of Assessment Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Julia Pelzeter & Vanessa Bach & Martin Henßler & Klaus Ruhland & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2022. "Enhancement of the ESSENZ Method and Application in a Case Study on Batteries," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, May.
    2. Jianling Fan & Cuiying Liu & Jianan Xie & Lu Han & Chuanhong Zhang & Dengwei Guo & Junzhao Niu & Hao Jin & Brian G. McConkey, 2022. "Life Cycle Assessment on Agricultural Production: A Mini Review on Methodology, Application, and Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Andrea Lulovicova & Stephane Bouissou, 2023. "Environmental Assessment of Local Food Policies through a Territorial Life Cycle Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Eskil Mattsson & Martin Erlandsson & Per Erik Karlsson & Hampus Holmström, 2022. "A Conceptual Landscape-Level Approach to Assess the Impacts of Forestry on Biodiversity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Fritz Balkau & Alberto Bezama & Noemie Leroy-Parmentier & Guido Sonnemann, 2021. "A Review on the Use of Life Cycle Methodologies and Tools in Sustainable Regional Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-41, September.

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