Critical review of available LCA weighting methods

Avslutat projekt

Financed by the Swedish Waste Research Council (AFN) at the Swedish EPA.

Time: 1998-1999


There are currently several methods available and in use for valuation (weighting) within the framework of Life Cycle Assessment. In case studies they often produce different results. The aim of this paper is to critically review presently available and operational methods in order to see if any of them can be recommended for use. Among the methods that are reviewed is the EPS-system, the Tellus method, economic valuation based on the impact pathway analysis approach, the ecoscarcity method, the Eco-indicator 95 and other distance to target methods. The major conclusion is that none of the presently available methods can be recommended for use as an LCA valuation (weighting) method today. This is mainly because they either suffer from significant datagaps, include inconsistencies, lack justification of major assumptions, or because they are not valuation methods at all. Better methods can however be developed which fulfil basic requirements concerning consistency, justification of assumptions, transparency and without to severe datagaps. Further research in this area is therefore needed and motivated. Research should focus on monetisation and panel methods. Other approaches have inherent limitations which limit their usefulness as weighting methods.

An AFN-report is available from the project (fms report 116), please see the publication list.

For further information on the project, please contact Göran Finnveden, tel +46-8-402 38 27

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