A Framework for Assessing Freshwater Use within LCA: Results from the Related Project under the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative (Phase 2).

ANNETTE KOEHLER; STEPHAN PFISTER, ANNETTE KOEHLER, PABLO ARENA, EMMANUELLE AOUSTIN, JEAN-BAPTISTE BAYART, CÉCILE BULLE, RONNIE JURASKE, MANUELE MARGNI AND FRANCOIS VINCE

Seattle

Conferencia; LCA VIII conference; 2008

American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA)

Freshwater scarcity is a problem in many areas of the world and will become one of the most sensitive environmental issues in coming decades. Existing life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies generally do not provide assessment schemes or characterization factors of the potential environmental impacts of freshwater use or freshwater resource depletion. These assessments therefore do not account for the significant environmental consequences of the loss in quality and availability of freshwater. This paper aims to develop a framework to address this methodological limitation and to support further quantitative modeling of the cause?effect chain relationships of water use. The framework includes recommendations for life cycle inventory (LCI) modeling and provides a description of possible impact pathways for life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), including indicators on midpoint and endpoint levels that reflect different areas of protection (AoP).