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Influence of Inventory Data Sets on Life‐Cycle Assessment Results: A Case Study on PVC

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  • Eric Copius Peereboom
  • René Kleijn
  • Saul Lemkowitz
  • Sven Lundie

Abstract

This study compared six widely used European life‐cycle assessment (LCA) inventory data sets, identified those, data elements that introduce major differences, and quantitatively determined the influence of these data elements for a cradle‐to‐gate LCA o f polyvinyl chloride (PVC).Large differences in data (10‐ I 100%) were found. Data on substances with recognized high environmental impact and easily determined emissions and environmental impacts, like those related to energy, show the least differences. Process‐specific emissions show larger differences. Substantially more substances emitted t o air than t o water or soil are reported, and differences between the values are less. Furthermore, various inventory data sets donot always cover the same substances. Often, individual substances, such as specific (chlorinated) hydrocarbons and metals, are collectively categorized rather than individually reported. Specific data elements o f the inventory causing many differences were geographical, temporal, and technological representativeness; categorization o f substances; naming of substance categories; use of different category definitions: system boundaries; and allocation method. The influence of these differences on LCA results, determined through sensitivity analysis, was significant, typically 10‐ 100%. Results emphasize the importance of appropriate and explicitly described data sets and the necessity o f sensitivity analyses. Results also show the need for a regularly updated and openly available database with high quality data. The availability of such a database would improve the reliability of LCA and thereby stimulate its application.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Copius Peereboom & René Kleijn & Saul Lemkowitz & Sven Lundie, 1998. "Influence of Inventory Data Sets on Life‐Cycle Assessment Results: A Case Study on PVC," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 2(3), pages 109-130, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:2:y:1998:i:3:p:109-130
    DOI: 10.1162/jiec.1998.2.3.109
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    Cited by:

    1. Davide Rovelli & Carlo Brondi & Michele Andreotti & Elisabetta Abbate & Maurizio Zanforlin & Andrea Ballarino, 2022. "A Modular Tool to Support Data Management for LCA in Industry: Methodology, Application and Potentialities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, March.
    2. Dixit, Manish K., 2017. "Life cycle embodied energy analysis of residential buildings: A review of literature to investigate embodied energy parameters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 390-413.
    3. Francesco Pomponi & Bernardino D’Amico & Alice M. Moncaster, 2017. "A Method to Facilitate Uncertainty Analysis in LCAs of Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Dixit, Manish K. & Fernández-Solís, Jose L. & Lavy, Sarel & Culp, Charles H., 2012. "Need for an embodied energy measurement protocol for buildings: A review paper," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 3730-3743.
    5. Matthew Simon & Steve Poole & Andrew Sweatman & Steve Evans & Tracy Bhamra & Tim Mcaloone, 2000. "Environmental priorities in strategic product development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(6), pages 367-377, November.
    6. Ana Catarina Sousa & Anabela Veiga & Ana Collete Maurício & Maria Ascensão Lopes & José Domingos Santos & Belmira Neto, 2021. "Assessment of the environmental impacts of medical devices: a review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 9641-9666, July.

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