IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v25y2021i1p51-66.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Data representativeness in LCA: A framework for the systematic assessment of data quality relative to technology characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Trine Henriksen
  • Thomas F. Astrup
  • Anders Damgaard

Abstract

A shortcoming in current data quality assessment schemes is that the data quality information is not used systematically to identify the critical data in a life cycle inventory (LCI) model. In addition, existing criteria employed to evaluate representativeness lack relevance to the specific context of a study. A novel framework is proposed herein for the evaluation of the representativeness of LCI data, including an analysis of the importance of the data and a modification of quality criteria based on unit process characteristics. Temporal characteristics are analyzed by identifying the technology shift, because data generated before this time are considered outdated. Geographical and technological characteristics are analyzed by defining a “related area” and a “related technology,” which is done by identifying a number of relevant geographical and technical factors, and then comparing the collected data with these factors. The framework was illustrated in a case study on household waste incineration in Denmark. The results demonstrated the applicability of the method in practice, and they provided data quality criteria unique to waste incineration unit processes, for example, different time intervals to evaluate temporal representativeness. However, the proposed method is time demanding, and thus sector‐level characteristic analyses are feasible instead of the user having to do the analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Trine Henriksen & Thomas F. Astrup & Anders Damgaard, 2021. "Data representativeness in LCA: A framework for the systematic assessment of data quality relative to technology characteristics," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(1), pages 51-66, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:25:y:2021:i:1:p:51-66
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13048
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13048
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.13048?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antoine Beylot & Antoine Hochar & Pascale Michel & Marie Descat & Yannick Ménard & Jacques Villeneuve, 2018. "Municipal Solid Waste Incineration in France: An Overview of Air Pollution Control Techniques, Emissions, and Energy Efficiency," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(5), pages 1016-1026, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ying Li & Ruyan Zhao & Haonan Li & Wenting Song & Haoxiang Chen, 2023. "Feasibility Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration for Harmless Treatment of Potentially Virulent Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Zygmunt Kowalski & Joanna Kulczycka & Agnieszka Makara & Roland Verhé & Guy De Clercq, 2022. "Assessment of Energy Recovery from Municipal Waste Management Systems Using Circular Economy Quality Indicators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Jose-Luis Zafra-Gómez & Germán López-Pérez & Marta Garrido-Montañés & Elisabeth Zafra-Gómez, 2023. "Cost Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Different Alternatives in Service Delivery for Small and Medium Sized Spanish Local Governments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Chi-Hung Tsai & Yun-Hwei Shen & Wen-Tien Tsai, 2020. "Analysis of Current Status and Regulatory Promotion for Incineration Bottom Ash Recycling in Taiwan," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-10, September.
    5. Sandra Alvarez & Nidal Del Valle Raydan & Isabelle Svahn & Etienne Gontier & Klaus Rischka & Bertrand Charrier & Eduardo Robles, 2023. "Assessment and Characterization of Duck Feathers as Potential Source of Biopolymers from an Upcycling Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, September.
    6. Marco Schiavon & Marco Ravina & Mariachiara Zanetti & Deborah Panepinto, 2024. "State-of-the-Art and Recent Advances in the Abatement of Gaseous Pollutants from Waste-to-Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, January.
    7. Jānis Krūmiņš & Māris Kļaviņš, 2023. "Integrated Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasification System for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management: Energy Production and Heat Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-23, July.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:25:y:2021:i:1:p:51-66. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.