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LC‐IMPACT: A regionalized life cycle damage assessment method

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Verones
  • Stefanie Hellweg
  • Assumpció Antón
  • Ligia B. Azevedo
  • Abhishek Chaudhary
  • Nuno Cosme
  • Stefano Cucurachi
  • Laura de Baan
  • Yan Dong
  • Peter Fantke
  • Laura Golsteijn
  • Michael Hauschild
  • Reinout Heijungs
  • Olivier Jolliet
  • Ronnie Juraske
  • Henrik Larsen
  • Alexis Laurent
  • Christopher L. Mutel
  • Manuele Margni
  • Montserrat Núñez
  • Mikolaj Owsianiak
  • Stephan Pfister
  • Tommie Ponsioen
  • Philipp Preiss
  • Ralph K. Rosenbaum
  • Pierre‐Olivier Roy
  • Serenella Sala
  • Zoran Steinmann
  • Rosalie van Zelm
  • Rita Van Dingenen
  • Marisa Vieira
  • Mark A. J. Huijbregts

Abstract

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is a lively field of research, and data and models are continuously improved in terms of impact pathways covered, reliability, and spatial detail. However, many of these advancements are scattered throughout the scientific literature, making it difficult for practitioners to apply the new models. Here, we present the LC‐IMPACT method that provides characterization factors at the damage level for 11 impact categories related to three areas of protection (human health, ecosystem quality, natural resources). Human health damage is quantified as disability adjusted life years, damage to ecosystem quality as global species extinction equivalents (based on potentially disappeared fraction of species), and damage to mineral resources as kilogram of extra ore extracted. Seven of the impact categories include spatial differentiation at various levels of spatial scale. The influence of value choices related to the time horizon and the level of scientific evidence of the impacts considered is quantified with four distinct sets of characterization factors. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method with an illustrative life cycle assessment example of different fuel options in Europe (petrol or biofuel). Differences between generic and regionalized impacts vary up to two orders of magnitude for some of the selected impact categories, highlighting the importance of spatial detail in LCIA. This article met the requirements for a gold – gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Verones & Stefanie Hellweg & Assumpció Antón & Ligia B. Azevedo & Abhishek Chaudhary & Nuno Cosme & Stefano Cucurachi & Laura de Baan & Yan Dong & Peter Fantke & Laura Golsteijn & Michael Ha, 2020. "LC‐IMPACT: A regionalized life cycle damage assessment method," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1201-1219, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:24:y:2020:i:6:p:1201-1219
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. An M. De Schryver & Rosalie van Zelm & Sebastien Humbert & Stephan Pfister & Thomas E. McKone & Mark A. J. Huijbregts, 2011. "Value Choices in Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Stressors Causing Human Health Damage," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(5), pages 796-815, October.
    3. Masum, B.M. & Masjuki, H.H. & Kalam, M.A. & Rizwanul Fattah, I.M. & Palash, S.M. & Abedin, M.J., 2013. "Effect of ethanol–gasoline blend on NOx emission in SI engine," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 209-222.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Bangshun & Hao, Qianwen & Zhang, Wei & Li, Wenbo & Li, Chengjiang, 2025. "Evaluating alternative methanol fuel cell vehicles based on life cycle assessment with system dynamics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    2. Otavio Cavalett & Marcos D. B. Watanabe & Mari Voldsund & Simon Roussanaly & Francesco Cherubini, 2024. "Paving the way for sustainable decarbonization of the European cement industry," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(5), pages 568-580, May.
    3. Selene Cobo & Ángel Galán-Martín & Victor Tulus & Mark A. J. Huijbregts & Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez, 2022. "Human and planetary health implications of negative emissions technologies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Tianran Ding & Wouter Achten, 2023. "Coupling agent-based modeling with territorial LCA to support agricultural land-use planning," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/359527, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Mark A. A. Jwaideh & Carole Dalin, 2025. "The multi-dimensional environmental impact of global crop commodities," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 396-410, April.
    6. Pradeleix, L. & Roux, P. & Bouarfa, S. & Bellon-Maurel, V., 2023. "Multilevel life cycle assessment to evaluate prospective agricultural development scenarios in a semi-arid irrigated region of Tunisia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    7. Tianran Ding & Wouter Achten, 2022. "Coupling agent-based modeling with territorial LCA to support agricultural land-use planning," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/352782, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

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