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Web End = Int J Life Cycle Assess (2016) 21:976993 DOI 10.1007/s11367-016-1063-3
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Web End = LCI METHODOLOGY AND DATABASES
Developing a systematic framework for consistent allocation in LCA
Dieuwertje L. Schrijvers1,2 & Philippe Loubet3 & Guido Sonnemann1,2
Received: 20 February 2015 /Accepted: 11 February 2016 /Published online: 10 March 2016 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016
AbstractPurpose Multifunctionality in life-cycle assessment (LCA) is solved with allocation, for which many different procedures are available. Lack of sufficient guidance and difficulties to identify the correct allocation approach cause a large number of combinations of methods to exist in scientific literature. This paper reviews allocation procedures for recycling situations, with the aim to identify a systematic approach to apply allocation.
Methods Assumptions and definitions for the most important terms related to multifunctionality and recycling in LCA are given. The most relevant allocation procedures are identified from literature. These procedures are expressed in mathematical formulas and schemes and arranged in a systematic framework based on the underlying objectives and assumptions of the procedures.
Results and discussion If the LCA goal asks for an attributional approach, multifunctionality can be solved by applying system expansioni.e. including the co-functions in the functional unitor partitioning. The cut-off approach is a form of partitioning, attributing all the impacts to the functional unit. If
the LCA goal asks for a consequential approach, substitution is applied, for which three methods are identified: the end-of-life recycling method and the waste mining method, which are combined in the 50/50 method. We propose to merge these methods in a new formula: the market price-based substitution method. The inclusion of economic values and maintaining a strict separation between attributional and consequential LCA are considered to increase realism and consistency of the LCA method.
Conclusions and perspectives We identified the most pertinent allocation proceduresfor recycling as well as co-production and energy recoveryand expressed them in mathematical formulas and schemes. Based on the underlying objectives of the allocation procedures, we positioned them in a systematic and consistent framework, relating the procedures to the LCA goal definition and an attributional or consequential approach. We identified a new substitution...