Module 5.6

• Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase

  Evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the product system using the compiled inputs and outputs of the LCI phase

  
• Elements of the LCIA phase

  • Classification
  • Characterization
• Classification

  LCIA phase assigns LCI data to impact categories
• Impact categories

  Class representing environmental issues of concern to which life cycle inventory analysis results may be assigned

  
• Characterization

  1. LCIA phase converts LCI results to values with common units related to its environmental impact

  2. LCIA phase aggregates the converted results within the same impact category (i.e. impact category indicator result)

  
• Characterization factor

  Global warming potential (kg CO2-equivalents/kg gas)