Module 5.7

• Phases of LCA


  Life cycle interpretation phase

  
• Life cycle interpretation phase evaluates the LCI and/or LCIA findings resulting in appropriate conclusions and recommendations

  
• Identification of significant issues

  1. Contribution analysis

  2. Dominance analysis

  3. Anomaly assessment
• Contribution analysis


  Examines the contribution of life cycle stages or groups of processes to the total result

  
• Dominance analysis


  Examines significant contributions through statistical tools or other techniques such as quantitative or qualitative ranking
• Anomaly assessment


  Examines unusual or surprising deviations from expected or normal results
• Evaluation


  1. Completeness check

  2. Sensitivity check

  3. Consistency check
• Completeness check


  Ensures that all relevant information and data needed for the interpretation are available and complete
• Sensitivity check


  Determines the influence of variations in assumptions, methods, and data on the results
• Consistency check


  Determines whether the assumptions, methods, models, and data used in the LCA are consistent with the goal and scope of the study, and for each product/process evaluated

  
• Conclusions, limitations, and recommendations

  1. Draws conclusions in accordance with the goal and scope of the study

  2. Makes recommendations based on the final conclusions of the study
• Contribution analysis


  • One of the most common methods used for identification of significant issues in published LCA studies
• Sensitivity check


  • One of the most explicitly presented and explained evaluation techniques in published LCA studies
• Goal of the study

  • Provide a baseline of the environmental impacts of current practices along the US beef value chain
  • Quantify the sustainability impacts associated with the production and consumption of 1 kg of consumed beef for a representative system in the USA
  • Target audience included the beef industry and its stakeholders, consumers, and public
• Of the 11 metrics considered, feed production was the major contributor in six, contributing about 90% or more of the total life cycle impact
• Cattle are a major contributor in three of the remaining impact categories (ADP, GWP, and AP)
• Using mass allocation instead of economic allocation


  Increased the environmental burden placed on the feed phase, resulting in a 4% increase in GWP and a 53% increase in water emissions
• The specific aim was to quantify the sustainability impacts associated with the production and consumption of 1 kg of consumed beef for a representative system in the USA
• The target audience included the beef industry and its stakeholders, consumers, and public
• The life cycle interpretation phase evaluates the LCI and/or LCIA findings resulting in appropriate conclusions and recommendations

  
• The life cycle interpretation phase structures LCI and/or LCIA phase results to determine significant issues

  
• The life cycle interpretation phase draws conclusions in accordance with the goal and scope of the study

  
• The life cycle interpretation phase makes recommendations based on the final conclusions of the study

  
• Contribution analysis is one of the most common methods used for identification of significant issues in published LCA studies
• Sensitivity check is one of the most explicitly presented and explained evaluation techniques in published LCA studies