Best Practices in LCA

The following points describe best practices in performing LCA.

Functional Unit
The functional unit describes the unit of analysis of the assessment and the functional parameters held constant between options to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison. Describe whether the options are equivalent in relevant metrics like duration, fire-rating, structural, acoustic or thermal performance. For example, a comparison of enclosure systems should have an equivalent U-value.

System Boundary
Clearly define which industrial and natural processes are included and excluded in the study, usually referring to the lettered LCA stages shown in the below graphic.

Data Selection and Quality
Carefully consider the data source and quality. Country-specific data is preferred due to large international variation in electrical grid, manufacturing practices and fuel types.

Methodological Choices
Clearly state which environmental impact categories will be studied, and which methods of allocation were used for practices like recycling, by-products, waste or co-products, either by the modeller or data provider.