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Finding Life Cycle Assessment Research Direction with the Aid of Meta‐Analysis

Author

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  • Alessandra Zamagni
  • Paolo Masoni
  • Patrizia Buttol
  • Andrea Raggi
  • Roberto Buonamici

Abstract

Rapid growth in life cycle assessment (LCA) methodological developments has generated a large body of work that may appear to lack direction. In this article we developed and applied a structured approach, inspired by the meta‐analysis concept, to examine literature and identify research thrusts on how to further develop LCA. The procedure consists of four steps: (1) definition of the research question; (2) carrying out a literature review concerning more than 280 articles, selected from about 2,000 articles according to predefined criteria, which resulted in the identification of some 60 main methodological topics; (3) research gap analysis, in which the methodological topics identified in the previous step were compared with the research priorities identified through a users’ needs survey; and (4) interpretation of results, in which the results of both the previous steps were evaluated and organized into coherent research thrusts. Overall the analysis delivered two main research thrusts: one devoted to increase the practicability of LCA, the other to increase model fidelity. The former is aimed at making knowledge available in an easily usable way, while the latter focuses on better describing the complexity of the systems analyzed and those interrelations that are really meaningful. Specific research topics were identified for each thrust, which suggests that sophistication and practicability can and should coexist in the same method.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra Zamagni & Paolo Masoni & Patrizia Buttol & Andrea Raggi & Roberto Buonamici, 2012. "Finding Life Cycle Assessment Research Direction with the Aid of Meta‐Analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(s1), pages 39-52, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:16:y:2012:i:s1:p:s39-s52
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00467.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Oriana Gava & Fabio Bartolini & Francesca Venturi & Gianluca Brunori & Angela Zinnai & Alberto Pardossi, 2018. "A Reflection of the Use of the Life Cycle Assessment Tool for Agri-Food Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Ricardo J. Bonilla-Alicea & Katherine Fu, 2019. "Systematic Map of the Social Impact Assessment Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-30, July.
    3. Ling-Chin, J. & Heidrich, O. & Roskilly, A.P., 2016. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) – from analysing methodology development to introducing an LCA framework for marine photovoltaic (PV) systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 352-378.
    4. Evers, V.H.M. & Kirkels, A.F. & Godjevac, M., 2023. "Carbon footprint of hydrogen-powered inland shipping: Impacts and hotspots," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    5. Christina Wulf & Jasmin Werker & Christopher Ball & Petra Zapp & Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs, 2019. "Review of Sustainability Assessment Approaches Based on Life Cycles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-43, October.
    6. Weldu, Yemane W., 2017. "Life cycle human health and ecosystem quality implication of biomass-based strategies to climate change mitigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 11-18.
    7. Pauline Deutz & Giuseppe Ioppolo, 2015. "From Theory to Practice: Enhancing the Potential Policy Impact of Industrial Ecology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Weldu, Yemane W. & Assefa, Getachew & Jolliet, Olivier, 2017. "Life cycle human health and ecotoxicological impacts assessment of electricity production from wood biomass compared to coal fuel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 564-574.
    9. Kevin Joseph Dillman & Áróra Árnadóttir & Jukka Heinonen & Michał Czepkiewicz & Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, 2020. "Review and Meta-Analysis of EVs: Embodied Emissions and Environmental Breakeven," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-28, November.

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