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The Importance of Normalization References in Interpreting Life Cycle Assessment Results

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  • Junbeum Kim
  • Yi Yang
  • Junghan Bae
  • Sangwon Suh

Abstract

A normalization step is widely exercised in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies in order to better understand the relative significance of impact category results. In the normalization stage, normalization references (NRs) are the characterized results of a reference system, typically a national or regional economy. Normalization is widely practiced in LCA‐based decision support and policy analysis (e.g., LCA cases in municipal solid waste treatment technologies, renewable energy technologies, and environmentally preferable purchasing programs, etc.). The compilation of NRs demands significant effort and time as well as an intimate knowledge of data availability and quality. Consequently only one set of published NRs is available for the United States, and has been adopted by various studies. In this study, the completeness of the previous NRs was evaluated and significant data gaps were identified. One of the reasons for the significant data gaps was that the toxic release inventory (TRI) data significantly underestimate the potential impact of toxic releases for some sectors. Also the previous NRs did not consider the soil emissions and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoffs to water and chemical emissions to soils. Filling in these data gaps increased the magnitude of NRs for “human health cancer,” “human health noncancer,” “ecotoxicity,” and “eutrophication” significantly. Such significant changes can alter or even reverse the outcome of an LCA study. We applied the previous and updated NRs to conventional gasoline and corn ethanol LCAs. The results demonstrate that NRs play a decisive role in the interpretation of LCA results that use a normalization step.

Suggested Citation

  • Junbeum Kim & Yi Yang & Junghan Bae & Sangwon Suh, 2013. "The Importance of Normalization References in Interpreting Life Cycle Assessment Results," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(3), pages 385-395, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:17:y:2013:i:3:p:385-395
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00535.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Ryan P. Scott & Alison C. Cullen & Cate Fox‐Lent & Igor Linkov, 2016. "Can Carbon Nanomaterials Improve CZTS Photovoltaic Devices? Evaluation of Performance and Impacts Using Integrated Life‐Cycle Assessment and Decision Analysis," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(10), pages 1916-1935, October.
    2. Arvesen, Anders & Hauan, Ingrid Bjerke & Bolsøy, Bernhard Mikal & Hertwich, Edgar G., 2015. "Life cycle assessment of transport of electricity via different voltage levels: A case study for Nord-Trøndelag county in Norway," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 144-151.
    3. Žigart, Maja & Kovačič Lukman, Rebeka & Premrov, Miroslav & Žegarac Leskovar, Vesna, 2018. "Environmental impact assessment of building envelope components for low-rise buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 501-512.
    4. Jager, Henriette I. & Griffiths, Natalie A. & Hansen, Carly H. & King, Anthony W. & Matson, Paul G. & Singh, Debjani & Pilla, Rachel M., 2022. "Getting lost tracking the carbon footprint of hydropower," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Anna Mazzi & Michela Sciarrone & Roberto Raga, 2022. "Environmental Performance of Semi-Aerobic Landfill by Means of Life Cycle Assessment Modeling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Carlos Ferreira & José Ribeiro & Roland Clift & Fausto Freire, 2019. "A Circular Economy Approach to Military Munitions: Valorization of Energetic Material from Ammunition Disposal through Incorporation in Civil Explosives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Roberta Olindo & Nathalie Schmitt & Joost Vogtländer, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessments on Battery Electric Vehicles and Electrolytic Hydrogen: The Need for Calculation Rules and Better Databases on Electricity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.

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