Introduction to Life-Cycle Assessment and Decision Making Applied to Forest Biomaterials 151
Goal and Scope
of Definition
Interpretation
Inventory
Analysis
Impact
Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment Framework
The data collected in the LCI should account for materials used in production,
resources consumed in production, products and coproducts produced, waste streams
sent to waste treatment, and emissions released to the environment. Collecting data and
modeling a robust LCI is the most laborious aspect of performing an LCA, however, the
quality of the overall LCA is heavily dependent on the quality of the LCI data. In this
section, we describe the basic steps of creating an LCI, the data used to generate LCI
and the software that is used to leverage preexisting data that can save time in modeling.
As an overview, the basic steps of performing an LCI as described by ISO 14044:2006
are listed here.
- Preparation for data collection based on goal and scope.
- Data collection.
- Data validation.
- Data allocation.
- Relating data to the unit process.
- Relating data to the functional unit.
- Data aggregation.
These steps are briefly discussed in the following sections; however, for an extensive
description of these steps and performing an LCI, refer to http://www.lcatextbook.com.
5.3.2.1 Preparation of Data Collection Based on Goal and Scope
The goal and defined system boundary for an LCI will define which life-cycle stages
and unit processes data are collected for. For life-cycle stages within the defined system
boundary, unit processes should be identified. A unit process is a transformation of
material or service performed. Many unit processes can make up a larger process or
