Chalmers University of Technology

Attributional
and consequential
LCI modelling
Tomas Ekvall
Department of Energy Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Gothenburg, Sweden
email tomas.ekvall@me.chalmers.se

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

The type of LCA affects modelling

Early proponents:
Heintz & Baisne (1992)
Weidema (1993)
Well established:
SETAC-Europe WG
on Inventory Enhancement
InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Types of LCA in this presentation

(Curran et al. 2001)
Attributional LCA, which aims at
describing the environmental properties
of a life cycle and its subsystems.
Consequential LCA, which aims at
describing the effects of changes within
the life cycle.
InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

LCI modelling Guide in summary

Attributional LCA:
Include full life cycle
Use average data
Allocate in proportion to, e.g., economic value
Consequential LCA:
Include processes that are affected
Use data that reflect expected effects of changes
Avoid allocation through system expansion
InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Data that reflect changes

(Azapagic & Clift 1999)
Environmental
burdens (B)

Marginal
change

Substantial
change

Complete
change
Point of
operation

Production
volume (Q)

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Allocation problem at
multifunctional processes
(Ekvall & Weidema 2003)
Raw material

Multifunctional process

Product A
(used in the life
cycle investigated)

Product B
(used in other
life cycles)

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

System expansion
when B depends on A
Raw material

Multifunctional process

Product A

Prod. of
product C
Market for
function provided
by product B

Use of
product B/C

Waste
management
InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

System expansion
when A depends on B
Multifunctional process
(excluded from analysis)
Waste
management

Prod. of
Product D

Product B

Product A

Market for
alternative
function provided
by product A

Market for
function provided
by product A in
the life cycle
investigated

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Prod. of
Product C

Chalmers University of Technology

Additional consequences
(Ekvall 2003)
Consequences on

Example:
Electricity efficiency

Modelling tool

demand by other
consumers

Increased through
price reduction

Partial equilibrium
models

economic activity

Increased through
money savings

General equilibrium
models

knowledge and
values

Reduced through good Marketing models?

example

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Including affected processes

Cradle

Chain of cause
Change or
foreground system
and effect
Large uncertainty
Unmanageable uncertainty
Grave

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Limitations
Attributional LCA:
Describes systems only
Systems are subjective (allocation,
geographical boundaries etc.)
Consequential LCA:
Describes consequences only
Entails great uncertainty and instability
InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Suggested criteria
for assessing methodology
Generate relevant information
Allow efficient communication of this
information
Contribute to inspire actions
No significant adverse effects

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

Conclusions and discussion

Consequential modelling goes far beyond
marginal data and avoiding allocation
Pure consequential LCAs are rare
Terminology is confused
Ranking methodology is not straightforward
Choice of methodology should be deliberate

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003

Chalmers University of Technology

References
Azapagic A, Clift R. 1999. Allocation of environmental burdens in multiplefunction systems. J Cleaner Prod, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 101-119.
Curran MA, Mann M, Norris G. 2001. Report on the International
Workshop on Electricity Data for Life Cycle Inventories. Cincinnati,
Ohio 45268 USA, October 23 25, 2001.
Ekvall T. 2003. Tools for consequential modelling. Poster presented at
13th SETAC-Europe Annual Meeting in Hamburg, April 2003.
Ekvall T, Weidema BP. 2003. System Boundaries and Input Data in
Consequential Life Cycle Inventory Analysis. Submitted to Int J LCA.
Heintz B, Baisne P-F. 1992. System boundaries. In: Life cycle
assessment. Workshop report, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2-3
December 1991. SETAC, Brussels, Belgium, pp. 35-52.
Weidema BP. 1993. Development of a method for product life cycle
assessment with special references to food products (summary).
PhD thesis. Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.

InLCA/LCM 2003, Seattle, September 22-25 2003