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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
environmental science
Review of methods addressing freshwater use in life cycle inventory and impact assessment
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Volume 18, No. 3, Year 2013
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Description
Purpose: In recent years, several methods have been developed which propose different freshwater use inventory schemes and impact assessment characterization models considering various cause-effect chain relationships. This work reviewed a multitude of methods and indicators for freshwater use potentially applicable in life cycle assessment (LCA). This review is used as a basis to identify the key elements to build a scientific consensus for operational characterization methods for LCA. Methods: This evaluation builds on the criteria and procedure developed within the International Reference Life Cycle Data System Handbook and has been adapted for the purpose of this project. It therefore includes (1) description of relevant cause-effect chains, (2) definition of criteria to evaluate the existing methods, (3) development of sub-criteria specific to freshwater use, and (4) description and review of existing methods addressing freshwater in LCA. Results and discussion: No single method is available which comprehensively describes all potential impacts derived from freshwater use. However, this review highlights several key findings to design a characterization method encompassing all the impact pathways of the assessment of freshwater use and consumption in life cycle assessment framework as the following: (1) in most of databases and methods, consistent freshwater balances are not reported either because output is not considered or because polluted freshwater is recalculated based on a critical dilution approach; (2) at the midpoint level, most methods are related to water scarcity index and correspond to the methodological choice of an indicator simplified in terms of the number of parameters (scarcity) and freshwater uses (freshwater consumption or freshwater withdrawal) considered. More comprehensive scarcity indices distinguish different freshwater types and functionalities. (3) At the endpoint level, several methods already exist which report results in units compatible with traditional human health and ecosystem quality damage and cover various cause-effect chains, e.g., the decrease of terrestrial biodiversity due to freshwater consumption. (4) Midpoint and endpoint indicators have various levels of spatial differentiation, i.e., generic factors with no differentiation at all, or country, watershed, and grid cell differentiation. Conclusions: Existing databases should be (1) completed with input and output freshwater flow differentiated according to water types based on its origin (surface water, groundwater, and precipitation water stored as soil moisture), (2) regionalized, and (3) if possible, characterized with a set of quality parameters. The assessment of impacts related to freshwater use is possible by assembling methods in a comprehensive methodology to characterize each use adequately. © 2012 The Author(s).
Authors & Co-Authors
Margni, Manuele D.
Canada, Montreal
Polytechnique Montréal
Boulay, Anne Marie
Canada, Montreal
Polytechnique Montréal
Berger, Markus
Germany, Berlin
Technische Universität Berlin
Bulle, Cécile S.M.
Canada, Montreal
Polytechnique Montréal
Frischknecht, Rolf
Unknown Affiliation
Canals, Llorenç Milà I.
United Kingdom, London,
Unilever
Motoshita, Masaharu
Japan, Tsukuba
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Núñez, Montserrat
France, Narbonne
Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de L'environnement Lbe
Pfister, Stephan
Switzerland, Zurich
Eth Zürich
United States, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
Ridoutt, Bradley G.
Australia, Canberra
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
van Zelm, Rosalie
Netherlands, Nijmegen
Radboud Universiteit
Verones, Francesca
Switzerland, Zurich
Eth Zürich
Humbert, Sébastien
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 255
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 11
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s11367-012-0519-3
ISSN:
09483349
Research Areas
Environmental